What Are The Benefits of Robotics and Automation

Through automation and the use of robotics, coating processes become more efficient and consistent. To understand the advantages of automated coating techniques, it’s important to know what exactly coating entails in this context and how automation and robotics work in conjunction with the process.

In surface engineering, a coating consists of a layer of material applied to a substrate to improve physical properties, such as resistances to wear and corrosion. The type of coating used will depend on the substrate material, service environment, the size and shape of the component, overall cost, and life expectancy.

Robotics and automation have been employed to help improve the quality and productivity of the coating process in many applications. In this context, automation refers to certain types of machinery, computer software, or other technologies that complete tasks automatically without the need for human interaction, reducing or eliminating the risk of human error and inefficiency. Automation can take many forms, ranging from simple to complex and entirely virtual to completely mechanical.

Robotics rely on complex engineering to design and construct equipment that can work in tandem with automated software. Automated systems often employ robotics as the means by which they interact with physical workpieces, such as the setup found in most automated coating equipment.

If you want to benefit from automated coating processes in your facility, PF Technologies can meet your needs. Our 40,000-square-foot production facility in Phoenix, Arizona provides extensive experience in automation, process design, quality controls, and process controls, granting us the capability to design highly specialized systems.

Benefits of Automation: Consistency

One of the main benefits of automation and robotics in coating is the consistency it brings to processes, including:

• Volume. The volume of operations can range from small to large without any compromise in quality, unlike manually applied coatings that may vary in thickness between parts.
• Worker availability. Facilities can eliminate downtime due to worker absence. At PF Technologies, we effectively eliminate unexpected downtime through the use of 7 Robotic workcells.
• Worker capabilities. Automated equipment mitigates the need to train employees in specialized coating techniques. If the usual operator is currently unavailable, other employees can load the coating machine to avoid unwanted downtime.

Benefits of Automation: Cost

Automation can also help reduce the overall cost of coating processes in the following ways:

• Lead times. Coating cycle times, can accurately predict the time of completion for a project, which will indicate when to initiate the next step in the process.

• Lower labor costs. While automated equipment may have a higher upfront cost, the equipment gains economies of scale on each use thanks to a reduction in labor costs. Consistent coating processes also eliminate variability, so managers know the precise cost of coating with each project.