Product category:
PCB Assembly Equipment and Tools
News Release from: Contax | Subject: Komax automated assembly systems
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 03 August 2006
Automated systems aid auto switchgear
assembly
Stoneridge Pollak uses Komax automated assembly systems to manufacture automotive switchgear products including seat positioning and heating controls and ignition switches.
Worldwide automotive component manufacturer Stoneridge Pollak has now purchased a total of four Komax automated assembly systems from production automation specialist Contax These are being used to manufacture a number of new automotive switchgear products including seat positioning and heating controls and ignition switches
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 14 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Stoneridge Pollak, part of the $670 million Stoneridge Group, is a Tier One supplier to the automotive industry.
It supplies electromechanical and electronic products to clients such as: General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Deere and Company.
"We needed to set up a new assembly line for the latest switchgear products", explained Mike Oates, Quality Manager at Stoneridge Pollak.
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"So we researched and reviewed all the automated assembly systems available - and Komax stood out from its competitors", he said.
As the UK supplier for Komax Systems, Contax is the local point of contact and has been a supplier to Stoneridge Pollak for over 17 years.
Continued Oates: "We liked their approach, and the wealth of experience they had in supplying automation equipment for high end automotive companies".
"The Komax/Contax partnership was clearly the right choice for us, and that decision has been reinforced time and time again".
He added: "We have now purchased a total of four systems, the latest of which is being used to assemble automotive seat positioning and heating controls for a large US automotive company".
Using the Komax automated assembly system, up to nine different switch layouts are being produced, each in different colours to match the car's interior.
This uniformity of colour is very important as the paint finish and the colour and intensity of the back lighting has to be identical to other interior parts manufactured in different factories around the world.
These switches vary in complexity, with the most complicated version having more than 18 parts to be assembled and greased.
The Komax system undertakes all the automated assembly, with the vision facility ensuring that only the required areas are greased.
Another key function is product testing.
Working to a strict machine cycle time of 11 seconds per assembly, each switch is activated twice and checked for a number of elements including: correct colour, quality and position of graphic, light intensity and switch operation.
Another Komax system is being used to assemble ignition switches.
These are made up of six parts, and assembled, tested, coded and packaged in under four seconds.
Summing up, Oates said: "The Komax systems have proved very successful, and in line with our expectations".
"Contax and Komax have provided us with very good support, and our satisfaction with the systems has been reflected in the recent order for the fourth Komax machine", he concluded.
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