The Team at Navus: Exceeding Client Expectations Everyday

December 15, 2021

The Team at Navus: Exceeding Client Expectations Everyday

custom automation, electrical designer, Navus Team

Navus

Navus is fortunate to work in an industry where we get to do something different every single day. Our projects have a lot of moving parts that all need to synchronize seamlessly, giving our team the opportunity to work with a variety of exciting, cutting-edge technologies. Between constant advances in robotics and a perpetual desire to build faster, safer, and more efficient systems, we never have to worry about work becoming monotonous.

Meet Aaron H.: Electrical Designer

Aaron H. has been with us for almost six years. While he works as an electrical designer, he likes to joke that he’s a “master of all trades,” which isn’t too far from the truth.

Variety That Inspires

Navus: Describe what you do in your role at Navus.

Aaron: I do a lot of the PLC programming for the new machines. I also do some of the electrical design depending on the workload. I usually end up doing more of the programming than the design work.

Navus: How did you end up in this career, and ultimately at Navus?

Aaron: I ended up in this career because it’s always interesting and there’s always something different. It’s ever-changing, unlike some other monotonous, repetitive careers. I’m always getting to work with new equipment and make something exciting happen.

I joined Navus after working for another machine builder. They closed their doors one day, and I knew I wanted to continue doing that kind of work. I applied to Navus and I’ve been a part of the team ever since!

Navus: What’s your favorite part about the role that you play at Navus?

Aaron: I enjoy getting to work with all the new technology. I get to see how everything comes together as a whole, from the beginning of the process, until we deliver the finished machine.

Navus: What is your favorite part about working for Navus as a company in general?

Aaron: I love getting to be a part of bringing a concept to life. To actually make it work the way it was intended and dreamed up. It’s a lot of fun! Especially when a client brings us something to build that’s never been done before. We create a lot of new processes for our clients at Navus!

Exceeding Expectations Everyday

Navus: Describe some of the ways you’ve seen the team at Navus work together to solve challenges in the past.

Aaron: Like most teams, we have our moments where we don’t always agree. But overall I would say that’s rare. We always come together, brainstorm, and figure out a solution to the challenges we face.

We all work together well. Overall, we’re a good team who can ask each other for ideas and bounce things off of each other. As a group effort, it makes everything come together, and our projects are successful because of it in the end.

Navus: What’s been your favorite project that you’ve worked on at Navus?

Aaron: I would have to say my favorite was a trim and expand cell we did for a client. It turned out really well and worked far more superior to a previous rendition that another automation company had created. It’s always great when we can not only meet a client’s expectations, but exceed them and set a new standard in the industry. That project was a lot of fun!

Navus: What do you hope for the future of Navus as you grow?

Aaron: I hope it explodes, but in a good way of course. We grow year over year, and I hope that continues. I would love to see us get to ten times the size we are now. The bigger we are, the more we get to build new and advanced machinery, and stay on the cutting-edge of automation technology.

Navus: What kind of projects would you like to work on in the future, or do more of?

Aaron: I like working on the higher speed lines. I always think that it’s neat to get everything done in split seconds. When you’ve worked in the industry as long as I have, you tend to know when something is possible or not. The exciting part is accomplishing something faster than it’s been done before.

Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex in Custom Automation & Fabrication

Our team at Navus is invested in every solution we provide to clients. With our intelligent team and all of the years of experience they have, we develop simple solutions that fit your unique needs, and look sleek and elegant at the same time. Dedicated team members like Aaron are a part of the reason our company succeeds in helping our clients overcome complex challenges, and forge new possibilities for their manufacturing needs!

Are you interested in joining the Navus family? Reach out to us today. We’re always looking for talented individuals to join our team of engineers and technicians. Learn more by emailing us at info@navusinc.com.

Navus Team

November 19, 2021

The Team at Navus: Cutting Edge Automation in Our Own Backyard

automotive industry, custom automation, electrical design engineer, manufacturing automation

Navus

Navus brings together some of the brightest minds in our industry to work on some of its most exciting projects. We take a people-focused, hands-on approach to our work. This allows our team members to focus on their own projects while giving them the flexibility to jump in and help on others if needed. The final result is nationally recognized projects in our own backyard.

Meet Eric: Electrical Design Engineer

Eric has been with us for about six months as an Electrical Design Engineer. While his tenure with us hasn’t been long, he has an established history working for some impressive companies in the automotive industry, and has had the opportunity to dive in headfirst by working with our clients on cutting-edge projects.

Constant Room for Growth in an Ever-Changing Industry

Navus: What do you do in your role every day at Navus?

Eric: I support a lot of teams at Navus, including electrical, programming, design, and human interface of equipment. I also do PLC programming, HMI creation, and integration of new devices into networks. I work to support one of our biggest clients in the automotive industry, specifically.

Navus: How did you end up in this career and then at Navus?

Eric: I started as a low-level maintenance technician at a small automotive parts supplier in Ohio. I loved that no two days were the same in this kind of work. I just kept learning on my own, and I went to night school at a small community college. My next career move was to a major automotive company where I worked in die-casting. Eventually, I moved up to programming in this same company where I worked on some major projects.

But at some point in companies that large, you end up managing more people than projects. I was no longer as technically involved as I once was. I wanted to be closer to the edge of integration, which was what I always enjoyed the most, along with programming.

It might sound funny, but I actually saw a few TikTok videos that Navus made and then researched them further on LinkedIn. They contacted me shortly after I made my own LinkedIn profile. We set up a meeting in Columbus, Ohio, they offered me the job, and I moved down to Knoxville!

Navus: What is your favorite part of your role at Navus?

Eric: I think my favorite project so far is a diecast system we’ve been working on that integrates with an existing system for a client. They’re starting to move into some newer technologies, which allows us to try cutting-edge equipment for their automated systems!

We create and work with so much technology per square foot for systems like theirs. Even if you are very talented, there is always room to grow and learn just by walking in the door at Navus. We’re innovating and adding all sorts of advanced features to the systems we customize for our clients. It’s neat to see something that’s cutting edge on the national level right here where we live in East Tennessee.

Navus: What is your favorite part of working for Navus as a company?

Eric: I would say the culture. Specifically, the fact that we treat each other as close to family as you can. On the other hand, we’re very aware that you’re only as big as your aspirations, dreams, and goals. We definitely work hard to be better on the day-to-day level, but we can also be better at a big picture level and grow exponentially if we continue to do the right thing.

Teamwork and a Team That Works

Navus: Describe some of the ways you’ve seen the Navus team work together to solve challenges.

Eric: We had a person working out of state who had run into some issues. I looked up to see someone with a Bluetooth headset on, at his computer, reviewing the same information. We were talking throughout the office with probably five people supporting one person.

As a programmer and as an electrical engineer, in general, you have to have a base to call on because there’s so much information to process. You need valuable tools to make that happen, and I’ve yet to ask a question that just gets brushed off. We all have deadlines and we all have work, but we’re never so pressed that you can’t help a teammate in need.

Navus: Which project has been your favorite out of the ones you’ve worked on so far?

Eric: My favorite so far has to be a light industrial manufacturing project we did for a repeat client. It’s a great example of the fast-moving projects we can work on with the technology we use. I loved the reactions this project received during our recent open house. Everyone from little kids to grandmas were interested in what we created. It’s neat to see projects come to fruition, and even better to get to share our successes with friends, family, and the community as a whole.

Navus: What do you hope for the future of Navus?

Eric: I hope that as we grow, we never lose our process. What makes us unique is our commitment to individual customers and individual coworkers. Our attention to detail is unequivocally what sets us apart. Our communication from person to person is what brought me here and what will keep me here long term.

Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex in Custom Automation & Fabrication

Our team at Navus is invested in every solution we provide to clients. With our intelligent team and all of the years of experience they have, we develop simple solutions that fit your unique needs, and look sleek and elegant at the same time. Dedicated team members like Eric are a part of the reason our company succeeds in helping our clients overcome complex challenges, and forge new possibilities for their manufacturing needs!

Ryan is an Electrical Technician at Navus

Company News

April 21, 2021

The Team at Navus: Building Bigger & Better Machines

Automation Careers, custom automation, Custom Electrical Panels, Navus Team

Navus

For over 20 years, Navus has built a reputation of building unique systems and machines that are cutting edge. It ultimately comes down to building bigger and better machines, no matter what changes in the world of technology.

In our previous blog post, our team member Matt discussed how Navus is on the forefront of new technologies in custom automation. Part of the reason Navus is able to keep up with our ever-changing industry — and provide solutions that others haven’t thought of — is through the fresh perspectives of a younger generation of technicians and engineers joining the team.

Meet Ryan: Electrical Technician

Ryan R. joined the Navus team as an Electrical Technician at the beginning of

March 2021. Trained as an Electrical Engineer, Ryan is excited for the opportunity to spend hands-on time building the panels he’ll one day be designing for Navus.

Hands-On Experience Adds to a Future in Engineering

Navus: Describe what you do in your role at Navus.

Ryan: I got hired as an electrical engineer, but at the moment I’m working as an electrical technician. I’m starting on the floor, learning how to assemble and wire control panels before I start designing them for projects. I’ve been wiring, cutting holes in panels for all the peripheral devices like air conditioning units, switches, all that kind of stuff. When I assume my full engineering role, I’ll have hands-on experience of what I’m developing and designing.

Navus: How did you end up in this career, and ultimately at Navus?

Ryan: Electrical engineering is a family tradition, all the way back to my great-grandfather. It’s what I was trained to do from a young age, and it’s the path I wanted to follow.

I got my job at Navus when I walked in with my resume! Bill Sauerhoefer came out and talked to me for about 15 minutes. I told him how interested I was in the company, and about a week later I got a call from Buck Barber, and then I started the interview process.

Navus: What’s your favorite part about your job and working at Navus?

Ryan: All of the hands-on experience I’m getting. Control systems engineers who work for larger companies sometimes never get their hands on the actual equipment. They never really learn about what they’re designing, which can cause a lot of miscommunication between the electrical technicians and the engineers. Navus is giving me that hands-on experience and putting me in the field so I can be an even more effective engineer one day.

A Team That Gets the Job Done

Navus: Describe some of the ways you’ve seen the team at Navus work together to overcome challenges.

Ryan: It was really awesome to see everyone come together on the runoff of a recent machine we built. We had the mechanical engineering team, electrical engineering team, welders, other vendors we were working with, all come together to make sure that this machine runoff went smoothly and was something we could confidently deliver to our client.

Navus: What do you hope for your future at Navus?

Ryan: I’m looking forward to assuming the responsibility of a formal electrical engineer, and managing the electrical engineering part of a project. In the future it would be amazing to manage the entire life cycle of a project. I’m looking forward to growing with the company and building bigger and better machines together.

Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex of Custom Automation

Navus’ team is made up of hand-picked individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to our work. We believe that a work environment like ours should be a safe place for our team members to show interest in new skills and grow in their career. Supporting team members like Ryan in their growing career is part of the reason that our high standards for the solutions and products we deliver are possible!

If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help overcome your challenges through custom automation solutions, or if you’re interested in joining the Navus family, reach out to us today. You can contact us by emailing info@navusinc.com.

Custom Automation

April 7, 2021

The Team at Navus: Forerunners of Technology Advancement

career, custom automation, custom fabrication, custom programming, robotic solutions, robotic welding, technology advancement

Navus

Navus has a reputation of delivering systems that work for our clients. We talk about solving client challenges regularly because it’s what we do every day! But how do we do it? We constantly look for ways to use, and even develop, the latest advanced technologies to ensure that our solutions work.

From robotics programming to bridging the gap between academic and hands-on engineering, our team takes their wealth of experience and knowledge to work with them every day of the week. They collaborate to make our solutions the best choice on the market, and think about challenges from every possible angle.

Meet Matt: Automation Technician

Matt N. recently joined the Navus team at the end of 2020, but he’s jumped right into his role creating solutions for our clients’ challenges. He’s been an impressive addition to our team, and we can’t wait to see how he continues to grow in knowledge and expertise at Navus.

Creating Something New Every Day

Navus: Describe what you do in your role at Navus.

Matt: I assemble and install electrical components as an aspect of our automation systems.

Navus: How did you end up in this career, and ultimately at Navus?

Matt: I was in the right place at the right time! In Fall of 2020, I was in my last semester of Electrical Engineering at Pellissippi State Community College. Navus came to visit our class to let us know about them and the work they do, but also to get to know us a little bit. I talked to them, and they thought I’d be a good fit at Navus, and I thought it would be a good opportunity for my career..

Navus: What’s your favorite part about your job and working at Navus?

Matt: I just like that it’s not always the same thing. Every day is a little different. Sometimes it’s similar to something I’ve done before, but oftentimes it’s something completely new. Especially for me, since I’m coming from the academic side of engineering rather than the experience side of it like some of my co-workers. It’s good for me to learn the practical side of some of the academic things that I learned about electrical engineering.

It’s also nice that Navus is a smaller company. We’re able to have input into the projects we’re working on, and to associate with everyone who’s involved with the project. I get to talk to the engineers, the project managers, the other fabricators, and the other technicians. We tend to work closely together that way to find the best multi-disciplinary solutions to the challenges that we face. I like that a lot about our company.

A Team That’s Not Afraid of Challenges

Navus: Describe some of the ways you’ve seen the team at Navus work together to overcome challenges.

Matt: Everyone brings their own expertise to any challenge we face. When we look for solutions, everybody brings a different perspective based on what they know about that type of issue, what the end goal is, and how best to attain it for our client.

We can collaborate and work together, and you end up getting input from other sides that you may not have thought about. Our team is familiar with all types of materials and the processes for fabricating them. They always bring their knowledge into play, and being a smaller operation allows us to share in those ways and come up with solutions for challenges.

Navus: What have been your favorite projects to work on?

Matt: Right now we’re working on a line that’s going to be a huge part of the future of the automobiles. It feels good to play a small part in the next generation of the automotive industry.

Navus: What do you hope for your future at Navus?

Matt: Honestly, I just like to see the robots dance. As advanced as robot technology is, and the constant advancement of the different tools we have to use with robots, we’re able to bring more and more of them into play and have greater precision with less waste and more efficiency. We create a better product for the end consumer—not only the client we’re working with, but also their ultimate client. It’s nice to be on the forefront of technology advancing.

Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex of Custom Automation

Navus’ team is made up of hand-picked individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to our work. One of our values as a team is the ability to collaborate and overcome any challenges our clients face. Team members like Matt are part of the reason that our high standards for the solutions and products we deliver are possible!

Custom Automation

March 24, 2021

The Team at Navus: Overcoming Challenges for Clients Every Day

career, custom automation, custom fabrication, water jet, welding

Navus

At Navus, every day is a little different. Our team is always working on different machines for different projects to make different parts to satisfy all of our clients. We only deliver projects to our clients that have been tested to perfection and are ready to be installed immediately.

The reason why we can deliver on our high standards is the very heart and soul of our operation: our team of expert engineers and technicians. The team at Navus works together relentlessly to solve any and all challenges that our clients face.

Meet Alan: Automation Technician, Mechanical Level 4

Alan R. has been a part of our team for nine years. He found his way to Navus while he was studying Mechanical Engineering at Pellissippi State Community College. He began working for our company when he was still in school, and then started working here full-time once he graduated with his degree.

Alan is the reason we can make the different parts for our clients’ projects, and make them well! He’s responsible for translating plans from the engineers into tangible parts used for client projects. We couldn’t serve our clients like we do without Alan’s hard work and dedication!

Translating Engineering Solutions to Physical Parts

Navus: Describe what you do in your role at Navus.

Alan: I take the prints from the engineers and work out how to actually make the parts [for our clients’ projects]. Anything that requires any tolerances, I work out what we have the capacity to do in-house, and make jigs or anything that needs to be made to actually make the parts workable.

Navus: What’s your favorite part about your job and working at Navus?

Alan: It’s varied and challenging. It’s certainly not [typical] production. Everything we do is usually custom to the client’s install. I’m not a big fan of doing the same thing every day. Here, there’s always something new to stretch yourself.

A Team That Forges a Future for Custom Automation

Navus: Describe some of the ways you’ve seen the team at Navus work together to overcome challenges.

Alan: We have developed quite a few welding techniques [at Navus]. We’ve gone through different robotic programming languages to get welds specific to the customer’s satisfaction and needs. We’ve used more than one program in the same part to get the ideal result. I usually spend my time in awe of the technical knowledge and creativity around here.

Navus: What have been your favorite projects to work on?

Alan: One of the jobs in the shop at the moment was one that I worked on when we originally built it. The first iteration of this job had a lot of detail and challenging parts for me to make. It’s been a while since it was here, so I get to restart that project anew and face the same challenges again. I think that’s a fun and an exciting part of my job.

Navus: What do you hope for your future at Navus?

Alan: We’ve got a few jobs coming in that are going to require utilizing some more of the features of the water jet, and getting the parts closer to being completely finished before they come into the machine area. Ideally, I’d like to get to the point where we have the capability of having parts made to much tighter tolerances, and produce much cleaner parts to the customer’s satisfaction. Some of our newer engineers have this same mindset and motivation. It’s nice to see the chance for our team to continue to improve for the sake of our customers’ satisfaction.

Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex of Custom Automation

Navus’ team is made up of hand-picked individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to our work. One of our values as a team is the ability to collaborate and overcome any challenges our clients face. Team members like Alan are part of the reason that our high standards for the solutions and products we deliver are possible!

Custom Automation

March 10, 2021

The Team at Navus: A Workplace to Grow & Learn

career, custom automation, custom fabrication, welding

Navus

Ask anyone who’s been working in their career for a while, and no matter their industry, they’ll tell you that you don’t learn everything in school. Once you’ve graduated college and start your first job in your professional career, you’ll continue to find opportunities to learn and master new skills that will help you in your future.

At Navus, we take pride in investing in our employees. Our staff is encouraged to learn and grow in areas they’re interested in. The result is a safe, fun, and rewarding workplace with opportunities for professional growth.

Meet Mike: Weld Engineer, Programmer, and CWI (Certified Welding Inspector)

Mike T. has worked at Navus for a total of 13 years. He began his career with us directly after graduating from Ferris State University as a welder with a degree in Welding Engineering and Welding Education. Mike worked in this position for a total of two years before working a different job for a short period of time before returning to Navus as a Weld Engineer and CWI, and he’s been here ever since.

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Mike and ask him some questions about his job at Navus. He’s a crucial part of our team, and we’re excited to share just a portion of his story!

Work That’s Different Every Day

Navus: Describe what you do in your role at Navus.

Mike: It depends on the job. If there’s a robotics job, I’ll be in charge of a lot of the robotics programming. If there’s a welding development job, I’ll be in charge of the development for [that job]. Any sort of welder certification or inspection, I would be over [that process]. And then I provide random tech support.

Navus: How did you end up in this career, and ultimately at Navus?

Mike: I went to Ferris State University for Welding Engineering and Welding Education with the intention of being a Welding Engineer or a Welding Instructor. I pretty much picked an area where I wanted to live (I lived in Michigan at the time), and I decided that near the Smoky Mountains was where I wanted to live, so I moved and then found a job here at Navus as a welder.

I was drawn to the area because I am an avid hiker and motorcyclist. There are some pretty epic trails here, some nice riding, and just a beautiful area compared to Michigan. And I HATE cold (not ideal for living in Michigan).

Navus: What’s your favorite part about your job and working at Navus?

Mike: I like how it always changes. It’s not the same thing week to week. I get to learn new things. I did not go to school for programming, but I’ve been able to learn programming here. If you can learn it here, you can move into it. I really like that you’re not stuck in one job if you’re willing to learn new things.

A Team That Works Together to Overcome Challenges

Mike: I also like that Navus is a small company. Everyone knows everybody, and everyone’s willing to help each other out. Nobody’s like, “That’s not my job.” I like that aspect.

Navus: Describe some of the ways you’ve seen the team at Navus work together to overcome challenges.

Mike: We recently worked on a project with a cable management issue, and pretty much the whole engineering team and the guys out on the floor (including the welders and fabricators), were all pitching in ideas to come up with different ways to solve a really complicated problem with cabling and a robot that had to do a bunch of very complicated moves. It took time to get the final product, but nobody gave up on it.

Navus: What have been your favorite projects to work on?

Mike: I’ve been working on one project for almost 11 years. It’s one of the first things I worked on, and we’re still continuing to do things for the client. It’s where I started learning programming, and I’m still involved with it since it’s a more complicated project. Some of the other projects I enjoy are anything involving ABB [robotics] and programming, just because it’s such fun code to write.

Navus: What do you hope for your future at Navus?

Mike: I’d like to get into PLC programming. I’ve started dabbling in HMI programming and screen setup. Pretty much any new language that I can dabble in, so I can basically move into more of just a programming role.

Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex of Custom Automation

Navus’ team is made up of hand-picked individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to our work. One of our values as a team is the ability to collaborate to overcome any challenges our clients face. Team members like Mike are part of the reason that our high standards for the solutions and products we deliver are possible!

Custom Automation

February 17, 2021

Solving Production Delays & Programming Issues

custom automation, custom programming, manufacturing floor space, programming issues

Navus

No matter what’s being produced, the manufacturing process can get complicated quickly. Every one of our manufacturing clients come to us with unique challenges somewhere in their process—including programming issues. Recently, a client approached us with recurring challenges they were facing in their manufacturing process due to the architecture of their control systems and its inability to do what they needed to without manual input. They needed a reliable system that could improve overall production and make it easier to operate.

There’s a reason we claim to solve complex challenges — our team is known for solving the challenges that our clients face. We’ve proven it time and time again. No matter the scale of the challenge you’re facing, our team works until they find a unique solution that works better for than you could have ever imagined.

Programming Issues Can Cause a Host of Production Problems

It seems simple enough, but if a system in your manufacturing facility isn’t programmed correctly, it’s almost impossible for the entire production system to do what it’s supposed to do. This understandably causes more than one problem in your facility. Production rates plummet, processes are stalled, it feels like something’s always in need of fixing, and it leaves you and your entire team with a major headache and no clear fix.

That’s the moment our engineers come to your rescue.

The featured client was dealing with all of the above frustrations when they approached us for a solution. Our engineers know the ins and out of a control system’s architecture, which allowed us to recreate the system they already had, but in a way that actually worked for them.

How did we do it?

The Navus Solution: Getting Back to the Architecture of it All

By going back to the root of what our clients needed their system to accomplish, our team was able to build a better, more efficient system. All aspects of the production line needed to understand and communicate with each other. Our client didn’t just need automation for automation’s sake— they needed a smart solution that actually did everything their production process required without constant input from operators.

Our client was continuously faced with the challenge to produce a consistent fit up, within a tight tolerance, on a multi-part assembly at a critical place within their manufacturing process. One missing piece in their previous system keeping them from accomplishing this was the ability to automatically recognize and compensate for part features and variables. This is a feature we’ve delivered to other clients before, including the project detailed in our white paper: MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE WITH SENSOR-GUIDED ROBOTICS. Because of our experience and reputation for delivering our clients systems that can identify their different parts, and intuitively know what to do with the parts, we knew we could deliver this particular solution.

Navus’ system was able to automatically overcome the variable tolerance stack ups in materials and assembly without the need for operator intervention or input. Due to Navus’ depth of knowledge in control system’s architecture, we were able to recreate a production cell that our client was familiar with. We weren’t trying to make their new system fit in their existing floorspace. We simply took the concept of what was already there, made it infinitely better, and integrated it into their facility seamlessly.

The ultimate result? Dramatically improved production rates and reliable part consistency to the downstream process. It was an easier system for operators to manage because it didn’t produce inconsistencies, slow production down with stalled time, or require constant tweaks and manual operation. Now all the operators have to do is oversee that the system is doing what it’s supposed to.

Automation Integration is Considering the Big Picture

When Navus goes to solve a challenge for a client through automation integration, we look at the big picture. We ask ourselves how the process we’re creating for you is going to work with the rest of your facility. Our solutions are built to communicate with the rest of your manufacturing process, and fit into the space you already have.

We promise to deliver solutions that work, and we don’t end the relationship once the process has been delivered. We pride ourselves on our client relationships and love to find other ways we can solve the challenges our clients face.

Navus’ ability to solve your challenges ultimately comes down to our team and history of excellence. Every one of our engineers is passionate about solving specific challenges for our clients who partner with us. We’re dedicated to thinking outside of the box to ensure our turn-key system solutions accomplish what you need and solve the challenges you face. From electrical and controls system engineering to automation integration, and everything in between, we promise to partner with you in all aspects possible. When you choose to partner with us for your integration needs, you become a part of the Navus family.

Navus Automation, Inc., is a leading full-service automation integrator. Our world-class team has a reputation for applying ingenuity to solve complex challenges and deliver customized turn-key systems solutions. From concept to completion, Navus provides robotic welding and automation systems built upon our unwavering commitment to excellence, precision, and reliability.

For more information on how our team can help you solve complex challenges in your manufacturing facility, reach out to us today!

Proof of Concept

February 10, 2021

Proof of Concept: The Evidence of Simulation & Demonstration

custom automation, manufacturing, proof of concept, robotics

Navus

Recently we were reminded of how wonderful it is to work with returning customers. A client we regularly work with in medium industry manufacturing had a multi-step system in their facility that cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars to accurately produce manufactured parts. Our engineers thought outside the box, allowing us to brainstorm and come to them with a brand new system that solved their problem with just one additional robot, rather than needing to purchase and integrate large, dedicated equipment

When we partner with you, we don’t just deliver a one-and-done solution. Our delivered solutions open up endless opportunities for your business. We achieve this by proposing solutions others haven’t considered.

But proving our ability to deliver a comprehensive solution goes beyond a proposal. At Navus. we have the capability to deliver a proof of concept for many of the proposals we offer a client. With a proof of concept, we don’t have to try to convince you that our ideas will work. We show you our solutions in action.

What is Proof of Concept?

At Navus, we provide renderings and visuals when we engineer a solution so you can envision what we have in mind. But in order to actually test the solution, we encourage all clients to consider a proof of concept. This is an important step in any proposed integration solution as it allows the actual solution to be built at a smaller scale so we can show the system in action.

Navus uses state-of-the-art offline programming and simulation software to determine the feasibility of an idea. This happens before the first part is ever cut, fabricated, machined, or coated. This serves to further mitigate risk before building even small-scale test setups, whether to verify cycle time or ensure proper robot reach and accessibility.

If our proposed solution solves the challenges it’s supposed to during the proof of concept phase, then we move forward with building the solution to scale. However, if any part of it fails during the proof of concept phase, we go back to the drawing board. We refuse to deliver a system that is going to make your life harder or potentially fail once integrated in your facility.

Proof of Concept and the Confidence of a Complete Solution

Investing in a new integrated system for your facility shouldn’t go to waste. Innovative ideas can be discussed and proposed, but if they fail during the proof of concept phase, they’re not actual solutions for your needs. At Navus, we’re dedicated to perfecting any solution we propose during the proof of concept phase in order to save you headaches and cost when completing the final system.

When our client was open to the idea of developing our proposal into a proof of concept, the initial investment was a fraction of the total system cost, and ultimately went a long way in saving them money. We were able to pull most of the parts for the proof of concept from inventory we already had onsite. This allowed us to bring our vision to life without ordering expensive parts prior to integrating the proven solution. This live demonstration was a small investment on our client’s part, but the return gave them so much more. It gave them a solution they could trust.

What Did Proof of Concept Provide For Our Client?

When you’re looking for a solution to a challenge, the last thing you want to do is waste time, money, or resources. Proof of concept testing may seem like an extra step, but it’s one worth taking. Testing a proposed solution every way possible can save you from wasting more time and money down the road if a solution isn’t properly examined.

The proposal we gave our client took a multi-system process they already had and required in their facility, and compacted it into one system using robotics. This solution uses flexible robotics fitted with reusable tooling and inexpensive fixtures that can be used for multiple different parts manufactured in our client’s facility.

By using our in-house 6-axis industrial robots, PLCs, end of arm tooling, laser scanning/searching technology, force compliant grinding technology, welding capabilities, and custom programming, we built a smaller scale version of our proposed solution. Our client watched the proposal come to life through both simulation and demonstration, giving them the reassurance they needed to move forward with implementation.

Engineering the Smartest Automation Solutions Since 1998

Navus’ ability to solve your challenges ultimately comes down to our team and history of excellence. Every one of our engineers is passionate about solving specific challenges for our clients who partner with us. At Navus, we don’t resort to generic solutions. We’re dedicated to thinking outside of the box to ensure our turn-key system solutions accomplish what you need and solve the challenges you face. Proof of concept is just one way that we provide assurance to every client who hires us that their challenges are solved.

Partnering with Navus isn’t just about figuring out a solution for your current challenges. Like this particular project shows, we promise to go beyond an initial proposal and offer new ideas and solutions that create a better future for your manufacturing space and company throughout our partnership. When you choose to partner with us for your integration needs, you become a part of the Navus family.

Navus Automation, Inc., is a leading full-service automation integrator. Our world-class team has a reputation for applying ingenuity to solve complex challenges and deliver customized turn-key systems solutions. From concept to completion, Navus provides robotic welding and automation systems built upon our unwavering commitment to excellence, precision, and reliability.

For more information on how our team can help you solve complex challenges in your manufacturing facility, reach out to us today!

Heavy Industry Medium Industry

January 28, 2021

Not All Integrators Are The Same: How Navus’ Programming Makes Us Stand Out Above Others

additive manufacturing, custom automation, custom programming, custom software, heavy industry, medium industry

Navus

We don’t have to tell you about the challenges and complexity of making the different systems in your facility communicate and work together. If you find managing line production day-to-day feels more like a nightmare than the smooth process it should be, you may be partnered with the wrong automation integrator. Choosing the right automation integration partner makes all the difference in how well your systems run, their impact on your day, and the future growth of your company.

No matter what challenge you’re facing in your facility, different automation integrators will always come up with different ways to resolve your challenges. When choosing a partner, it comes down to choosing the smartest solution possible for your company. Integration isn’t just about solving your current challenge, it’s also about looking to the future and seeing possibilities for the success of your business that your current integration partner may not have considered.

Our team at Navus has proven we stand out above other integrators with our knack for seeing what others didn’t, and applying ingenuity to not only solve immediate complex challenges for our clients, but also to think towards the future and how our turn-key systems can provide intelligent solutions that consider future challenges your company may face. In this blog series we explore how the work that we’ve done sets Navus apart from other integrators.

Additive Manufacturing With Metal Alloy

Additive manufacturing has taken the world by storm in the last several years. While it’s been around since the 1980s, it’s become more of a practical choice for manufacturers as the concept has gotten more advanced, and demand for a manufacturer’s products has increased past the traditional modes of manufacturing.

A client recently approached us with the need for a robotic gantry that could handle additive manufacturing of 3D metal alloy objects in medium and heavy industry settings. The objects themselves needed to be made with multiple different metal alloys. They essentially needed an industrial 3D printer that could switch between materials seamlessly.

Our client needed a new robotic gantry that could work with one they currently owned. In addition, they needed new, custom software that could anticipate all of their needs and keep both gantries calibrated and working correctly.

Custom Software for a Robotic Gantry

A robotic gantry without the right software is similar to buying a computer without an operating system. It’s a machine that can accomplish marvelous things, but without the right programming, it’s nothing but an elaborate shell. It was crucial that our client have new custom software to keep both gantries, their current gantry and the one we were building, coordinated.

Building custom software that integrates existing processes and equipment, which may have been built by a different integrator, and new processes and equipment is a daunting task. The new process merged both gantries together across 13 different axes and kept everything working together within a tolerance of 1mm of welding wire. The intricacy and complexity of what was required of this software was a daunting task. But it wasn’t too daunting for our engineers.

The end result of this project was a brand new process that combined the old with the new and unique. Our newly built robotic gantry was put on the same track as the one already in place. Our custom software ensured the entire system was calibrated so all 13 axes worked together seamlessly within 1mm of welding wire, and that the robot knew where everything was within a 3D space at all times.

The additive manufacturing process we created could use multiple metal alloys within the same part, allowing our client to create objects with one kind of metal on the inside, and a different one on the outside, or a combination of different metals in different parts of the object. This is something made completely possible through additive manufacturing that could never be achieved through a traditional casting process.

How Did We Do It?

Our client wanted an addition to their gantry so they could do consistent additive manufacturing with metal alloy in their facility, but they also needed a custom software that kept the robotic gantry our team created working properly.

The biggest challenges we faced were ensuring that axes were coordinated to work together, and blending the real world with the 3D printing world. Both required an enormous amount of calibration and testing.

The system we designed:

Gave our client the capability to print 3D parts with metal alloys
Kept all of the axes calibrated so they could use the system without fear of it failing
Programmed the robot so it knows where everything is within the 3D space of the gantry
Allowed our client to create 3D objects made from multiple types of metal materials

The result? With this new process, our client is able to print objects using metal alloys. If you’re curious how we could help you and your company in a similar way, contact a member of our team today!

Why Are Navus’ Solutions Smarter Than Other Automation Integrators’ Solutions?

It all comes down to our team at Navus. Every one of our engineers is passionate about solving specific challenges for every single one of our clients who partners with us. Our experience, ability to think outside of the box, and passion make all of the difference in ensuring our turn-key system solutions accomplish what other automation integrators can’t. Partnering with Navus isn’t just about figuring out a solution for your current challenges. With every client we partner with, we promise to bring new ideas and solutions to the table that create future possibilities for your manufacturing space, and the future growth of your company.

For more information on how our team can help you solve complex challenges in your manufacturing facility, reach out to us today!

Sensor-Guided Robotics Handling Multi-Ton Parts?

Custom Automation

January 12, 2021

Not All Integrators Are The Same: How Navus Saw What Others Couldn’t

automation integrators, custom automation, not all integrators are the same

Navus

We don’t have to tell you about the challenges and complexity of making the different systems in your facility communicate and work together. If you find managing line production day-to-day feels more like a nightmare than the smooth process it should be, you may be partnered with the wrong automation integrator. Choosing the right automation integrators makes all the difference in how well your systems run, their impact on your day, and the future growth of your company.

No matter what challenge you’re facing in your manufacturing facility, different automation integrators will always come up with different ways to resolve your challenges. When choosing a partner, it comes down to choosing the smartest solution possible for your company. Integration isn’t just about solving your current challenge, it’s also about looking to the future and seeing possibilities for the success of your business that your current integration partner may not have considered.

Our team at Navus has proven our ability to stand out above other integrators with our knack for seeing what others didn’t, and applying ingenuity to not only solve immediate complex challenges for our clients, but also to think towards the future and how our turn-key systems can provide intelligent solutions that consider future challenges your company may face. In this blog series we explore how the work that we’ve done sets Navus apart from other integrators.

Sensor-Guided Robotics Handling Multi-Ton Parts?

A couple of years ago we gained a client in a nontraditional way because of our ability to think of the smartest way to solve challenges. Their facility manufactured multi-ton parts, and they wanted to automate a part of the process that had historically been done manually by employees. They required a machine that could automatically locate and identify one of their heavy parts by recognizing its shape and features, create a tool path for the part, and mill all sharp edges to a close-tolerance radius, all while ensuring downstream processing success using robotic programming.

Our client hired a different integration team before they approached us, but the system that their first integration partner engineered failed when it actually came to programming a robot to locate and identify each part before milling the sharp edges. Our client recognized that this was a central part of the solution they needed, and reached out to us for a second opinion. Our entire team was confident we could engineer a solution and we put our heads together to figure out how to accomplish what seemed impossible to accomplish.

How Did We Do It?

Whatever system and machine we developed needed to account for fluctuation in size and weight of our client’s manufactured parts. Part positioning tolerances and dimensional variations can decrease productivity, causing high rejection rates and downtime in industrial robotic applications, and we wanted to avoid those roadblocks at all cost. Our machine needed to consistently deliver a part at the end of the tool path that has been measured with all sharp edges milled into a precise radius in less than an hour from start to finish, with no need for manual manipulation.

Robotics were our best friend when it came to solving this particular challenge. Our team utilized experience and ingenuity to create a system that could:

Find and measure a particular part
Write a program for itself based on the position of the edges of the part
Automatically grind edges to a precise radius

The result of our ingenuity was a multi-faceted machine that accomplished all of our client’s intended goals. The process we engineered utilized sensor guided robotics, automatic tool path generation from sensor inputs, automatic robot program generation, and custom designed material handling equipment to reliably move and precisely position very heavy materials. Our clients required the process to take under an hour in order to be more efficient, and our machine accomplished the entire process beginning to end in only 25 minutes.

Our team’s ability to think outside of the norm for robotics and programming solved a problem that seemed nearly impossible for our client. We took what other automation integrators failed at and turned it into a solution that went above and beyond what our client expected. Read more of the specifics about how we solved their challenges by downloading our recent white paper.

Why Are Navus’ Solutions Smarter Than Other Automation Integrators’ Solutions?

For more information on how our team can help you solve complex challenges in your manufacturing facility, reach out to us today!

Tag : custom automation

Meet Aaron H.: Electrical Designer

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Meet Eric: Electrical Design Engineer

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Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex of Custom Automation

Meet Mike: Weld Engineer, Programmer, and CWI (Certified Welding Inspector)

Work That’s Different Every Day

A Team That Works Together to Overcome Challenges

Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex of Custom Automation

Programming Issues Can Cause a Host of Production Problems

The Navus Solution: Getting Back to the Architecture of it All

Automation Integration is Considering the Big Picture

What is Proof of Concept?

Proof of Concept and the Confidence of a Complete Solution

What Did Proof of Concept Provide For Our Client?

Engineering the Smartest Automation Solutions Since 1998

Additive Manufacturing With Metal Alloy

Custom Software for a Robotic Gantry

How Did We Do It?

Why Are Navus’ Solutions Smarter Than Other Automation Integrators’ Solutions?

Sensor-Guided Robotics Handling Multi-Ton Parts?

How Did We Do It?

Why Are Navus’ Solutions Smarter Than Other Automation Integrators’ Solutions?

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