Welcome to Lion!
Lion Inc. is a custom engineering/software and design/development firm that builds simple and advanced technical solutions for the manufacturing consumer. Combining systems knowledge with efficient design, and out of the box thinking we deliver systems that are cost efficient, save labor, reduce cycle time and increase production throughput and reduce maintenance down time cost with user friendly designs and accessible component placement. With an unrivaled talent pool of highly skilled engineers located in Rockford, IL, Lion provides the technical skill, accountability and industry knowledge needed to deliver custom systems on time and on budget.
PARTS TRACKING
Keeping track of the flow of materials on and around your assembly line is critical to being competitive in today’s fast moving economy. Lion Inc. can build you a parts tracking solution that will ensure that the correct components are on your line when and where they are needed while collecting the information you need to make timely production and quality decisions. Bar code and radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in manufacturing improves the efficiency of your processes by automating inventory checks and asset and supply chain tracking. These solutions are cost-effective, very flexible, and can be integrated with production materials and assembly line tooling. Using these technologies Lion Inc. can design and build a system that provides a real-time accounting of your parts inventory and component flow with full traceability back through the entire manufacturing process. With a system like this, your company can access and easily identify where and when a production or quality problem occurred, down to the machine and operator that made the part. The benefits of a parts tracking solution will be immediately realized in your operations: Reduced time needed to locate and count materials, Real-time inventory tracking and traceability, Reduced down-time and faster change-overs, Improved quality through reporting of defects, Lower costs and increased profits. Whether you are looking for an economical bar-code system, or a powerful and cost-effective RFID system, Lion Inc.’s parts tracking experts will design and deliver the perfect solution to help you maximize your profits.
ROBOT INTEGRATION
Industrial manufacturing robots increase the quality and speed of production while reducing costs. Robots are able to work continuously without slowing and their output quality is consistent over time. Employee injury claims and related expenses may be reduced since the work most commonly performed by a robot is repetitive and/or strenuous. Lion engineers can help you decide how and where industrial robots can make your company more competitive and profitable. Our robotics professionals are experts in the following technologies and many more.
VISION
Machine Vision Systems replace manual inspection in manufacturing processes with extremely precise, high speed electronic equipment. These systems are able to automatically extract highly detailed information from digital images, which can then be used for many manufacturing and production applications: Part validation Defection detection Manufacturing processes validation Quality testing Part Locating Machine vision systems can often inspect hundreds of manufactured units for flaws in the time it would take a human to scrutinize a single unit. These systems deliver unsurpassed manufacturing accuracy and productivity. Lion Inc.’s experienced team implements vision systems using the leading products: Matrox Banner Cognex Keyence Machine vision lowers costs while increasing productivity. Lion has the experience and expertise to help you explore how the technology can be applied to your business.
MATERIAL HANDLING
There are many ways to get something from one place to another. Lion specializes in robotic and non-robotic systems to transfer, palletize, decant, stack, store and sort parts of all kinds.
SCADA
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems monitor and control industrial, infrastructure, or facility-based processes. Whether to provide real-time information to plant managers enabling them to quickly identify manufacturing bottlenecks or to show strict quality compliance, the potential uses for SCADA systems are endless. However, poorly designed systems often show disappointing returns, especially when system designers have failed to fully understand current and future production needs. Whether your company needs a new turnkey SCADA system with flexibility to grow with your business, or your installed system is inadequate, Lion Inc. has the experience and expertise to evaluate your business needs and deliver a solution that will give you the information and control you need to minimize process costs and maximize profits. Embedded C/C++ RSView Net Microsoft Access SQL Server LabView RSView Wonderware WinCC
SOFTWARE DEVELOPEMENT
We build applications that interface with your equipment
When off-the-shelf software doesn’t fit the bill, we help customers create the tools they need to compete.
Far from being just “developers for hire”, our team works hand-in-hand with our customers to define software that will meet critical goals, to manage projects so that they stay focused, and to ensure that we create top-quality databases, applications, and more.
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Database interfacing is something that PLC’s can do, sure. But should they? Many times a PC based solution is better and more cost effective than a PLC based one. Sometimes a hybrid is the way to go. Lion takes these projects on a case by case basis and using its expert engineers’ council helps you determine what the best course of action is for your project.
MOTION (DESIGN OF STEPPER AND SERVO DRIVEN SYSTEMS)
Your company’s automation needs may be better served by servomechanisms or stepper-based systems. A servomechanism, or servo, is an automatic device that uses negative feedback sensors to correct the performance of a mechanism. Servos are ideal for applications where high-speed, high-precision control is necessary. Stepper systems are the only motion-control method able to run using a non-feedback controller. Stepping motors are capable of performing reliable, high-precision operations without the need for a position sensor. For many applications, a stepper-based system can be an extremely cost-effective alternative to servo-based solutions. Lion Inc. is a leader in both stepper and servo based solutions. We’ll help you identify the most suitable technologies for your automation needs. We specialize in solutions based on: ABB Pacific Scientific Next Step Allen Bradley Yaskawa CTC Siemens Rexroth Parker
RETROFITS
Retrofits and Upgrades offer an economic solution for prolonging the lifecycle of the entire plant. Lion Inc. can replace your old technologies with state-of-the-art equipment which ultimately reduces maintenance efforts and increases system reliability and availability. Oftentimes, retrofit measures will improve overall system performance and efficiency, as well as meeting current environmental requirements. Also, retrofits can be used to add functionality to existing equipment. For example, a machine that has been in use for years assembling current production parts may be modified both mechanically, electrically and programmatically to add new production parts to its build repertoire without removing the old functionality.