Evolution of automated manufacturing plants encouraged by easy rewiring development

Automated factories and robotic production lines are becoming increasingly common as production engineers and senior managers come to realise their advantages.

They, they allow manufacturing to remain viable in developed economies, rather than having it lost to low-wage economies. They can also virtually guarantee product quality by removing human error from the production equation; work non-stop for extended periods; and connect with distant sister plants via the Internet of Things to provide real-time intelligent, adaptive manufacturing on a global basis.

However, one of the key requirements is a very high level of flexibility. Automated plants must be easy to adapt so that they can meet the ever-changing needs of the markets they serve.

Typical changes are likely to include: addition of extra processes; changes to product specification; new variants on the basic product; a need to increase throughput; the addition of completely new products to be made on the line; changes in working practise, etc.

With this natural evolution of wiring Spelsberg has redesigned its GTi range of electrical enclosures to provide a product that should help keep wiring lay-outs neat, efficient and easy to follow. They are non-metallic; and also come as self-assembly and modular in design.

The result is that they can easily be expanded by removing the side walls and adding another module - or in fact several more modules if required. Their design is such that adjacent modules fit together using interchangeable parts and always provide an IP65 rated seal. The GTi range is available in a number of sizes and can be supplied as both individual parts or in pre-assembled and populated sub-systems.

The GTi electrical enclosures are therefore designed to easily adapt to the ever-changing switchgear and cabling requirement of a busy factory as it responds to changing market requirements. Very importantly installations can be expanded and changed without having to remove or re-wire the original enclosure, meaning the whole engineering effort can be concentrated on new elements of the system.

Chris Lloyd, Managing Director for Spelsberg UK, commented that GTi users can meet their current cabling, switchgear and enclosures needs, yet be confident that future changes will be so straightforward. “They can be accomplished rapidly and efficiently with only the very minimum disruption to production schedules.

He added when expanding a GTi installation, new enclosures can be added as easily as building with Lego. “Pre-assembled systems can remove the need to deal with multiple suppliers, save significant installation time and make commissioning a one-step process.”

Spelsberg GTi enclosures are manufactured from corrosion resistant polycarbonate and are able to withstand all the rigours of life on the factory floor. Three lid options are available including grey, transparent and hinged transparent. Associated software makes initial designing and subsequent changes fast and simple.