Australian fabrication business Shamic Sheetmetal has become the first to sign for delivery and installation of the completely automated ‘lights-out’ materials handling system, Night Train FMS.
This world-rated FINN-POWER technology, distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand by Maxitec, allows sheetmetal fabrication plants to run shifts that are practically unmanned, says Shamic.
The level of software-driven automation allows a night shift to be run without any active personnel present, the company says. Pre-set parameters on Night Train can oversee the shift through all manufacturing processes with all high-tech safety barriers in place.
Shamic Sheetmetal manufactures various national brands including HeatCharm, Coonara and Arrow wood and gas log fires for household use, along with various Sheetmetal products such as kiosks, car parts and electrical cubicles.
“There is a high level of competition in this industry sector and without machinery and modernisation you would continue to lose control of your profit margins,” said Shamic Sheetmetal managing director, Eric Woodgate.
“Before we sourced various machinery technologies from Maxitec, we were always slightly behind in our deliveries but now we have eliminated that.
“More recently, we acquired a FINN-POWER Ebe Express Bender from Maxitec to use for sheetmetal bending and shaping applications which gave us better speed, more accuracy and total cost analysis per project.
“Now, by committing to a full ‘lights-out’ Night Train set up we will become the first company in Australia to have this technology.
“It will allow us to lock up the premises at the end of our day shifts, go home, and return the following morning to find the job run completely finished and collated.
“It also means even more floor space will be freed up due to complete inventory management and handling, plus our workspaces will gain an even higher level of safety and organisation.
“Overall, it means job sequencing and execution does not logjam, accuracy is high, margins are maximised, and clutter becomes a thing of the past.
“Once we are completely ‘light- out’ capable, we are well ahead of the opposition and able to take on all types of challenges.”