Some companies are in crisis mode, while others need to manage their growth. TRIPS belongs to the second group. The automation technology specialist is looking to the future in a positive frame of mind, including in Poland. Working with solutions from Eplan, Rittal and Rittal Automation Systems, its new Polish plant has taken a systematic approach to planning growth. We discover how during a visit to Krapkowice.
The extensive integration of Eplan and Rittal systems makes our production work faster, more precise and more efficient.
As Lukasz Kowalski walks through the spacious production hall in Krapkowice, it seems almost self-evident that TRIPS now manufactures large, complex systems that take weeks to assemble in the factory. But this was by no means a given. Just a few years ago, the company was facing a growth bottleneck: the old location in Wykroty was simply too small – a circumstance that made it increasingly difficult to implement large customer-specific projects.
The solution was a bold step: a dedicated greenfield plant, planned on a proverbial greenfield site. 4,000 square metres of production space, modular in design, future-proof, energy-efficient – and above all: ready for big things.
But a new plant alone does not create a modern production process. TRIPS used the new beginning to also make a technological leap forward. A central component in this was the solutions from Rittal and Eplan.
In the separate machining area, a Perforex machining centre from Rittal now rattles away – handling up to 95 per cent of all drilling and milling work that was previously done manually and took a lot of time. The noisy work steps have been banned from the main production area, allowing employees to concentrate more on wiring, assembly and testing. Above all, projects are now implemented faster and more precisely. Large container solutions and eHouses can now be easily channelled through the flexible production lines.
At the same time, the entire engineering and manufacturing process has been digitised. Instead of thick paper folders, circuit diagrams, wiring lists and route information now flicker on monitors above the workstations. This is made possible by the deep integration of Eplan – from design and machine control to final testing. ‘We now work completely digitally. This increases quality and saves time,’ says Kowalski.
The conversion has changed TRIPS. The new plant is not only larger and more modern, but also more attractive to skilled workers, whom the company urgently needs. The collaboration with the local technical college and the investment in training are paying off. The high proportion of women in production is striking – a sign that precision work succeeds wherever good processes and good working conditions come together.
Today, a glance at the site shows that TRIPS has room to breathe – and to grow. The infrastructure for future expansion is already in place. Geothermal energy, photovoltaics and modern ventilation systems ensure a sustainable energy supply.
What began as a necessity has become a strategic advantage. Thanks to Rittal and Eplan, TRIPS is not only producing more efficiently and digitally, but is also ideally positioned for the coming years.