In today's manufacturing world , safety improvements and efficiency gains are crucial for remaining competitive. At Magswitch Technology , we focus on fully and semi-automated, ergonomic lifting solutions . The strong growth of industrial automation across many sectors is particularly interesting, with ergonomics playing an increasingly important role. However, the leap to fully automated systems is often not economically viable due to high investment costs and low returns on investment . Forward-thinking companies are increasingly recognizing the value of semi-automated solutions .
RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM
Buyer's Products of Mentor, Ohio, was looking for ways to improve productivity on its press brake line for bending snowplows. Removing the snowplows from the stack and loading them into the press brake was a slow process that had changed little over time. The goal was to minimize the human factor in the bending process to achieve a semi-automated, low-complexity process . This, in turn, was expected to improve quality and safety .
One of the challenges from Buyer's Products' perspective was how to remove the thin snowplows from the stack using magnets – more safely and efficiently than with vacuum systems. This is where Magswitch has the advantage, as our patented Shallow-Field technology allows for a strong hold on thin material without compromising safety.
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Understanding the process was crucial for developing a solution . The first step in all Magswitch projects is an on-site visit to see the process firsthand . Ben Walters , Regional Sales Manager, made several trips to Buyer's Products to meet with the team, gather information, and discuss the current challenge .
This was followed by several design reviews with the Magswitch engineering team, during which ideas and concepts were developed and discussed collaboratively . Our main objectives were: to improve safety, increase efficiency, and optimize ergonomics .
“The easy way to approach a project like this would be to minimize communication with the customer and design and manufacture a product based on assumptions. Ultimately, this would lead to an unhappy customer and a mediocre product . Working closely with the customer is what makes these projects exciting for us and ensures that we create a product we can be proud of. This starts with the design and ends with the implementation ,” says Stephen Meinhardt , Technical Sales and Applications Engineering Manager at Magswitch.
THE CONCLUSION
The end result was a lifting frame that used Magswitch's patented Shallow-Field technology to safely and efficiently load and unload the snowplows into the press brake.
Conversations with key employees at Buyer's Products provide a clear insight into the results that make this project a success:
“The bottom line is that we are very satisfied with the lifting device. After some practice and finding the easiest way to connect the system, we have seen significant efficiency gains . It is also much less strenuous for operators to handle a complete series of parts. It is also clear that we have increased the consistency of the bending process , as we have been able to largely eliminate human influence and lift the snowplow skin in a smoother motion ,” says Evan Lumby , Continuous Improvement Engineer at Buyer's Products.
“At Magswitch , our focus is on developing and engineering lifting solutions that improve product quality, operate more efficiently , and above all, increase safety ,” says Stephen Meinhardt . “It’s not just about selling a product, but about building a personal relationship with our customers and understanding their specific needs .”
