Gates | customX Reference

Targets

After customers increasingly requested drawings right from the quotation phase, it quickly became clear that automation was necessary. The aim was to introduce a configurator that not only assembles standard parts, but also checks dependencies and calculates variants.

Implementation

The "test winner" customX was introduced and the first product, which is now completely configured and designed using customX, was presented at the "Bau" trade fair. Bothe-Hild has now taken over the maintenance of the rulebook after the first prototypes were created by customX.

Conclusion

The time required to create documents, especially drawings, has been reduced from five to eight hours to just five to eight minutes. At the same time, the quality of the documents has increased; planning errors have been ruled out. The time saved can now be used for other important topics.

Five minutes instead of five hours

A gate is more than just a movable partition between inside and outside. It must fulfil a wide range of security requirements; it must fit in with the architecture and processes in the company - in short, it is a complete solution. Such solutions are supplied by the “Die Torbauer” (gate maker), which has developed into a leading manufacturer following the merger of the companies Bothe and Hild and the takeover by an investor. Around 95 employees in Herborn, Hesse, develop, design and manufacture sectional gates, folding gates, sliding gates, overhead folding gates, high-speed gates, roller shutters and roller grilles for all industries.

Customized products made from standard parts

Most gates are customized products that are designed and produced according to customer requirements. The components used are usually standard parts: profiles, suspensions, gate leaves, operators, etc. Even though modern 3D design software was used, it took around two weeks from receipt of the order to completion of all the drawings. However, more and more customers wanted the drawings right from the quotation phase, which was not possible with the existing processes.

How does automation work?

The development department analyzed the internal processes in order to automate the workflows wherever possible. A construction kit that allows standard parts to be assembled would not be enough. A configurator also needed to be intelligent enough to check dependencies and determine safe, buildable solutions.

Intelligent configurator sought

After two unsatisfactory tests, the gate manufacturers enquired with Man and Machine, the supplier of the 3D design software, and were introduced to customX. This software has the necessary intelligence built in: Rules and dependencies can be defined to ensure that the finished gate fulfils all requirements. "The thickness of the profiles, for example, depends on the width of the gate leaf," explains Denis Jehn, the development engineer responsible for the automation project. "As soon as the height exceeds a defined limit, the software automatically selects the next thickest profile."