We’ve designed and built more complex robotic automation solutions than any other provider in New Zealand.

From inception, we have focused on industrial robotics for manufacturing. Every system we build uses robot technology at its heart, because today’s robots are a perfect fit for automating New Zealand’s manufacturing processes.

We offer two robot types; Nachi high-speed industrial robots and Universal Robots collaborative robots (cobots)

Our go-to high-speed industrial robots are from Nachi of Japan. Nachi is one of the world’s top performing robot brands with typical Japanese performance, quality and value. We installed our first Nachi system in 2007 – they’re the robot of choice for many of New Zealand’s largest producers.

Cobots are designed to operate collaboratively and safely alongside human workers. Universal Robots in Denmark are the inventor and world’s leading manufacturer of cobots, with 40,000 cobots installed and 50% global market share (Jan 2020). Design Energy is the longest standing Universal Robots integrator outside of Europe.

Good industrial automation is more than the sum of its parts. The processes we automate are driven by our knowledge of industrial automation theory and practice. And the tools and techniques we’ve built to help us deliver leave nothing to chance.

Industry 4.0, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and Smart Factories are hot topics regarding industrial automation delivery now and in the future. Every robotic solution we build is Industry 4.0/IIoT ready, with industry-standard KPI monitoring, batching, heuristics/AI with custom measurement and analysis designed for each customer’s individual requirements.

Safety is a moral and regulatory essential, and for us the most important requirement to meet. Our complete, tightly managed machine hazard, FMEA, and other risk mitigation processes are applied alongside the clients own, making sure our solutions meet their needs as well as the relevant New Zealand standards for safety and structural integrity.

Over the years we have engineered unique machines ranging from miniaturised electronic test and assembly systems through to multi-million-dollar production systems for some of the largest producers in the world.

Our great team enjoys solving complex engineering problems in a practical way. We have a team of highly skilled and experienced engineers, trained in the full range of skill sets that enable us to create smart automation solutions.

Process engineering: All machines are defined by characteristics such as TAKT time, availability and allowable labour. We do the maths up-front with a suite of analysis tools that ensures the processes we select for automation can actually deliver to specification.

Mechanical design engineering: In every automated system there is always the need for some custom design. Our extensive experience is augmented by a library of thousands of our own designs, which means our custom solutions are delivered quicker, with less risk.

Robotics: A 6-axis industrial robot can be made to complete almost any combination of unconstrained motions. Our deployment of the latest technology robots and cobots has taught us exactly what we can do, and what we cannot do.

Project and supply chain management: Our engineers are responsible for the entire technical delivery. They use formal documented processes in all areas to ensure our projects are well managed.

Many of our solutions have an R&D component, or some technical stretch in the science, process or automation technology, or require some knowledge gaps to be filled. For example, reconfiguring a customer’s fabricated product construction to make robotic welding practical.  

At Design Energy the same people that use the robots undertake the R&D. This brings together a compelling combination of theory and practical expertise from many thousands of hours of building machines.

We have access to excellent STEM R&D and subject matter experts. This allows us to fill technology gaps and produce better solutions. We also work closely with Callaghan Innovation.

Intellectual property (IP) is an important consideration when solving tricky and difficult problems. We are well versed in the patents process – from freedom to operate (FTO) through to patent issue, in New Zealand and abroad.

Design Energy’s reputation and much of our customers’ success is driven by years of peak performance and reliability from the systems we design and build. 

We provide:

Full post-installation support for every robot and robot solution we supply.

On site callout, equipment repair, preventative maintenance programs, spare parts supply, equipment audits and performance verification.

Training in programming robots and cobots.

Our strong in-house engineering capability means as our customers’ businesses grow, we can often reconfigure our solutions for increased capacity, new product lines and to take advantage of new technology.