In 2018, DeGeest Corporation was expanding and wanting to build an automated finishing system that would help them keep up with growing production demands.
Multiple companies came together to create a solution. There was a company for the conveyor. Another company for the wash. Another one for the controls. And so on, right down to a company for the system itself. In total, over 10 different companies were involved.
Sounds great, right? Not when you consider that, while each company knew their role very well, it led to a disconnected system that wasn’t able to function as expected.
INSTEAD OF SAYING NO, THEY LISTENED AND FOUND A WAY TO DELIVER EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED.
As DeGeest was working to automate finishing in its facility, the company discovered a solution in Italy with a company called Lesta, makers of self-learning robots. DeGeest soon became the exclusive North American manufacturer, distributer, and integrator of this technology under the name LestaUSA.
“We learned a lot about automation as we were putting together LestaUSA,” said Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest Corporation and LestaUSA. “Of all the companies working on our system, one – Richards-Wilcox – really impressed us with the same solution-oriented mindset we have.”
“Instead of saying no, they listened and found a way to deliver exactly what we wanted,” added DeGeest. “Richards-Wilcox has since become an important equipment partner for us. We essentially went from a customer of theirs to becoming partners. Now, we’ve taken what we learned through our own experience, and can deliver it to other manufacturers.”
The automated finishing system at DeGeest is capable of finishing parts up to 1,500 lbs and features a conveyor controlled with a bar code reader that communicates the blast speed, paint color, paint program, and cure time for each part as it moves through the line. The end result has maximized throughput while greatly reducing finishing time and costs.
The upfront collaboration between DeGeest and Richards-Wilcox showcases what can be accomplished through teamwork. Today, customers no longer have to worry about whether a substantial investment in finishing automation will pay off. Through this partnership, all systems are tested and integrated before they arrive on the manufacturing floor.
Investing is a Lesta system comes with the peace of mind of knowing a solution-oriented company like Richards-Wilcox is involved to ensure everything is working Day One.