Liquid finishing myth: is automation an all-or-nothing solution?

A common misconception about automation is that you need to automate all your systems at once to see any real return on your investment. Thankfully, that is simply not true. Automation is a solution that can be scaled up over time in line with your company’s needs and targets. 
 

Think small 

Automation is not an all-or-nothing experience. On the contrary, every individual step of the paint line process can be automated separately. This means that you do not need to immediately change everything about your existing set-up to benefit from automation. For example, some rotary atomisers have a modular, scalable design. This allows you to automate a single controller at first, and progressively automate over time until you have switched over your complete rotary atomiser system.  A major benefit of this step-by-step approach is that it also enables you to align your automation timeline with your budget and resources.
 

Pick and mix

Alternatively, you could for instance automate your paint line production by installing an automatic meter and mixing system, while maintaining manual spraying. Or, why not choose to take it a little further and outfit your spraying booth with an automatic spraying system? Clearly, automation is a scalable solution that can be adapted according to your level of production. Think of paint line automation as a menu from which you can pick and mix the options that best suit your needs. An additional benefit of starting small is that it allows you to spread the cost of automating your processes over time.
 

What is your goal?

Your company’s needs and targets determine what process you should automate first. For instance, if you mostly want to increase your productivity, you might want to automate your applicators first, as this speeds up the spraying and allows you to spray around the clock. Or maybe your main goal is to improve worker safety? Then you may want to start by automating your monitoring so you can track volatile organic compounds or VOCs. 
 

Scalable and starter-friendly

In short, automation is a scalable and starter-friendly option. It is not exclusively for large companies or does not necessarily have to be complex. You can begin on a small scale by automating whatever part of the process makes the most sense to your company and integrate more automated systems over time. Not sure where to start? The automation experts at Graco can guide you on your automation journey. They can help you work out a comprehensive, long-term plan so that you can expand your automated systems over time.