A.G. Stacker (CONT’D FROM PAGE 32)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
was getting more control over the company’s supply chain. “You can have two directions as an OEM, in my view. One is you just assemble stuff and you farm everything out and it comes in and you’re hoping it’s correct when the parts get here. Or,” he continued, “you fully take over your supply chain as much as possible.” In the Spring of 2023, A.G. took a major step to ensure this outcome, making a significant investment in fully auto- mated CNC (computerized numeric controlled) machines, a tube laser cutter, and a collaborative robot welder. These new assets have increased production capacity and effi- ciency, manufacturing excellence and improved employee safety in its 100,000-square-foot production facility. Wunder explains: “We wanted a new technology. For instance, making the frames for our stacker took a little over a week. It takes six hours now in our machine shop to do it.” The benefit of the new technology goes beyond the time to manufacture, A.G. realized a dividend in how it trains and assigns its workforce as well. Wunder explained that their new automated welding and machining tools have eliminated the repetitive nature of some of the shop work which has improved safety and worker satisfaction. “As we scale the business, now you have a part you have to do 2000 times a year instead of 200. It’s repeti- tive and there could be ergonomic issues,” Wunder said. This potential problem, he said, has been solved in large part by A.G.’s new “cobot” technology which allows the welder to work side-by-side with the machine and have it memorize the task. “Robots are great, but again you can’t work directly next to them so this creates relationship cre- ates potential process, space, and safety issues in opera- tions. Our technology allows the welder to take the head of the cobot and move it along the path of the weld just as they would if they were manually welding. The cobot remembers the weld path, so the operator will push a test button to make sure the weld path is what they want, and they can save this path or program as well. Now the cobot welder does all that work for them, and they can go back to doing the fun welding.” In addition to the new machining capacity, A.G. has increased its “additive manufacturing” capability as well. The company utilizes industrial 3-D printers to fabricate its own parts from plastic and plastic-composites. “We just added another 3-D printer and that’s helped us a lot with our customers,” he said. “A lot of people used 3-D printing early on to replicate a part real cheaply, but it’s plastic and it can’t hold up. It’s nice for R&D purposes but we wanted a production purpose out of it, so we have technology in 3-D manufacturing where it does multiple different materials at once—you layer it. Besides these specialty plastics we put Kevlar in it and by doing that we make it as strong as certain steels.” Wunder said that A.G. is using the 3-D print- er technology as part of its patented (and patent-pending)
OHIO BLOW PIPE/ADVANCED AIRSYSTEMS www.obpairsystems.com For 85 years the Ohio Blow Pipe company and its whol- ly owned subsidiary, Advanced Airsystems, have provided the corrugated and folding carton industries with systems and products to process scrap. We engineer, fabricate, in- stall, service, provide system audits, and offer a wide range of scrap systems, dust collection systems and products to include cyclones, under roof AIR-SCREEN™ systems, pit belt systems, CLEANAIR dust collectors, Mist-Clone™ dust control systems for vacuum feeds, material handling fans, ductwork, switch valves, airveyors, balers, and shredders. OMP www.omp.com OMP helps companies facing complex planning challenges to excel, grow and thrive by offering the best digitized sup- ply chain planning solution on the market. Its Unison Plan- ning concept has a unique approach. It handles all supply chain planning challenges in a unified way, synchronizing all planning stages, horizons, functions and roles. Hundreds of customers run OMP’s cloud-based solution to generate more value by making informed decisions. OMP invests one out of every three dollars earned into innovation.
PAPER AND DUST PROS, INC. www.paperanddustpros.com
We custom design, install and service air conveyed scrap and dust collection systems. Our unique APS® is smaller, lighter, and more reliable than current cyclones. Contact us to learn how the APS® System can enhance your operation.
PROFERO SYSTEMS, INC. www.ProferoSystems.com
Profero Systems the leader in double facer heating and traction section conversions and performance enhancing products. Featuring products from Contact Bars and Com- pensating Rolls to New Glue Machines and Double Facers. GF PUHL www.gfpuhl.com GF PUHL designs, manufactures and installs air conveyed scrap & dust collection systems for the packaging and cor- rugated industries. With 42 years of experience, USA and In- ternational. We offer below or above roof systems featuring cyclones OR screen separators with real time pressure bal- ancing for optimal dust control. High efficiency cyclones for sheet transfer exhaust systems eliminate water consump- tion and deliver dust directly to compactor or briquetter for low maintenance, long term sustainability and reliability.
QUEST7, INC. www.Quest7.us
Quest7, Inc. is focused on being a leading manufacturer and distributor of critical parts and materials required in the cor- rugated box industry. Our commitment of “Bringing the Best to You,” reflects the level of quality and customer response in what we do every day.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 36
34
www.boardconvertingnews.com
March 10, 2025
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease