Stac Improves Automotive Production Flow

Minezawa USA Inc. needed to eliminate a production bottleneck, improve material flow, and increase throughput in a section of their facility. Stac delivered by creating a more efficient, coordinated integrated conveyor system to replace the existing robotic fuel tank transport process.

 

CUSTOMER
Minezawa USA Inc., Evansville, Indiana

CHALLENGE
In automotive manufacturing, production cycle time is critical to maintaining an efficient operation. Minezawa USA, Inc. relied on a robotic system to transport fuel tanks through its facility. However, the robot was unable to keep pace with the facility's production cycle, creating a bottleneck that restricted material flow and slowed production.

SOLUTION

Stac engineered an integrated transport solution with a coordinated network of conveyor sections. Four conveyor zones safely deliver fuel tanks into a machine-guarded loading area. Mounted in a stacked configuration, these zones feed product onto a multi-tiered lifting conveyor, which strategically transfers fuel tanks to the overhead accumulation conveyor.

The overhead accumulation conveyor sections allow fuel tanks to move through the facility while production activities continue below. The integrated system eliminated a critical production bottleneck and improved the movement and distribution of fuel tanks through this section of the facility.