Page 5 - Industrial Technology EXTRA 15th February 2021

the pilot phase. However, taking the necessary demand, many clothing retailers must follow a
steps towards automation doesn’t have to involve constant stream of design, produce and deliver
hefty investment and colossal upfront costs. processes.
Upgrading automated equipment with precise and For the clothes to quickly be produced,
high torque motors provides an efficient way to manufacturers must be supplied with the relevant
enhance production lines and warehouse material in time. The textile industry winds millions
operations. of miles of yarns to produce enough material to
meet clothing demand. Textile winding machines
Assembly machines will wind and unwind yarns multiple times during
The consumer electronics industry is driven by new processing.
releases – take the superfans who queued overnight Motors are responsible for the guide eyelets that
for the eleventh series of Apple’s iPhone. To keep move the yarn back and forth between the two ends
producing electronic products, it’s important that of the reel. As such, it’s important for the motors
manufacturers can turn around new designs quickly used to have low inertia to allow quick changes in
and in their masses. direction at high speed.
Printed circuit boards are prevalent in everyday
electrical and electronic products, such as phones, Belt conveyors
computers, digital clocks and microwaves. Most Conveyor belts are integral in automated
mass-market electronics are manufactured using manufacturing facilities to transport large volumes
printed circuit board (PCB) assembly machines. of products around the factory, such as from the
Small conducting components are collected production line to the packaging line.
from the supply module by the placement head, And it’s not just about getting products from A to
which transports them to the assembly position B. Conveyors have even come to offer other
where they are attached to the PCB. The speed at benefits, such as backlit conveyors used in quality
which this can be done determines how quickly the control. Facility managers can programme
products can be produced. inspection robots to determine whether a product is
It’s therefore important that the assembly a pass or fail based on criteria such as visible dents
machines are powered by high torque motors that and scratches. Illuminating the product from behind
can speed up the picking and placing process. The makes it easier to separate and distinguish it from
ability to finely control the speed of the motors is
also important, as accurate movement of the
placement head is crucial to achieving a high-
quality product with precisely placed PCB
components.

Yarn winding machines
The textiles industry is also home to rapid pace
and quick turnaround. Originating in Ireland,
Primark’s stock flies off the shelves, with one
warehouse covering 1.1 million square feet and
holding 13 miles of clothing aisles. To keep up with

February 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA • p5