It really was a team effort. While the new die-casting cell was being assembled, MRT took delivery of four new CNC machines from a different supplier. This ensured that the additional parts manufactured on the new Ecoline could get the finishing touches needed for medical applications. MRT switched to a 24-hour shift operation and recruited 20 additional employees from nearby companies where the workload had dropped due to lockdown.
Only five weeks after the initial request, MRT was able to claim they had achieved the impossible – they had increased capacity by 500%. “Since April 22, we have been producing at full speed on the new machines,” Rawnson proudly states. Five hundred sets of the 19 parts needed for a critical care ventilator now leave the factory every week. MRT’s customer was impressed. “Because we responded quickly, we could give them continuity in their production and accelerate the process by months,” says Rawnson. “The exceptional collaboration with Bühler made this possible, so our supplier helped us to be a better supplier.”
Although the installation was short-notice, the investment will be long-term for MRT. “The new machine not only guarantees the reliability and continuity we are looking for, but also makes us future-ready,” Rawnson says. The Ecoline is IoT capable, with all the peripherals connected, including extractor robots, die spray, robotic ladler, and temperature-control units.