Central McGowan is at ATX Minneapolis 2019 – BOOTH #915 – Along with MAXX the Robot

In just four years, the company’s automation and robotics staff has more than doubled and the division has completed multiple successful custom solutions including: robotic work cells for welding, machine tending, picking and placing, and material handling; fixed automation; equipment integration; fixturing and tooling; automated cutting; and machine vision and inspection.

According to Dean Kiffmeyer, VP and General Manager at Central McGowan who heads up the automation and robotics business, there’s much more growth on the horizon.  “FANUC estimates that 45 percent of manufacturing tasks will be done by robots by 2025,” he said.  “The Industrial: Robotics Outlook 2025 by LoupVentures, predicts 35 percent of the industrial robots sold by that same year will be collaborative—which means they’ll possess the ability to safely work side-by-side humans in factories and plants.  We’re ready to grow along with the market.”

Central McGowan’s automation center is located in a 12,000-square-foot facility adjacent to its headquarters in St. Cloud, Minn. It is a FANUC authorized system integrator that provides fully engineered specialty fixed automation, robotic automation, and hybrid systems to customers across the Midwest, on both coasts and in Texas—with the ability to work nationally or even internationally.

“We seamlessly implement robotic technologies and automation solutions into our customers’ operations,” added Kiffmeyer. “Our experience and expertise span more than 20 industries.”  But it’s Central McGowan’s collaborative approach and keen customer focus that he believes set them apart from other automation and robotics providers.

“We work closely with our customers to understand what they truly need, then seek to develop custom automation or robotics solutions that answer those needs,” he explained. “There’s no such thing as a cookie-cutter approach in this business. Every customer, every application, every need is unique, so every solution must be too.”

The company keys in on six main improvement areas while keeping an eye on emerging trends, including:

• Cycle time reduction,
• Human error reduction,
• Product quality and consistency improvement,
• Ergonomics and safety integration,
• Manufacturing flexibility,
• Value-added manufacturing process,
• Labor challenges /shortages, and
• Inspection.

“Our commitment and involvement don’t end at implementation,” Kiffmeyer added. “We stand behind our products and work to ensure any issues or improvement opportunities are acted on quickly and decisively.  Our goal is to provide the best service and consumables for day-to-day operations.”

In March 2019, Central McGowan joined the 3M robotic system integrator network as a SELECT provider.  In partnership with 3M, it can help automate a grinding, polishing or finishing process by supporting the design and implementation of robotic solutions for an application or operation. The company is also part of the Robotics Industries Association (RIA).  RIA was founded in 1974 and is the only trade group in North America organized specifically to drive innovation, growth, and safety in manufacturing and service industries through the advancement of robotics and related automation technologies.

For more information, visit the automation and robotics page on the company’s website, contact Automation@CentralMcGowan.com, or call 320-252-5292, and ask to speak to one of the company’s automation project specialists/sales engineers.

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