Automotive - Psi new

Automotive solutions

Innovative solutions, cutting-edge technology, and expert support to transform your business.

We understand how dynamic the automotive industry is and the extreme flexibility required from automotive manufacturers. User expectations and disruption in the market from new non-traditional players like Tesla heighten the need for innovation.

We see that automotive manufacturers are having to expand their core competencies into new areas like mobile production capabilities, autonomous vehicles, battery and electric motor technologies and software driven user interfaces incorporating augmented reality.

The incredible pace of development and growing demand for model diversity means adaptability of solutions along with smart production capability and flexible logistics are essential. PSI Technologies’ links with world class component manufactures such as MAC Valves, PHD, Enidine, ContiTech, Bimba, Vaccon and Murrelektronik who are all prevalent in the automotive industry along with our internal engineering capability uniquely position us to offer you significant benefits.

With our full line of components including control valves, cylinders, escapements, grippers, slides, rotary actuators, clamps, multi-motion actuators, air bags, shock and vibration absorption, air preparation, vacuum and electrical control which can be combined or used individually, we can provide the solution your application requires.

Too often, we find that because existing solutions are developed using components from one of the general, “All Products” pneumatics manufacturers, the durability or maintainability required by modern automotive applications is rarely realised. Our commitment to working alongside our customers in the field have led to many solutions that have been developed specifically to meet a customer requirement, resulting in significant improvements in performance and reliability with longer periods between maintenance windows. Read our case study on a Pneumatic Clamping Gripper solution developed in this way.

Our experience extends beyond the remit of automotive OEMs and Tier One suppliers as we also have solutions for transportation, agricultural and motorsport applications covering areas such as air suspension, bus doors, 3rd axle, gear shift, turbo control, drag reduction and launch control.

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Business Adress

Technology House, Stratfield Park, Elettra Avenue, Waterlooville, Hants, PO7 7XN

Contact Us

t. +44 (0) 2392 233611 e. sales@psitech.co.uk e. technical@psitech.co.uk

Working Time

Mon – Thurs 08:15 – 17:00, Fri 08:15 – 12:45

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Pneumatic Clamping Gripper

Challenge

Our customer is a leading manufacturer of industrial automation systems and are always keen to understand what new technologies exist in the market that can give them and their customers an edge. To this end, we arranged a lunch and learn session at their premises, alongside PHD, to showcase the range of standard and special products applicable to the Automotive industry.

Engagement

During the session, we engaged with a project manager who was working with a prestigious automotive company, to help them find a solution to automate a specific operation within a machining cell. They had a requirement for a gripper to act as a robot end effector, which could be pneumatically actuated to open and close, but which clamped the part with mechanical force throughout the machining operation with the air supply removed.

We presented the GRM1 Miniature Clamp, showing how it operated and the functionality it enabled, and it was quickly apparent that this could the solution they needed. It would however, need to be modified to integrate it to the system.

PSI, PHD and the customer collaborated closely over a 16 week period to develop the final solution. During this period, we took the time to understand the application in detail and what was required to meet their very specific criteria. The application parameters changed a few times through this process, but the GRM1 continued to meet the challenge.

Solution

The solution required tip adjustment functionality and to be resilient to the dusty environment in which it would be required to work. Having developed a prototype solution, operational trials were carried out on the system at our customers facility and all expectations were met. This success resulted in a requirement for 64 grippers over the following 2 months.

Ultimately, we were able to use a standard GRM1 miniature clamp as a basis, with a modification to the jaws to allow for tip adjustment, and the most robust option for fluoro-elastomer seals to deliver long life in the dusty environment. PHD supplied a robust solution which requires minimal maintenance, long life and met the customers’ requirements to replace out dated manual toggle clamps on their existing robotic end of arm tooling. The original solution required time consuming manual loading and was prone to inconsistent machining due to wear within the toggle clamps and inaccurate parts positioning.

Benefits

The robust, high-quality solution met the specific operational criteria from the customer while also delivering a package that allowed for a reduction in size and weight of the end of arm tooling. Since the installation the customer has seen a reduction in maintenance downtime and eliminated scrapped parts. The new solution has increased production as a result and improved the consistency of machined dimensions and overall quality of the final product.

The quick response and huge Flow of the 67 series (20Cv) is more than 3 times the flow of the OEM solution. The block is compact and, as the connections are made by flexible hoses on the machine, easily fits into the space available.

Benefits

The test machine produced 96 pre-forms per cycle and with the original valves achieved a best case cycle time of 10.5 seconds. Following the installation of the MAC valves we were able to reliably reduce the cycle time to 10.2 seconds, delivering a 3% increase in production. The machine runs 24×7 and 310 days per year and this increase in production delivered in excess of 6 million additional units per year.

The increased production was entirely due to the vastly superior flow, fast action and repeatable response time of the MAC 67 series. We applied vacuum and pressure in a shorter time and removed dead time in the timing cycle. The installation was simple and carried out within normal planned machine stop time for product change and we delivered a Return on Investment (ROI) in just 18 weeks.

In addition to the production improvements, we were also able to also address the issues of the shortened life of the original valves. The MAC 67 series valve incorporates bonded spool technology, high shifting forces and a wiping action of the seals which makes it significantly more resilient to contamination. These valves have a significantly longer life than the OEM items and will further reduce the cost of ownership and production throughput over the course of a year.

industries we help

Solving Challenges in Every Industry

PSI intentionally chooses not to limit ourselves to specific industries, and over the years our customers have come from a vast array of backgrounds. We have provided valuable solutions and services to some very challenging applications from rail toilets and deep-sea bubble curtains to rice sorting and drinks dispensing.