In industry, surface treatment presents many logistical and organizational challenges. Companies must not only ensure optimum quality, but also improve productivity while reducing costs. It was against this backdrop that our OCA experts carried out a tailor-made project for a manufacturer of cooling radiators, with considerable results.

Our customer, a specialist in the manufacture and refurbishment of train radiators, was experiencing significant limitations in its surface treatment process. It had two single rails, designed solely to transport parts (weighing several hundred kilos) to a paint booth. This restricted its production capacity and storage space, both of which were crucial to meeting a growing number of projects. The manufacturer therefore turned to OCA to design an adapted solution to improve the flow of its produced parts and optimize its facilities.

OCA retrofitted rails feeding our customer's paint booth

To meet this need, OCA designed a manual conveyor for load transfer, incorporating customized elements. Here are the main operations carried out :

1. Installation of an overhead crane with hoist: capable of supporting a maximum payload (MPL) of 350 kg, it facilitates the handling of heavy radiators, thus reducing the physical effort required of operators.
2. Addition of 5 pneumatic direction-changing modules controlled by pull rods: These devices enable loads to be directed flexibly to different areas (paint booth, oven, drying and storage area), optimizing internal logistics.
3. Manufacture and adaptation of lifting beams: 25 new lifting beams were delivered, and 15 old ones were retrofitted to make them compatible with the new OCA rails. This cost-effective approach minimized costs for our customer while modernizing his equipment.
4. Installation of around 80 meters of rails: this covered a large part of our customer's production area.

OCA manual overhead handling system including pull switches and overhead crane

Thanks to its new manual handling system, our customer can see immediate benefits:

• Optimized flows: product radiators circulate more efficiently in the workshop between the various processing stations.
• Productivity gains: operators reduce their handling time and can concentrate on higher value-added tasks. What's more, the OCA conveyor now enables our customer to double or even triple its daily production.
• Cost reduction: the reuse of existing lifting beams has limited investment.
• Optimization of working postures: operators are now protected against the onset of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), thanks to the OCA handling system, which is at an ergonomic height.

In general, overhead handling systems, such as surface treatment conveyors, offer a flexible solution adapted to industrial constraints. Through this project, OCA demonstrates its know-how in creating customized solutions that sustainably improve its customers' performance, reducing handling times and increasing production capacity.

We are pleased to announce our participation for the first time at the SEPEM trade show in Douai, on January 28, 29 and 30. This must-attend event dedicated to industrial solutions will be an opportunity for the OCA team to present its unique expertise in overhead handling to players in the manufacturing sector in Northern France.

The SEPEM (Services, Équipements, Process et Maintenance) show in Douai is a benchmark event for industrial professionals in Northern France. It's a must-attend event for :

• Discover the latest industrial innovations: a showcase of the best solutions for optimizing your performance.
• Meet experts from all sectors: Over 500 exhibitors are expected to exchange and share their know-how.
• Discuss your projects: Whether you're looking for a service provider or a new technology, this show offers unique opportunities for collaboration.
• Increase efficiency: A wide range of tailor-made solutions will be presented to meet your industrial challenges.

By taking part in this event, you'll benefit from a comprehensive overview of innovations and technical solutions to meet your specific needs.

To meet your expectations, our stand will feature a functional overhead conveyor, demonstrating in real time the advantages and performance of our overhead handling systems. Our teams of experts will be on hand to discuss your industrial projects, whether they involve the transport, transfer or storage of heavy or light loads.

Whether you're looking to optimize your production processes, improve your logistics flows, or discover solutions tailored to your specific requirements, we're here to help.

The OCA team at SEPEM Toulouse 2024

For over four decades, OCA has been designing, manufacturing and installing customized overhead handling systems to meet the requirements of all industrial sectors. Thanks to our expertise and solution-oriented approach, we've helped many companies improve their productivity technical challenges.

• A real-life demonstration: see an overhead conveyor in action. 
• Personalized support: talk to our specialists to identify the solutions best suited to your needs.
• Recognized expertise: benefit from 43 years of know-how in overhead handling.

📅 Date: 28 . January 30, 2025 
🚩Location: Parc Expo de Douai Gayant, Route de Tournai - BP 60093 59502 DOUAI Cedex
⌚Hours: 8:30am - 5pm Tuesday to Thursday
📍Stand E538 - Hall 5000

🎫 Free registration 

We look forward to welcoming you and discussing your industrial projects.

OCA teams recently completed a major project at Anett, a leading player in the industrial laundry sector. This ambitious project optimized the production chain through a number of innovations and technical adjustments, responding to the growing need for efficiency and the level of service expected by Anett's customers.

To increase productivity, we have made several key improvements. The changeover of the finishing tunnel has maximized capacity for garments on hangers (+30%), while reducing bottlenecks.

Overhead conveyor brings garments on hangers to finishing tunnel

Installation of overhead conveyor for garment storage area

The old garment-on-hanger workstations have been replaced: two stations have been replaced by three new ones, enabling greater production throughput and smoother organization. This reorganization was accompanied by an ergonomic repositioning of the workstations, improving flow and operator comfort.

To support these optimizations, we have increased storage capacity. Upstream of the tunnel, capacity has been increased to 1,000 parts (compared with 200 before our intervention), while the outlet now offers storage for 1,200 parts, guaranteeing unprecedented fluidity.

Overhead conveyor for garments on hangers 

We have also rethought the ergonomics of the visiting station, with the installation of a switch optimizing the distribution of garments on the sorting bars. This step forward facilitates the daily work of our teams.

This project was made possible thanks to the close collaboration between OCA and our customer's teams. Our thanks go to our valued partners:

• CSB for equipment handling
• Jensen-Group for equipment supply
• Sodilec for automation management
•  the Anett teams for their involvement and availability.

Despite the challenges of working in the middle of production, this project was successfully completed, enabling us to optimize and modernize our customer's entire production chain.

On Thursday, December 5, 2024, the OCA - Ouest Convoyeur Automatisme - team will be exhibiting at the special agri-food RDV Tech organized by Proxinnov, the Pays de la Loire industrial robotics cluster. The event will be held on the network's premises in La Roche-sur-Yon.

Under the theme “Robotics at the service of the agri-food sector”, this one-day event aims to bring together industry, robotics and automation players to explore innovative solutions adapted to the specific needs of the agri-food sector. This sector, at the heart of the regional and national economy, faces many challenges: productivity, food safety, adaptation to new standards and sustainability. Robotics and automation are essential levers for meeting these challenges, and the RDV Tech Proxinnov is the ideal platform for discovering and discussing technological advances.

With a program rich in exchanges and demonstrations, this event will provide an opportunity to discover concrete solutions to the sector's challenges: improving productivity, optimizing processes, and managing human resources. 

Participants will enjoy an opening conference by an expert, followed by a series of express pitches by exhibitors.

OCA will be showcasing its know-how and automation solutions in this dynamic setting. Live demonstrations on the stands will provide an insight into innovative technologies and their application in real-life conditions.

The afternoon will be marked by hands-on workshops, led by OCA and other exhibitors, where visitors can learn about and handle state-of-the-art equipment. Our team will be presenting a live demonstration of a bi-rail overhead conveyor synchronized with a robot, a concrete demonstration of the fluidity and efficiency of automatic transfer.

This will also be an excellent opportunity to exchange views with industrialists and benefit from their feedback during the thematic round table.

OCA - TM bi-rail overhead conveyor in the Proxinnov showroom

As an expert in the design and integration of overhead conveyor systems, OCA is a key partner for companies in the agri-food sector in their transition to automated solutions. We will have the opportunity to present our innovative solutions, designed to optimize industrial processes while meeting the stringent hygiene and performance requirements specific to this sector.

From optimizing production lines to streamlining logistics flows, our aim is to help manufacturers meet today's challenges with high-performance, innovative handling systems. 

We invite all companies interested in innovations in robotics and automation to join us at this event.

To participate, simply register free of charge on the Proxinnov website by clicking on the following button:

📅 Date: December 5, 2024

🚩 Location: Proxinnov, 15 rue Jean Esswein, La Roche-sur-Yon

⌚Schedules: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

🎫 Free registration 

For more information on the event, contact us on 02 41 75 05 34 or visit the Proxinnov website.

We look forward to seeing you there to discover our automated handling solutions and talk with our teams!

As part of Industry Week, OCA - Ouest Convoyeur Automatisme is proud to announce its participation in this national event, organized in partnership with the UIMM (Union des Industries et Métiers de la Métallurgie). From November 18 to 22, 2024, OCA will be opening its doors to the public, inviting all those interested in learning more about the industrial professions to come and discover its know-how.

Throughout the week, OCA will be offering free visits to its 1,800 m2 production facility, as well as to its design office, where its teams of draughtsmen and industrial engineers will be on hand. This is the perfect opportunity for curious students, professionals and job-seekers to gain a better understanding of the industrial conveying and automation professions. You'll discover the technologies and know-how we've been applying in our workshops for over 40 years, and immerse yourself in the day-to-day work of our employees.

Mechanic - welder OCA

To take part in the tours, it is essential to register free of charge via the event's dedicated website: www.decouvrirlindustrie-pdl.fr. Registration is compulsory to ensure optimal organization of the tours and a pleasant experience for all participants.

OCA is also working alongside the town council of Lys-Haut-Layon, as part of the “Tremplin de l'Industrie” half-day event. This event, scheduled during the same period, aims to introduce 4th graders from the two Vihiers (49310) secondary schools to industrial professions. Through activities and discussions, students will be able to understand the challenges, opportunities and diversity of professions in the industrial sector. This initiative is part of our drive to guide and inspire the younger generation to consider a career in this promising field.

Tremplin des métiers organized by the Mairie de Lys-Haut-Layon in 2023

Industry Week is a unique opportunity to show the general public that today's industry, far from being a cliché, is a modern, innovative and job-creating sector. By taking part in this event, OCA hopes not only to share its passion for its profession, but also to contribute to the promotion of industrial careers, particularly among the younger generation.

📆 Dates: November 18-22, 2024

📍 Location: OCA - Ouest Convoyeur Automatisme, 3 rue de l'innovation, 49310 Montilliers

☑️ Registration: https://www.decouvrirlindustrie-pdl.fr/inscription/oca-ouest-convoyeur-automatisme

We look forward to seeing you there to discover what goes on behind the scenes in our industry and talk with our teams!