Pattern Production Services Gaining Momentum at MPI

Posted on July 1, 2011 at 8:32 pm

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Pattern Production Services Gaining Momentum at MPI
MPI Turning Innovation into Profit for Customers

July 1, 2011

Customers of MPI Inc., the worldwide leader in wax-room equipment, continue to experience a great deal of success in providing pattern production services. “We are delighted to see more and more customers embrace automation and experience just how significant their results can be,” said Bruce Phipps, President of MPI.

Recently, MPI was able to demonstrate for a customer just how significantly, automation can improve performance. Prior to engaging MPI, the customer was only able to achieve ½-inch spacing between parts using manual assembly. They were concerned that their shelling process wouldn’t cast the assembly properly. During the design process, MPI was able reduce the spacing to 1/8th inch. Tighter spacing meant more parts on the assembly and dramatically higher casting yields. By increasing the number of patterns by almost 50%, they were also able to increase the number of shippable parts by almost 50%. “Because of the results we were able to achieve, the customer has not only placed a second order, they doubled the quantity,” continued Bruce Phipps.

MPI’s integrated robotic systems offer automated pattern processing from wax to wax assembly. It can automatically inject, remove patterns from a die, trim the injection runner from the pattern and accurately index the trimmed pattern onto a conveyor belt or tray for automated pattern assembly. All, dramatically improving wax-room efficiency.

What makes this service so attractive to customers is that it provides them with an introduction to automation without them having to make the initial investment in the equipment. They are able to see that automation consistently welds patterns accurately in terms of location and orientation, creating perfect assemblies 100% of the time. Automated assemblies reduce scrap by an average of 50% over manual assemblies and allow you to eliminate the skilled labor also necessary with manual pattern assembly.

MPI’s focus is on producing automated wax assemblies… firmly believing that automation is the future of the industry. “Total automation means that assembly variations are completely eliminated, which improves throughput and increases casting yields,” said Bruce Phipps. “Automation allows you to achieve cycle times that are two to five times faster than with manual assembly which has a dramatic effect on profitability.”

The team at MPI offers a free wax-room evaluation. MPI engineers will tour your facility and perform an exhaustive review of your current process to help you understand what type of return on investment (ROI) you may experience as a result of increased performance and cost savings. MPI can also perform a demonstration at MPI’s world headquarters in Poughkeepsie, NY, where customers can witness how automation consistently produces high quality, high-volume, wax assemblies time and time again.

For more information, visit MPI at booth 213 at the Investment Casting Institute show on October 9 – 12, 2011, in Covington, Kentucky.