The challenge from Arc-Tronics, Inc., Elk Grove Village, USA

 
SRI Radio Systems GmbH, Durach, Germany
 

Floating setup changeovers with SIPLACE Random Setup

 
Get Flash to see this player.
 

Matthew Goeringer, VP of Manufacturing
Arc-Tronics, Inc., Elk Grove Village, USA

 
 

SIPLACE Challenge

 

“To speed up our setup changeovers, we are already operating with movable feeder tables and offline setup stations. Are there any other concepts which would make our setup processes even faster and more flexible without having to invest in additional hardware?”

 

Our challenge: Can the SIPLACE team set up product B while product A is still running without having to stop the line?

 
 

SIPLACE Solution

 

The innovative SIPLACE Random Setup concept is the right solution for this customer. With SIPLACE Random Setup, the new product is loaded into SIPLACE Pro while the previous product is still running on the line. Random Setup now determines any differences and indicates which feeders need to be removed and which components have to be set up and added. The new feeders are then prepared away from the active line at the docking station, and the component IDs and feeder
IDs are associated with each other (a process called “kitting”). Next, the operators take the new feeders to the line – without a feeder table. They then place the feeders in empty slots or replace feeders whose LEDs indicate that they will not be needed in one of the upcoming setups.

When the production of the new product starts, the SIPLACE machines recognize the positions of the
X-feeders and the components they hold based on their IDs, adjust their placement program accordingly and start populating the new boards without a line stop instead of having to exchange complete tables, which frequently involves removing and adding the same components. Random Setup requires only the addition or replacement of individual feeders. The result: With SIPLACE Random Setup you can implement highly-efficient, non-stop setup changeovers. You benefit from speedier setups and fewer stock movements while reducing the number of feeders and changeover tables you need.