Dispensing Technology Supplier Coherix Expands

The company’s technology uses AI and 3D vision to provide adaptive control of the adhesive dispensing process.

Coherix workshop — Coherix
Dispensing-system engineers from a variety of companies attended a recent Coherix-sponsored workshop in Ann Arbor.

ANN ARBOR, MI—Coherix is expanding its production and product development space to meet growing demand for AI-based systems to control the application of adhesives during assembly of automotive and electronic products.

The move to a new 25,000-square-foot manufacturing, development and headquarters facility in Ann Arbor will be completed by year’s end. The $1 million expansion will increase production space by 5,000 square feet and add 5,000 square feet for engineering, software development, training and customer service.

Craig Manning, vice president of operations, product development and accounting at Coherix, says workspace will nearly double and allow the addition of 10 to 15 engineering and product-development jobs over the next year.

The facility’s new Innovation Center will include 10 robotic dispensing stations, technical training facilities and a product demonstration and service area.

“This is a game-changing move for Coherix,” Manning says. “It will allow us to keep pace with customer demand for our industry-leading products, speed the further development of a full range of new precision dispensing technology, and help us attract needed engineering talent.”

Coherix is a pioneer in the development of 3D-vision-enabled adaptive process control for adhesive dispensing. The company’s technology is used by OEMs, tier 1 suppliers, line builders, dispensing equipment companies and system integrators in a variety of industries.

The company’s technology automatically inspects and controls the application of adhesives and sealants at assembly-line speeds. Its 3D laser-based quality-control systems are equipped with machine learning, artificial intelligence and process control software that can deliver savings of 25 percent in labor and material.

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“The development and maintenance of trouble-free dispensing systems is an extremely complex process that includes robots, fixturing, adhesive dispensing equipment and process control systems along with a host of other factors,” says Coherix Chairman and CEO Dwight Carlson. “It’s been an art form up until now, but we’re injecting more science and inter-company cooperation into the process.”

Coherix has launched a workshop program to help improve the use of adhesives and sealants in product manufacturing. Co-sponsored by the Engineering and Manufacturing Alliance (EMA), more than 100 system integrators, robot suppliers, dispensing equipment suppliers, material suppliers and end users are expected to attend the program this year to discuss issues related to adhesive dispensing in manufacturing environments.

The company also is working with Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti to develop “factory-of-the-future” technology and support education programs for mechanical engineering students.

The three-year program at the university’s GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology focuses on precision manufacturing applications in the growing field of adhesive dispensing technology and is supported by a $385,000 grant from Coherix.