Graham Barker, Sales and Service Director at Riello, Carrier RLC EMEA, discusses how the company’s success is part of a broader industry trend, a trend that underscores the importance of continuous progress, quality control, and responsiveness to market demands.
Manufacturing automation: trend or necessity?
Automation in manufacturing is no longer just a trend; it’s become a necessity in today’s fast-paced industrial environment. A 2023 report from the International Federation of Robotics highlighted a significant surge in global sales of industrial robots, with over 500,000 units sold – a 7% increase from the previous year. This trend underscores the increasing reliance on automation to meet demands for precision, efficiency, and scalability in manufacturing.
Modern automated manufacturing facilities exemplify this shift. Facilities such as Riello’s 22,000 square metre facility in Legnago in northern Italy use robotic machinery to ensure consistent quality across all units. This reflects a broader industry movement towards reducing human error and increasing production speed with industry analysts predicting that by 2025, automation will account for over half of all manufacturing processes.
Why traceability is critical
Quality control and traceability are paramount in manufacturing today. Implementing robust traceability systems allows businesses to optimise production, reduce waste, manage recalls efficiently, and ensure compliance with international standards.
All Riello oil pumps are assigned a serial number, a practice becoming increasingly common across the industry. This level of traceability is critical not only for maintaining high standards but also for quickly identifying and rectifying any issues, ensuring product reliability and customer safety.
Additionally, rigorous testing regimes, which include comprehensive functionality assessments, are essential to quality control. The Riello procedure includes a comprehensive 7-minute ‘run-in’ test for every oil pump, followed by a full functionality assessment, and ensures the quality of the Riello burner and all its component parts.
Adaptability and innovation: responding to a changing market
In an industry that must cater to diverse global markets, adaptability in product design and manufacturing is crucial. With tightening environmental regulations and a growing push towards sustainability, companies must continually innovate to remain competitive. The development of multiple variants of Riello’s residential oil pumps to meet varying demands across different burner models and fuel types exemplifies this adaptability.
Responsiveness to the diverse needs of the global market is particularly important as the transition to biofuels and other alternative energy sources gains momentum. Policy discussions in regions such as Europe, the United States, India, and China are expected to significantly influence biofuel demand over the next five years, with potential growth more than doubling to nearly 9% annually.
Investment in research and development (R&D) to design and produce oil pumps compatible with future alternative energy sources positions Riello at the forefront of this transition. This proactive approach to continuous improvement, reflects a broader industry movement towards more efficient and more sustainable technologies and products.
The critical role of genuine spare parts in maintaining performance
The use of genuine spare parts, which includes oil pumps, is crucial to maintaining the performance and safety of products, an increasingly important consideration.
As economic pressures drive a shift towards repair over replacement, the emphasis on quality and authenticity in spare parts is emerging as a key differentiator. The aftermarket for HVAC spares is projected to grow by 7% annually, highlighting the business importance of this segment.
Leading the industry towards the future
As a global player in the heating market, Riello’s advancements in automation, quality control, and innovation set a high standard for our industry. This integrated approach across the product life cycle, from in-house production to spare parts supply, ensures that Riello quality products remain responsive to the evolving needs of the global market for automated manufacturing, enhanced traceability, adaptability to new energy sources, and genuine quality.
As the industry continues to evolve, companies that can marry precision manufacturing with innovative thinking will lead the way.
Image supplied by Riello