ARTIFLEX MANUFACTURING
USA noting that the repeatability aspect of automation is a strong way to inspire greater confidence in consistency and quality levels for clients . ArtiFlex has also been greatly inspired by LEAN manufacturing strategies and the challenge of reducing costs while increasing throughput and optimizing operations for maximum yields .
There is a strong safety aspect to this decision as well . Delmoro explains that much of its automation works to keep its employees safe from the more demanding facets of manufacturing work .
“ We do work with a lot of sharp metal objects and heavy parts ,” he says . “ When we have fewer and fewer operations where the employee is exposed to these areas , there are fewer and fewer chances that the employee could get accidentally hurt . Not to mention our aging population — the repetitiveness of picking up a 40-lb part multiple times a minute is not something that ’ s conducive to their long term health .” Through automation , these workers are able to stay productive and safe in the long run .
This new draw press is set up to run large , complex dies ranging up to 180 ” in length and requiring forming tonnage up to 2000 tons and cushion tonnage up to 500 tons .
Investing in people That aging population that Delmoro mentioned is an industry-wide issue that has been weighing heavily on the ArtiFlex team . “ We ’ re no different than most others in the industry right now , in that finding the right skilled trade is a challenge ,” says Delmoro , noting that skilled workers trained in tooling and die areas are the scarcest . “ We tend to see a demographic that ’ s aging in that skill set ,
An ArtiFlex Tool & Die journeyman performs maintenance on a past model service die
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