Optimizing the functionality of a workstation can be difficult without well chosen accessories that improve its usefulness. When a workstation in an electronics workshop is well planned and equipped, work becomes easier, smoother and more efficient. At the same time, the ergonomics of the workplace are improved and the tools are kept in the right place.
The purpose of the workstation determines its basic requirements and accessories. The needs may vary depending on the person working at the workstation, but it must be noted that there are no two identical employees. When the table, and even the entire workstation that makes up the environment, is equipped and adjusted to individual needs, each phase of the production or service process can be performed without delay, accurately and with maximum comfort.
In order to select furniture for use in electronics production, it is necessary to determine the type of activities performed, the number of employees, types of tools and a number of other factors. It is therefore necessary to design with a planned layout and selection of furniture. However, preparing a good design that takes into account current and future needs is not easy and requires professional knowledge and experience.
IS A PLAN NECESSARY?
To ensure a high level of work ergonomics, the design of a production hall with a planned layout of workstations and a selection of industrial furniture is essential. It is not an easy task just to prepare a good design that takes into account the current and future needs of the company, as it requires expertise and experience, especially in terms of expansion possibilities. Thinking about the future means that many furniture suppliers are already unable to meet expectations at this stage.
It is worth to take time to check suppliers’ references and ask for exemplary projects, in order to learn about the possibilities hidden in the offered furniture solutions. It must be admitted that there are few companies in the country that have the ability to prepare a comprehensive project for the customer and at the same time ensure its implementation.
One should also be aware that project preparation also includes many systems such as electrical installation, lighting and even the connection of technical gases. The design of workstations and their delivery is also only a part of the comprehensive solution and when it is included as part of the delivery task, the customer will avoid unpleasant surprises and perhaps costly setbacks.
TAKE CARE OF THE FUNCTIONALITY
In order to meet the complex and diverse needs and ever increasing demands of operators, manufacturers focus their attention on selected market segments, becoming specialists offering solutions in a specific field.
Already at the stage of selection of the under-table construction, it turns out how important it is to be aware of the customer’s needs and knowledge of the work process. An example of this is Reeco’s industrial furniture range, which includes anti-vibration tables and specialist and universal workstations for production and service, laboratory or workshop applications.
It is also worth mentioning that among the majority of imported ESD protection products available on the market, Reeco emerges as a domestic manufacturer not only of antistatic industrial furniture, but also of antistatic protective clothing, component assembly and disassembly devices and soldering robots. For several years the brand has been successfully expanding into foreign markets, among others by presenting its products at Productronica. Reeco furniture provides great flexibility, which results from its modular and well-thought-out design, allowing for easy modification or expansion of the workplace as the company’s needs grow.
This gives the manufacturer the opportunity to rearrange individual workstations into technological lines, upgrade with the most sophisticated accessories and change the organization of the work zone on their own – even many years after the first installation. This is a major advantage of this system, which is not available for non-modular furniture.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
The base element of each workstation is the undertop structure of the table. Among the Reeco furniture range, the following types of structures are available: Premium (photo 1), Classic (photo 2), Premium Electric and Mobile (photo 4). All of them provide the possibility of adjusting the height of the whole workstation within the range of 670…1120 mm.
An exception is the Mobile construction, where the height adjustment of the tabletop is achieved by means of handles mounted to the vertical frame. In the case of Premium Electric design, the adjustment is done by electrically controlled actuators, allowing to adjust the height of the top to the needs of the employee and the type of work. The feet of the Premium structure are made of cast iron, which has a positive effect on the stability of the whole table and its load capacity.
All structures meet the most strict requirements regarding ergonomics, load-bearing capacity and load capacity and are certified to meet the requirements of PN-EN 13150:2004 and PN-EN 14727:2006 standards. An additional advantage is the possibility of combining Classic and Premium types of designs into corner units.
The second important element is the worktop. In the electronic industry it is important that the construction of such a worktop provides antistatic protection (ESD). Among Reeco worktops, we have two models to choose from: a typical rectangular worktop and an ergonomic worktop designed to increase working comfort. Both models have a conductive core. This increases antistatic safety as the electrostatic charge is directly conducted through the structure to an earthed floor or grounding point.
Additionally, the edges of the tops have been finished with scratch and impact resistant ABS material, which is important when working with heavier elements (mechanics, automation).
PERFORATED FRAME AND ACCESSORIES
Another part of the table is a perforated frame mounted at the back of the table. It enables further extension of the workstation with additional elements such as: shelves, lighting, rail with component containers, perforated panels for tools, rail for hanging screwdrivers on the balancer, shelves for tools, power strip, monitor or document holder.
These accessories allow you to store your tools in the right place, making your work and environment more organized. The high flexibility resulting from the modular design allows not only to optimally select the accessories, but also to change their position (mounting height) and angle. In practice, the possibilities are much wider, as we can choose accessories related to the transport of elements, subassemblies or devices to the entire working environment. These are cabinets with drawers on castors, modular trolleys, waste baskets, storage racks, workshop cabinets allowing for flexible configuration.
Another possibility to use a perforated frame is to equip the station with a rack cabinet, which provides any configuration for control and measurement devices. Laboratories, schools and universities, scientific institutes and research and development offices often use this solution.
PERSONALISED ADVICE AND NEEDS
Comparing your needs with the capabilities of products offered by specialist companies, you can certainly put together a complete and modern workstation allowing you to work efficiently and safely for a long time. An excellent improvement in its design and configuration is the possibility to use the help of an experienced advisor who, on the one hand, knows the specific needs related to the production and service of electronic devices, on the other hand, has full and up-to-date knowledge of the above mentioned groups of devices, systems and accessories.
The manufacturer completes the whole offer with free assembly of furniture at the customer’s site. Designing, configuring, assembling, commissioning and providing service care of the whole – this should be expected by the user and it is undoubtedly a convenient and effective solution.
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