Start With Your Problem, Not the Tech

The start of any successful Automation project (and we should know, we have been involved in enough over the years) is your problem. Why are you thinking about Automation? What issue do you want to solve? What is keeping you awake at night? 

Don't think about the tech first, because you may end up with a costly solution that doesn't actually solve your problem. Think about the bottleneck on line 3 that kills your productivity. Think about the repetitive job, or the heavy lifting that nobody wants to do any more. Think about the night shifts where quality is a problem and costs you money every week, or the skills gap you can't recruit your way out of.

Each Problem Is Different

Each problem is different, but that's why we are here to help. We'll look at the issues you have, ask the right questions and take time to get to the root of your problem - then we can begin to discuss the different technologies and how they could make a difference in your manufacturing business.

LC Automation has spent years supplying UK manufacturers, OEMs and system integrators with the full spectrum of automation and motion control technology. Not just the products, but the free, unbiased application advice that goes with them. We're not tied to pushing a single platform because it's the one we happen to supply. We work across the leading robot technologies on the market, which means the conversation starts with your problem, not our product list.

Here's the range we bring to the table:

IAI Electrical Actuators and Cartesian Robots;
Precision and Speed, with a Lower Price

As the only UK distributor for IAI, we supply electric actuators and cartesian robot systems built for the kind of repetitive, high-precision handling that eats up manual labour hours, like pick-and-place, dispensing, screw-driving, and simple linear or multi-axis positioning. Cartesian systems are an easy way into automation, with a lower skills requirement and a huge range of applications, they're the smart, no-fuss answer.

UR Cobots; Automation that can* Work Alongside Your People

Universal Robots' collaborative robots have changed the conversation for manufacturers who assumed automation meant big budgets, and a robotics degree. UR cobots are lightweight, quick to setup, and can often be introduced with minimal guarding after a proper risk assessment. If your challenge is flexibility (short runs, frequent changeovers, or simply not having the floor space for a full industrial cell) a cobot could be the right fit for you.

*Cobots are not intrinsically safe. You will still need a risk assessment to decide if additional safety mesaures need to be put in place. Obviously, we can help with that.

SCARA Robots; Speed and Accuracy for Assembly or Pick-and-place

When the job calls for exceptional speed and repeatable accuracy in a compact footprint, SCARA is hard to beat. We supply cost-effective, lighter SCARA ranges ideal for electronics assembly, component placement and high-speed pick-and-place, the kind of work where fast cycle times and consistency are essential.

Mitsubishi Six-Axis Industrial Arm Robots; for the Demanding Jobs

For applications that need higher reach, payload and dexterity; machine tending, palletising, welding, complex material handling,  Mitsubishi's MELFA range of six-axis arm robots deliver the flexibility and reliability that heavier industrial tasks demand. As a long-standing Mitsubishi partner, this is technology we know inside out.

It's Not Just About the Robot

Here's the bit some suppliers will gloss over: a robot on its own doesn't solve anything. It's the surrounding technology that turns a robot arm into a working solution, and that's exactly why LC Automation exists as more than a box-shifter.

• Machinery safety; from safety light curtains and guarding, keeping your people isn't an afterthought, it's the starting point.
• Machine vision; giving your robot the ability to see, inspect, and adapt means it can handle variation in parts, positioning, and quality checks that a "blind" system simply can't.
• End of arm tooling (EOAT); grippers and tooling matched precisely to your product and process, because the wrong tooling can undo all the benefit of the right robot.
• Motion control, IIoT and connectivity; so your new automation talks to the rest of your line, and you get the data to prove the ROI.

We can supply anything from a single component to a fully specified system, with the backup and support to make sure it actually delivers results for you, not just on the day the demo van leaves.

Why Talk to LC Automation Before You Talk to Anyone Else?

If you have issues in your manufacturing business, and are thinking about solving them with automation, it's the perfect time to speak to our team. There is no hard sell. We will sit down and discuss what you want to achieve, weigh up the benefits and look at the different options - including doing nothing. Which options would work, which would work best, and all the other things you need to take into account. Let's talk about your challenge, not our product range.

Whatever's slowing your line down, wearing your people out, or holding your business back from the growth you know is possible, automation could be part of the answer, and we're the people who can tell you honestly whether it is.

Call our expert team on 01254 685900, or get in touch to arrange a visit. No hard sell, no one-size-fits-all pitch, just honest advice about where automation could make the biggest difference to your business.

Why Speak to LC Automation About Automation & Robotics? 

✅  Unbiased advice, every time. 

✅  Broad technology range. 

✅  We provide solutions, not just a robot. 

✅  Expert technical support, for Free! 

✅  We tackle the pain points that matter. 

✅  Decades of manufacturing know-how. 

✅  Scalable solutions for every business. 

✅  Local, hands-on support.

✅  Safety built in, not bolted on.

✅  Your long-term Automation partner.