Automation & Custom Systems

Engineered Solutions Beyond Standard Equipment

At Hastings Manufacturing, we know that off-the-shelf machinery cannot always solve complex production bottlenecks. When your throughput goals, part geometries, or integration standards require more than a standard press, we design and build custom automation systems tailored exactly to your floor.

From minor modifications on standard equipment to fully integrated, turnkey production cells, our engineering team partners with you from initial concept through final implementation. Every phase of development—including mechanical design, electrical programming, in-house machining, and final assembly—is executed at our 44,000-square-foot manufacturing facility near St. Louis, Missouri. This single-source approach ensures uncompromising quality control and rapid deployment.

Core Customization & Integration Capabilities

Fully Automated Hot Stamping & Heat Transfer Cells

For high-volume decorating, we design multi-head stamping systems and fully automated heat transfer cells. By integrating these processes with continuous-flow automation, we eliminate manual loading bottlenecks, reduce operator fatigue, and ensure consistent dwell times and temperatures across every cycle.

Robotic Integration & Material Handling

Integrating robotics into your production line is critical for modern scaling. We implement advanced robotic pick-and-place systems, custom material handling conveyors, and precise indexing and positioning tables. Our robotic integrations align with Association for Advancing Automation (A3) safety and efficiency standards, ensuring your facility benefits from the latest in industrial robotics while maintaining a safe operator environment.

PLC-Controlled Production Systems

Precision requires superior data and control. Our custom production cells feature robust PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) architectures with intuitive HMI (Human-Machine Interface) touchscreens. This allows your engineering team to monitor real-time metrics, store thousands of job recipes, and seamlessly integrate the stamping equipment into your broader factory floor network.

Process-Specific Tooling & Fixturing

Automation is only as effective as the tooling that holds the part. We design and machine complex, process-specific nesting fixtures and custom tooling to ensure perfect part alignment before the stamping head ever makes contact.

SEAMLESSLY ADAPTING PROVEN EQUIPMENT

Many of our custom solutions utilize our industry-proven standard presses as the core foundation, engineering the automation around them to suit your exact needs.

H Series (Hydraulic) Presses: We frequently integrate custom automated loading systems into our H Series for applications requiring massive, sustained tonnage across large surface areas.
HP Series (Hydra-Pneumatic) Presses: When speed and high pressure are both required, the HP series serves as an ideal central unit for custom indexing systems.
P Series (Pneumatic) Presses: Perfect for lighter-duty, high-speed custom automation cells where rapid cycle times are the primary objective.

Whether you need a standalone automated workstation or a complex multi-process assembly line, Hastings acts as your dedicated integration partner, eliminating the need to manage multiple vendors.

Ready to Optimize Your Production Flow?

Stop adapting your processes to fit standard machinery. Let Hastings engineer a system built specifically for your exact application.

Contact our engineering team today to discuss your custom automation requirements, request a quote, or schedule a consultation.