Calculating the Value of Automation

When it comes to processing panels, CNC machining centres, such as Perforex from Rittal Automation Systems, are light years ahead of the alternative, manual approach when it comes to productivity and efficiency. In fact, machining centres speed up processing by as much as 66 percent compared to the traditional hand-tooled method. Now, a new web-based Return on Investment (ROI) Calculator helps customers accurately gauge how quickly a Perforex will take to pay for itself before they place the order – and they may be pleasantly surprised by what they find! Perforex machining centres from Rittal Automation Systems are tailored to the challenges of switchgear manufacturing. They are ideal for the automated production of bore holes, cut-outs and threads in mounting plates, enclosure doors and side panels. All the mechanical processing steps in the preparation of enclosures for population – including drilling, thread cutting, and milling of cut-outs – which are so time-consuming, cost-intensive, and error prone, can be accomplished in a single work step. Programming a job into the machining centre takes just minutes, and is either on the basis of simple, component-oriented workshop programming, or using imported CAD data from either Rittal’s software system Eplan or DXF imports from any other CAD platforms. Any programme setting can be saved for future, identical jobs, speeding up work-flow even more. Furthermore, once done, engineers are free to work on other tasks, maximising team efficiency and business output. Perforex systems are suitable for all materials typically found in switchgear, including steel, aluminium, copper and plastics. Moreover, an automatic tool changer allows multiple tasks to be performed in a single operation, without the need for human intervention. Work Out Your ROI – at the Click of a Mouse The new Rittal online calculator demonstrates how a Perforex system can deliver a rapid and tangible return on investment even for low production volumes. Customers simply enter the typical manufacturing quantity, current machining cycle time, and labour rates per hours, and the web-based tool computes the corresponding payback period for a variety of Perforex models. Proven efficiency gains under real-world conditions When the directors of Peterborough-based panel builders Pneumatechnique Ltd were looking at ways to improve efficiency and offer better production consistency they turned to Rittal and its automation systems for switchgear construction. Pneumatechnique’s aim was to find ways to lower both overheads and operational costs. Following a detailed assessment and recommendations made by Rittal’s expert team, the decision was taken by Pneumatechnique to install a Rittal Automation Perforex CNC machine. It was quickly identified that the capital expenditure could clearly be outweighed by the cost savings and the Perforex installation became a “no-brainer” as part of the investment project. Adam Wilson, production manager at Pneumatechnique advises: “This project has seen a lot of investment not only in money but in time; it has involved a great deal of hard work. The final result is an excellent fit for us and we are now offering customers something they can’t do.” Going forward, Adam advises that, “the Perforex system has opened up a number of new routes to market. What’s more this system looks like it will offer us the opportunity go way beyond the targets we have set for it.” Thanks to their new, higher levels of productivity, the team expects the machining system to pay for itself in just 12 months.

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