The engineers at Descher Automation have successfully implemented retrofits and upgrades on many machines, both large and small. Although the clients who initiate these projects sometimes know exactly what they want, we are just as comfortable brainstorming with the client's staff to create a consensus approach…Or we can visit onsite, take notes, and develop a proposal for the client's approval. In any case, our goal is a robust, technically-sound, cost-effective retrofit solution.

What can be accomplished with inspection and control upgrades? With the increased utility of advanced sensing, machine vision, and HMI technology in the last ten years, the possibilities are nearly limitless. Ever-more attractive pricing puts these options within reach of all but the tightest budgets. Robotic parts-handling, complex high-speed dimensional verifications, color sorting, and barcode tracking are just a few of the common adders... all with proven results in product uniformity, reduced scrap, and overall quality.

Another important set of work orders in the retrofit arena (perhaps the most important) is the work done to improve the safety of older equipment. Not only is it "the right thing to do", the cost of making a machine safe is much less than the potential cost or work stoppage, litigation, and increased insurance premiums. Light curtains with integrated controllers are an attractive option here, again due to price reductions, and also due to their ready implementation as stand-alone redundant systems.