Originally Published EMDM January/February 2002
ASSEMBLY EQUIPMENT
Modular system enables rapid response to changing market conditions
To help device OEMs keep pace with ever-shorter life cycles and a greater diversity of products, a supplier of automated assembly equipment has developed a modular system that reduces changeover and retooling times. After introducing the sortimat (Winnenden, Germany) Jetwing concept at the regional Motek show, the company exhibited the system to an international audience at K 2001.
"The system offers a level of flexibility that is unprecedented at sortimat," says marketing manager Silke Fischer. The concept is based on a combination of standardized components—assembly platforms, functional stations, testing stations, conveyors and feeders, and so forth—that are integrated via interfaces, explains Fischer. The stations can be easily removed, replaced, or modified as needs change. Standard connectors for power supply, data bus systems, and compressed air ensure simplicity in installation. Each step of the production process is performed by a specific station that can be tailored to individual requirements. "And it can take as little as 3 months to deliver a system to our customers," adds Fischer.
Jetwing can be used in any manufacturing process that calls for flexibility and variable output volumes. It is best suited for assembly applications involving three to five parts that are roughly about the same size and shape, says Fischer.
Norbert Sparrow
Copyright ©2002 European Medical Device Manufacturer
