Lanco Integrated rises to manufacturing challenges worldwide with custom automated solutions that empower manufacturers to reach new heights of efficiency. Their expertise as an automation manufacturer lies within medium to small part assembly.
Interview with Barry Rahimian, Global VP – Sales & Business Development at Lanco.
Easy Engineering: Tell us a short story about innovation in your company.
Barry Rahimian: We continuously assess and explore new technologies and products to enhance our automated solutions and to meet and/or exceed our customers’ high standards. Our emphasis on innovation and new technology begins during the early stages of technical sales and concept development, with our DFA – Design for Automation – evaluation studies. This focus carries through to the design engineering phase and progresses to the factory floor, where all components, intelligent devices, and products are seamlessly integrated. Following this integration, we implement data management, line integration, and performance optimization processes before reaching the Final Acceptance phase with our customers. This commitment persists as we deliver projects to our customers and transitions to our service and support team, who provide ongoing value in the post-installation phase.
E.E: Which are the most significant projects from 2023?
B.R: We secured numerous remarkable projects within the Automotive Tier 1/Tier 2 industry, specializing in intricate and very precise assembly of micro-valves and emission control valves. Additionally, we won several projects in the Medical Device sector, particularly in health-critical surgical applications, and other awarded projects in industrial and commercial sectors. These projects demand precision engineering automation for multi-piece high-speed assembly, testing, and packaging production systems and lines.
E.E: What projects were the most challenging?
B.R: Our main strengths and offerings revolve around tackling challenging projects that involve unique, difficult, and higher-risk assembly and inline tests. We typically focus on projects that aren’t straightforward, avoiding those with low barriers to market and where pricing alone determines customer selection. At our core, we thrive on solving problems, actively seeking out complex automation projects where we can leverage our expertise in design engineering, integration, and risk management. We deliver value to our customers by mitigating challenges and achieving success.
E.E: What products / solutions were used in the projects?
B.R: In nearly all our solutions, we utilize cutting-edge technology and products across various areas such as vision-guided pick and place, dispensing, laser processing, and attachment solutions. We also leverage multi-axis articulated robots and other mechanisms for material handling, as well as Lanco’s palletizing transport system. Additionally, we incorporate a range of feeders including bowl, flex, gravity, air, and screw types. Our solutions also include intelligent sensors and devices, along with industry-leading programmable logic controllers and PC-based network systems. Furthermore, we employ advanced data management systems such as Lanco’s Smart MFG IO4 offerings.
E.E: What are the usual challenges you encounter?
B.R: Usually, issues within Lanco’s control don’t pose much concern. However, there are instances when critical components and materials we need to purchase might not be readily available, especially amidst continuous global supply chain challenges. Additionally, there’s the risk of project delays due to unforeseen circumstances from customers, such as their own pushouts or factors like global pandemics, macroeconomic shifts, or geopolitical events.
E.E: How did you overcome the challenges?
B.R: We’ve developed a comprehensive Risk Assessment process that systematically identifies both known risks and potential unknown risks, including what-if scenarios beyond Lanco’s control. This process covers a wide range of areas including commercial, technical, supply chain, quality, legal, project, financial, and environmental risks. We begin preparing risk mitigation plans early in the process, gathering information from our customers and their markets. These plans ensure that all foreseeable risks are thoroughly discussed, mapped out, and addressed with backup strategies to minimize or prevent their impact.
E.E: Which are the most innovative products/solutions in your lineup?
B.R: Our commitment to innovation and value-driven solutions is ingrained within our Continual Improvement Process/Plans (CIP), which permeates every aspect of our company’s operations. From Pre-sales Consulting to sales, concept and solution development, design engineering, supply chain management, integration and manufacturing, production and OEE optimization, acceptance processes, and post-installation service and support, we ensure that innovation is integrated at every step.
E.E: What was the research behind the products/solutions?
B.R: Our actions are guided by the needs of our customers and the demands of the markets we serve. We thoroughly assess our customers’ products, processes, their competitors, as well as the current trends and requirements of the end-market. We collaborate closely with our essential supply and technology partners as we develop customized engineering solutions to meet the specific needs of our customers and target markets.
E.E: What problems / challenges do users usually encounter?
B.R: Our customers primarily consist of Global Fortune 5000 manufacturing companies spanning the Medical, Life Sciences, Consumer, Electronics, and Industrial sectors. Their requirements typically revolve around achieving faster time-to-market, capturing market share with superior products boasting enhanced functionality and features, ensuring heightened reliability and productivity through meticulously engineered solutions with minimal risk and maximal Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and reliability. They also seek longevity and sustainable performance, aiming to operate their production lines and machinery consistently at optimal OEE levels for many years. Additionally, they expect to collaborate with an automation partner they can trust to deliver top-notch quality, productivity, performance, and economic value. Our strategy is designed to thoroughly comprehend and address these challenges, ensuring that we provide the utmost value to our customers.
E.E: How are your products / solutions used in solving users problems?
B.R: Our solutions and products are meticulously designed to not only meet but surpass our customers’ expectations across all aspects, including commercial, technical, environmental, contractual, and relationship-building phases.
E.E: What are your forecasts for 2024?
B.R: We foresee a continued rise in demand for capacity expansion and productivity improvement trends from our customers. For 2024 and the foreseeable future, we anticipate Lanco’s business and market share to expand significantly due to our customers’ increasing need for automation and higher output.
