Automated Test Stations

Product testing can be difficult to set up and produce inconsistent data without proper execution. EPIC understands these difficulties and utilizes our experienced engineering team to customize stations that test your product faster, through efficient equipment integration and expert project management. Our holistic design approach does not treat the station as an isolated event. We take a wide view of the project to identify the full extent of intended function of the test station within the complete line to ensure the highest quality products leave your facility.  

Advantages to Automating Test Stations

Test station automation can eliminate waste and make your product more efficient if integrated correctly with the right partner. Installing a well-designed automated test station will ensure:

• Faster testing and more efficient labor use
• Standardized reliable testing
• Automatic data collection and data sharing
• Higher consistency among products leaving the plant
• Higher early detection rates which results in lower production waste (materials and labor)

Why EPIC?

EPIC knows that our clients’ unique goals are the most important element when executing a project. We maintain a strong belief in accountability when managing our clients’ projects from start to finish; ensuring our projects are on time and on budget.

One of our experienced integration project managers will oversee your entire project from start to finish, ensuring easy communication and one point of responsibility. We begin every project by sitting down with you and establishing your goals, success criteria, and budgetary guidelines. From there we develop a detailed plan for your approval. By utilizing this front-end engineering approach we ensure that every project we complete is successful.

The following features make up the EPIC Difference:

• Front-End Engineering to ensure that the proper steps are taken during project scope development
• Plant engineering experience that assists clients to identify needs, pinpoint objectives and provide the most appropriate manufacturing equipment for the application
• Open door client policy to promote innovation. We invite clients to visit EPIC to experiment with new processes, technologies and techniques that push the limits of traditional engineering.
• Accountability to responsibly manage our clients' projects from start-to-finish and beyond
• A transfer of knowledge (not just a basic training) for the systems and equipment we provide
• Single point of direct contact during the entirety of the project
• State-of-the-art shop which decreases down-time and increases the speed of project completion

Test Station Development

EPIC starts by visiting your facility and evaluating what the test station must accomplish. We consider how it will integrate into workflow and the exact mechanics of how people and other machines will interface with it. These considerations are an integral first step to the design process our custom test stations go through, which includes:

• Custom machine design
• Machine hardware specification
• Part procurement
• Machine automation
• Custom assembly and fabrication
• Functional and factory acceptance testing
• Machine shipment
• Onsite installation
• Machine startup and support

Product testing and inspection can be accomplished at full production rates by implementing real-time statistical process control technology including:

• High speed data collection
• Data harvesting and relational database
• MES system integration for post-processing
• Defect categorization by type and/or frequency of occurrence to determine the root cause of failed testing parameters

EPIC Custom Machines traces measurement instrumentation calibration according to the ANSI (American National Standards Institute), NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards.

Types of Test Stations

EPIC builds test stations that apply to both industrial and consumer products. Some of the things these test stations can test for include: