Custom Solutions
Integrated automation systems engineered
to your exact specifications.
Creative Automation specializes in custom solutions.
We work with you to design, build, and program a system custom-engineered to meet your company’s specific automation needs.
What Makes Us Different?
Semi-Automated to Fully Automated Systems
We offer a range of solutions. From basic setups to fully automated systems with minimal operator intervention, we tailor our approach to meet your needs.
Complete Engineering Capabilities
Creative Automation has fully staffed mechanical and controls engineering departments. Full electrical panel design and build, electrical schematic design, layout, design of end-arm tools, system design, and complete integration are all executed in house.
Advanced Robotics Knowledge
While other companies dabble in robotics, we integrate robotics day in and day out as Certified Robotics Integrators. We possess the most up-to-date knowledge in this area, and can confidently guide you to the best robotics solution for your needs.
Top-Notch Project Management and Safety
We have dedicated project managers who ensure optimal communication between our engineers, shop staff, and your team. In regards to safety, we follow the ANSI/RIA R15.06-2012 Safety Standard.
Cost-Effective Solutions
Because we’re extremely well versed in our areas of speciality, our customers don’t pay for our learning curve. When you work with Creative Automation, you’ll receive expedited service and unmatched quality at a fair price. Most of our customers see return on their investment within a short period of time.
The Latest Industry Trends and Technologies
At Creative Automation, we’re dedicated to staying on top of the latest technologies. In addition to having several qualified vision engineers on staff, we also use 3-D printing. As new technologies emerge, we always assess when it makes sense to integrate them with our capabilities.
Machine Tending
Because machine tending can be hazardous, a robotic solution provides the safest, most efficient operation. By loading and unloading machine tools, robots replace the need for human operators. Creative Automation can develop an integrated, customized solution for machine tending that integrates systems and parts such as:
- Robots
- Gantries
- Conveyors
- Gears
- Crankshafts
- Camshafts
- Engine Blocks
Creative Automation excels in interfacing machines, designing cells for maximum efficiency, and coordinating multiple machines from various manufacturers. We have executed lines with up to 25 different operations and multiple machine tools.
No matter how complex, we can design a system to increase your operation’s safety and efficiency.
Boxy Autoloader
At Automate 2019 Creative Automation introduced the Boxy Autoloader to the North American Market. The Boxy is divided into three styles (Type 1, 2 and 3) and is designed to be a simple standardized automation solution for Machine tending.
The Boxy systems use FANUC robots and an industrial PC to control a standardized cell design to load and unload Machine tools at a low cost, increasing Machine uptimes and freeing operators to either do other tasks or manage multiple machines.
Deburring
Systems for Burr Removal
After machining, many parts have burrs on them which can interfere with the fit and operation of the parts. Creative Automation therefore offers a number of solutions for deburring parts. We can provide solutions, ranging from deburring multiple sides of a part in a single operation to debarring deep oil holes in crankshafts.
In addition to our own capabilities, to enhance our expertise we partner with two other companies, Flexmill and WMS-engineering GmbH, to provide deburring solutions for our customers.
WMS-engineering GmbH is a manufacturer and integrator of robotic deburring cells. These cells use standard industrial robots combined with advanced deburring tools to remove burrs from a wide variety of parts, efficiently saving many hours of labor.
Dispensing
In addition to part handling, Creative Automation works with several partner companies to provide automated dispensing systems for a variety of applications and industries.
Creative Automation and its partners specialize in Robotic Dispensing for:
- Air Filter Manufacturing
- Door Gaskets
- Cavity Waxing
- Gluing
- Sealing
- Window Thermal Breaks
Come to us with your needs and we will provide you with the optimal solution.
Palletizers
Palletizers can handle a wide variety of parts, from standard shipping cartons to automotive components. Size-wise, they can manage anything from small parts in tote boxes to heavy forging blanks for camshafts.
Palletizers Increase Efficiency
Our palletizers are capable of stacking boxes or pallets and can also quickly and safely palletize machined components for shipping to the next stage of your manufacturing or distribution process, greatly increasing the efficiency of your operation. Palletizers can be made so that all you have to do is supply them with pallets or dunnage and they will do the rest. Besides palletizing, they can also insert slip-sheets or trays. Machines such as pallet feeders and stretch-wrappers may also be added to more extensively automate your system.
Depalletizers: Stackers in Reverse
Palletizers can also be used in reverse as depalletizers, to unload parts from pallets to be fed into your manufacturing line or distribution center, which frees up your labor for other tasks and boosts productivity.
Palletizers and depalletizers can be an extremely important part of your manufacturing and packaging operations. They may also be used to depalletize pallets/dunnage by feeding parts or boxes into your manufacturing line or distribution center. Combined with vision technology, variable part positions/orientations may also be accommodated, allowing for even more flexibility in the system.
Whether your situation calls for a palletizer or depalletizer, Creative Automation can supply you with a solution suited to your requirements.
Vision Systems
Vision systems are becoming ever more common in today’s factories. And while an effective solution for many applications, they can be challenging to integrate. Creative Automation has been working with vision systems for ten years, and has built up a team of qualified vision engineers to assist our customers with their vision system needs.
As members of the Automated Imaging Association, we are dedicated to providing you with reliable vision systems that meet your needs. We are also a Cognex Certified System Integrator.
Laser Marking Systems
Many Large OEM’s are increasing traceability requirements to all components in their products. The early the traceability they can start the better. For this they need clear and durable marks that can survive multiple manufacturing processes. Laser Markers are a good flexible solution, able to burn in clear traceable marks (both machine readable and Human readable) that will survive most
manufacturing operations.
Creative is increasing supplying Laser marking stations, either as stand alone cells or integrated into an overall cell.
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR)
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are a new generation of technology, similar to the old AGVs (Automatic Guided Vehicles) and SGVs (Self Guided Vehicles), the new AMRs use the newer generation sensors, Wi-Fi and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to take things to a whole new level. AMRs use the sensors to map out the factory floor and keep it updated, allowing the AMRs to adapt to changing conditions and go around obstacles such as people to get to their destinations.
They also communicate via Wi-Fi to keep all the units in the fleet updated, it also allows central management software to more efficiently manage the fleet to parameters set by the operators. We have partnered with Otto Motors to provide our customers solutions in this area.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
The Industrial Internet Things is a popular buzzword but we here at Creative are starting to see real world applications of the IIoT. No longer are machines or cells Islands of information, now data from those Machines and cells can be pumped to factory servers or the cloud for analysis. Common applications include preventative maintenance, live tracking of production rates and identifying of process improvement opportunities, etc.
