Amica Group has embarked on an ambitious project aimed at introducing new technology for marking induction hobs. The project, supported by the National Centre for Research and Development, concluded successfully, introducing a completely new technology to the household appliance manufacturing market.
The initiative aimed to address the issue of managing the supply of ceramic glass for induction hob production. The project faced challenges due to the diversity of hob models, long order fulfilment times, and high minimum order quantities, which limited the response to changing market demands.
To overcome these challenges, Amica decided to abandon standard marking technology in favour of innovative InkJet digital printing. After three years of development, the production line is fully automated. As a result, Amica can now source only 30 models of blank ceramic glass and perform all printing in-house.
The new technology allows the preparation time for a new design to be reduced from 4 weeks to just 4 hours. With a production capacity of 165 units per hour, Amica can now produce up to 3,600 units daily, amounting to nearly 800,000 units annually.
The new technology fits perfectly into the Industry 4.0 concept, which envisages the harmonious integration of smart machines, systems, and efficient methods for modifying production processes. The goal is to achieve optimal efficiency through the sustainable combination of these elements.
- "In today's digital world, the ideas of Industry 4.0 are hugely significant for changes in production methods. They allow us not only to work more efficiently but also to flexibly adapt to the individual needs of customers. Industry 4.0 thus opens the door to dynamic, sustainable, and personalised industrial development," says Robert Stobiński, Executive Vice President for Operations.
The benefits of applying this modern technology include inventory reduction, increased production flexibility, rapid response to customer needs, and the ability to introduce new design trends and automate processes. Integrating all line devices with a single control system enables two-way communication of components, ensuring process efficiency and consistency.
Modern technological solutions are key to transforming the industry in the digital world, opening up new opportunities to increase efficiency, flexibility, and innovation.
