Austrian company, RICO Elastomere Projecting, has launched a fully automated production process which is able to manufacture silicone parts 24 hours a day, including during the night without any workers present.
Credit: RICO Elastomere Projecting GmbH
RICO produces several billion silicone and multi-component parts every year and has an in-house mould production department at its facility in Thalheim bei Wels. The production equipment operates day and night, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. However, from 6pm to 6am whilst the staff are at home, the injection moulding machines continue running.
To make this possible, RICO had to optimise and automate the company’s daytime processes, and implement the use of handling systems, robots, and sophisticated logistics systems to prevent any potential bottlenecks or problems on the conveyor belts or chutes. Additionally, only precisely adjusted moulds are used for volume production, and parts are finished and/or packaged automatically immediately after moulding. All processes are monitored via a digital control console system, which can be checked 24-hours a day.
Markus Nuspl, managing director, RICO, believes this is the first of its kind. He commented on the news: “As far as we know, there are no other companies in our industry using unmanned night shifts for production.”
He added: “Unmanned night-time production is not possible without precise control over your processes and quality.”
Nuspl claims that the increase in automation within the facility hasn’t actually led to a reduction in staff. He explained how, “moulds don’t build themselves and the machines have to be set up extremely precisely.” He highlighted how the removal of night shifts makes the workplace more family-friendly and sets the company apart from other silicone injection-moulding companies.