In this exhibitor interview, we caught up with John Hardwick, Managing Director from Intouch Monitoring.

Intouch Monitoring help injection molders achieve dramatic improvements in their manufacturing operation with their production monitoring, scheduling and OEE reporting systems. Within weeks of using the system they start seeing over 6% improvement in utilization, reduced downtime, reduced scrap rates, improved cycle time and reduced energy use. 

The system is subscription-based and scalable - start with 16 machines and add and reduce as needed. No set up costs nor internal server needed. It also integrates with any ERP system, on new and legacy machines. 

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What do you think sets your company apart from your competitors? 

Simplicity and ease of use, plus the dramatic improvements to production efficiency and margins. Customers start reaping the rewards from day one. The system is very easy to set up and use. Which means that it is used effectively and can be picked up easily by new staff without any costly trainings. Businesses can achieve more with current resources. 

We offer a 60-day free trial, so the system pays for itself before the free trial ends.  We have been delivering improvements to plastics manufacturers all over the world since 1997 and 95% of our customers stay with us year after year. Our solution speaks for itself.

 

Are there any new technology developments that your company is working on at the moment? 

We are working on a new quality module that will make it easier for manufacturers to assess and adjust critical process parameters. The manufacturing of plastic parts is a complex process that requires a high degree of precision, with many variables that need to be constantly monitored to ensure product quality. 

Instead of manually writing down quality data such as weight, thickness, colors and defects on paper, users will enter the data on digital devices which will then be available in the reporting and analytics dashboard and can form part of continuous improvement measures.   

 

What are the biggest challenges facing the injection molding industry today, and how can this be overcome? 

Manufacturing operates on increasingly thinner margins so to stay competitive, any manufacturers hoping to keep delivering a quality product whilst being profitable will have to adopt smart technology. We see ourselves as an essential partner in supporting efficiencies and competitive advantage for our customers. Our technology never stands still, which means our customers benefit too.

Additionally, with the skills gap in manufacturing, businesses need to make the most of the staff that they have. Let robots do the work that can be done by machines to free precious man power to do the work that can only be done by humans. 

 

You are exhibiting at the Injection Molding and Design Expo, what are you most looking forward to?  

We are excited to bring a product which we know makes a huge positive difference to injection molders to this environment dedicated to the injection molding industry. 

 

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Intouch Monitoring will be exhibiting at the Injection Molding and Design Expo 2022.