Last month, in “Say Hello to AMT Robotics,” I introduced our Datum Squaring Table. This month, I’d like to focus on our HyperLeap Sheathing Bridge. You’ll find that our modular approach allows you to install the machine that best suits your current needs while giving options to expand your capacity and further automate in the future. Being an owner in the All-Fab Group for almost 30 years, I learned the best ideas often come from factories that have space and budget constraints. Some of our design criteria to provide the best long-term solutions while keeping costs down listed below.
- You don’t save labor unless a Sheathing Bridge is fully automated.
- Nailing heads that hold two mega coils mean multiple coils can be reloaded at the same time.
- A bridge should be capable of being installed over an existing wooden or steel table – many customers already have a squaring table or love the flexibility that comes with a wooden table.
- A bridge should be able to accept additional tooling in the future so you can add functions and capacity as needed.
Here are two examples on how we deliver affordable automation. Customer A – Enjoys building all kinds of shapes and sizes on their existing wood or steel table but nailing the sheathing by hand slows down production, is hard on the back, and results in missed studs and inconsistent spacing. Solution – An AMT Bridge over an existing table can drive sheathing nails into tall walls, rake walls, and floor cassettes spun 90 degrees to standard walls. ROI with improved capacity, productivity, and quality is less than 2 years on one shift. More heads can be added as needed.
Customer B – Has an AMT Bridge and wants to increase capacity. Solution – An AMT Datum Squaring Table with powered conveyor, auto clamping, and multi-panel staging saves more labor and propels growth. After framing the wall and tacking the sheathing, the panel is pushed onto the start of the powered conveyor and moves down the line where it waits in the buffer zone. When the previous panel ejects from the sheathing station, it then moves to the end stop, is squared and clamped, and the sheathing bridge resumes its work without any operator intervention. When done, the panel ejects onto roller conveyors to be stacked onto a bundle. ROI is 2–3 years on one shift. Adding heads further improves line speed and ROI.
Reach out when you’re ready to eliminate your sheathing bottleneck.