As a progressive company at the forefront of infrared technology, we’re on a never-ending pursuit of constant improvement and excellence in every area. With enviable state-of-the-art machinery, experience, and knowledge already at our disposal, our continuous investment in all three helps create and sustain the highest levels of quality and production our customers expect.
Beyond this, a big part of our success comes from partnering with other global companies that share the same principles on manufacturing and technology, and our ongoing relationship with Siemens is a perfect example. On a recent bespoke visit to their Congleton premises, near Macclesfield, at what many call the ‘factory of the future’, what we found was more than enlightening.
Ceramicx evolution
During our visit, our hosts wasted no time in showing us the full extent of all their technologies, together with their research into virtual reality, simulation, and robotics. We also saw the full digitalisation of their manufacturing process and the more traditional Siemens product offerings, such as heating control, motion control, and powertrain systems which are all underway.
While the visit was an inspiring look into the heart of a global brand and its processes, our own technological efforts at Ceramicx are also stepping up a gear. Our shop floor automation, product thumbprints, and element birth certificates are all successfully up and running.
Our Circle project (using big data in product validation and testing), SolidWorks, and our Herschel test instrument are all increasing our productivity. And of course, our new factory, built with state of the art labs and white rooms means all of these elements are pieces of the evolving production process now working together at Ceramicx.
Seamless integration
Integration and connectivity have been key to this process and will continue to be. The timing of our Siemens visit couldn’t have been better in boosting our enthusiasm and commitment to the various tasks at hand.
Our hosts at Siemens put it like this: “The seamless integration of data along the industrial value chains will gain more and more in importance, becoming a key criterion for the survival of developing/manufacturing companies.”
We also know that the complete business story has to embrace every area of customer interaction, together with associated new perspectives across sales marketing (digital and traditional), data management, and use of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. Ceramicx has also invested in Systems Applications Products (SAP) technology which plays an increasingly powerful role in our long term strategy.
Future developments
Guesswork, conjecture, and, to some extent, assumptions are quickly disappearing from manufacturing. Precision product design and manufacture – cradle to cradle – are taking over and can now be more or less completely realised in virtual space.
Siemens has shown us that the complete digital representation of the entire physical value chain is within reach. Powerful Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software, allows Siemens to develop and optimize new products on an entirely virtual basis. And in the real manufacturing world the Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) concept has been proving its worth for about 20 years, ensuring the efficient interoperability of all automation components.
We’re delighted with our relationship with Siemens and the collaborative opportunities it presents as a global engineering and technology supplier and associate. Together with constant improvement and investment on our part, partnering with such an acclaimed, multinational innovator only reaffirms our commitment.
