Flexicell-Sponsored FIRST Lego League “Tobor Fanatics” Wins Norfolk Regional Championship, VA. “Mechanicsville Mechanics” Also Advance.

Mechanicsville Mechanics Concentrate on the Competition

The Flexicell-sponsored Tobor Fanatics won the Norfolk Regional competition of the FIRST Robotics Lego League, taking the titles of:

• Division 1 Championship
• 1st Place in Robot Design

The regional competition was held Saturday, November 22, 2009 in Norfolk, Virginia.  For the Division 1 Championship, the Tobor Fanatics scored 280 in the practice round, 1,270 in competition Round One, 1,270 in Round Two, and 280 in Round Three out of a possible 400 points per round. The next closest competitor scored their highest round at 165 points.

The team is also an alternate to compete in the Commonwealth of Virginia’s statewide event to be held December 5 and 6, 2009 in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

The Tobor Fanatics
The Tobor Fanatics is a team of four fourth-graders from Watkins Elementary School and one third grader from another school who reported he found this experience “extremely worthwhile and rewarding.”  The team met twice a week for the three months leading up to this year’s challenge.

 

Mechanicsville Mechanics Show Off their Awards

Mechanicsville Mechanics FIRST Robotics Lego League Team Also Advances
The Flexicell-sponsored Mechanicsville Mechanics will also advance to the statewide competition in Harrisonburg, VA. Their regional competition was held Saturday, November 7, 2009 at the Maggie Walker School in Richmond, Virginia. The Mechanics placed among the top five teams and took two awards:

• 2nd Place in Robot Design
• 2nd Place in Robot Performance

Flexicell-Sponsored Teams
In 2009, for the first time, Flexicell sponsored teams in the FIRST Robotics Lego League division, including the Tobor Fanatics and the Mechanicsville Mechanics.  These teams are comprised of elementary and/or middle school students grades four through eight (ages 9-14).  The LEGO League is an introduction contest to the more intricate FIRST Robotics competitions held by high school teams around the globe.   Flexicell has been a long-time sponsor of FIRST Robotics champion teams in the high school level.

 

Flexicell, Inc.
Flexicell, Inc. is a leading robotic system integrator, providing custom packing, palletizing, and material handling solutions such as case packing, assembly, feeding of product to other machinery, vision inspecting, collating, machine loading and unloading, conveying, palletizing/depalletizing, and automatic guided vehicles (AGVs).  Since its founding in 1992, Flexicell has created automation systems for companies located throughout North America in diverse markets such as food & beverage, pharmaceutical & medical, manufacturing, electronics, automotive, and household.  Flexicell is headquartered in Ashland, Virginia.

Visit us at www.flexicell.com.

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Automation Robot Purchases Increase in Life Sciences and Food/Consumer Goods Companies

According to a third-quarter report issued by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), robot orders rose in two manufacturing categories: life sciences and food & consumer goods.  The increase shows 14% more sales with life sciences customers, and a 12% increase with food & consumer goods customers.

The RIA reports  that some 192,000 robots are now used in the United States, placing the United States second only to Japan in overall robot use. It’s estimated that more than one million robots are being used worldwide.

FLEXICELL, INC.
Flexicell, Inc. is a robotic system integrator for end-of-line automation solutions including: packing, palletizing, and material handling.  Applications include case packing, assembly, vision inspecting, collating, machine loading/unloading, conveying, palletizing/depalletizing, and automatic guided vehicles.  Since 1992, Flexicell has installed robotic automation systems throughout North America in food & beverage, pharmaceutical & medical, electronics, automotive, and household industries.  For more information, visit www.flexicell.com

The Five Most Important Attributes of an Automation Project

Flexicell bag case packing system

What do packagers want out of automation systems?  In a Packaging in Automation survey held by Packaging Digest and Control Engineering magazines, packaging readers listed the five most important attributes of an automation project from their point of view:

• 70% — Reliability
• 62% — Quality/durability
• 60% — Price
• 56% — Easy to use, install and maintain
• 51% — Price-to-performance

In their comments, some packagers seemed to doubt that the integrators they’d worked with had adequately understood their needs.  They suggested that integrators “start to understand our needs and be prepared to understand our standards,” “listen to what we want,” and “really get to know my business and the objectives of our project.”  Others thought integrators need to better understand a production environment.

To be fair, it should be noted that many accomplished packaging integrators are well aware of the clients’ needs and the value of ongoing communications.  Sometimes the lack of understanding stems from the client’s own uncertainty about what he wants.   (Read the complete article at System Integration, Packaging Digest.)

Flexicell
Founded in 1992, Flexicell is a leading robotic system integrator specializing in the manufacture of end-of-line automation equipment for case packing, carton loading, palletizing, and material handling.   Listening to our customers is important, as demonstrated in the hundreds of successful systems Flexicell has created and installed throughout North America.

For more information, visit Flexicell at www.flexicell.com.

— excerpted from “Integrators: Do you know what your clients want?” by Vance VanDoren, Packaging Digest, November 2009.

KUKA RoboCoaster “The Sum of all Thrills” Opens at Disney’s Epcot

The Sum of all Thrills ride opens at Epcot

Ever taken a ride on a robot? Now you can, at Disney’s Epcot, where the new “The Sum of all Thrills” ride created by KUKA, and opened October 2009.

The Sum of all Thrills lets guests create their own ride experience by choosing a ride theme: a roller coaster, bobsled or jet plane. Using multi-touch object recognition tables, guests use math and engineering-based tools to design and customize their ride by adding corkscrews, inversions or steep hills. In the process, guests can learn a little bit about mathematical and engineering principles to determine how much energy is needed for a jet to take off or for a roller coaster or bobsled to make it up its first climb.

When the design of the ride is complete, it is saved on a personal card with a unique bar code. The card is then used to allow each guest to experience his or her custom ride from beginning to end on the robotic KUKA RoboSim 4-D simulator.

Inside the simulator, guests experience their ride on high definition video with stereo sound and a fan to simulate wind.

Innovations like the RoboCoaster (an attraction at many parks around the world) keep KUKA on the cutting edge of robotic technology. Their industrial robots, renowned for sleek design lines and PC-based robot controllers, are as attractive and reliable on the manufacturing floor as they are in a theme park.

Flexicell
Flexicell provides robotic packing, palletizing and material handling automation projects for manufacturing facilities throughout North America.  Flexicell is a system integrator, integrating robots, such as those made by KUKA,  into automation equipment in order to increase speed and accuracy, and reduce downtime and injuries in factories.  For more information about Flexicell, visit their web site at www.flexicell.com.

5 Ways Robots are Green

Robots are among the most efficient machines available to manufacturers and can be part of any company’s strategy for green manufacturing, reports Brian Huse, Director of Marketing and PR for Robotics Industry Association (RIA). Faster cycle times, improved quality and less scrap contribute directly to a greener footprint, and robots are well known for these advantages. If you use robots you have a green manufacturing story already.

Here are 5 ways robots are green:

1. Robots reduce cycle time thus saving energy
2. Robots can multi-task and eliminate the need for extra, less energy efficient equipment
3. Robots improve quality which means less energy used for re-work
4. Robots can be “recycled” for new applications unlike most hard automation (a used robot is the first robot for some companies)
5. Makers of sustainable energy products in solar, wind and hydroelectric markets need robots for some tasks that people and hard automation don’t do well.

— Excerpted from “A Little Green in Every Robot,” by Brian Huse, Robotics Industry Association, October 19, 2009.  Copyright © // 2008 Robotic Industries Association

Flexicell, Inc.
Flexicell is a leading robotic system integrator specializing in case and carton packing, palletizing and material handling in markets such as food & beverage, pharmaceutical & medical, electronics, automotive, and household goods.
Learn more about Flexicell at www.flexicell.com.

Save Your Factory with Robotic Automation — Automate Now

As more companies struggle to maintain a competitive edge, robotic automation provides a key advantage for your manufacturing productivity. In the grand scheme of things, deciding to implement automation will most likely be the easy part. Deciding on the who, what, where, when and why is the difficult part.  Here are some tips to help you through the decision-making process.

1. Why automate? To improve throughput, reduce costs or improve quality.
2. What and where? What application do you plan to automate? Chances are there is a robot built specifically for your application.
3. Who will you select as an integrator? Using one company maintains consistency within your organization. In many instances, smaller integrators will prove beneficial to your project, particularly in niche or specialty applications.
4. Who on the shop floor is responsible for your new automation? Get the end user involved from the beginning.
5. When is the best time to invest? The best time to invest was 20 years ago; the second best time is NOW. There are many government programs and other manufacturing incentives available today. There are also tax incentives for purchasing capital equipment. Even power companies may offer incentives for purchasing equipment with better power efficiency.

Currently global competition is extremely aggressive and more companies are adopting robotic automation to reduce capital costs, improve quality and increase manufacturing flexibility. For industries in North America struggling to remain viable, the benefits of robotic automation can help improve their competitive position, and prevent them from moving offshore or closing altogether.

Whether small or large, a company’s goal should be to try their first robot. When they use the robot, they will realize increased productivity, better quality, and lower costs—all keys to staying competitive and profitable.

—Excerpted from “Save Your Factory with Automation—Automate Now,” from FANUC Innovations newsletter, 2009. (read the entire article in Flexicell’s  Case/Studies White Papers section of their web sit, or click this link:  Save Your Factory with Automation)

FLEXICELL, INC.
Flexicell, Inc. is a robotic system integrator, creating packing, palletizing, and material handling solutions including case packing, assembly, vision inspecting, collating, machine loading/unloading, conveying, palletizing/depalletizing, and automatic guided vehicles. Since 1992, Flexicell has installed automation systems throughout North America in food & beverage, pharmaceutical & medical, electronics, automotive, and household industries.  www.flexicell.com

Flexicell adds Trumpf Laser Cutting Technology to its Manufacturing Capabilities

Trumpf TruLaser 1030 added to Flexicell's manufacturing technology.

Flexicell has upgraded its technology again with the addition of a new Trumpf TruLaser 1030 laser cutting system to the manufacturing floor.  The TruLaser features 3-axis flying optics for high speed and accuracy and will cut to a maximum thickness of 5/8” mild steel.

Almost all components in a Flexicell-created packing, palletizing, or material handling automation system are manufactured in house at Flexicell’s 70,000-square foot facility in Ashland, VA.  The laser cutter will provide outstanding highly-accurate results, enabling Flexicell to offer an even better product.

Flexicell is a leading robotic system integrator specializing in the manufacture of end-of-line automation equipment for case packing, carton loading, palletizing, and material handling.  Founded in 1992, the company has created and installed hundreds of systems throughout North America.

For more information, visit Flexicell at www.flexicell.com.

Flexicell Honored by FANUC Robotics with New Designation; Recognized in Strategic Relationship Program

Flexicell awarded additional FANUC designation

Flexicell, Inc. is honored to be recognized for its participation in FANUC Robotics’ Strategic Relationship Program by being named a Strategic Market Specialist. The program retains a strong association with FANUC’s Authorized Integrator program, and provides additional differentiation.  According to FANUC, the designation was awarded ” in recognition of Flexicell’s unique expertise applying FANUC robots in various secondary packaging operations.”  Flexicell was already a Level 4 FANUC Authorized Integrator.

Flexicell is a leading robotic system integrator specializing in case and carton packing, palletizing and material handling, and obtains many of its robots from FANUC Robotics to integrate into fully-functional automation systems for markets including food & beverage, electronics, pharmaceutical, medical, automotive, and household goods, among others.

Visit Flexicell at www.flexicell.com for more information.

Flexicell Showing New Product—A High-Speed Collator—at Pack Expo 2009 Las Vegas

Flexicell Introduces its New High Speed Flex Collator and Carton Loader

Although Flexicell will not have a booth at  Pack Expo 2009, it will be showcasing a new high-speed collator at the ADCO Manufacturing booth, #C-1043 in the Central Hall.
Named the High Speed Flex Collator and Carton Loader, this equipment is a new offering from Flexicell.

The Flex Collator allows your automation line to carton load or case pack at high speeds by providing proper orientation for the process.

• It provides: high speed collation of product including flow-wrap, bags, tubs, etc. at a rate to 220 products per minute (rate depends on product size).
• It features: high speed, quick changeover, high reliability, low maintenance and simple design.

For more information about the Flex Collator, please contact Flexicell at 804-550-7300 or www.flexicell.com.

PACK EXPO 2009
Pack Expo 2009 will be held October 5-7, 2009 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (3150 Paradise Road), Las Vegas, Nevada.

FLEXICELL, INC.
Flexicell, Inc. is a robotic system integrator, creates packing, palletizing, and material handling solutions including case packing, assembly, vision inspecting, collating, machine loading/unloading, conveying, palletizing/depalletizing, and automatic guided vehicles. Since 1992, Flexicell has installed automation systems throughout North America in food & beverage, pharmaceutical & medical, electronics, automotive, and household industries.  www.flexicell.com

What Packaging Teams Look For When Making Packaging Machinery Purchases

Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute, Inc.

More than half of the 184 packaging machinery purchasers surveyed in PMMI’s 2009 Customer Attitudes & Behaviors Study (formerly Purchasing Process Study) rely on a preferred vendor list (57 percent), emphasize line integration and solutions strategies (53 percent) and are conducting more rigorous evaluations of manufacturer proposals (52 percent) when making purchasing decisions.

Overall, 71% of the 2009 survey respondents indicate that a purchasing team exists in their company to make packaging machinery purchase decisions. Implementation of strategies or initiatives in response to current economic and market conditions are:

• 57% – Prequalifying machinery manufactures/creating preferred vendor lists
• 53% – Emphasize line integration and “solutions” strategies
• 52% – More detailed/rigorous evaluations of machinery manufacturer proposals
• 41% – Reconditioning or rebuilding machinery in the installed fleet
• 40% – Relying on machinery manufacturers used in the past vis-a-vis new vendors
• 34% – Involving more types of personnel in machinery manufacturer proposal review
• 32% – Delaying purchase of new packaging machinery
• 30% – Moving decision-making responsibilities

Flexicell has hundreds of satisfied packing, palletizing and material handling equipment customers located throughout North America.  If you’d like more information about Flexicell, visit www.flexicell.com.

— excerpted from “Customer Attitudes & Behaviors” Study 2009, issued by PMMI