Case Study - Coiltek

Challenge

Coiltek, a leading South Australian manufacturer of metal detector coils, partnered with Flinders University’s Factory of the Future to explore automation opportunities within a critical step of its production line: the manual gluing of detector covers.

Gluing was a rate limiting step that throttled the number of units produced each week with additional steps to keep staff safe from hazardous fumes. With 75% of products exported to global markets and increasing demand, Coiltek sought a safer, more scalable solution.

Our approach

Through the Manufacturing Growth Accelerator (MGA) program, the team delivered a feasibility and design study for a collaborative robot workcell capable of automating the gluing process. This resulted in a validated automation concept, a complete workcell layout with recommended cobot and dispensing tool options, as well as an implementation roadmap.

Complimentary to this, Coiltek was able to utilise the outcomes of the collaborative MGA project to secure funding from the Manufacturing Technology Adoption (MTA) program and purchase a collaborative robot, dispensing tool and fume management enclosure.

Impact

The study gave Coiltek a clear, low risk pathway to modernise production, improve safety, and expand international competitiveness. Using the implementation roadmap, Coiltek can confidently implement the collaborative robot workcell into its manufacturing process, and thereby safely increase manufacturing capacity to meet export demand.

Automation is projected to increase throughput, reduce unit cost, strengthen OEM partnerships, and deliver a rapid return on investment.