Finishing - July-August 2020
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38 AUTOMATION<br />
Fully flexible<br />
Recently we have seen an increase in<br />
demand for automation within our<br />
customer base, with businesses looking<br />
more to reduce the labour requirement in the<br />
production environment whilst maintaining<br />
the flexibility of a more traditional system. As<br />
we respond to the increased interest in more<br />
advanced automation we recognise the need<br />
for in depth application trials early in the<br />
project specification process.<br />
Our lab facilities in St Gallen, Switzerland<br />
have adapted quickly to the challenges<br />
presented with Covid-19, we are pleased to<br />
confirm that we are now offering trials using<br />
virtual meetings and video conferencing to<br />
our UK customers whilst travel restrictions<br />
remain in place. Product trials have been an<br />
integral part of the Gema project process for<br />
many years as we demonstrate our<br />
technologies and capabilities, by adapting to<br />
the situation and using a different approach<br />
we can ensure that meet our customer needs.<br />
The Gema lab has recently undergone a<br />
significant upgrade programme with all of the<br />
existing trial systems upgraded to the latest<br />
Gema technology offering the option to test<br />
the complete range of our technology in a<br />
single trial. They have also recently unveiled<br />
a brand new automation cell, this is a<br />
dedicated powder coating booth system<br />
complete with their state-of-the-art laser<br />
contour system and robot application for both<br />
organic and enamel powders.<br />
As demand increases, Gema are working<br />
on projects that require advanced automation<br />
and data collection with R&D teams constantly<br />
developing and refining their Industry 4.0<br />
compatible systems to maintain their position<br />
as the world leader in powder coating<br />
technology. There is no doubt that the future<br />
will see traditional powder coating give way to<br />
more flexible and efficient robot orientated<br />
applications combined with contour<br />
recognition technology to achieve high<br />
standards of coating on very complex parts<br />
with minimal operator intervention.<br />
As the need for more advanced automation<br />
increases the need for data collection &<br />
sharing become a core requirement. In 2019<br />
Gema launched the new MagicControl 4.0<br />
and with it a range of new advanced features<br />
that have been developed around data and<br />
relevant use of that data. Some of the new<br />
features now offered includes:<br />
• Line management data including coating<br />
time, clean down times, number of colour<br />
changes<br />
• Real time monitoring and recording of<br />
power usage<br />
• Real time monitoring and recording of<br />
compressed air used<br />
• Ambient condition monitoring – humidity<br />
and temperature<br />
• Batch management data with option for<br />
powder weight measuring<br />
• Overall system health monitoring with<br />
consumable parts counters and service due<br />
warnings<br />
When it comes to powder conveying, Gema<br />
are the market leaders with their dense phase<br />
SIT pump technology. With more than 800<br />
<strong>Finishing</strong> - <strong>July</strong>/<strong>August</strong> <strong>2020</strong>
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