Material handling systems are used for anything that happens after a product is manufactured: the movement, storage, and control of products and materials from the manufacturing plant, through warehousing and distribution, to the end user. It is usually a combination of those 3 solutions:
- Manual
- Automated
- Autonomous
t’s take this example: Dock workersmanually unload a truck, while an automated fixedcamera machine vision system scans the pallet bar code as it passes through the shipping
doors, and an autonomous forklift carries the pallet from the staging area to final rack and
storage.
Storage systems refer to:
✓ warehouse racking
✓ storage areas
Finally, bulk material handling systems are used widely in process industries, including:
✓ food and beverage
✓ those that require custom containers
Parts-Feeding
Thanks to parts-feeding solutions, manufacturers can sort, guide, and position component parts for subsequent handling and assembly into subassemblies and final products. Standard automation solutions for parts-feeding applications include vibratory feeds, which use physical movement to separate and singulate parts through a chute, transfer buffer, or other delivery mechanism. Step feeds opt for custom structures, ladders, chutes, and structured bowls to gently help separate the parts inside, while blow feeds rely on compressed air for high-volume feeding operations. The vibratory systems or feeding systems receive the parts in bulk, place them in the required position, and supply them to the following stage of the production process at the speed and rate necessary for optimal functioning of the process. Finally, many industries, such as electronics, use custom tzrays for temporary storage and transfer of high-value parts.
Edgewater has extensive expertise in all these part feeding solutions.
✓ Vibratory feed
✓ Step feed
✓ Blow feed
✓ Tray handling
Packaging
Packaging is a common application that our company develops. Today, e-commerce is reshaping supply chains from automobiles to groceries. Industries that once sold 100% of their products through brick-and-mortar storefronts are now integrating and engineering their brands into their product packages. We have the knowledge and expertise you need to cost effectively develop your next packaging material handling system.
✓ Stacking/De-stacking
✓ Kitting
✓ Sealing
Dispense and Cure
Dispense and cure are critical operations for products that use glues or sealants that need to be cured before final shipping. The automotive industry, for example, widely uses dispensing robots to seal doors and gaskets, paint automotive bodies, and protect potting components against environmental dangers. Packaging also widely uses glues that should be cured with UV light and then verified as cured by using ultraviolet or infrared machine vision to measure water content in the adhesive.
✓ Fluid fill
✓ UV/IR
✓ Induction/convection
✓ Potting
To learn more about our services and how we can improve your processes, just contact us. We work with many companies, so we will be glad to help you as well.