CONSIDERATIONS IN PURCHASING
AUTOMATED DISPENSE EQUIPMENT
Purchasing mater/mix/dispense equipment usually
represents a major investment and it is worth while to spend some time in
considering the overall process at hand, how the equipment will be implemented
and the possibilities of future changes in the product line. One critical
process consideration would be the manpower required to run the system in
production. In some cases, if the process is too fast, it will require two
people to run it but the total output may be less than the two people might
produce individually, thereby negating the planned savings in labour. The
following suggestions are based on our experience as a material supplier, having
dealt with both problems and successes.
The following are the suggested steps and
considerations in this process:
-
Select the material supplier for the Epoxy or
Urethane compound.
-
Select the equipment supplier and describe the
intended application in detail. Obtain any pertinent information regarding the
general limitations of the equipment if any.
-
Discuss the material requirements with the
formulator and be certain to indicate that the product is to be dispensed
using automated equipment. This is extremely important from the formulating
stand point. The formulation to be used can be selected or developed to favour
the equipment by;
-
Selecting or formulating products that
incorporate "non-abrasive" fillers.
-
Selecting or formulating products with the
desired pot life or gel time.
-
Selecting or formulating products that
include resin and hardener components that are easily mixed together.
-
Selecting or formulating material components
to yield the best viscosity.
-
Selecting or developing a material with the
most suitable mix ratio.
-
Test and approve the material in terms of
performance. Get all the necessary material modifications completed and
prototype parts tested and approved.
-
Allow the formulator and the equipment
manufacturer to work together in developing the complete system.
-
Arrange for an extensive trial run at the
premises of the equipment manufacturer utilizing the finalized material. This
is important since minor problems are easily corrected in house without the
requirement for service calls and possibly having to ship components to the
installation site. We recommend at least a full day's uninterrupted production
for final approval to delivery.
-
Arrange for training the maintenance
personnel so that they are fully aware of the critical maintenance items and
trouble shooting procedures.
-
Order and stock the recommended spare parts.
The equipment supplier can recommend a list of parts to keep on hand.
NOTES:
It is critical to have the equipment and material
supplier work together from the start of the project. This will permit minor
adjustments prior to final installation. It is always more difficult to schedule
travel in order to correct problems at the installation site.
Short trial runs, prior to equipment delivery,
may not show all the potential problems. Our suggestion is a full day
uninterrupted production.
Disclaimer: The above information is general in nature and is based solely on experiences by Crosslink Technology Inc. The recommendations provided herein may not be applicable in all situations. They are provided to the recipient as part of our customer service and the user must determine the relevance of the information to his/her application, considering any limitations that may be applicable thereto. Crosslink technology Inc. does not accept any liability for direct or consequential damages resulting from the implementations of these recommendations or the use of this information.
| 
