What Are They Using? Mann+Hummel Cuts Energy Use With ELGi, COATS Deploys Autonomous Tugger, Li Auto Automates EV Assembly With Comau, and More

To uphold its long-standing commitment to food safety and quality, fourth-generation family business Keystone Meats installed the Mettler-Toledo X37 x-ray inspection system at the end of its packaging line. The company sought a final check capable of detecting metal, its primary foreign material concern due to cutting and grinding, along with other potential contaminants like glass, bone, and dense plastic in its canned meat products. Unlike metal detectors that must be placed earlier in the process, the X37 offered precise end-of-line inspection even through metal cans, ensuring overall product integrity before distribution.

The X37's high sensitivity, low false reject rate, and throughput capacity of up to 1,200 cans/min prepare Keystone for future production increases. Daily validation tests confirm consistent accuracy, while the system's touchscreen interface allows quick, 2-minute product changeovers. Minimal sanitation requirements and easy integration support Keystone's rigorous operational standards.

Companies Involved: Transnet (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) & Martin Engineering (Neponset, IL)
Product: CleanScrape Primary Cleaner & SQC2/SC16 Secondary Cleaners

At its high-throughput Richards Bay terminal, Transnet handles 20 million tons of bulk material annually via 30 conveyors—some among the highest discharge points in the world. Excessive spillage and carryback, especially on 1,350 to 1,500 mm-wide belts, were causing safety risks, maintenance delays, and material loss. To tackle this, Transnet adopted Martin Engineering's CleanScrape primary and SC16 (African variant of SQC2) secondary cleaners. The system's compact design and performance in tight spaces made it ideal for transfer points. Since initial trials in 2015, Transnet has expanded usage across key lines and reported a dramatic drop in spillage, reduced maintenance hours, and cleaner service life exceeding four years, contributing to smoother operations and enhanced plant safety.
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To streamline material transport in its 150,000+ sq ft facility, COATS deployed Cyngn's autonomous DriveMod Tugger to move heavy wheel service components between production areas. The decision followed a need to reduce manual handling, shorten lead times, and support higher throughput. Cyngn's next-gen tugger—featuring route optimization, obstacle detection, and V2X communications—integrated quickly into COATS' workflow, helping address labor shortages while increasing safety and productivity on the floor. The system was up and running within three weeks of delivery, and COATS reported a 20% reduction in transport-related labor hours. Future expansions include additional units in adjacent departments.

Additionally, John Deere has chosen to deploy Cyngn's DriveMod Tuggers at its Dubuque, Iowa, facility.
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Mann+Hummel Saves $160k+, 2M kWh Annually With New ELGi Air System

Companies Involved: Mann+Hummel (Gaffney, SC), ELGi (Charlotte, NC)
Product: ELGi EG Series rotary screw air compressors and AR Series dryers

Mann+Hummel's aging compressed air system was causing over 20 downtime events per day and leaking 30 gallons of contaminated water per hour into production lines, leading to more than $160,000 in annual losses and serious quality control issues. To solve the problem, Mann+Hummel partnered with ELGi distributor Pattons, which supplied rental units during a 12-week implementation and then installed a new air system designed for performance and efficiency.

The upgrade includes 5 ELGi EG-160 rotary screw compressors, 3 fixed-speed and 2 VFD units for dynamic output, along with three ELGi AR-2350 dryers, Airmate tanks, and a Smart Control System. The new setup eliminated water infiltration, stabilized air pressure, and ensured consistent product quality. It also helped clear a post-COVID production backlog of six million units and delivered over 2 million kWh in annual energy savings. With support from Pattons, Mann+Hummel also secured a $300,000 rebate through Duke Energy's efficiency program.
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Comau developed a full-scale automation solution for Li Auto's new range extender manufacturing line, enabling the EV company to scale production to 400,000 units annually. The solution spans concept design to commissioning and includes multiple lines: interior, exterior, cylinder head, and piston-connecting rod. It combines 45 automatic and semi-automatic machines and 15 collaborative robots to streamline production and adapt quickly to future product updates.

At the core is Comau's patented SmartCell technology, which provides high-precision tool-change capabilities to handle a wide range of cylinder head variants, achieving a 99% production pass rate. Collaborative robots with integrated vision systems boost process stability for critical steps like spark plug and rod cap installation. A 6-axis robot also replaced the traditional crankshaft assembly method to increase flexibility and reduce setup time. Together, these upgrades enhanced precision, reduced manual errors, and lowered operational costs while supporting Li Auto's push for sustainable, scalable EV manufacturing.
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