Digital Transformation Award
Company Name: AutomateTek
Supporting Statement:
We make machinery primarily for the bed and mattress making industry, including foam and component processing and material handling and work with our customers to deliver the best output and tailored offering in anticipation of Industry 4.0 and the inevitable transition into transformative technology.
An integral part of our product design is programmable technology which enables automation of the manufacturing production process and allows for sensors to alert operators when a thread breaks or materials run out. This helps our customers foresee and prevent run-out, downtime, time wastage and bottlenecks. In the occurrence of such issues, the production line can switch to an alternative route or machine to continue production.
Our strength is in providing efficient, robust, reliable solutions that streamline production, ease strain (time and physically) on operators, manage limited resources, reduce downtime, best utilise space and maximise capacity and volume of products made or processed.
All operations are managed from our site in Lancashire – from design, build and testing. 30% of our business is export, with full production lines installed across the US, Australia, Asia, Mexico, Europe and UK.
Our range is adaptable to meet customer and market needs and those we don’t yet work with. We continuously develop and improve our machines to react to and anticipate needs within the manufacturing world, fed by demand and requirements from our existing customers, prospecting enquiries and discussions across the industry and sectors of our customers.
Examples of our projects to enhance automation, streamline how products are made and processed and ensuring reduced risk to operators, working alongside and in place of them, with regard to health and safety, include the design and installation of various full production lines that have increased productivity by 95% incorporating up to 60 conveyors.
Recent projects have demanded further R&D around solutions involving the trialling, testing and assessment of various methods of suction (cups and air panels), as well as the incorporation of robotics, to further our expertise and advancement of product development and innovation around automation. We have also migrated to an automated, online project management, workflow and servicing system.
We also offer around the clock support to our customers in the case of programming and resolution of issues. One of our directors is the go-to point of contact for this and this is another approach that our customers value and appreciate.
The use of quality British materials and lean manufacturing in-house, coupled with the robust design, build, communication, direct support and investment of internal systems, are the main drivers in our consistent quality and service.
We have developed a respected reputation as a leader in the provision and design of quality, reliable machinery that is known for those qualities. We are already established as a manufacturer of distinctive, innovative and intuitive ways of making mattresses, beds and processing foam, including the cutting and slitting, sewing and stitching, lifting and rotating, flipping, turning and transportation of components and complete products around factories and facilities. We have been developing packing machines and will soon be designing and building one that is able to cater to the rolled, bagged and boxed mattress market. We run vigorous testing to ensure that the programmable technology is reliable and robust and the machines are built to last. We support them through the whole process, even providing technical support, servicing and spare parts. This service has proven valuable to our customers and we have even been able to adapt and repair products made by our competitors that broke down or needed upgrade and even sell them on at a reduced price.
We have been recommended and are able to execute multiple installations for customer across the world proves our ability, being approached by manufacturers who have been awarded government contracts (here and in America) but have been able to find solutions to problems elsewhere (some had been seeking a solution elsewhere for at least 6 months).
We have already been able to branch into other areas of mattress production and material handling, including component processing and transportation, and have developed machines to serve specific purposes and requirements for customers, new and existing, whether that be for unbaling beds of pocket springs or pressing them to be rolled for packing, or conveying layers of foam and other components to be sprayed with glue and layered, pressed and dried. We have also been able to use our projects and installations as case studies to further support our ability and promote them to other markets.
Along with the introduction and development of new machines, we have more scope to expand into European and Asian markets and have a bigger presence in the foam processing and logistics arenas.
We have been able to secure jobs and will be working to create more, and remain proud to contribute to the inevitable transition to industry 4.0 and automation to improve processes, production and reduce unnecessary wastage.
Our problem-solving ethos of providing quality, reliable machines that help to efficiently streamline production, reduce delays and down-time, increase volume of output and speed up productivity, alongside and in place of workers, is an approach that is continually welcomed by our customers and industry and we have become known for accurately anticipating and exceeding their needs. This had led to referrals and large-scale contracts.
We stand by the fact that automation is the way forward and that transformative programmable technology, like that of our machines, will continue to streamline production and make the process more efficient. We have seen this already and are ready to meet the demand and support our customers in being more innovative and forward-thinking.
Our customers see us as a reliable, respected and trustworthy purveyor of quality British machinery, further championing the success of manufacturing in the UK.
Our secret to success is great customer service and innovation, coupled with our reputation and values of providing reliable, quality machines that solve problems and provide solutions, usually preventative, to our customers and the manufacturing and processing markets more broadly, exceeding and meeting their needs.
Entry ID: 124
