Business South November 2021

54 | MANUFACTURING Design Energy Unlocking the potential of automation T T Karen Phelps T here are huge gains that New Zealand SME’s could make by more fully utilising automation, says managing director of Design Energy Mike Shatford. Mike visits hundreds of businesses every year and says that many could benefit by increasing efficiency and productivity through the right automation. He says the process requires knowledge and expertise to get right particularly as com- panies are investing significant money. That’s why Design Energy aims to form long term relationships with clients, getting alongside them and their business to get them where they want to be. “It’s a journey we go on together. We need to understand what they do, their factory, their processes etc. This allows us to deter- mine what equipment they already have and what they might need and what aspects of their manufacturing would benefit from auto - mation,” he explains. “Through learning and working together, before they commit any capital. We help our clients to focus on what they really want to achieve and the best way to achieve it.” The outcomes of this strong relationship building can be significant. Mike says that one client was quoted over $4m to automate its operation and by rationalising their existing equipment and recommending the right new technology Design Energy was able to halve the project cost. Mike says that typically companies are look- ing for improvements in productivity, reduced reliance on an increasingly unavailable labour force, improved health and safety outcomes, a reduction in costs and increasing competitive- ness locally and internationally. From its Christchurch base, Design Energy formulates the right custom plan for each cli- ent then tests it against the desired outcomes. “As part of this its critically important to look at the design of the products with regard to their suitability for automation,” says Mike. “Most products are not designed with automation in mind. It’s often surprising how small subtle changes in product design can make a large difference to being able to auto - mate their manufacture,” he says. Mike began Design Energy in 2007. Initially started as a consulting firm focused on delivering a complete product-to-market technology development service over time the company found its niche in using industrial robots to solve complex production automa- tion problems. Design Energy offers a complete solution: design, manufacture, installation, servicing and support. Its expertise has established Design Energy as thought leaders in industrial robotics and it is heavily involved in research and development. T T to page 56 “Through learning and working together, before they commit any capital. We help our clients to focus on what they really want to achieve and the best way to achieve it.” INDUSTRIES LASER TECHNOLOGY We are proud to support Design Energy www.prometal.co.nz sales@prometal.co.nz | (03) 384 4524 Contact us for all your metal fabrication requirements. Servicing all sectors.