DeGeest Corporation

Many of you shared in a recent poll that a barrier to adding automation is a lack of skills to run and support it. This is where technology can often help bridge the gap. At DeGeest, technology allows people to see the work they’re accomplishing with touchscreens at every station to view job queues and bring about transparency. Instead of being told what to do, these screens provide real-time information and put decision-making in workers’ hands to give them a feeling of empowerment. Machine metrics allow people to see how long each machine is running, which helps to set and attain production goals. It’s no longer about just punching in and punching out. Instead, information is presented in a way that results in people feeling good about what they’re accomplishing. It’s the difference between being engaged and being present. Many options exist when adding automation that don’t require the use or purchase of a robot. It starts with using technology to control your variables by capturing the legacy knowledge of your existing employees. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸. Check out this video, and then read our thought paper, Technology to Bridge the Skills Gap, link in comments. 𝗣.𝗦. We explained the steps of our Proven Path to Automation with a walkthrough in our booth at FABTECH Expo last year, and we’re gearing up to see everyone again at FABTECH 2025 in September! #automation #manufacturing #robotics #welding #finishing #astrongerstandard #strongerindustry #strongertogether #industrialautomation #industrialcoating #industrialfinishing #powdercoating

From the conversations we’ve had with you and clients about adding automation, it’s clear that cost is top of mind, and understandably so. As a manufacturer ourselves, DeGeest was faced with a similar situation when we decided to add automation to our finishing line. While the initial expense of adding automation may seem overwhelming, having a proven process that allows you to break down those costs is possible. It all starts with a systematic way to eliminate variables and overcome the cost to get an immediate ROI. Because of our almost fifty years of hands-on experience, DeGeest knows that automation done right isn’t just about adding robots to a production line. It’s about creating a strategic approach that prepares a company for this new technology adoption. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. ”We’ve created this step-by-step approach to guide businesses at any stage of the automation process, leveraging our experience to create effective integration strategies and a Stronger Standard for your business.” - Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest and LestaUSA Self-Learning Painting & Finishing Robots 𝗜𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻,, check out this video from Derek and read our thought paper, A Proven Path to Automation, link in comments. #automation #manufacturing #robotics #welding #finishing #astrongerstandard #strongerindustry #strongertogether #industrialautomation #industrialcoating #industrialfinishing #powdercoating

Yesterday, thanks to the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development, Governor Larry Rhoden visited our headquarters in Tea. By touring our 133,000 sq ft facility, from our fabrication, welding, finishing and LestaUSA Integration Center and Test Lab, Governor Rhoden got to see the immediate impact of the work our employees do every day. ”We appreciate the opportunity to showcase our employees and the automation they use everyday. Seeing the work we do in action makes all the difference in being able to understand the impact manufacturing has on our communities and country.” - Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest and LestaUSA Self-Learning Painting & Finishing Robots If you’re interested in touring DeGeest, send us a message to connect on setting up a visit. #automation #manufacturing #welding #robotics #finishing #astrongerstandard #strongerindustry #freedomworkshere #strongertogether #industrialautomation #industrialcoating #economicdevelopment #GovernorRhoden

In a recent poll, the top barrier when it comes to adding automation is “knowing where to start.” You know your end goal, but how to get there can feel a bit overwhelming. We get it, because we’ve been there. In 2018, robotic welding was added at DeGeest to help with capacity, which moved the production bottleneck to painting. In 2021, Lesta srl self-learning finishing robots were added to eliminate the painting bottleneck, which then allowed for the addition of more capacity in welding. With balanced automation, we were able to increase production capacity in every department while increasing revenue per employee by 82.8%. This allowed us to strike the balance of keeping and attracting our talent while also providing more value to customers in an increasingly competitive industry. The manual line kept running uninterrupted as the new system was built, and after completion, larger customer parts were added into the new system, and the manual line was transitioned over. After six months, the manual line was torn down and the space was reallocated for other manufacturing processes. We’ve been in the trenches of adding automation, with our own shop and many other manufacturers around the world. While a barrier to add automation may be due to a lack of knowing where to start, finding the right partner can make all the difference. Collaborating with someone who’s been there before means you get an experienced guide who can show you next best steps while shortening the learning curve and propelling your business forward faster. If you’re not sure where to start with automation, check out this video from our President, Derek DeGeest, and then read our thought paper, Fixing the Manufacturing Capacity Gap, link in comments. #automation #manufacturing #robotics #welding #finishing #astrongerstandard #strongerindustry #strongertogether #industrialautomation #industrialcoating #industrialfinishing #powdercoating

The history of DeGeest is a story three generations have been sharing with our employees, customers and community for almost 50 years. What started as an opportunity to use sought after welding skills to help local customers, has evolved into a Stronger Standard of manufacturing in steel works, automation and finishing. Serving customers and partners all over the world, DeGeest has become a leader in the industry, moving manufacturing forward through robotics, automation and cutting edge technologies. A big shout to SpotLight Sioux Falls for featuring DeGeest and LestaUSA Self-Learning Painting & Finishing Robots. We appreciate your efforts to shine a light on all the amazing businesses and leaders in our community! #automation #manufacturing #robotics #welding #finishing #astrongerstandard #strongerindustry #strongertogether #industrialautomation #industrialcoating #industrialfinishing

Whether it’s finishing small or big parts, DeGeest, LestaUSA Self-Learning Painting & Finishing Robots and Lesta srl Italy, are paving the way to help U.S. manufacturers. Check out this recent install of a large finishing system we are doing for a U.S. customer. These two Lesta robot gantry systems are the first of its kind to be installed by LestaUSA to solve the needs our customers have for finishing their parts. Lesta’s gantry design accommodates almost unlimited sizes. This system has two 30’ x 30’ gantry bridge cranes with integrated carriages with 6’ of “Z” up & down stroke for the inverted Lesta MV self-learning robots additional 14’ reach. This proven solution delivers unmatched part window programming versatility and is utilized in coating large parts in paint, gel coat or powder applications. This is an incredibly fast way to program large production parts like vehicles, boats, pools, trailers, equipment and virtually anything that needs to be coated while in a lift, on a ladder or climbing on the parts. A finishing system like this means safer and less physically taxing work for coaters. This is just one example of many who’ve partnered with us to add automation and finishing solutions to find success for their customers, employees and bottom line. If you’re looking for help with your finishing line and unsure where to start, contact us to get the conversation started. #automation #manufacturing #robotics #finishing #astrongerstandard #strongerindustry #strongerproducts #industrialautomation #industrialcoating #powdercoating #industrialfinishing #gantry

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We know that adding automation is a process. That’s why the customer’s who work with DeGeest and LestaUSA Self-Learning Painting & Finishing Robots get a team that comes in and helps from assessment and system design, all the way through integration and support. As you can see, one of our application gurus, Brad Ruppert is training how to use a Lesta srl robot for wheel refinishing. With this side by side, you can see how the Lesta robot duplicates the precise movements and spray techniques of your best painter and repeats them on future jobs. Because of Lesta’s groundbreaking technology, these robots do not require complicated programming. Following installation, specialists can be painting & finishing robotically on Day One. Customers who add automation with Lesta self-learning robots, are reducing costly quality issues, cutting operational costs, lowering operator stress, increasing employee engagement and reducing new hire training by upskilling the people you already have. The DeGeest team is about so much more than just providing a robot. As an integrator that uses what we sell in real production, we provide solutions based on our three specialties - fabrication, automation and finishing - to provide automated solutions with a stronger standard. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 → https://bit.ly/43Dc7dv #automation #manufacturing #robotics #finishing #astrongerstandard #strongerindustry #strongerproducts #industrialautomation #industrialcoating #dayonerobotics #powdercoating #industrialfinishing #retread #wheelrefinishing

You’re hearing about finishing automation, but how does it really work when it comes time to add it to your production line? Wheel retread centers that use Bridgestone Bandag, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Cooper Tires and Michelin have partnered with DeGeest and LestaUSA Self-Learning Painting & Finishing Robots to convert their manual wheel powder refinishing operations into automated systems experience:   • 40% increase in production   • 30% decrease in labor   • 25% decrease in powder per wheel   • More consistent mil thickness and less rejects At DeGeest, we believe finishing integration is more than just providing a robot that sprays parts. From assessment and system design, all the way through integration and on-site application training, we create solutions that are born in a production environment and tested by our team that uses what we sell every day. We work closely with many partners including our retread industry leader IMI, Polifluid nitrogen coating technology from EUROSIDER SAS, Nordson Corporation coating systems, Gorbel overhead cranes and Richards-Wilcox Conveyor to deliver peace of mind and support for all aspects of a customer’s new automated finishing operation. With our Automated Wheel Refinishing Systems featuring Lesta srl self-learning robots, you can get a total solution that lets you finish more wheels without hiring and upskilling the people you already have. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 → https://bit.ly/457N5UY #automation #manufacturing #robotics #finishing #astrongerstandard #strongerindustry #strongerproducts #strongertogether #industrialautomation #industrialcoating #powdercoating #industrialfinishing #retread #wheelrefinishing

Traveling the past couple of weeks, our automation team has seen time and time again the difference it makes when you’re using 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 on your finishing line. We recently installed Nitrotherm spray on a flat line for a cabinet company. They came to DeGeest looking for solutions to help with quality issues, process optimization, cost savings and improving work environment for their employees. By changing to Nitrotherm, they increased production 33% while simultaneously saving them 18% on paint and eliminated pin holes, orange peel and adhesion issues they were having. These results are typical because of how the nitrogen, heating and ionization technology can be applied to each application. During optimization for this customer, we increased the nitrogen carrier gas temperature to 160 degrees to flash off the water in the water based UV coating so it dried faster and laid down better. We also selected the ionization to be 100% positive which helps overcome the static charge that builds up on the belt of the flatline. This allowed them to increase transfer efficiency and put more paint down on each pass to finish the 4x8 particle board panels in two passes instead of three. Thanks to the problem solving abilities of our Application Specialists, this customer had instant success after adding Nitrotherm to their 4 HVLP guns on their flat line. Nitrotherm is a patented liquid spray technology system by EUROSIDER SAS and integrated by DeGeest that works with your existing manual, automatic or robotic equipment with any kind of paint. The excitement of our team alleviating struggles and changing these coaters lives was such an honor to witness! From improving employee satisfaction, reducing over spray and increasing transfer efficiency, the benefits of adding Nitrotherm technology to your finishing line are exponential. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗡𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺: https://hubs.li/Q03pK_Pj0 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: https://hubs.li/Q03pL3lc0 #automation #manufacturing #robotics #finishing #astrongerstandard #strongerindustry #strongerproducts #industrialautomation #industrialcoating #wood #liquidcoating #paintingrobot #industrialpainting