In the dynamic landscape of the automotive and transportation industry, staying ahead of the curve is essential to success. In this article, we explore the latest industry trends and insights shared by Chad Schafer, ALMCO’s Regional Sales Manager, reflecting his close work with industry leaders.
About Chad Schafer:
Chad is one of ALMCO’s Regional Sales Managers. With his territory spreading across the Great Lakes Region and South-Central United States, Chad has worked closely with leaders in the automotive and transportation industries for over 10 years.
Current Industry Activity
Recent challenges, including ongoing strikes within the automotive sector, have led to a temporary reduction in industry activity. Companies are understandably cautious, waiting to gauge market stability. However, it’s important to recognize that the automotive and transportation industry has shown remarkable resilience.
Amid the recent uncertainties, the industry is not without positive indicators. In fact, almost 25% of ALMCO’s customers belong to this sector, and we’ve been actively involved in multiple large-scale projects this year, hinting at growth potential.
Surging Demand for New Vehicles
The automotive & transportation industry is currently experiencing a notable upswing in the demand for new vehicles. This surge has prompted automotive companies to intensify efforts to optimize their manufacturing processes.
Rise of Electric Vehicles
In the midst of broader industry shifts, electric vehicle (EV) applications are on the rise, aligning with the global transition toward greener, more sustainable technologies. This evolution presents a significant opportunity and challenge for the industry as it adapts to the unique demands of EV components. ALMCO has had the privilege of working closely with several electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers already, and we’re looking forward to seeing what other opportunities arise as the EV market continues to grow.
Recent Trends in Auto & Transportation
1. Emphasis on Washing Equipment
Our team has noticed a significant shift in the needs of the automotive and transportation industry, with a higher focus on washing equipment over finishing solutions. When looking at the percentage of orders for wash equipment vs. vibratory finishing equipment in the Automotive & Transportation sector, wash equipment has greatly outweighed vibratory. Based on planned orders to be shipped for the year, washing equipment will account for 93% of total orders in the Automotive & Transportation industry.
This year, we’ve worked on multiple washing applications that require equipment for machined automotive components. Most often, our customers are seeking a solution that efficiently removes coolant chips for final assembly. The emphasis primarily centers around components vital to automotive drivetrains, such as rear ends, axles, and other moving components.
Commonly Purchased Industrial Washing Machines
This machine is versatile and commonly used for washing gears and long extrusions used in the electric vehicle (EV) market. The machine’s design allows for easy loading and unloading by a single operator. It can be configured with wash, rinse, and blow-off stages, usually not exceeding 3 total stages. They can be configured with electric or gas heat, providing adaptability to various manufacturing environments.
What customers like about this model:
- The small machine footprint makes it easy to fit in most floor layouts.
- Only one operator or robot needed to load and unload.
These washers, with the flexibility to include additional wet stages, caters to up to 4-5 stages ranging from wash, rinse, dry, and blow-off. Automation may require two robots for operation. They can be configured with electric or gas heat, providing adaptability to various manufacturing environments.
What customers like about this model:
- Ideal for continuous flow applications.
Similar to an Inline Conveyor Washer, this style of washer has the ability to have wash, rinse, dry and blow-off stages, and typically has 3 stages. The machine’s U-Bend design allows for easy loading and unloading by a single operator. They can be configured with electric or gas heat, providing adaptability to various manufacturing environments.
What customers like about this model:
- The small machine footprint makes it easy to fit in most floor layouts.
- Only one operator or robot needed to load and unload.
The rotary drum washers from ALMCO are often used in high-production applications. They are a great choice for smaller components, like lug nuts. They incorporate a wash, rinse, and a drying or blow-off stage, ensuring the cleanliness and quality of high-production automotive parts. They can be configured with electric or gas heat, providing adaptability to various manufacturing environments.
What customers like about this model:
- Ideal for high production applications.
- Continuous flow system.
2. Demand for Customized Systems
In the ever-evolving automotive and transportation industry, the demand for customized solutions has taken center stage. As the industry places a premium on precision, quality, and high cleanliness standards, the need for tailored industrial parts washer systems has surged.
The automotive and transportation industry has long emphasized the importance of stringent cleanliness standards for critical automotive components. This is especially crucial for components like ring and pinion gears or other internal components, where cleanliness directly affects the reliability and functionality of the final product.
This growing demand for customized systems underscores the industry’s recognition that a one-size-fits-all approach falls short in meeting the exacting requirements of today’s automotive components. From ensuring optimal cleanliness for critical parts to accommodating the unique configurations for every project, each of our customers has extensive equipment specifications requiring a tailored solution.
Chad Schafer adds, “Our strength lies in providing customized solutions. Each project is unique, and we tailor our equipment to match the specific goals and challenges of our customers. It’s not uncommon for customers to send us equipment specifications that are hundreds of pages long. From there, it’s our job to analyze the information and figure out what they need.”
In Conclusion
In this article, we’ve unveiled key trends in parts washing equipment within the automotive and transportation industry. Despite industry challenges, such as ongoing strikes and market uncertainties, the sector remains resilient and dynamic. From the surging demand for new vehicles to the rise of electric vehicles, these evolving dynamics underscore the need for tailored solutions and high cleanliness standards.
At ALMCO, we’re committed to providing customized solutions to meet the automotive and transportation industry’s ever-changing requirements, and we’re excited to continue to contribute to its growth and success.