Liquid finishing myth: is automation only useful for larger companies?

As a smaller manufacturer, you may believe investing in automation does not make sense as you do not have the high volumes or standardised processes larger companies have. Here are some reasons why automation can be useful for your smaller business too.

Still in doubt whether automation is useful for your small or medium-sized manufacturing business? You should not be, because the size of your company is not critical. What matters are the specific objectives and growth targets you have set for your business, as well as the market you are in and the competition you are up against. 

Let us take a look at a few reasons that make it interesting to automate one or more parts of your paint processes, even as a smaller manufacturer. Let it inspire you to take the plunge too!
 

Automate for increased safety

Safety in manufacturing is important regardless of whether your business is small or large. Consider automating specific hazardous tasks or parts of the process, to minimise risks. As an example, you can increase operator safety by investing in an automated paint kitchen or automatic spray guns. This way you reduce the exposure to fumes or chemicals, and the risks of respiratory issues.
 

Speed up slow process parts for more output

Any business, small or large, that uses workers for repetitive tasks can make use of automation. Repetitive tasks can be time-consuming and lead to errors, so it is best to consider automating those first, as this will boost your productivity and help you put more volume on the market. You could, for example, reduce downtime by using automated systems for flushing and purging paint lines and spray equipment. This way you can get started with another type of coating faster and produce more in the same amount of time.
 

Automate to enter new niche markets

Want to customise your product for new niche markets or want to be able to quickly adapt a product for a single type of customer? Targeting niche markets can be useful for any business, but especially starters who cannot (yet) compete with larger companies and are looking to stand out. Automation can support your goal to produce unique products more easily without a lot of manual adjustments. When, for example, you want to smoothly switch ‘recipes’ between small batches, automated mixing and dispensing is useful.
 

Stand out from the competition in terms of quality

Are you trying to stand out from the competition in terms of quality instead of the uniqueness of your product? Then automation can help you to consistently guarantee this excellent quality and keep your unique position on the market. Are you, for example, standing out for your very uniform finishing? Then you need to have maximum spray gun control and minimal overspray, which can be obtained by automating the spray booth.
 

Long-term, structural investment

In summary, automation is not solely useful for large manufacturing companies. There are many reasons why automation is realistic and useful for smaller and medium-sized companies too. Yes, the upfront cost might seem discouraging, but you have to view automation as a long-term, structural investment. Also, understand that you do not have to automate everything all at once. Carefully consider your specific needs, budget, growth plans and market targets to find out how automation will work for your business. The automation experts at Graco are happy to help you with that.