ISMR October 2021 | Page 57

FACE TO FACE pre-pandemic levels but also met the targets that were set or are en route to meet their targets for 2021 . This is a very encouraging sign that we see now from the global manufacturing industry .

ISMR : Which issues are of prime importance for your customers right now and how are you addressing these issues for them ?
GW : Process automation / process integration ; this term has gained new relevance in the current global pandemic . Companies that are heavily dependent on manual processes , requiring the heavy involvement of people , have been affected the most by this pandemic . They have now realised the importance of reducing their dependency on manual processes and are beginning to automate and integrate these processes .
We , as a company , have delivered several projects that have removed this dependency on manual processes / operations and automated them . This has benefited customers by reducing their dependency on people while ensuring the higher productivity , consistency and reliability of processes . We are all familiar with the earlier misconception that automation would replace human workers . This is not entirely true , but automation is now able to save and even create better quality jobs after re-skilling people .
ISMR : What , in your view , are important industry trends , challenges and opportunities ? How are you responding to these ?
GW : Reducing capital costs is crucial . Cost , revenue and profit are the three most important factors in determining the success of any business . With the business situation today , due to this pandemic , most businesses are either stagnant in growth or are growing at a very small rate . Therefore , reducing capital costs in existing processes or on new investments is of prime importance .
We have been able to help our customers with cost reductions on new investments ( capital costs ) with projects such as machine standardisation and making our stamping and
bending machines ‘ modular ’ in structure .
We designed our machines to be modular so that , no matter the complexity of the part or application , our machines can be set up and each operation can run independently of each other . This greatly simplifies the process and reduces tool complexities and costs . The slides , for example , can be adjusted to align with radial or linear operation . This gives users the flexibility to integrate several processes into one machine , with minimal adjustments .
With this process optimisation , we deliver faster production set-up times and reduced capital investment costs ( with subsequent increases in profits for customers ). Small batch production is no longer costly and timeconsuming . Our customers have also adapted their existing tooling onto our machines with some modifications . This enables customers to move from complex processes to simple optimised processes .
ISMR : Are there any products , technologies or services that you have released or are releasing this year that you would like to discuss ?
GW : Our upgraded CAMLESS servo-driven stamping and bending machine has been in the market for many years now . We have now upgraded its hardware and software systems . Significant improvements include higher speeds , simplified user interfaces and improved safety systems . We are now able to run these servo engines consistently at speeds of around 300 strokes / minute . Other features that we have improved include :
■ Easily configurable slides to operate either linear or radial operations .
■ New safety features with SLS systems .
ISMR October 2021 | sheetmetalplus . com | 57