Finishing & Screen Printing
Autobond Takes Remote Diagnostics Facilities To New Levels
Friday 23. May 2008 - UK manufacturer Autobond is launching what it believes may be a world first in the graphic arts industry. From December onwards all new Autobond laminators will incorporate wireless webcam and Skype phone facilities, which will give the company the ability to provide customers with instant advice if they are experiencing a problem during production, regardless of where they are situated.
“Autobond laminators have incorporated Siemens electronics for years and this has enabled us to offer remote diagnostics facilities using a standard telephone line,” says managing director John Gilmore. “However, we are taking the concept of remote diagnostics to a completely new level.
“New laminators will be supplied with a wireless Panasonic Network Camera, which will simply be clipped on to the side of the machine when not in use. When required, the operator can pick up and move the camera around as instructed by the engineer. We will also provide customers with a Skype telephone, which gives free unlimited telephone calls over the Internet to an Autobond engineer.
“This means that if a customer is experiencing difficulties, he can call Autobond on the Skype telephone and be put straight through to a highly experienced engineer. Even if the engineer was away from the Derbyshire factory, he would be able to view on his monitor every part of the laminator and instruct the operator to carry out certain procedures, including removing covers etc to see inside the machine.
“In addition, the system will have a built in microphone and this means that the engineer can listen to the sounds that the various parts of the laminator make, which is extremely valuable in diagnosing problems. The system is wireless, so the equipment is not intrusive in any way and the cost is so little that we will absorb it into the normal selling price, with no increase to customers.
“With Autobond laminators in use in more than 140 countries this is obviously a huge advantage to both us and our customers,” says John Gilmore. “Autobond laminators have a worldwide reputation for reliability and the majority of problems encountered during production are due to incorrect settings, which can be identified and rectified very easily and quickly with this new system.
“Furthermore, the engineer will also be able to determine within moments if a machine part has become worn or damaged, in which case the correct component can be couriered directly to the customers premises or brought when the engineer makes his visit.”