Peter Frost, OwnerA turnkey automation solutions provider, Frost Automation offers design, installation, and commissioning of all types of robotic coating and dispensing systems for automotive Tier 1 suppliers and general industrial clients.
The full-service system integrator draws on its deep-rooted expertise in mechanical, electrical, and software design and installation to implement a mix of robotic and paint application equipment tailored to client requirements.
“We are singularly focused on the paint and coatings industry, which allows us to offer customized services with a clear understanding of client processes,” says Peter Frost, owner of Frost Automation.
This understanding translates to faster operations, reduced equipment downtime, and paint wastage, leading to potential annual savings of millions of dollars for clients.
Unlocking Operational Excellence
Frost Automation’s turnkey solutions include greenfield design for new systems, retrofits of manual coating lines to automatic ones, expansion of existing facilities, and maintenance and troubleshooting.
It has mastered the art of designing complex systems, where an array of robots are fed paint from the paint kitchen through miles of tubing running around the plants. Meticulous attention to detail and quality ensures optimal system operations. Installations resemble fine artwork, highlighting their proficiency.
These solutions are leveraged by many Tier 1 suppliers in the automotive industry. Whether clients are painting interior and exterior car parts or glue dispensing, Frost Automation has it covered.
It is currently working with a client in Mexico that molds spoilers, bumpers, and other exterior car parts. The client leveraged Frost’s mechanical and electrical design experience to install a 12-robot tri-coat painting system. These robots, made per OEM specifications, are adept at applying all layers—primer, base, and clear coat.
One of Frost Automation’s key specializations is performing complex retrofits and expansion of facilities. Unlike most players in the market that avoid working on coating systems installed by other providers, Frost Automation is always up for the challenge.
It thoroughly assesses existing client systems to identify and resolve problems under tight timelines. If needed, it reverse engineers an installation to provide robot upgrades and hardware replacements like applicators to drive efficiencies and save costs, which is critical in applications involving expensive automotive paints.
Driving Impeccable Transfer Efficiency
Tier 1 OEMs face significant challenges when multiple parts in their production line need to be painted using different colors. During the color change sequence, a considerable amount of old paint in the tubing has to be flushed out to load the new color.
We are singularly focused on the paint and coatings industry, which allows us to offer customized services with a clear understanding of client processes
“In a paint shop, when the color and style keep changing per specifications, the changeover has to happen quickly and efficiently, and we provide the software to accomplish that,” says Frost.
In an implementation highlight, it partnered with a Mexico-based, Tier 1 client painting automotive exteriors. The facility was equipped with 16 robots, and the client wanted to increase efficiency. Frost Automation designed and implemented a control system capable of detecting the next color in the queue. It could determine the amount of paint needed to complete the current job and the quantity of new color to be loaded onto the system for the next. Frost Automation streamlined the process with the ability to switch to a solvent on the fly.
Cognizant of the equipment-related issues that can arise, Frost Automation is well-positioned as a strategic problem solver, always at the forefront of industrial coating automation and maintenance. Its expert troubleshooting capabilities alleviate complex issues clients experience when operating with faulty systems.
In a notable instance, a client’s industrial coating system skipped racks while painting. The Frost Automation team spent a few days observing its systems and the underlying software to understand the root cause. They discovered that the line tracking encoder failed to track the backward movement of the conveyor caused by its mechanical design each time it stopped. Every time the conveyor moved after a stop, the encoder would double-count the movement, resulting in an error.
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In a paint shop, when the color and style keep changing per specifications, the changeover has to happen quickly and efficiently, and we provide the software to accomplish that
Clients can avail of these exemplary services from Frost Automation anytime. The company is always on its toes to ensure client operations are not interrupted. Its maintenance department can remotely diagnose issues and dispatch technicians to their locations for precise repairs or parts replacements, maximizing system uptime and cost savings.
Frost Automation’s dexterity to tackle the most demanding situations has enabled it to emerge as a name that deeply resonates with customer centricity. At the core of its commendable workmanship is a team of specialized engineers and mechanical and electrical professionals with deep-rooted expertise in programming, design, and installation for developing systems per client requirements.
Its tenacious pursuit of excellence and steadfast commitment to ensuring coating efficiency have benefited numerous clients across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, where it is strengthening its foothold.
Setting benchmarks with the right blend of ingrained system integration knowledge and decades of experience in customized industrial coating services, Frost Automation continues to be a trusted partner for Tier 1 automotive suppliers.
