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Two uniquely different cases show how an adept system integrator can build customized equipment and lines not available off the shelf

Increasing production speed while keeping rejects low and quality consistent—and maintaining food safety—is the goal of every food and beverage processor. Today, many food processors look toward automation to provide the solutions needed to attain the necessary throughput to be competitive.

Problem is, while processors can buy off-the-shelf equipment to tackle a variety of automation applications, orchestrating all this equipment to tackle the job from start to finish can eat up a lot of engineering time.

In this article two food processors—one with an existing facility and one with a new plant—needed production lines designed, built and completed as quickly as possible. Both called upon Rapid Development Services (RDS) to evaluate their projects and come up with an automated solution (including robotics). Both projects included novel inventions to accomplish their respective projects.

Changeover time was critical and Gurevich reports, “The system exceeded customer’s requirements, to have a change over time of less than 15 minutes.” The design had universal tooling and programming, allowing seamless conversion from one size bag product to another without mechanical changes.

The application required new solutions in several areas, says Gurevich, which included:

• New technology was developed for staging and presentation of multiple bags for robotic pick up. The bags could be picked up and stacked side by side in the direction of its length or width.
• New technology was developed for a universal no-change end effector capable of reliably holding multiple size bags (8 sizes) from 2 lbs to 50 lbs per bag.
• New technology was developed for robotically erecting 48-in. tall full pallet size and half pallet size Gaylord.

Read more at Food Engineering magazine.

Expert medical device fabricators and integrators meet customer requirements and expedite completion by offering flexibility and customization.

Medical device manufacturers must continually increase production speed and efficiency while reducing labor, spurring automation. However, off-the-shelf equipment won’t accommodate every application, particularly complex ones with robots, conveyors, and a host of equipment for manufacture, assembly, packaging, labeling, and palletizing.

Advantages can be gained when working with an integrator that can couple the knowledge of custom machine building with standardized robotics as well as developing specific control and communication support between production machinery and operator or inventory management systems.

“While implementing off-the-shelf solutions can be a starting point for some projects, automation incorporating robotics frequently require a custom solution that meets very specific process requirements,” says Leon Gurevich, founder and chief technology officer of Rapid Development Services (RDS), an industrial automation equipment builder providing design, engineering, integration, and fabrication of production machinery. “Even large suppliers in this space will often pass on opportunities if they aren’t easily resolved.”

RDS initially installed the system in a California plant, which ran the robotic system trouble-free in a cleanroom for more than 5 years. At the company’s request, RDS disassembled, moved, reinstalled, and restarted the system at a new facility in Puerto Rico, where it’s run trouble-free, three shifts per day, for 10 years.

Whether medical device manufacturers need help to automate production or equipment used in provider settings, partnering with an expert in automation can be the surest route to ensuring compliance, reliability, and efficiency.

“Companies sometimes shy away from automation when only focusing on direct labor savings or short-term return on investment (ROI),” RDS President Sunit Mishra says.

Read more at Today’s Medical Developments magazine.

Manufacturers and processors who want to increase the speed and efficiency of their production while reducing effort have been driven to make a change and implement automated systems.

RDS manufactures automated equipment for industries, offers design, construction, integration and manufacturing of production machinery. This company has implemented nearly 300 complex and robotic manufacturing and assembly projects around the world and has been assigned more than 40 patents.

RDS has designed and manufactured for the food industry a high speed packaging machine and robotic systems including primary fill seal, sleeve, bag, plastic packaging, trays, box, case and pallet packaging.

For Riviana, the largest rice supplier in the United States, the automated equipment manufacturer did three large packaging projects for two large factories. This included the packaging of 2-120 lb. rice bags, as well as the packaging of rice sacks.

“RDS did a good job with the installation. The staff was very organized and efficient executing the installation and training, ”says Rick Meyer, Principal Project Engineer, Riviana.

In the case of RDS, the company generally uses the standard solutions that are available for sale and integrates them with other systems; however, you can design and build equipment and subsystems for the food industry from scratch. This includes inspection systems, packaging equipment, labeling / marking systems, and pallet automation, as well as filling systems and machine care automation.

Read more at Food News LATAM

Translation (Spanish):

Los fabricantes y procesadores que quieren aumentar la rapidez y eficiencia de su producción y al mismo tiempo reducir el esfuerzo han sentido el impulso de hacer un cambio e implementar sistemas automatizados.

RDS fabrica equipos automatizados para industrias, ofrece diseño, construcción, integración y fabricación de maquinaría de producción. Esta empresa ha implementado cerca de 300 proyectos complejos y robóticos para fabricación y ensamblaje en todo el mundo y se le han asignado más de 40 patentes.

RDS ha diseñado y fabricado para la industria de alimentos una máquina para empacar de alta velocidad y sistemas robóticos que incluyen el empacado primario de sellado de llenado, funda, bolsa, empaque plástico, bandejas, caja, estuche y palé.

“RDS hizo un buen trabajo con la instalación. El personal fue muy organizado y eficiente ejecutando la instalación y la capacitación”, dice Rick Meyer, Ingeniero Principal de Proyectos, de Riviana.

En el caso de RDS, por lo general, la empresa utiliza las soluciones estándares que están disponibles para la venta y las integra con otros sistemas; sin embargo, puede diseñar y crear desde cero equipos y subsistemas para la industria de alimentos. Esto incluye sistemas de revisión, equipos para empacar, sistemas para etiquetar/marcar y automatización de palé, así como también, sistemas de llenado y automatización del cuidado de la máquina.

Lea mas en Food News LATAM

Working with an expert fabricator and integrator that is flexible enough to customize can help meet requirements while expediting completion.

For projects of any size, however, it is often crucial to partner with an expert supplier to overcome a range of obstacles such as meeting specifications and regulatory requirements, system integration, and necessary customization, as well as completing the work on time and within budget.

“While implementing off-the-shelf solutions can be a starting point for some projects, automating and incorporating robotics frequently requires a custom solution that meets very specific process requirements. For this reason, even large suppliers in this space will often pass on opportunities if they are not easily resolved,” says Leon Gurevich, founder and President of Rapid Development Services (RDS).

RDS is an industrial automation equipment builder, providing design, engineering, integration and fabrication of production machinery. The company has implemented over 300 complex, robotic, assembly and manufacturing projects worldwide, and has been awarded more than 40 patents.

In the case of RDS, the company typically uses standardized off-the-shelf solutions and integrates it with other systems, but can design and manufacture equipment and sub-systems from scratch, as needed. This includes equipment such as automated assembly solutions, inspection systems, packaging equipment, labeling/marking systems and palletizing automation, as well as filling systems and machine tending automation.

According to Redford, in working with RDS, “We were able to design a new handling system from scratch in just a few weeks. [Rapid Development Services] designed the new system in modular sections that could be brought into the facility through standard door openings. This allowed us to continue facility construction with no delay.”

“Rapid Development Services’ technical expertise in handling products, test socket and integration methods, precision in machining, robotic, PLC and actuator integration, and customer support have allowed Triton Network Systems to complete the integration of five work cells within 9 months. Their participation in the project has provided… solutions that were identified by other integrators as “not possible” or “need 12 months to develop,” stated Kreuzpaintner.

Read more at IMD Industrial Machinery Digest

Taking the next step in automation:
Overcoming the challenges to automate manufacturing

Working with an expert fabricator and integrator that is flexible enough to customize can help meet requirements while expediting completion.

A distinct advantage can be gained when working with an integrator that can couple the knowledge of custom machine building with standardized robotics, as well as develop specific control and communication support between production machinery and operator or inventory management systems.

Read more at Processing Magazine

Collaborating with an Expert Integrator to Accelerate Manufacturing Automation.

For manufacturers, the continual need to increase production speed and efficiency while reducing labor has spurred a shift toward implementing automated systems.

However, off-the-shelf equipment cannot accommodate every application.

This is particularly true for complex systems with robots and conveyors, as well as a host of equipment for manufacturing, assembly, packaging, labeling, palletizing, etc. — which all must be coordinated flawlessly.

Custom Automation
“While implementing off-the-shelf solutions can be a starting point for some projects, automating and incorporating robotics frequently requires a custom solution that meets very specific process requirements.

For this reason, even large suppliers in this space will often pass on opportunities if they are not easily resolved,” says Leon Gurevich, founder and chief technology officer of Rapid Development Services (RDS).

Read more at U.S. TECH MARCH 2021 [Page 60-63]

Taking the Next Step in Automation: Overcoming the Challenges to Automate Manufacturing.

Manufacturers looking to take the next step and increase production often look to increase automation, but often they run into a situation where off-the-shelf solutions just won’t work due to the unique circumstances of their process or packaging requirements. When this occurs, even the major automation companies will pass on the project.

For manufacturers, the continual need to increase production speed and efficiency while reducing labor has spurred a shift toward implementing automated systems.

“While implementing off-the-shelf solutions can be a starting point for some projects, automating and incorporating robotics frequently requires a custom solution that meets very specific process requirements. For this reason, even large suppliers in this space will often pass on opportunities if they are not easily resolved,” says Leon Gurevich, founder and Chief Technology Officer of Rapid Development Services (RDS).

Read More at Manufacturing Tomorrow

Working with an expert packaging device fabricator and integrator to overcome challenges to manufacturing. 

For projects of any size and complexity, it is important to work with expert automation suppliers to overcome obstacles such as meeting specifications, regulatory requirements, system integration and all the required customization.

Off-the-shelf equipment will not accommodate every application, especially the more complex ones involving robotics, conveyors and a host of other equipment required for flawless coordination of all the manufacturing, assembly, packaging, labelling and palletizing functions.

Read more at AutomateNow Spring 2021

Automation suppliers and integrators need a ‘tool box’ full of solutions including the ability to design and build from scratch in order to fit together all the pieces of the puzzle. 

For manufacturers, the continual need to increase production speed and efficiency while reducing labor has spurred a shift toward implementing automated systems. However, off-the-shelf equipment cannot accommodate every application.

Leon Gurevich, founder and chief technology officer of Rapid Development Services (RDS)
“The flexibility of 6-axis robotic technology allows us to produce an array of products on the same equipment while maintaining a high-quality product. We have relied on this equipment to continue serving our customers.”.

Read more at PECM Process Engineering, Control & Maintenance

Rapid Development Services. engineered Robotic Modular Insert Molding loader.
Rapid Development Services. engineered Robotic Modular Insert Molding loader. This system designed to handle two products on demand. The system has two products vibro-feeders with its parts delivery and staging area, providing multiple parts placement into the cavities of the mold of the plastic injection machine. The system is set up to be rolled to the standard insert molding press that uses indexing dial with lower mold tooling. The 6 axis robot with quick release end effector is capable to pick and place miniature components’ and provide vision inspection of the mold prior to indexing.