Automation Systems for Economic Small Batch Production

In Booth S-339178, Fastems LLC (West Chester, OH) will have an array of automation systems aimed to handle high mix, low volume production. Among the demonstration modules will be their recently renewed FMS ONE, a fully configurable machine tool pallet automation system. Further, the latest generation of Manufacturing Management Software (MMS) will be highlighted, showing its new features for manually operated work cells and its extended capability for controlling robotic automation, which will be officially launched during the show. Additionally, the Halter Load Assistant compact loading robot cell will be in action in the booth in partnership with Halter CNC Robotics LLC (Cascade, IA). “These are real world examples and practical systems, from entry-level automation to those far along the path to Industry 4.0,” noted David Suica, the president of Fastems. “There’s a growing need for shops to handle shorter product lifecycles, higher product mixes and lower volumes, and our equipment, even our software, is more adaptive and modular than ever for fast deployment to fulfill that scenario exactly. We also have applications expertise and support to make the cell or system efficient.”

Their automation equipment includes a variety of extendable and flexible manufacturing systems, robot applications, and control software; stacker cranes; conveyors; loading/unloading stations; pallet magazines and assembly organizers; and raw material stations to name a few. These automation systems have open interfaces and can be incorporated with virtually any modern CNC machine tool and auxiliary equipment brands. Typical applications range from joining two machine tools together with a Flexible Palletized Container (FPC) to highly sophisticated, factory-wide flexible manufacturing systems. MMS is heralded as some of the most practical, yet comprehensive software in the industry: it can guide and control manually-operated work cells; automatically read and manage orders from an ERP system; plan, schedule and simulate the production in advance; make changes automatically to the production plan based on changes in orders, available tools or materials; alert operators on upcoming production stops and resource shortages; reduce paperwork; and provide an overview of the entire production work flow at a glance.

Fastems LLC, 9850 Windisch Road, West Chester, OH 45069, 513-779-4614, Fax: 513-779-4638, www.fastems.com.