Wednesday, August 31, 2022

"If you need to capture data or images to help automate, streamline, and error-proof any process, we’ll make that happen"

Using DPM to Streamline and Error-Proof Manufacturing Processes

Feature article by: Sandia Harrison, Director of Marketing, FPE Automation, Inc. 

Every manufacturer is under pressure to be as lean as possible and create more efficient and accurate processes. At the end of the day, it’s all about ensuring high-quality and profitable production. But achieving ideal production is the real challenge, and it’s particularly difficult if you’re still relying too much on the human eye or human labor at certain key points in your production processes.

This is why direct part marks, or DPMs, have become commonplace as a way to help automate and streamline manufacturing processes and eliminate human error with machine-driven efficiency and accuracy.

 

DPMs are barcodes or other identifying marks stamped directly onto a component, part, subassembly, or assembly. When they’re used with fixed industrial scanners or machine vision sensors that are placed at strategic points along production lines, DPMs can be scanned and read automatically as they move along, even on high-speed conveyors.

 

This means anything with a DPM can be automatically identified, tracked, traced, and even inspected as it moves through production. It all happens with machine automation that enables efficiency and accuracy that are impossible with the human eye.

 


Fixed scanners or machine vision cameras can scan or read DPMs to do everything from detect the presence of items to count, validate, and inspect them. The results can then be used to trigger automated exception alerts, route and sort parts or products, and conduct DPM-based assembly checks to ensure the correct parts are included in each assembly.

 

Using this approach, you can exponentially speed up, automate, and error-proof processes without relying on visual checks or inspections with the human eye. In fact, using Zebra fixed scanners and machine vision sensors, you can read and decode DPMs as well as 1D and 2D barcodes on high-speed lines, even from long range, from multiple sides, and at difficult angles. Zebra’s devices can capture as many as 16 scans or images, each with different settings—all from a single trigger event.

 


You can also expand further into automation by using Zebra fixed scanners and machine vision sensors to perform a wide range of tasks such as label quality inspection, where you can scan 1D or 2D barcodes to check dates and lot codes, check for label presence/absence, and inspect label content using scans and optical character recognition (OCR).

 

You can also use Zebra’s machine vision sensors to conduct sophisticated image analysis, to detect and recognize defects before they become an issue, to detect foreign material or contamination, and even to inspect packaging.

 

When you rely on workers and the human eye to perform some of these sensitive and difficult tasks, it puts a big burden on workers while opening up many possibilities of error stemming from a momentary lapse of attention, eye strain, fatigue, and other factors. By setting up an automated system to do this, you can create around-the-clock processes that operate more efficiently and eliminate risks of error. Then, you can re-assign workers to more value-added production tasks.

Ultimately, the potential opportunities extend far beyond DPMs and production processes and even into robotics, where machine vision sensors can be used in conjunction with robotic arms to move parts, assemblies, or products from one line to another. Or, scanners and machine vision sensors can be used to automatically detect and route finished goods along the correct conveyors for robotic palletization.

In the end, whether you’re using DPMs or barcodes and Zebra’s industrial automation devices for something fairly simple or extremely sophisticated, it’s relatively quick and easy to get a solution up and running.

At FPE Automation, we have a dedicated facility where we design, test, validate, and build industrial automation solutions for our customers. With Zebra’s remarkably powerful but simple devices and software, we can configure a system that will do whatever you need it to do.

We have an unofficial motto; “What you do is what you do.” If you need to capture data or images to help automate, streamline, and error-proof any process, we’ll make that happen.

We use Zebra’s technology to capture and help automatically analyze and inspect the information you need, and we can send the images, data, and inspection results to any system you need, using a secure, cloud-based approach. It all happens faster and without the eye strain, fatigue, or risk of error that comes with relying on the human eye.

If streamlining and error-proofing more of your production processes would be a boost to your business, connect with our industrial automation experts at FPE Automation to learn more. We’ll show you how DPMs, fixed scanning, and machine vision technologies can work together to increase high-quality production in your manufacturing plant on day one.

To get started, contact us. We’d be glad to help.

Brought to you by FPE Automation, in partnership with Zebra Technologies as part of FPE Automation's Automation Toolbox

 


Friday, August 26, 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) is here... and it works

FPE Automation Announces a New Partnership with Apera to Bring Artificial Intelligence to Companies in the Midwest

By Sandia Harrison, Director of Marketing, FPE Automation, Inc. 

4D Vision for Robotic Process Automation That Works



Apera delivers AI-powered vision technology that humanizes computer vision. Their flexible, scalable platform enables robotic systems to deftly handle complex automation environments, helping manufacturers maximize productivity and achieve ROI. Apera works seamlessly with Universal Robots, the world's #1 collaborative robot, to achieve what was once only imagined to be possible.

FPE Automation is proud to partner with Vancouver-based Apera to bring this cutting-edge technology to Illinois, Missouri, and the Quad Cities, Iowa region. 



PDF READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE




Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Thank you for helping FPE Automation achieve prestigious Universal Robots platinum status once again!

FPE Automation is Named Winner of Multiple Universal Robots Awards

By Sandia Harrison, Director of Marketing, FPE Automation, Inc.

This week at the Universal Robots partner event, FPE Automation was recognized as one of the country's top distributors. Above, Justin Tanaka and Kurt Vaeth, both UR Product Managers, accept the prestigious honor on behalf of FPE Automation

The country's top salespeople were also honored. In that exclusive group of 50, an impressive three people from FPE Automation received individual awards.



Above: Bryan Bird, Universal Robots Sales Director for the Americas, presents awards to the sales engineers who have sold  25 or more robots in the last 18 months. We would like to congratulate our very own Joe Judge, Brian Einzig and John Duke. 

FPE Automation has had the honor to receive this platinum partner award for the second year in a row. We would like to give special appreciation to all of our integration partners; with special appreciation for the tireless efforts of Ryan Lause, Sales Engineering Supervisor and Certified Welding Inspector at Melton Machine & Control, who is pictured above. Also IRIS Factory Automation and Brittany Carroll, Factory Automation Specialist, and Karl Koenigsberger, Business Development Manager there. Thanks to the hard work of our employees, and of course, our valued customers. Without every one of you, this achievement would not have been possible. 





Thursday, August 18, 2022

From Zebra Technologies and FPE Automation: How do I automate my business?

Zebra Technologies Sits Down with FPE Automation for an In-Depth Conversation About Automation

Recently, FPE Automation was selected by Zebra Technologies to take part in a video series about companies and how they are using today's technology to tackle real pain points in their organizations. 


This is a must-watch for anyone involved in an industrial automation project.

In this video, Zebra's Paul Powers, Senior Channel Account Manager, has an honest talk with FPE Automation's VP of Sales, Jomy Vadakumpadam about the hurdles companies face when trying to automate and how they overcome them. 

The two discuss how businesses can leverage automation to save time, reduce human error and improve safety and efficiency. They discuss what works... and what doesn't. 

Check it out. If you have questions, we're here for you


Friday, August 12, 2022

Cook County manufacturers can get grants to fund automation projects

Grants for Automation Projects for Cook County Manufacturers


Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle joined the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) to announce the launch of Manufacturing Reinvented, a $5 million grant program that will support local, suburban manufacturers with the implementation of projects to improve a business’s competitiveness and resiliency in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic environment. As a part of the program, Cook County will reimburse companies located in suburban Cook County for eligible expenses associated with an approved project after completion and verification. The program will also provide advising services to manufacturers in need of project consultation.

For more information, visit www.fpeautomation.com/imec

FPE Automation is proud to partner with both IMEC and the Elk Grove Village Business Economic Development team. Together, we're cultivating talent and creating local jobs and opportunities that will last for generations to come. When our local manufacturing businesses win, we all do.


PDF 1-PAGE FLYER
PDF FULL PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Come to our Automation BBQ - where we will be cooking up live automation demos!

 

Automation BBQ

Tech showcase event. 

Get on the guestlist for our upcoming automation BBQ!







We'll be cooking up more than just a great meal. You'll see all the latest automation on display:

  • Robotics
  • Vision
  • Machine Tending
  • Palletizing
  • Industrial Components

... and more!

Choose your date and location:

  • 9/29/22: 12951 Gravois Rd., Sunset Hills, MO
  • 10/6/22: 350 Kent Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL

Both events take place from 10am to 4pm. You can come anytime! A delicious BBQ lunch will be served.

Register here.