How much automation does the board industry need?
IMA Schelling: Tailor-made solutions for real added value
Automation is no longer a foreign concept in the board industry and for finishers. But how much of it really makes sense? The experts from the Board and Consulting business units at IMA Schelling help to answer this question on an individual basis. With their in-depth expertise, proprietary technologies and a strong partner network, they develop and implement holistic automation concepts. The advantage for customers: everything comes from a single source, tailor-made for the specific needs of each user. This means that automation is not an end in itself, but provides real added value in terms of efficiency and competitiveness.
From an economic perspective, plants in the sheet industry must operate with as little downtime as possible. And the demands on production are also constantly increasing: greater complexity, growing variety, shorter delivery times and stricter safety requirements. At the same time, there is a shortage of skilled workers in the industry. The crucial question is therefore not whether to automate, but how much.
While primary board production is already largely fully automated, finishing in many board plants still offers considerable potential for further automation. ‘Automation minimises risks for employees, reduces damage to materials and also strengthens competitiveness,’ summarises Stefan Hinterholzer, Head of the Board Business Unit at IMA Schelling.
The right level of automation is individual
The extent to which automation makes sense depends heavily on the individual situation of the company. Factors such as the intensity of use of a plant, the frequency of work cycles for certain manufacturing processes or the manageability of the products play a decisive role. Safety-related work steps are also clear candidates for automation.
Anyone considering automation based on the expected economic benefits needs a validated basis for decision-making in the form of analytical data. Recording and evaluating value-added processes thus leads to economically assessable solutions – always with an eye on the return on investment. However, one thing is clear: in the panel industry, automation generally pays for itself over many years, as the systems here are designed to be particularly durable. And – the investment required for the automation components offered by IMA Schelling is relatively low in relation to the main system.
From analysis to investment: IMA Schelling's comprehensive service package
IMA Schelling has anchored automation solutions for the panel industry in two business units. IMA Schelling Consulting considers the strategic perspective for the company. There, all value-adding processes are analysed, from order acceptance to production and manufacturing flows to shipping. The aim is to develop scenarios, work out concepts and discuss them. ‘We take a holistic view of the company,’ explains Georg Schlautmann, Senior Consultant at IMA Schelling. ‘Our team provides manufacturer-independent advice and delivers all the facts necessary for an informed decision – from specific key figures and capacity analyses to realistic cost estimates.’
IMA Schelling Board then takes over the detailed work and implementation. Experienced experts finalise the planning, draw up specifications, negotiate offers and take on the complex project management until the finished system is installed and beyond. Around 70 to 80% of the technologies used come from the own portfolio, supplemented by machines and systems from specialised partners.
Automation: A strategic decision
The question, ‘How much automation do I need?’ is as individual as the companies themselves and cannot be answered with a blanket statement. However, it is strategically crucial for the future viability of every board manufacturer and finisher. IMA Schelling advises and supports companies – both nationally and internationally – along this path: from the initial idea to the ongoing operation of the system. The system manufacturer relies on manufacturer-neutral advice, the use of its own technology, comprehensive implementation expertise and a large partner network.