Actalent Delivers Safer, More Productive Automated Hoist Design

The Client

A U.S.-based semiconductor company.

The Challenge

The client wanted to enhance the safety, accuracy and capacity of their hoist equipment using automation.

Using automation would increase productivity while reducing the number of technical operators required to run the hoist.

However, the client lacked the in-house engineering resources to generate new automated hoist designs themselves.

If they wanted the project to stay on schedule and within budget, the client needed a highly qualified partner with mechanical and automation engineering design expertise. They turned to Actalent.

The Actalent Solution

Actalent’s engineering team planned and completed a two-phased approach in just under four weeks.

Phase I: We analyzed the client’s operation, gathered all requirements, generated and proposed potential design possibilities and had the client choose a final concept.

Phase II: We developed the finalized concept, complete with manufacturing drawings and controls engineering system designs. We also provided a complete safety risk assessment and ergonomics report. Over the course of the project, during regularly scheduled meetings and touchpoints, we reviewed all design documents with the client and secured approval for all PDR and CDRs. Lastly, we outlined the entire budget to build, assemble and integrate our new design.

The Results

Actalent developed a new, more automated design that incorporated state-of-the-art synchronization drives. Now the hoist can be operated by one person instead of four. The hoist can also safely lift more weight, move it quicker, hold it for longer, and position materials more precisely, thus increasing capacity and productivity.

Moreover, we helped the client finish the project on-time and under budget.

Aside from the successful project outcomes, the client was most impressed with the Actalent’s project management, team leadership and project execution.