Reinke invests $12 million in automation
Reinke Manufacturing President Chris Roth prepares to cut the ribbon to the company’s $12 million robotics investment March 26. Pictured are Doug Wilkinson, Reinke Director of Manufacturing; Steve Barhorst, president of Yaskawa; Bruce Finke, Reinke Facilities Maintenance and Transportation Manager; Reinke First Vice President Russ Reinke; Gov. Jim Pillen; Reinke President Chris Roth; Reinke Board Member Robert Reinke; Jon Henry, Director Coating/Maintenance for Reinke; Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director KC Belitz; and Government Affairs and Public Policy Deputy Director Andrew Dunkley of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.
Following Reinke Manufacturing’s investment last fall in the modernization and automation of its facilities to continue providing irrigation systems to growers, a ribbon cutting event was held on March 26 at the Reinke Hillcrest location.
The event celebrated Reinke’s $12 million investment in robotics. It also featured guest speaker Gov. Jim Pillen and a tour was provided that showcased a demo of the robots streamlining production time for many of the parts used in Reinke’s precision center pivot irrigation systems.
Reinke President Chris Roth said the facility has been working on the project for several years.
Thousands of hours were dedicated to the robotic pipe cell, Roth said. Fifteen robotic arms, one robotic gantry and three robotic track units work together to weld flanges, cut outlet holes, position and weld couplers and angle brackets on water pipe assemblies.
“This is a continuance of the Reinke legacy of providing the world’s finest irrigation system,” Roth told a crowd that included KC Belitz, Director of Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Andrew Dunkley of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, Michael Johnson, Executive Vice President of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Thayer County Commissioners, Dean Krueger and Marlin Bauhard, Deshler Mayor Julie Deepe and Carley Bruning, Executive Director of Thayer County Economic Development Alliance.
“We done this since the 1960’s,” Roth said of Reinke’s advancements. “Richard Reinke was the first to make an electrically-driven irrigation system.” Roth also explained the general availability of Reinke’s ReinCloud 3 that gives growers an easy way to remotely access, monitor and control their in-field equipment across multiple fields and locations from any smart device, as well as the ability to quickly take action based on centralized farm data insights.
Pillen said it was a great day for Reinke.
“I would first like to congratulate the Reinke family. It’s important to recognize Reinke is extraordinary. Reinke is a great family-owned success story for Nebraska,” he said. “It is what it is today because of its investment in advanced technology and expansion projects, and the skilled workforce in Nebraska. We look forward to Reinke’s continued growth and development in the region.”
Reinke First Vice President Russ Reinke said the facility’s first robot was installed in 1995. Another robotic investment was in 2005.
“It’s amazing what we can with robots these days,” he said after explaining how the new system operates.
The advanced robotic pipe cell will make water pipe assemblies from start to finish, according to programmed specifications for incoming pipe measurements, cutting coupler outlet holes, maintaining correct overall assembly length and welding components to each assembly.
The new production process doesn’t displace any workers, rather, additional opportunities are created to up-skill current employees as well as providing training for equipment operators. Additional equipment for the process includes an automated laser cell; robotic welding cells; CNC Lathes; screw machine; stamping press servo-feed systems; progressive stamping dies; and semi-automatic truss rod forging cell.
For ReinCloud 3, the most advanced remote irrigation management solution to date to drive operational savings and yield increases for growers tasked with managing water efficiency. It is the latest iteration developed with growers’ most pressing ag data, water management and operational challenges in mind. It offers:
•Enhanced telemetry for optimized data accuracy, uninterrupted sensor coverage, and reliable connectivity to automate the collection of real-time field conditions, as well as advanced irrigation system and crop health information;
•Intuitive user experience for a user-friendly interface redesigned to highlight the most critical insights and actions requiring immediate attention.
Comprehensive management with a no-fuss app to ensure efficient water management and distribution across diverse field and growing conditions.
•Smart irrigation Controller Dashboard for quick views of irrigation system status and all variables with optional notifications.
•Advanced view layers for weather, soil, yield, Chemigation, Fertifation and seeding maps.
•Advanced programming capabilities for forward and reverse field-sector programming, end gun and auxiliary programming.
•Customizable control and sophisticated dealer portal.
“Farming practices continue to change as new challenges arise and more growers around the globe are embracing technological advancements to increase operational efficiencies and protect their yields than ever before,” Roth said. “Farmers cannot be on every field at every location at the same time, but water needs can change in an instant. Being able to access the information they need, make time-sensitive precision irrigation decisions and control their equipment from anywhere and on any device makes real-time farming a reality.”
“You’re on the cutting edge,” Pillen told representatives of Reinke.
