Leading automotive supplier, ArvinMeritor has extended the use of its GBP 0.5 million Komax Systems (formerly Sibos) automated assembly system.

Leading automotive supplier, ArvinMeritor has extended the use of its GBP 0.5 million Komax Systems (formerly Sibos) automated assembly system by arranging for it to be rejigged and retooled for a new production job in China. Komax Systems is represented in the UK by production automation specialist, Contax . The original Komax automation system was tooled up for a product manufactured at ArvinMeritor's factory in Tennessee, USA in 2000.

Production started in 2001, and the Komax system proved very successful.

When the product was discontinued, ArvinMeritor wished to retain their Komax system and redeploy it at another site.

Explained Rupert Mander, Industrialisation Manager at ArvinMeritor, 'The system had worked well for us and we decided to find another use for it.

It was designed in a flexible manner and we wanted to exploit this to ensure that we had full use of the system during its lifecycle.' ArvinMeritor identified a new task for the Komax system, producing the locking mechanism for car doors at its factory in China.

The system was duly shipped from the USA via the UK to Komax's factory in Switzerland where it was retooled and sent on to China.

'This is a perfect example of maximising investment,' commented Contax's managing director, Mike Rapson.

'When our customers purchase a high quality system they need to be sure that they will reap the rewards over a long period of time.

'ArvinMeritor wanted to extend the life of their automation system, and found that it was more cost effective to have it re-tooled and shipped half way around the world than to replace it.

They know that it performs well and it was worth the initial investment and the extra cost of retooling.' He continued, 'New is not always the only solution.

In circumstances where our customers have made a major capital investment in a system, we would always seek to maximise its use, by reconditioning or retooling it where required.'