In the year 2023, what will CNC machining look like? Will the combination of hardware and software continue to advance? Should we anticipate a change in the labor shortage? Are the pandemic’s impacts primarily in the past at this point?
Following are some trends that, as per some CNC machine shops, will impact how the industry performs in the upcoming year.
The Evolution of Automation
One method to deal with a difficult labor market is to employ automation wisely, but how and when should it be used?
Traditionally, installing an automated (often robotic) work cell would only be financially feasible for high-volume CNC machining projects. That is no longer the case. In the modern day, robots are more adaptable than ever, with the capacity to be programmed to satisfy diverse machining requirements for various items.
Additionally, lesser volume tasks, or “job shop” projects, may call for heavy lifting and repetitive motions. Automated methods fill in the gaps at a reasonable cost when labor shortages make certain activities unacceptable.
Technology Widens the Possibilities.
The development of technology is the one constant you can count on in this world. The advancements in cobots (collaborative robots) are becoming increasingly prevalent in contemporary CNC machine shops as recently as in the last year or two.
Cobot technology will soon be prevalent in CNC shops of all sizes, but there are still two major obstacles to overcome: the weight the cobot can handle and the arm’s reach to improve how far it can stretch. Although working side by side with a robot and a human employee may not seem comfortable initially, rapid adjustments are effortless. And the outcomes are unambiguous: higher quality, greater consistency, and real dependability.
Increasing Attention on Emerging Markets
Much of the downward economic trend is being swept away by a tsunami of activity. Some industries are more resilient to changes in the market than others. For instance, consider electric cars (EVs). A CNC machine business can change course and surf the wave by manufacturing electric axles.
Shops must concentrate on prospects outside their comfort zones when commodity prices are high, regardless of whether an industry operates differently from the traditional, cyclical business or is just in growth mode.
The CNC machining market has experienced significant stabilization, particularly in the last few months of 2022. Successful businesses are no longer restricted by pandemic-related problems in CNC machining and elsewhere.
Every CNC machine shop should strive to achieve “TopShop” levels. To succeed, CNC machine shops need to differentiate themselves. If you don’t provide this, you will get left behind.