For episode #126 of #TheRobotIndustryPodcast, I have invited Saman Farid from Formic. I have been watching Formic for a long time and am excited for them and their approach and thrilled to have Saman join me for this edition.

Saman welcome to the podcast.

How did you get involved in automation and building a very cool, disruptive model for manufacturers?

What is going on in manufacturing ?

What is your customer’s pain?

What are some of the secondary motivations?

Can you give me some examples of applications that you are doing for your customers?

What is the process if I have an application in my factory that I think might be a good fit for Formic.

What kind of applications do you tend to stay away from?

Are you turnkey, do you provide design of the robot end of arm tool for example?

How long does this take from initial visit or virtual visit to getting a machine on my shop floor?

How do you charge for this service? How do you get paid? Are there any soft costs?

Can you describe the process ~ Let’s say I want you to help me automate a machine tending application.

What about uptime and OEE?

Who services the equipment?

How long will the machine last?

What happens when the program ends as a manufacturer?

Can I upgrade the automation?

Who are your favorite robot brands and controls technologies?

You have got a couple of success stories…?

Granola Business in California.

Cameron Coffee in MN.

What is Formic CORE?

Everyone is talking about AI, are you using AI?

Who is your key customer, is it a plant manager or CEO or CFO?

How do you find new customers and prospects?

What are some of the challenges that you are facing at Formic in this growing business?

When you are not automating, innovating, building food robots and AI, what do you like to do, hobbies?

How can people get a hold of you and find out more about Formic?

Our sponsor for this episode is Ehrhardt Automation Systems. Ehrhardt builds and commissions turnkey solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of robotics, automated manufacturing, and project management, delivering world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you [email protected] eh rh ar dt automation dot com

Our co sponsor is Anchor Danly. They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of robot and automation bases, high quality die sets, components, Blanchard Ground steel plates, and metal fabrications used in the production of tools, dies, and molds for metal working and plastics injection molding, mining and construction equipment, and general fabrications.

I would like to acknowledge A3: the Association for Advancing Automation. They are the leading automation trade association for robotics, vision and imaging, motion control and motors and the industrial artificial intelligence technologies.  Visit Automate dot org to learn more.

If you would like to get in touch with us at THE robot industry podcast, you can find me jim beretta on LinkedIn.

Today’s podcast was produced by Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing and I would like to thank my team: Chris Gray for the music, Geoffy Bremner for audio production, my business partner Janet and our sponsors, Ehrhardt Automation and Anchor Danly. 

Best Regards!

Jim

Jim Beretta

Customer Attraction & The Robot Industry Podcast

London, ON