AeroSMART Industrial: The Next Advance In Work Spaces For Manufacturers
As part of a commitment to embracing the raft of reforms that make up i4.0 across the global manufacturing community, Integra Systems has already embarked on an international circular product manufacturing partnership with Brink Industrial, a manufacturer based in the Netherlands, which consequently positions Integra perfectly to lead by example when it comes to transformative i4.0 digitisation manufacturing solutions. And that’s not to mention the number of process upgrades that have been deployed to make the Integra workplace more i4.0 compliant, including a transition to a fully digitised and paperless organisation in 2020.
An example of Integra’s ability to transform workplaces can be seen in the development of the AeroSMART Industrial workspace, conceived as part of Integra’s proprietary product division, Integra TransForm. AeroSMART Industrial draws inspiration from the existing AeroSMART Pro desk, essentially giving factory floor or plant workers the equivalent of their office-bound associates: the flexibility of an easily adjustable, sit-stand desk at the press of a button.
Krystal Davis, Technical Product Manager for Integra TransForm, says the idea for AeroSMART Industrial was born while upgrading their Broadmeadows manufacturing space to become more i4.0-friendly: “The AeroSMART Pro gives users the convenience of pressing a button, and suddenly they've gone from a sitting position to a standing position. We found that this is something that we also needed in our factories.”
“When we put a mezzanine floor in [the Integra factory], it revealed that we really needed a specific workspace solution because it was a bit of a strange space,” explains Krystal. “Our whole process was that we learned, and we knew, that we needed and wanted height-adjustable workbenches for the guys in the factory. We had a few brainstorms with everyone, directly asked them what they wanted to see, and what sort of accessories, what they liked from what they'd seen on other tables and so on. From those discussions, we designed it up.”
After installing a prototype on the floor, the Integra team was given the opportunity to work on the AeroSMART for a week or so: “They came back with changes and other things that they wanted to see, and from there we refined the table further.”
By embracing such feedback and incorporating it into the design where possible, the AeroSMART Industrial developed into a highly flexible and customisable product, which has ultimately become its major selling point. Capable of lifting up to 250 kilograms, the bench is also ideal for working on different products and applications across a number of varying and diverse industrial sectors.
“We've got full LED lighting on our workspaces at Integra so the whole table is illuminated, which makes it easy to work with – particularly when you’re working on, or with, small parts. Instead of relying solely on your factory lighting, you have a focused light for you,” Krystal emphasises. “We've got different attachments, so it's compatible for air hoses on the table, and they can move along the table with a rivet gun, for example. It’s also got adjustable shelving. We have an angled shelf on ours at the moment, so if we have small parts that we need to pick out, the parts always move forward and are easy to reach on the shelf.”
Additionally, the AeroSMART Industrial brings with it some significant productivity benefits, one of the driving principles behind i4.0. Integra TransForm is dedicated to making production and manufacturing as easy as possible for companies so, similar to DigiSMART kiosks, AeroSMART Industrial workbenches can be customised and adapted to different people's needs and different styles of work.
“Some people might want to sit, or you've got shorter people – like myself – who need a lower table and find that a lot more comfortable, versus someone who's six foot five and needs all that height,” continues Krystal. “Internally, the guys enjoy working on the tables. The height adjustability works really well for them. If they're working on something quite small or laborious, the operator can pull up a chair and sit and work on it to relieve their backs or joints so they're not as exhausted at the end of the day. So, in that regard, it definitely helps with productivity and also allows you to modernise the factory too.”
Far from prioritising function over form, AeroSMART Industrial benches offer aesthetic qualities as well. As Krystal says, “We have our logo and our company colours on the banner on the top of our tables and it makes for a nice work environment to go out into. A lot of its focus is productivity, and making it adaptable for your staff, but the AeroSMART Industrial also looks good and helps create a really nice vibe.”
When asked to sum up AeroSMART Industrial, Krystal admits, “For our workers, it enables them to adjust the height of a table for working on different parts and being able to customise their space for certain jobs or whatever job they’re working on at that point in time. It seems like a simple thing but it really makes a difference to their everyday working life and how they get through everything that needs to be done.”
“Both AeroSMARTs came from a need and we implemented it into our company and, from there, we've put it out into the market for other companies to experience. It’s really exciting to see how others respond to something you’ve put your heart and soul into creating.”
For more information about AeroSMART Industrial, contact integratransform@integrasystems.com.au