8 | Robotics specialist at cutting edge Design Energy is focused on providing practical automation solutions for lower volume, higher product variations. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Design Energy T T Rosa Watson Leading robotic automation in New Zealand We use the power of robotic automation to help our customers become more productive, competitive, and improve their health and safety. 0508 ROBOTS (762 687) | 027 249 3531 paul@designenergy.co.nz | www.designenergy.co.nz 1 Tanner St, Woolston www.contex.co.nz 03 389 9296 postmaster@contex.co.nz Proudly supporting Design Energy A Christchurch-based robotic automation firm is helping companies across New Zealand to combat the productivity and labour challenges facing the country. Design Energy has been producing robot centred manufacturing equipment since 2007. They have worked with companies across New Zealand, large and small, across a wide range of applications including packing, stacking, cutting, assembly, welding, gluing, liquids handling, nailing, stapling and routing. The company is also involved in robotic research and development projects where entirely new processes and techniques must be developed, proven and then implemented as a fit for purpose, production ready machine. Founder and managing director Mike Shatford gained valuable experience while working in large factories overseas, and was motivated to use his knowledge and experience to help New Zealand companies deploy and enjoy the benefits of automation in their own factories. “Here at home a lot of our work is bespoke, so we must be versatile in our approach and deep in our knowledge, both in the use of robots but also able to understand and bring experience to the table with respect to the actual processes we automate. For example, it would be difficult to automate a welding process without knowing how to weld,” Mike said. The team shares 150 years automation and robotics experience, and has deployed hundreds of robots up and down the country. Mike said robotic automation was growing strongly across the globe. “This is great news for New Zealand producers as new robot technologies are solving old problems every day.” On the other hand, with robotics enabling automation on a much larger scale – over 500,000 new robot installations around the world in 2022 - New Zealand needed to make sure it didn’t fall behind. He said robotic technology producers were highly focused on providing practical automation solutions for lower volume, higher product variations that suit the production model of most small to mediums enterprises, which make up 97 per cent of the country’s businesses. Alongside new, more affordable technology there was a far better understanding of the value of productivity, and the labour related benefits such as cost, safety and labour availability. “The savings are clear. It used to be that value would only be considered in terms of the labour saved. But an increase in productivity provides benefits such as increased revenue, which can far outweigh this, especially where you aren’t keeping up with your orders.” From humble beginnings, Mike worked from home as a design engineer for hire. The company now employs 20 people in its 1600qsm Christchurch facility, and is supported by over 30 local suppliers who manufacture all their custom machine components. The company has five to 10 projects on the go at any one time, with the majority being turn-key solutions – robotic machines which are complete, tested and installed to specification at the customer’s site. “The advantage for customers is that they can get on with what they do best, with the knowledge that Design Energy has the bases covered – one throat to choke as they say,” Mike said, With robots involved in every job, he said it was an interesting place to work. “As our reputation grows, we find ourselves a destination for people with talent, passion and curiosity. And we build more experience and momentum are able to offer more and better learning and career opportunities for our people.” Mike is active in supporting robotic research and development initiatives, and provides industry advisory services to the University of Canterbury, robotic expertise to Callaghan Innovation and to early-to-automation commercial enterprises nationwide.
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