The advancement of automated technology in production reduces plant downtime, increases output, improves quality, optimizes headcount and capital equipment utilization, and reduces the risk of operator injury. Automated systems provide a future-proof answer to increasingly precise plant and machinery requirements. Engineered to meet the needs of new and existing assembly processes, our systems deliver peak efficiency, advanced flexibility, and significant cost savings across virtually every application.
What is industrial automation?
So, what is industrial automation? To answer that, it is also essential to consider how far automation has progressed.
When we speak of automation, we often think of modern automation as we know it: robots, PLCs, sensors, and software. However, automation has made some significant improvements since its inception. The true roots of automation date back millennia to the invention of the water clock, and while this early form of automation is perhaps simpler than the automated machines we know and trust today, it helped kickstart the creation of more advanced manufacturing automation systems.
Today, industrial automated solutions are more complex and assist manufacturers in operating and managing their processes to enhance efficiency, uptime, quality, and safety while reducing costs.
In this article, we will examine automated tightening solutions, the key to delivering efficiency, precision, and reliability on the assembly line. As industrial automation integrators, we ensure our automation solutions are easy to manage and maintain by guiding you through the entire process and supplying the entire solution.
Why automate your assembly line?
There are many compelling reasons to integrate automated solutions into your assembly line. As manufacturers work to remain competitive and adapt to an increasingly dynamic production landscape, automation offers a clear path forward, delivering the precision, consistency, and operational efficiency that modern facilities require. Within Atlas Copco’s roadmap to Smart Integrated Assembly—our vision for the Smart Factory—station automation plays a pivotal role. It is a key milestone in helping manufacturers build a connected, intelligent, and future-ready production environment.
As technology advances and customers expect greater product variety, automation has become essential for managing complex production and protecting product quality from errors and defects. By adopting industrial automated solutions, manufacturers can keep pace with rising demand and secure a stronger competitive position for long-term success. Let’s dive into some of the benefits of automation:
Proven return on investment
With assembly automation, you can achieve a consistent and reliable rundown every time. Of course, there is an upfront cost for automation integration, but the long-term ROI makes the investment worthwhile. With a reliable tightening solution, you know exactly what to expect from your solutions, enabling you to run business as usual without interruptions.
Efficiency and speed
Industrial automated solutions are a game-changer for production because of their repeatability. Unlike a human operator, automation never tires, makes mistakes, or takes breaks. In this way, industrial automation and robotics can produce more for longer, increasing your production throughput and helping you stay on track to meet your production goals.
Future-proof assembly
With automated manufacturing, you’ll also notice an improvement in product quality. Since they are highly accurate and do not require the physical demands of our human operators, automated systems will never make mistakes due to factors such as fatigue or boredom. This means you will have a reliable solution that can handle any operation you throw at it.
Enhanced operator safety
Unlike human operators, assembly automation can handle more demanding tasks, including those considered hazardous, those located in dangerous environments, and/or those that are repetitive or ergonomically demanding. By replacing operators in these conditions with automated solutions, companies will significantly reduce operator injuries and accidents while improving operator safety.
Reliability over time
Factory automation enables manufacturers to keep up with increasing demands and an ever-changing production environment. Over time, customers may develop different needs, expect new product variants, or increase in consumption, leading to shifts in production volume. Automation can keep up with these demands, bridging the gap between demand and operator training.
Real-time data & decision-making
In some cases, automated manufacturing can also help you gain real insights into your assembly. For the purposes of this article, we have focused on automated tightening solutions, but other automation systems integrate sensors, connectivity, and data analytics. Sensors, software, and PLCs provide visibility into performance, predictive maintenance insights, automatic adjustments, and data-driven decisions.
Reduced production waste
Thanks to automation's repeatability and visibility, you can reduce waste at the source. With these systems in place, you can reduce time lost to rework and repairs, and waste from defects, thereby lowering costs and your facility's environmental impact.
Gaining a competitive edge
All of the above benefits combine to give manufacturers a strong competitive advantage. With improved speed, quality, cost savings, safety, and adaptability, manufacturers will also be enabled to:
- Maintain a consistent output
- Respond quickly to market changes
- Offer better pricing and quality
- Improve customer satisfaction
- Scale efficiently
As manufacturing automation systems advance, companies must adapt by implementing new and innovative systems that determine who stays ahead and who falls behind.
Atlas Copco solutions for industrial automation: Built for smart, efficient, and future-ready assembly
Given the many benefits of factory automation, it makes sense to automate the production line. When you can combine human operators with industrial automated solutions, you get the best of both worlds. While automation is recognized for its repeatability and reliability, our human operators excel at adaptability, providing an unprecedented level of control over assembly stations. This enhances productivity, improves operator ergonomics, and reduces environmental impact.
At Atlas Copco, we offer a comprehensive portfolio of automation solutions designed to transform your assembly processes from manual tightening stations to fully automated, data-driven production lines. Our modular, scalable automation systems combine decades of tightening expertise with state-of-the-art feeding technology, control platforms, and connected services to meet the demands of modern manufacturing.
Screw feeding & tightening systems
Our screw-feeding solutions (feeding + tightening) streamline the delivery and fastening of screws. This solution eliminates the need for manual pick-and-place, reduces errors, and dramatically increases cycle speed. We offer both handheld and fully automated stations so you can choose the best solution for your assembly needs.
Modular & scalable automation solutions
Our automated systems are built on a modular platform, whether you need a simple screw-feeding module or a full in-line torque cell in a conveyor line. Atlas Copco can configure solutions to meet current needs with the flexibility to expand as production evolves. This approach ensures consistent technology for pilot lines, upgrades, or global rollouts, making standardization, maintenance, and training more efficient.
Smart & connected software
Automation with Atlas Copco isn’t only about speed and power – it’s also about intelligence. This is where data-driven solutions can make a major impact by optimizing production and maximizing tool performance with data analysis and expert experience. ALTURE leverages analytics and machine learning to detect trends, alert you to potential issues, and recommend corrective action, thereby helping you maximize uptime, reduce scrap, and improve first-time-right production rates.
Full lifecycle support
Partnering with Atlas Copco gives you access to our global network of engineering, application, and innovation centers, providing support from early concept and pilot testing through full deployment. We collaborate with your team to ensure seamless integration with existing lines, verify process parameter settings, and assist with commissioning, thereby reducing disruptions and maximizing ROI.
Expert tip: Discover the diverse automation solutions we offer through in-depth demonstrations and expert explanations in our Automation Capabilities video series.
Why Atlas Copco automation is the smart choice
By leveraging Atlas Copco’s automation portfolio, manufacturers can:
- Achieve consistent quality: Drop variation, cross-threading, and human error with precise, repeatable tightening and fastener delivery.
- Boost throughput and reduce cycle time: Automated fastener feeding and torque application significantly shorten assembly times.
- Enable scalability and flexibility: Modular systems expand as needed, avoiding complete overhauls when only one station requires upgrading.
- Gain process visibility and control: Data logging, traceability, analytics, and real-time alerts help maintain quality, reduce scrap, and support continuous improvement.
- Improve ergonomics, safety & sustainability: Reduce operator strain, minimize waste, and lower noise and vibration, supporting both human well-being and environmental objectives.
- Mitigate risk & ensure uptime: With global support, modular design, and smart maintenance, your assembly line stays reliable and performant.
As industrial automation integrators, we are your strategic partner as technology transforms solutions for today's and tomorrow's smart factories. Do you want to learn more about how implementing solutions for industrial automation can take production to new levels? Contact us today!
