Automation has become a cornerstone of Nutana’s operations, encompassing CNC machining and fabrication equipment, robotics, and cobots for welding. These technologies improve productivity and enhance the work environment for employees. “One example is a project where we fabricated 8,000 T-brackets,” Poelzer explains. “Each bracket required six inches of weld in both directions. Using cobots, the operator could set them up, tack them, and let the cobot handle the repetitive welding work. It tripled daily output, and most importantly, the operator went home not tired. Improving the work environment for our employees is just as critical as increasing efficiency.” BRIDGING WORKFORCE GAPS Recruiting skilled tradespeople remains one of Nutana’s significant challenges, as for many Canadian companies, but it’s not the only one. “It can be a challenge,” Galbraith, T., acknowledges. Nutana has strategically invested in a balance of technical expertise and advanced technologies to global agriculture.” A recent project highlighting Nutana’s adaptability was the purchase of a collaborative welding robot (Cobot) to meet the increased volumes of repetitive parts from their clients. This advanced system dramatically increased efficiency and improved the work environment for employees by reducing repetitive manual labor. “The cobots allowed us to triple our output while enabling our team to focus on more complex tasks,” Poelzer shares. DRIVING EFFICIENCY WITH AUTOMATION As the industry landscape evolves, Nutana’s approach to manufacturing adapts as well. Over the past five years, the company has made significant investments in automation, driven by both a commitment to innovation and the realities of labor shortages. “We focus on removing repetitive tasks through automation,” Poelzer notes. “For example, our robotic Beam Cut system has reduced manual labor significantly while improving precision and overall efficiency.” 170 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 12
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