Cost assessment of a novel pneumatic conveying approach for pre-assembled wires and subsequent processes in control cabinet manufacturing

The increasing demand for individualized control cabinets and the simultaneous shortage of skilled workers in control cabinet design and manufacturing require innovative approaches to process optimization. This paper presents a cost model for evaluating the automation potential in wire processing and intralogistics transport. Based on a comprehensive analysis of existing process steps and production organizations, five intralogistics scenarios are examined. The focus is on a novel pneumatic conveying system for processed wires enabling positive effects on subsequent processes. The results show that significant cost and time savings can be achieved through the use of automated assembly machines and pneumatic intralogistics systems due to reduced personnel deployment and time savings in following wiring processes. The cost model developed makes it possible to quantify the economic benefit of such investments as a function of the annual quantity of wires processed.