(Newswire.net — July 18, 2018) — Robotic automation is known to have indisputable benefits. Over the years, thanks to these numerous benefits, robotic automation has helped improve and add value to countless industries.
One of those industries is the manufacturing industry. Here are five key benefits of adopting injection molding robots in the injection molding manufacturing process.
1. Increased Throughput
Increased throughput is the first advantage that comes to mind when you consider robotic automation. Increased throughput is as a result of two main factors.
One is the increased pace of production. Injection molding robots are faster than the human workforce. The speed realized by using the robots ensures more product is being produced per time.
Second is the fact that the robots work 24-7. They do not recognize day or night, and as long as they are programmed correctly, they continue working until they are told to stop via a command. It follows that the increased hours of work increase the throughput.
When throughput increases, it, in turn, increases profitability because more items are released into the market for the given time.
2. Help Reduce the Injection Molding Cycle Time
When you automate the injection molding process, then in addition to the robot arms there is a computer controlling everything. Therefore, the heating, casting, and cooling are keenly regulated, and the lack of estimation or inaccurate control by a human operator increases efficiency and reduces the time for the molding cycle of each batch.
Second, a robot arm need not wait for the product batches to cool before handling them. A robot arm will handle the final product irrespective of how hot or cool it is and as a result, no time is wasted, and the production process moves seamlessly from one step to the other.
3. Increases Preciseness and Helps to Reduce Waste
In any complete injection molding cycle and depending on the level of precision, there is always a certain amount of excess material known as scrap left behind.
While this excess material can be recycled, it is important to note that this requires an extra step where this excess material is removed. As a result, the injection molding process is slowed down, and efficiency is interrupted.
With automation, the injection molding robots are very precise, and that means any extra material, if any, is very little. Waste is thus reduced, which saves on total cost, and removing the excess material for recycling will only need to be done a few times.
4. Production of Better Quality Goods or Products
Unlike human workers, robots are not prone to errors. The errors may arise when, for instance, a human worker measures the wrong amount of material to feed into the injection molding machine.
A robot that is well programmed cannot make such a mistake. That means each complete product is of the same high quality as the previous one and there are no differences between one product and the next.
Another key reason that contributes to quality is the fact that when the injection molding process is automated, it becomes a closed system. Only machines are involved, and outside elements such as dust or any other contaminants that might diminish quality are eliminated.
5. Secondary Manufacturing Processes Automation Which Increases Overall Efficiency and Profitability
The moment you decide to adopt injection molding robots, then it follows that you automate not only the injection molding but also all the associated secondary processes.
These secondary processes include inspecting, picking and placing and packaging. Therefore, the entire manufacturing process becomes extremely efficient which in turn leads to more product, more sales, and increased profitability.
Besides, when the entire manufacturing process is automated, then you only require a small human workforce which contributes to reduced labor costs and increases profitability.
Summary
Adoption of injection molding robots is a decision that not only bestows all the mentioned benefits but also ensures you are in a position to benefit in the future when the technology improves.