Nord Drivesystems Provides Gearmotors for Georgia-Based Automation Provider

Consider the following scenario: guided by vision sensors, a robot spots a product on a moving conveyor, determines its exact position and, in one fluid motion, picks it up and places it into a waiting assembly, carrier tray, or shipping container. What human operators once found tiring—or at least tedious, the robot performs flawlessly, hour after hour, even long after its flesh-and-blood coworkers have gone home for the evening. Given the ongoing shortage of skilled workers, we can expect to see many more such scenarios, especially as the U.S. ramps up its reshoring efforts. That's where John London, director of operations at MESH Automation, comes in. “Getting parts and products positioned precisely without fail—there's little room for error,” he explained. “That’s long been one of the primary challenges with many competing automation systems. But not for us.” Since its founding in 1999, MESH Automation of Dawsonville, Georgia, has been meeting these and other automation challenges head-on. The company designs and builds robotic palletizing, machine tending, material handling, and warehouse control systems for an eclectic mix of customers across practically every industrial manufacturing sector. Whether they’re building solutions for automakers and their tier suppliers or food processors, roofing material producers, fertilizer manufacturers and many others, MESH and its 40+ employees work to provide robust and reliable automation systems by focusing on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence. Proud Partnerships  Part of this success stems from strategic partnerships with some of the leading names in automation. These include Fanuc, Siemens, and Cognex, to name a few, all of which contribute to MESH Automation's reputation for quality and dependability. But with automation comes the equally important need to bring products and materials to and from the machine tool, packing station, or inspection system, and do so without fail. For this critical task, MESH depends on a supplier with equivalent recognition throughout the industry: Nord Drivesystems. “I like to tell people that, even though we build conveyors, we're not a conveyor company,” said London. “Still, we make a lot of them, and pretty much all are located within 30 feet or so of a robot.”

For the past three years, he adds, each of these conveyors has used Nord helical worm gear motors to move whatever’s sitting on top of it. This partnership began thanks to a COVID-induced supply chain disruption; after MESH Automation’s previous gearmotor supplier ran into inventory problems, London and his team reached out to their distributor, Motion Automation Intelligence of Birmingham. The sales representative there suggested they give Nord a try. Unfortunately, the very first shipment hit a snag—the motors arrived damaged in transit. “That's when I knew Nord would be a good company to work with,” London said. “Their standard lead time was six weeks at the time, but they were able to deliver replacement motors in just two, keeping us on schedule. That told me a lot about their emphasis on customer service.” This support level continues to this day. In one recent example, a MESH apprentice accidentally wired three motors incorrectly, causing them to burn out during startup. After being notified of the situation, Nord's Charlotte plant prepared replacements within a few hours, allowing a MESH project manager to pick them up that afternoon. “That was a big deal for us, and it reinforced what I already knew: Nord Drivesystems is a solid company, as is our relationship with them,” London added.