Assembly lines have come a long way since Henry Ford introduced the Model T. Each step has become more automated and efficient – requiring less human capital and providing a smaller margin of error.
An automobile transmission manufacturing plant in Indiana is equipped with several robots hidden in an enclosure. Each robot drills various channels into aluminum in order to create the transmissions for the cars.
The 1” deep x 1-1/2” square mesh Corvex molded grating was installed in a dark gray color. Due to the oily conditions in automobile manufacturing plants, a grit top finish was chosen for increased slip resistance. In addition to the molded grating used on the platforms, Fibertred® molded stair treads were used on the stairway leading to the robots.
Using FRP was an easy choice over traditional materials in this application due to several key factors and benefits. The lightweight of the product made it made it easy to install and allows for periodical maintenance on the machinery below the grating. The large openings allow the scraps to easily fall through the grating onto the conveyor belt below. The long term
Fibergrate was chosen because of the unmatched services provided and the products’ performance history. Our local sales manager worked with the automotive manufacturer and the Fibergrate team to find the right solution for this application.
Henry Ford said, “If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse.” Ford was able to look beyond the traditional solution used for transportation and built a revolutionary manufacturing process that allowed the common man to afford an automobile. In order to move forward in innovation, you must be willing to do something differently. Although metal, concrete, and wood products might be traditional, there a different option may work better. FRP products can be the solution to your manufacturing needs, allowing your facility to become more efficient and effective.