Channel sign fabrication moving to automation

FOCUSING ON PRODUCTIVITY & INCREASED SALES OF AUTO-BENDING MACHINE

Recently, government regulation is forcing shops to renew their signs to channel signs. Especially, this movement grows the channel sign market. The demand for LED are increased accordingly and the relevant areas are also growing. Noting auto-bending machine is also one of the growing areas, we will look into what important things are to check.

Why auto-bending machine?

ITS SALES INCREASED BY THE GROWTH OF CHANNEL SIGN MARKET

As the channel sign market grows, auto-bending machine sales are increased naturally. Recently government's regulation speeds it up. Especially, since local governments prefer to install small dimensional signs, the needs of auto-bending machine becomes bigger. Auto-bending machine is good for making a small channel sign than large one. So it is inevitable to adopt auto-bending machine with the trend toward to small sign channel. It is because the size of hand-made channel is limited. Especially. it is said in the industry that hand-made channel signs under 50cm is hardly to fabricate. Almost channel signs that are now being installed for renewal are less than 50cm. Enterprises also try to follow the government's 45cm guideline so the machine sellers expect more sales than before. Also they expect sales increase as the range of various products with V cutting feature for small channel sign fabrication is released. Government's strong policy changes the atmosphere Even 2 years ago, the ratio of board type signs like flex sign is higher than channel signs. But these days, there are channel signs more than flex signs along the road with the channel boom. This trend is because government encourages LED spoon fed industry and prevents board sign to promote dimensional signs. The auto-bending machine market is one of growing markets with channel signs' rapid growth. Some sign companies predicted a huge demand on the channel sign so they produced auto-bending machines. Auto-bending machine gives a fast productivity and convenience so shops who start the channel business initially choose it more than those who make channel signs by hands. Because of severe price competition and government's strong regulation, large printing companies who lost their market change their business focus to channel sign and buy auto-bending machines. Large printing and neon shops enter on channel sign market. Channel sign market is growing over time by the government regulation. Surely, there is bad aspects such as increased raw material cost. Especially, the price of iron materials such as aluminium, galv, stainless steel plate were increased. Moreover, price competition is getting heavier as the number of shops are increased. But the auto-bending machine market is still strong enough. It is because the companies from other markets can not find a solution but to enter on the channel sign market and the atmosphere of production method change by the handmade shops to improve productivity and to enhance working place. The price structure to get an appropriate margin is collapsed in large printing market so printing companies are moving to channel sign market with ample capital. Neon shops are also rushing on the channel sign market with government's regulation on lighting. Even existing hand-made shops consider to buy auto-bending machines.

Auto-bending machine, For what they choose it?

Key point of purchasing auto-bending machine is the ratio ofproductivity to time&labor

As early mentioned, the increased sales of automated machines for channel sign has continued. The people in channel sign market say that the best feature of auto-bending machine is high productivity comparing to time&labor. Some may think the only advantage of auto-bending machine is just the productivity. The productivity, however, can not be improved by just buying auto-bending machine. It should be considered with time and labor. For example, with 100cm channel basis, if 5 year-skilled staff can fabricate 30 channels for 8 hours without auto-bending machine, he can fabricate over 150 channels with the machine. So to speak, it is meaningless to check the productivity how many pieces the machine can produce per hour. The productivity will be meaningful when it is done with same staff at the same time. To utilize the channel fabrication, shops need additional machines like CNC engraver besides auto-bending machine but it is not cheap. So shop owners have to consider whether or not the investment is worthwhile. If the calculation shows the proper investment comparing to outcome, then it is better to stick on hand-made method. Good for bulk production of mall channels less than 50cm Each of auto-bending machine and hand-made work has their own strength and weakness. Channel making shops have to decide, according to work types, whether they use auto-bending machine or handmade. Firstly, even though auto-bending machine is automated system, human has to operate the machine. But it has a high productivity and time saving. If the auto-bending machine is operated whole day, it can produce 50-60 channels. Moreover it is good for small channel signs that government suggests 45cm channel sign. On the other hand, hand-made work can handle various materials such as stainless steel board, aluminium, and so on. Hand-made methods are good for letter work which has many curves and for small quantity. Hand-made shops' interests on the machine Some companies with ample funds afford auto-bending machines while small companies doesn't have enough space for the machine and most of the orders are small quantity. But they also agree with the convenience of the machine by saying if they secure enough space and money, and they are willing to buy. Some small companies' channel making does not rely on the only hand-made works. If there are many orders, they outsource V cutting. Not only it is convenient, but also people buy the machine because of environmental considerations. As the living standard is improved, people don't want to work in a hard and dirty environment. They want to introduce auto-bending machine to make their work place neat. Good for less kinds and mass production Auto-bending machine features that it is outstanding for less kinds and mass production than hand-made work. If the size and specification for mass production are uniform, auto-bending machine is the answer. Handmade is good when the letter types are more than 10 and need small quantity. But if they need 100 pieces each of 4 kinds, A, B, C and D, then automated machine is better. For finance companies or enterprises, they choose a company that can supply faster as long as the qualities are similar. When people buy a cloth, they care design or style. They don't check how to dye or how to sew on the cloth. Sign works the same. Fabrication/installation companies may care about tools or procedures but for end users, they concern more about the conditions of finished products or delivery. If auto-bending machine can shorten the delivery, clients ask their work to the owner who has the machine.

Check point for auto-bending machine

Consider the margin and break-even point

Ones who moved from other business areas should know that auto-bending machine is not almighty. Auto-bending machine takes only one of the whole process. Auto-bending machine can produce a channel body only. Many companies that just started may miss the point that they need a professional skillful labor to assemble channel parts. There is a concern of price structure demolition like large format printing market because too many companies joined in a limited market. Consider the margin and break-even point People tend to misunderstand that they can do every channel works only with auto-bending machine. But it is not true. If a company wants a faster work process with auto-bending machine, it needs other additional automated systems for bottom panel and cab. It effects a lot on the work speed for newly started companies. But companies should consider seriously when they think to buy automated machines as they are quite expensive. One company recently has purchased auto-bending machine and let the skilled worker leave. Generally, skilled workers are quite stubborn and stick to their own idea. It took a year for the company to rebuild their system and lost the chance to take the market share in the beginning. But the manager of the company recommended to shops who want to move to channel market that they have to consider the timing to come in as the machines price are not stable so far.