The assumption that an automatic coiler is always better than a semi-automatic coiler is a paradigm to be debunked. In fact, there are production situations in which an automatic coiler is indispensable and others in which a semi-automatic coiler might be more practical for the company’s needs, the type of industrial line, or the requirements and limitations of the budget.
It is necessary to make broad and well-organized observations on the characteristics and production needs by analyzing the type of extruded pipes made, the speed of the line and, last but not least, to account for the established investment plans and the advantages gained in terms of payback. It is also important to consider the impact of the workforce cost on the two types of processes and choose the one that offers greater benefits. Lastly, there are other factors that may influence the choice, such as optimization of stowage and transportation, the requirements of the end customer, the market’s demands in terms of flexibility, and the assortment of pipes produced.
If we look at the machining processes, the automatic coiler is able to entirely form the coils on its own, so it couples the pipe, coils it, cuts it, ties it or packages it with stretch film, and finally ejects the reel. Except for the initial insertion of the pipe, every one of these operations is performed automatically without any manual intervention.
Instead, the semi automatic coiler requires that a few steps be performed by hand by the operator, such as the termination or cutting of the pipe, the coupling phase, or the fastening and ejection.