Automation and robotisation an opportunity for stable growth in uncertain times

What are PROSTER’s main areas of operation? Which industries do you work with?

PROSTER has been on the market continuously since 1985. We are a Polish family-owned company providing comprehensive solutions for industry. Our area of expertise includes electrical engineering, automation, robotics, mechanical engineering, service and maintenance. We have the most experience in the food industry, but over the past few years we have successfully completed projects for other market segments, including: construction, automotive, wastewater treatment plants, electric power, metallurgy, mineral industry, heating.

What changes can you see in the industries you serve in recent months? Has the current economic situation affected the propensity of entrepreneurs to introduce automation in their companies?

In recent months, we have observed that many companies in various industries are cautious about the topics of new investments. In a worldwide pandemic situation, such behavior is understandable to us. On the other hand, after the first period of the so-called pandemic shock, we have noticed that many entrepreneurs are beginning to notice other problems arising from the situation. Additional responsibilities associated with remote work, quarantines, the uncertainty of tomorrow and difficult access to employees have made business owners think more boldly about automation and robotisation of production, seeing an opportunity for stable development and better business predictability in such investments. In my opinion, at this point there is no other more effective way to deal with future challenges than to develop and invest in the direction of automation and robotisation of production.

What challenges and obstacles do you currently see in the introduction of automation and robotisation in manufacturing companies? How can they be met?

In my opinion, these days the biggest obstacles to introducing automation and robotics in companies may be financial barriers and the human factor. The financial hurdle is not difficult to jump over with proper fundraising for planned investments. In the case of human factors, it is not so simple. Automation and robotisation are often associated with a kind of mistrust on the part of production staff, less often by managers and business owners. Part of this distrust is rooted in fear based on insufficient information. The best way to address this problem is through proper education and through showing the benefits that automation can bring to the entire company in the long run. Also of great importance in the introduction of improvements in companies is the support of the company’s managers, without which very often such changes are impossible.

How would you encourage entrepreneurs to invest in automation solutions? What are the most important benefits of their introduction that you can mention?

In addition to the basic benefits associated with the introduction of automation and robotisation of production in a company, such as increasing the quality of the final product, ensuring production stability and increasing labor productivity, automated systems also make it possible to improve safety in production and relieve the burden on production workers especially in heavy and monotonous tasks. By freeing employees from routine tasks, we gain more time to use their potential in more creative areas. Experienced managers can use this situation to the benefit of the company. At a certain stage of a company’s development, such an attitude can result in stable, linear or even geometric growth in company revenues.

What are your company’s plans for the future, in what areas do you want to expand? Is the current market situation an opportunity or a challenge for you?

The current situation is a challenge for us, of course, but also a huge opportunity. For more than a dozen years, we have geared our activities towards development in the direction of implementing new technologies. In the current situation, the previously invested funds are starting to pay off, as more and more companies are turning to us for help in transforming their business to meet the challenges of the digital age. We are very happy to share our years worth of experience with others.

This year we are celebrating our 35th anniversary. Despite the crisis, this year we opened a newly built in-house INNOVATION CENTRE, which includes a comprehensive infrastructure in the form of a fully equipped test and production space with office facilities of two thousand square meters, where we show our solutions to customers. As you can see, we are growing at a very good pace, and we look to the future with optimism and excitement.

The entire article can be read here: https://new.siemens.com/pl/pl/o-firmie/aktualnosci/automatyzacja-i-robotyzacja-szansa-na-stabilny-rozwoj-w-niepewnych-czasach.html?linkId=300000000854880