In manufacturing and production, the terms integration and automation are often mixed up, but they represent two distinct yet complementary concepts.
What is the difference?
Integration
Integration involves connecting various systems, machines, or software to work together seamlessly. It's about ensuring that different components of a production line communicate effectively, sharing data and processes to function as a cohesive unit. For example, integrating a laser depaneling system with a vision inspection module ensures that once a PCB is cut, it is automatically inspected for quality without manual intervention.
Automation
Automation refers to the use of technology to perform tasks without human intervention. It encompasses a range of processes, from simple repetitive tasks to complex decision-making operations. For example, programming a robotic arm to handle components, or setting up a system where soldering is performed automatically based on real-time data inputs.
What does Tokimeku do?
At Tokimeku, we specialize in both — automating processes and integrating your existing machines to work seamlessly as one unified system. We design with the future in mind, ensuring your solutions can easily be upgraded or expanded as your needs evolve and technology advances.
Take a look at our Fully Automated Loading / Unloading Machine with 2D Camera Inspection. We integrated 2 standalone machines (LPKF CuttingMaster 2240 and Hakko HU-200 Auto Soldering Station) into one inline system. Our automated machines are fully customizable to suit our customer's needs. From the hardware to software, each component is crafted with your requirements in mind.