That Albert Grunenfelder would make of robots taking up residence in the company he co-founded with Esmat Al-Saady in the 1970s will never be known, but as an innovator himself, chances are he would be impressed.
More than 45 years later and Coldstores Group of Saudi Arabia (CGS) is a leading supplier of insulated reefer bodes and temperature controlled semi-trailers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The company has a history of investing in state-of-the-art technology which has recently included laser scanning, 3D printing and laser cutting, all in production in a purpose-built facility in Riyadh.
“All these investments enable us to consistently deliver a superior and consistent quality product and produce with higher throughput flexibility,” says CGS Group CEO, Peter Färber.
Today, CGS’s latest foray into technology sphere is industrial welding robots, which can communicate directly with the engineering software and are integrated into the production network. The output has proven successful with the automated welding able to produce the lightest trailers in the GCC to maximise customers’ payload.
The company has chosen this technology because it:
- Eliminates the potential for human errors and reduces defects
- Increases production rates and reduces lead times
- Helps improve worker safety, reducing the risk of injury
- Can be programmed to perform a wide range of tasks at the same time
Its reasons for investing so strongly in technology also come down to cost savings in the long run, a strategy Farber says is working well so far.
“We do not believe in reducing cost at the expense of lower quality or higher maintenance costs,” said Färber. “Directing investment in technology and Industry 4.0 has proven worth it.”
Automation is a complex area, the company concedes, but is exciting. The company is pleased it is, because of this, able to support the kingdom’s Vision 2030 for Saudi Arabia and work towards becoming a regional manufacturing powerhouse.
Fast Fact
CGS’s light-weight trailers, a common offering in Europe but relatively new in the GCC, are possible thanks to its robotic welding system. The light-weight trailers’ advantage is that it increases payload capacity, improves fuel efficiency and reduces tire wear. This innovation significantly reduces operational costs and will benefit companies who want to optimise their logistics approach.
Fast Fact
Innovation and product leadership is synonym with CGS and part of their DNA. Technology is one of the enablers for innovation and automating production is therefore seen as a strategic pillar for CGS. One additional benefit from Automation is consistent quality output.
The second pillar is CGS’s highly developed engineering and design competence combined with long standing application expertise in the Middle East environment. The third pillar are our employees who think outside the box to eventually suggest and design innovative solutions. The company recently began producing freon compressor racks for refrigeration applications, the first in the Kingdom to do so. Other innovations include prefabricated electrical containers which provide a quick, convenient and cost-effective solution for temporary power needs in remote locations – a huge benefit considering the harsh weather and terrain conditions in the area.
