• Success Story

      Extrusion machine manufacturer cuts costs while maintaining performance by replacing control equipment from another vendor with Omron technologies

      A major manufacturer of extrusion equipment was seeking to lower costs for competitive reasons while maintaining – or possibly increasing – machine performance. The company had already designed, but not built, a version of the extrusion machine in question using controls from an Omron competitor, but increasing competitive pressures created a need for significant cost-cutting and action.

    A major manufacturer of extrusion equipment was seeking to lower costs for competitive reasons while maintaining – or possibly increasing – machine performance. The company had already designed, but not built, a version of the extrusion machine in question using controls from an Omron competitor, but increasing competitive pressures created a need for significant cost-cutting and action.

    After reviewing the bill of materials that went into the machine build, the manufacturer saw a potential for major cost savings on the control system with an Omron-based solution. The competitor’s controllers and I/O can be up to two times more expensive than equivalent or better versions from Omron, and fees are associated with upgrades to the PLC programming software. Omron has never charged for an upgrade of Sysmac Studio programming software.

    The competitor also has recurring subscription charges for technical support, while Omron’s technical support by phone and email are included in the product purchase price. On the technical side, the other company’s controllers were first released in 2003, whereas the Omron NJ/NX Series controllers were introduced in 2011 with the newer design bringing increased speed and performance. Adding all these benefits together, it was clear that Omron had the ability to help the extrusion manufacturer meet its goals.

    Business need

    A major manufacturer of extrusion equipment was seeking to lower the cost of building its machines while increasing performance due to pricing and performance pressures from its competitors.

    Unique solution

    The new machine solution employs three Omron NJ3 controllers, two NA5 HMIs for each controller, NX-I/O, and Sysmac Studio to bring the functionality of all these controls together.

    Customer benefits

    The Omron-integrated machine was a success, and it allowed the manufacturer to sell a better machine with more features while lowering its prices for customers and reaping a greater profit.

    The Solution

    Cost-effective, streamlined technology