Brady automation User Manual

Working smarter, not harder

How one electronics manufacturer realizes next-level growth with
Brady automation

Overview

Building electronic boards is no small feat. Truth be told, it’s a delicate
balance of precise processes and quality control — all designed to
meet customer needs. And that need is growing, thanks to the
ballooning printed circuit board market. Considering all electronic
products and electrical equipment need PCBs, how can manufacturers
keep up with demand? The secret, as demonstrated by TouchPad
Electronics, is automation.

Challenge

TouchPad Electronics, a Wisconsin-based business specializing in PCB
design, NPI and low to mid-volume assembly, wanted to boost labeling
efficiency. Their method of hand labeling PCBs was labor intensive and
involved manual tracking. Serialized labels were applied post process,
which made it more difficult to track parts once they became separated
from a batch. This type of system didn’t seem to fit TouchPad Electronics
business model of better productivity, quality and customer satisfaction.
A call to Brady soon led to a better solution.

Solution

Since every other workflow process at TouchPad Electronics was
automated (except labeling), it was time for a targeted solution —
Brady’s ALF14-25. With razor-sharp precision, the ALF (automatic label
feeder) is designed to keep up with pick-and-place equipment, saving
both time and labor during the manufacturing process. Brady provided
TouchPad Electronics with a unit for a trial period, which allowed them
test it and compare its results to their original method of hand labeling.

At-a-glance

Company:

Challenge

Solution: In order to eliminate the

Result: After adding the

TouchPad Electronics

: Mid-volume electronics

manufacturer needed
to increase labeling
efficiency.

hand-labeling, TouchPad
Electronics added
Brady’s ALF14-25 (an
automatic label feeder)
to their PCB assembly
process. This device
works with modern
pick-and-place
equipment and is
designed to save
both time and labor.

ALF14-25, TouchPad
Electronics increased
their labeling efficiency.
They now label nearly
8 times faster compared
to their older method
of hand labeling. In
addition to saving time
and labor, TouchPad
Electronics now applies
serialized labels
pre-process, which has
reduced handling and
provided them with a
better tracking system.

Results

13.5

94

13.5

Surpassing expectations, the ALF14-25 provided TouchPad Electronics with a solid solution for increasing
labeling efficiency. Recent TouchPad projects with ALF:

Saved 94 hours of labor

in just 3.5 weeks

Plus, TouchPad Electronics now applies labels pre-process. This led to better tracking by guaranteeing sequential
information entered the line at their pick-and-place machines. Pre-process labeling also reduced the amount of
handling each board received to ensure the sustained, high standard of quality for which TouchPad Electronics
is known.

But that’s not all. According to Justin Kernen, TouchPad Electronics Production Manager, the labor savings from the
ALF14-25 during its first use was more than the cost of the device itself. To round out the solution, Justin commented
how “It’s an incredibly easy machine to use and set up. We never had to adjust it. We never had any problems. It
was exactly how it was advertised.” As TouchPad Electronics looks to the future, it also looks to add more Brady
automatic label feeders as volume increases. “I can’t express my appreciation for how willing you [Brady] were to
work with us and really how great the unit has been for us,” reported Justin. “The ALF14-25 is a perfect fit for where
we are and how we sell ourselves. We are a very high-quality product and we can do it very quickly.”

As the PCB market continues to grow due to consumer need for smartphones, laptops, remote controls and
connected vehicles, more automation is needed to quickly handle increasing volumes. Automated labeling solutions,
like Brady’s, provide much-needed labor savings and better methods to track parts for quality control purposes. By
using available technology, like automation, businesses can continue to grow by meeting the increased demand for
the products they manufacture. It’s just a smarter way to work.

13.5 hours of labeling with

ALF14-25 vs 107 hours using

hand labeling

Half of original dedicated

labeling personnel were
reassigned to other jobs

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