ORLANDO, FLA. — Customers are acting globally, and Branson Ultrasonics Corp. is responding, Joe Dillon said in an interview at NPE 2015. The aim is one design around the world and one platform to service.
Branson of Danbury, Conn., is a brand in the industrial automation segment of St. Louis-based Emerson Electric Co. Dillon joined Branson as president in February 2013 after holding senior positions with other Emerson operations since 2000.
In a customer-centric initiative, Branson offered complimentary half-hour onsite feasibility sessions relating to application challenges and upcoming project needs. During the trade show's five days, Branson conducted 36 of the sessions and, post-NPE, was providing printed feasibility reports to participants.
The process involved Branson staff members listening to customers, absorbing their messages and, as appropriate, suggesting possible avenues toward success, said Jeffrey Frantz, director of business development. “That will guide us to a solution, or we will walk away” from that particular situation.
Branson's technology has evolved to meet customer needs.
In the printer cartridge market, Branson observes the major players such as Hewlett-Packard Co. changing materials and processes. Historically in the U.S., the cartridge process usually involved ultrasonic welding of polystyrene components, then vibration welding of polyolefins and recently laser welding of polycarbonate.
Laser welding has been available for a decade, but Branson sees increasing use of the process in automotive, business consumer and medical applications.
At NPE, Branson launched its GVX series of vibration welders for advanced industrial assembly applications. The first delivery was to an automotive customer in Nové Město, Slovakia. As part of a Branson global product platform, the GVX is made in plants in Slovakia, China and Sterling Heights, Mich.
Branson has begun production of an addition to its 2000X series of ultrasonic assembly systems in Apodaca, Mexico, near Monterrey. Initial customer deliveries will occur in late April or early May. The 2000Xc has fully electronic welder settings, hierarchical password protection and Ethernet connectivity access.
Branson said the 2000Xc system can help processors of medical parts meet tougher U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and, simultaneously, benefit automotive and electronics applications.