Design and production of heavy-duty installations
PTS Machinery from Hulst, Zeeland-Flanders, designs and manufactures machines for the offshore industry, shipbuilding, chemicals and general mechanical engineering, among others. Mostly installations for heavy work: work platforms for oil rigs and wind turbines, lifting equipment with a capacity of hundreds of tons, special vehicles and large equipment for factory maintenance.
A relatively young company, founded in 2002, but constantly looking for innovations and efficiency improvements. Reason enough to hire Cadac Group for the implementation of a PDM system, linked to its own ERP system.
International player
In just fifteen years, PTS Machinery has grown into an international player with almost thirty-five employees. The company PTS Machinery specialises in large-scale automated welding, among other things. Recently, a second welding robot was installed in the 3000 square meter workshop with which customers can be served faster.
We are slowly focusing on growth again. By focusing on automation and robotisation in combination with well-trained professionals, we have every confidence in this. We made the right choice.
Hans van den Brande
Project Manager Business/ IT - PTS Machinery
A new target group
However, the crisis in the offshore sector also forced PTS to make other choices. The focus was broadened to include machines for the construction sector and the chemical industry. "The expertise and experience gained in the offshore sector are very useful for raising products for these sectors to a higher quality level," says founder and director Henk van den Brande.
"For example, we started doing more engineering work on a project basis. We supply part of the equipment with which the foundation plates of large construction projects are driven into the ground. For example, we now make the chassis for the printers for 3D Systems, an American manufacturer of 3D printers. I estimate that we will deliver about eighty this year."
Digitisation
New markets, in other words, to ensure continuity . "But that is not enough in the long term," says son Hans van den Brande, who is responsible for process optimisation and ICT in the company.
"That's why we have drawn up a strategic plan with an emphasis on digitisation. By 2020, all processes must be streamlined and digitised. The market demands faster delivery and it is also necessary internally to do more in fewer hours."
Product Data Management
The first step was to implement a Product Data Management (PDM) system and link it to the ERP system. Hans van den Brande: "Often the data from both the customer and our own engineering are not complete, things have to be added or changed.
This creates opportunities for errors and different versions come into circulation. The production department then works with a different, sometimes older version. All this causes noise and loss of time. That's why we wanted one system that is accessible to both our engineers and those of our customers."
"We are making a giant step, but it is necessary."
After a thorough evaluation process, the engineering department switched to a new version of Autodesk Inventor together with a PDM System implemented by Cadac Group; Autodesk Vault. "There are doubts in the market about the usefulness of such a heavy PDM system for an SME," says Henk van den Brande.
"The consultants at Cadac Group convinced us. We are making a giant step, but it is also necessary. This makes us ready for the future. We have been working with this system for a number of months now and the first results are becoming visible."
Time savings
There is certainly time saved in the work preparation phase. "We don't know how much yet," Hans van den Brande keeps an open mind. "Sixty percent should be possible, is the expectation. For the time being, it is not that far yet. The switch also takes time.
Our people are trained by the specialists of Cadac Group. And they have to get used to the new way of working. In any case, a big advantage is that everyone works with the same drawing and data. Every change is immediately saved."
Better communication
Profit is also improved communication, Henk van den Brande adds. "It is a transparent system that forces engineers to make decisions in the early stages. Details cannot be deferred until the production phase. Every part is immediately named, even the colour of the spray paint.
Simulations immediately reveal any errors. The process is more intensive at the front end, but you will pay for that later in the production phase. We optimise the processes and our customers are happy with it."
Control robots
Communication with the welding robots is now also streamlined more efficiently through a controlled process in the PDM system. Henk van den Brande again: "Thanks to a tool developed by Cadac Group, the necessary XGL and ZGL files are automatically created in our PDM system to control the robots."
PDM for SMEs
More efficient processes and better communication. That is exactly the intention, says account manager Ronald Gideonse of Cadac Group. "PDM is certainly also suitable for SMEs . We have proven this before at other companies and again at PTS. The design process is more efficient, there is more transparency, errors are intercepted earlier and the lead times are shorter .
Transparency
Cadac Group implements PDM based on proven best practices. Our implementation did require a bit of customisation. PTS works together with engineering departments of clients, which complicates matters. We also learn from this.
Bottom line, the process went smoothly. For us, this is another piece that we can add to our best practice that we use with other customers."
Good choice
PTS Machinery now has more than 35 employees, five of whom are engineers. The annual turnover fluctuates between five and seven million euros. "We are slowly focusing on growth again," says an optimistic Henk van den Brande. "By focusing on automation and robotisation in combination with well-trained professionals, we have every confidence in this. We made the right choice!"