What does a custom machine design project from GLOBAL deliver?
A custom machine design project delivers an engineered system built around a specific production task rather than a catalog machine adapted to fit. GLOBAL's design covers the mechanical layout, tooling and fixtures, robotics and motion, PLC and HMI controls, sensing and safety, and the integration that makes them work as one machine. Design intent is captured in models, simulation, and design reviews before anything is built, so the concept is proven on paper first. The output is a machine matched to the customer's part, cycle time, quality, and floor-space requirements.
What kinds of machines and processes does GLOBAL design?
GLOBAL designs machines and automated cells for machine tending, material handling, welding, assembly, fastening, dispensing and sealing, coating, inspection, and part transfer. Because the work is design-led, unusual part geometry, tight floor space, difficult part presentation, or demanding quality checks can be engineered for rather than avoided. A feasibility study confirms whether part variation, cycle-time targets, and safety needs support a practical design.
What does the design-to-build process look like?
The process is engineering-first: a process and feasibility review, concept development, then detailed mechanical, controls, and tooling design supported by robot simulation and design reviews. Once the design is validated, GLOBAL builds and integrates the machine, proves it during factory acceptance testing, and then installs, commissions, and runs it off on the plant floor. Simulating reach, cycle, and layout early is what keeps costly changes out of the build phase.
Can the design use our preferred controls and robot platforms?
Yes. GLOBAL designs to the customer's standards and works across common robot, PLC, and HMI platforms so the finished machine fits existing maintenance skills and spare-parts stock. As a FANUC-focused integrator, GLOBAL frequently designs around FANUC robots, but controls and components can be specified to match a plant's preferences. Aligning the design with the customer's platforms early avoids surprises during commissioning.
Can GLOBAL redesign or upgrade an existing machine?
Yes. GLOBAL can redesign, re-tool, or re-control an existing machine when the base equipment is sound but no longer meets the required rate, product mix, or safety standard. The current machine is assessed for condition, interfaces, and cycle capability, and useful assets are retained where they still serve the design. A clean-sheet design is recommended only when reworking the existing machine would cost more than it returns, and that trade-off is laid out first.
What support follows after a machine is designed and built?
After commissioning and run-off, GLOBAL supports the handoff with as-built drawings, controls documentation, operator and maintenance training, and recommended spare parts. Design revisions are available as parts or volumes change, and because GLOBAL also provides technical staffing, experienced engineers can be added to operate or maintain the machine. Ongoing service and calibration are planned around scheduled maintenance windows.
How does a manufacturer begin a machine design project?
A project usually begins with a conversation about the part and the production goal, followed by a feasibility review of cycle time, part variation, floor space, and safety. GLOBAL then develops a concept and preliminary design so the customer can weigh the approach, scope, and trade-offs before committing to a build. Representative parts, drawings, and current process data make that early design work faster and more accurate.