Before the pandemic, plenty of people worked remotely. For the employers that could manage it, it kept down overhead costs and opened up the hiring pool to folks outside of the local area. Remote work, of course, only functioned for some professions and it certainly had its challenges.
During the pandemic, however, the need to accommodate remote work skyrocketed, propelling a slew of exciting technology developments. Since then, those technologies have ballooned, including those for manufacturers and other professions that typically can’t work remotely.
Recently, Cincinnati Inc. (CI), a U.S.-based producer of metal fabrication equipment, announced its latest wave of remote collaboration capabilities, further enabling the remote machine troubleshooting and customer engagement CI began offering customers in the early 2000s. The new features are part of the company’s tech package available on its XForm press brake, a new brake designed for a new era of manufacturing.
Aiding the trainers
The XForm line of hydraulic press brakes is relatively new to the CI catalog of fabricating equipment, but the tech package was the focus of a recent webinar. In terms of the capabilities the package delivers, there was plenty to highlight – especially from the operator’s perspective.
It is well-known that the loss of tribal knowledge in the manufacturing industry has been a growing concern. Without that knowledge, efficiency, productivity and continuity on shop floors all around the country suffer. When new employees are onboarded, often there isn’t enough senior staff available to train them in a timely manner.
To support senior staff that is often stretched too thin, the XForm tech package provides a variety of capabilities. For starters, the dual touchscreen monitors deliver a better and potentially more familiar work environment for new staff. The next generation of workers grew up in the digital world and have high expectations for the controls and interfaces that they work with. Knowing this, CI made it a priority to provide a more intuitive and streamlined interface that makes machine adjustments and real-time monitoring quick and easy.
The tech package also offers the ability to upload and view PDFs, videos, photos and other file types to bending programs, which can be incredibly helpful for new operators. During the webinar, Mike Crossland, bending product manager at CI, explained how access to these types of visuals can be a big help when an operator is unsure how to bend a part.
He gave the example of a production team that was encountering issues with a new part. A new operator had bent a couple parts backward, which meant they had to be scrapped. To show the operator which side should have been bent first, a manager uploaded a new program with better graphics that could be accessed right at the press brake’s controls.
“Press brakes have had the same frame components since their conception in the early 1900s,” Crossland says. “What has changed is the technology we use with the brake. The goal with these technologies is to make the end user experience as easy as possible. From our Windows-based platform, we bring familiarity to the machine control and our offline programing. As technology continues to evolve, so will CI.”
Thanks to the XForm’s remote capabilities, the manager didn’t even have to be on the shop floor to speak to the operator or upload the new file. They were able to talk to the operator through the tech package’s included webcam and send the file via WiFi from their laptop. Screensharing also streamlined the conversation by ensuring the operator was using the correct file. Within minutes, the operator had the visuals they needed to avoid future scrapped parts.
Proof positive
CI’s webinar also highlighted the benefits that can come when fabricators can engage with customers remotely. Using the tech package’s webcam and screensharing capabilities, Crossland outlined how trust and confidence is built when fabricators can show their customers their parts being made without any travel involved.
In the webinar, a hypothetical customer logged into a three-way video call with the fabricator and a press brake operator at their machine. The operator walked the customer through the process of how their parts are bent, which instilled confidence in the customer.
This scenario highlights the subtle way in which a remote demo can prove to customers that their parts are being made with care – with high-precision equipment by highly skilled workers. When customers can see the materials, tools, labor and skill involved in making their parts, it helps justify pricing and creates transparency in the overall relationship.
These remote calls also encourage greater collaboration between the customer and fabricator. Customers get the chance to ask questions and offer end-use insight that can lead to important redesigns that can improve functionality and even speed up production times.
Form and function
On its own, the XForm offers a lot of features that operators and customers can appreciate. The hydraulic press brake is available with a quieter drive system, an extended stroke and throat for a wider bending range, and a 5-axis backgauge to easily achieve complex and accurate bends.
In addition to the tech package, CI offers a range of premium options for the press brake, including a 6-axis backgauge for even greater bending accuracy, programmable crowning to compensate for deflection, power clamps to secure material and a sheet following system for better positioning. CI’s optional Omni-Arm technology allows operators to move the control console to different locations to enhance efficiency when bending small or large parts. The goal of the Omni-Arm is to provide a more ergonomic environment that operators will welcome.
The XForm comes in three models. The standard model is based on CI’s proven machine construction philosophies to deliver high-quality performance and equipment longevity. The customizable XFormC model allows customers to tailor the press brake to their specific needs. They can choose from additional bending lengths, customized operator controls and more. The XFormE hybrid model is designed for speed and accuracy with energy and oil efficiency in mind. It’s available in a range of tonnages, offers a quieter drive system and reduces overall operational costs. And, for existing CI customers that add a new press brake to their collection, their existing brakes can be upgraded with many of the same features.
Regardless of the model, when paired with CI’s tech package, fabricators gain a competitive edge. When managers don’t have to be physically present every time an operator needs help, they can focus on the projects they were otherwise being pulled from. It adds up to a lot of saved time, a lot less bottlenecks and a lot less machine downtime.
And those are just the internal benefits. When fabricators’ customers can watch their parts being made in real time, it not only builds trust and accountability, but also serves as a great way to involve the customer in quality checks and approvals. When it comes to landing new customers, the modern, tech-savvy shop always has the leg up. When they take advantage of remote work tools, fabricators will see productivity surge and they will never turn back.
