For over 30 years Focus Auto Design Inc, based in Calgary AB, has been manufacturing OEM appearance accessories. Recently, with a change in their manufacturing processes they have successfully launched an innovative new product known as the Tough FormFit Guard , a rouged hood protector manufactured from acrylic capped ABS. This new product is thoughtfully designed to emulate the OEM ABS finishes found on many grills, scoops and fender flares resulting in a seamless, sharp and aggressive look. This product not only provides protection to the most vulnerable part of the vehicle but it also offers great value, style and easy installation – no drilling necessary!

 

Before investing in OCTOPUZ software, Focus Auto Design Inc. originally purchased a used robot two years ago to make the jump into automating their business. However, they were manually programming this robot which took time and resources that held their business back from its optimal performance. They ultimately decided to take the leap into a fully automated process with their ABB 4400 robot combined with OCTOPUZ, which was a big decision for their business that paid off.

 

 

The ABB programmed with OCTOPUZ software trims their hood protectors more accurately than they had ever achieved, and makes their business much more efficient with both materials and other resources. The addition of OCTOPUZ means that Focus Auto Design can deliver more control, faster programming, better quality and improved safety to their manufacturing.  Now, rather than being limited by the speed of their manual programming, they can keep up with the robots capabilities with OCTOPUZ increasing their shops capabilities. They can deliver products now much faster and with a high level of manufacturing.

 

Roger Kinzel, Research and Development at Focus Auto Design was interviewed for this article, saying:

 

A year into their OCTOPUZ software use, they now have one of the best problems any manufacturer can have: they cannot keep up with the robot! Their efficiency has skyrocketed as well as their business. They can deliver products now three times faster than before using OCTOPUZ.

 

“After less than a year working with OCTOPUZ we can have a perfect robot trimming path complete in an hour, including a nice warm cup of coffee and not a cold shop floor. Previously if we had to make a change to a pattern the robotic re-learning took half a day. With the software a change can be made as quickly as you can use the computer allowing for a very quick revision.” – Roger Kinzel

 

OCTOPUZ has allowed the expansion of Focus Auto Design into new products lines, with Roger saying “We have been able to successfully bring our newest product line, “Tough FormFit Guard” to meet our very high internal standards and launch a complete new line of products for many applications. Without this software we would still be working on patterns and doing hand work, wasting valuable company time and money.”

 

We talked to our Canadian reseller, In-House Solutions, where Radu Biris, Senior Account Manager, for their Alberta office shared the current economic situation in Alberta:

 

We are often faced with the question: Why choose OCTOPUZ for your offline robot programming needs? Roger had some great advice for those searching for alternative programs:

 

In terms of the return on investment from OCTOPUZ, Rogers leaves us with this parting comment: