Dis-int-e-gra-tor:  “One stop shop who provides distribution, integration, service & maintenance for all of the automation products that the system represents.”

In the world of automation, the lines have continued to blur between the traditional “machine integrator" and the “automation distributor”.  Ten years ago the distinction between the integrator, the automation distributor, and the automation vendor was distinctly defined and known.  Traditionally, vendors needed an extension of the sales force with some technical knowledge to help find and support customers in each respective local market, and they relied on a distribution network across the country who knew their local customer base well and on a personal basis.

Many times the execution of solving a custom application for the End User requires a specialized technical resource.  The End User requires someone to take many automation products and “integrate” them together.  This requires an abundance of well-rounded automation experience including mechanical and electrical engineering as well as programming knowledge.  This company’s magic touch is to meld all these disciplines together to enable them to create complex custom machines.

Disintegration, featuring small flexible cells, can perform single tasks such as Machine Tending, Case packing, Palletizing, Welding, and Small Assembly tasks.  These tasks are generally a single process which are independent from other automation tasks. 

The implementation time is generally shorter, (less than 15 weeks). 

The disintegrator can easily accommodate a hybrid approach to automation development which can work in tandem with the end user to allow the end user to focus on their process strengths while the disintegrator can focus on developing the automation technology for the specific job.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this blog, where we'll review cases of when to search for a disintegrator for specific projects, and why the change in the industry occurred.