From Manual to Automated Production of Fiber Flex Optic Circuits

Two customers, active in the connectivity and sensor solutions market for the distribution of power, signals, and data, as well as in the photonics market, approached Etteplan with similar requests shortly after one another. In response to market developments that presented new opportunities for them, they wanted to capitalize on the increased demand for fiber optic products. Until that point, the assembly of their products had been primarily manual, which posed a challenge in seizing these opportunities. Therefore, they aimed to optimize their production process and transition to an automated solution, seeking a reliable partner to assist them in this transition.

Project Overview

Challenge
For these projects, we faced the challenge of supplying machines for routing and coating fiber optic products for clients who had no previous experience with automated production of such items.
Solution and Services
We delivered a total of three fiber routers and coaters to these customers, and for one of them, an additional machine is currently in development. Etteplan not only helped the client understand how to implement the machines within their production process but also built the machines and developed the necessary software. These machines are standalone and have separate controls but were delivered as a single set to ensure functionality.
Added Value
Based on the knowledge and experience we gained from previous deliveries of similar machines, we were able to optimize the software and the assembly of the machines. As a result, the customers can now produce products that are much more complex than what they could have achieved with manual assembly. Additionally, the output quality is now much more consistent, representing a significant improvement for their production process. With these advanced machines, they can now better respond to the growing market demand and strengthen their competitive position.