A look ahead with Helmut, CEO RoboJob

How has the market for machining companies changed?

Helmut: “Before, it was my neighbour who was the competitor, so to speak: suppliers in Belgium or possibly in neighbouring countries. Today, we find ourselves in a global market with competitors from all over the world. However, some things are still the same: unfortunately, it is still very difficult to find operators. I would even say that it has become a lot more difficult. Also, market rates for CNC work are still capped, while labour costs keep rising: in recent years, by as much as 15% in almost 2 years. Those challenges are the same everywhere in Western Europe and North America.

But let us also dwell on positive trends. Sustainability is one example. The West has realised that we are very dependent on the global economy, and that it is not very wise strategically to transfer technology to low-wage countries. In certain sectors, we see ‘reshoring’ in full swing. In the United States, the Inflation Reduction Act was introduced, and it is acting as a catalyst to bring back certain industries.

I believe that in certain industrialised countries, industry and production will effectively come back: Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and hopefully Belgium. These countries are very dependent on industry, especially when you look at its contribution to GDP. They simply ‘need’ to reshore. And then automation is obviously desperately needed to bridge the wage gap, increase industrial output and provide a structural solution to cope with an ageing population and keep pensions affordable.

Not to mention that, thanks to automation and digitalisation, we are making our industry attractive again for employees. We manage to create a much better work/life balance. Personally, I still think this is the most important asset of automation: for the first time, we have the opportunity to stop and reverse the ‘race to the bottom’. Thanks to automation and digitalisation, we are once again making our companies attractive to young people.”

Knowing what you know now, what would you do as the person in charge of a machining company or department?

Helmut: “The answer may not surprise you: invest heavily, first of all in automation and also in digitalisation. For digitalisation, you need time AND resources; for automation, only resources. Once you have taken the step to automation, you will find that it creates time within your company. After all, you take over repetitive tasks from your staff, allowing employees to use the freed-up time to work on creative processes, including digitalisation.

Often, a machining company or department is very dependent on a limited number of people. A good turner or an experienced miller is crucial: if you take those people away, you have a problem. Because of the ever-increasing pressure on these people, experienced employees become exhausted. This fantastic profession is no longer attractive to young people, the knowledge of experienced employees is not, or insufficiently, passed on, and that is not only harmful for the company, but also regrettable from the point of view of wealth creation.

There are lots of ways today to secure that crucial knowledge within a company: CAD/CAM systems with feature recognition and machining strategies, tool management with proven machining parameters, you name it. That is process digitalisation within a machining company. The knowledge is secured in a structural way that makes it transferable. However, time must first be created for people to take part in that necessary digitalisation. Automation makes this possible.

Moreover, low-level automation immediately provides greatly increased billable output per man-hour.

I would say: it is no longer a question of ‘whether’ to automate and digitalise, but ‘how’.”

Automation ranges from entry-level products like Coby CNC to all-rounders like the Tower. How do you start as a company without any knowledge of automation?

Helmut: “For companies that are not yet automated, the message is: start simple. You can get to work with a RoboJob Turn-Assist or Mill-Assist, for example, in only a few hours, and it pays for itself in a few months to a maximum of a few years. These products last for at least 15 years. And they also retain their value, making such an investment an absolute no-brainer.

When choosing automation, you will need to consider the ease of use for your operators: after all, they are the ones who will have to work with it. Ask yourself: how easy is it for my people to work with this automation? If it is too difficult, automation is not a help but an extra burden. If an automation solution is really easy to set up, you should not hesitate.

So choose easy-to-use automation that pays for itself quickly and does not lose value. If you start with that today, in a few years you will already have more experience and new insights. At that point, you can possibly look at high-end automation, which offers more features but is also more complex.

When you automate, you have to get your processes well under control. That’s a learning process, so start low-key.”

Will automation offerings change significantly in the future?

Helmut: “What are the physical tasks that can be automated in a machining operation? These are internal logistics, machine preparation with tools and fixtures, workpiece manipulation and quality control. With that, I have listed everything that takes place in terms of physical operations. I think that is everything that can be automated. So that’s where our focus lies.”

Is there any future at all for suppliers without automation?

Helmut: “I honestly think: not in the West. Unless one is just making prototypes, but they too are going to come under increasing pressure from automated companies.

Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution, and it is happening right now. After the years when Industry 4.0 was a buzzword, just like the ‘Internet of Things’, you can now see it crystallising into its final destination: highly automated work preparation, highly automated administration, and a highly automated shop floor where billable hours are created. That evolution has begun and it is not going to be stopped or reversed.

To make your business structurally flexible, respond with much less stress to the strong fluctuations of a modern supply chain, face national and international competition, make your work environment more attractive and reverse the ‘race to the bottom’, you need to automate now. Not doing it is also a clear choice, and every day’s delay costs more money than doing it.”

With high inflation, high interest rates, geopolitical unrest and a shrinking economy, is this really the time to invest in automation?

Helmut: “Absolutely. More than ever, even. Personally, I would rather invest in the automation of existing machines than in new machines. After all, that investment pays for itself quickly, and that way you free up resources to renew your machinery or take the next step in automation.

With a shrinking economy, you may have a little too much staff. If you automate now, you can use this period to familiarise your staff with automation. Then, by the end of the recession, you will be ready to shift gears for the next supply chain wave that is coming. So arm yourself now for the future of your business.”

You are quietly approaching retirement age. What role will you continue to play at RoboJob?

Helmut: “I am always going to be associated with RoboJob, but rather in an advisory role. My passion is still product development, and I still get enormous pleasure out of that. I’m going to keep doing that.

But of course I realise that retirement is inevitable eventually. Therefore, I see it as my job to make sure the company can do without me. My three sons have all been working at RoboJob for more than 10 years, and they are supported by a good mix of young talent and more experienced employees. The future of RoboJob is in good hands.”

Do you still have a goal or dream you want to accomplish at RoboJob before you retire?

Helmut: “We are working on a new concept that I am very keen to finalise. It is a new product that will be presented in a few weeks at the Grand Opening of the new headquarters. I am immensely proud of it, and look forward to presenting it to our customers and partners.”