A long-standing customer in the medical equipment manufacturing industry approached SDC to expand their production capabilities with an additional custom automated solution. The goal was to improve throughput, reduce manual labor, and automate a previously labor-intensive process involving medical tubing.
With extensive experience designing automated manufacturing machines for this customer—including prior systems for similar applications—SDC was able to streamline the development process. Only minor updates were needed to tailor the system to their current production goals, accelerating deployment and minimizing engineering risk for advanced medical tube assembly.
The advanced medical tube assembly system needed to meet several critical requirements to ensure reliable, high-throughput performance. It had to feed, cut, and assemble tubing components that are notoriously sticky and prone to tangling without operator intervention.
This automated medical tube assembly system needed to integrate robotic pick-and-place operations, precision tube feeding and cutting, dual solvent application, and vision-guided alignment for consistent, accurate assembly. It also needed to maintain a production rate of 240 assembled parts per hour with minimal operator oversight. Drawing from experience with similar automation challenges, our team was able to define and propose a robust machine concept quickly.
SDC engineered an advanced, high-precision medical tube assembly with cleanroom compatibility built for the life sciences industry. The design addressed the unique challenges of medical tubing—tangling, sticking, and tight tolerances—through several key technologies:
The implementation of SDC’s automatic medical feed tube assembly machine delivered immediate and measurable benefits:
This robust, fully automated system provided the client with a scalable, future-ready solution tailored to the challenges of medical tube assembly. Leveraging our library of proven designs, SDC delivered results faster and more cost-effectively, helping our customer meet growing product demand and position themselves for continued success in the competitive medical equipment manufacturing market.
Our SDC Flex Feeding systems are engineered to provide a continuous, uninterrupted supply of pickable parts, eliminating robotic wait times and maximizing robotic pick rates. Designed to seamlessly integrate with automated manufacturing solutions, our systems enhance efficiency, ensure minimal downtime, and boost overall productivity for life sciences and medical equipment manufacturing.
The SDC Flex Feeder is built to handle a wide variety of part shapes and sizes with precision. Leveraging decades of expertise, we deliver a proven parts feeding solution that optimizes the flow of small to medium-sized parts through the production process. Whether working with complex geometries or varying part orientations, our flex feeding systems are engineered to keep parts moving smoothly, ensuring peak performance in advanced automated assembly and packaging applications.
Whether streamlining an automated production line or enhancing part feeding, the SDC Flex Feeder provides the reliability and efficiency needed for optimal productivity in our automated manufacturing machines.
From a business standpoint, the machine enabled the client to scale production capacity without increasing labor costs or expanding floor space. The reliable, repeatable nature of the automation system improved overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and allowed for better resource planning and uptime.
The integration of three FANUC robots, SDC Flex Feeding, precision tube cutting with real-time vision feedback, and unique automated parts feeding allowed the customer to maintain high product quality while reducing operator involvement and minimizing error rates. As a result, a more predictable and streamlined production workflow was achieved with fewer quality control issues and reduced rework.
Additionally, SDC’s ability to leverage prior machine designs meant faster project deployment and reduced engineering costs. By automating a once challenging and labor-intensive process, our customer not only met rising product demand but also positioned themselves for long-term growth in the competitive medical equipment manufacturing industry.
A: This system addresses the common issues of handling sticky, flexible tubing that tends to tangle and cause assembly delays. It automates tube feeding, cutting, solvent application, and insertion with robotic precision. As a result, it improves consistency, eliminates bottlenecks, and significantly reduces labor costs.
A: The SDC Flex Feeding system uses smart conveyor technology and integrated vision to automatically orient and present parts for robotic picking. It ensures a continuous, high-speed supply of components, even those with complex geometries. This eliminates robotic wait time and boosts overall machine throughput.
A: The machine is designed to maintain a steady output of 240 assembled parts per hour with minimal operator oversight. This high throughput allows manufacturers to scale operations without increasing labor or floor space. It’s ideal for fast-paced medical equipment manufacturing environments.
A: Absolutely! SDC specializes in custom automated solutions tailored to unique production needs. Whether it’s different tube materials, sizes, or assembly configurations, the system can be modified to fit a variety of medical or life sciences applications and more. Our modular approach also supports future upgrades and expansion.
A: Automation improves efficiency, reduces operational costs, and enhances product quality by minimizing human error. With repeatable processes and real-time quality checks, manufacturers gain better control over production outcomes. Long term, this leads to improved OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and faster ROI.
