Considering the characteristics of the friction materials industry—such as brake pads and clutch discs—which involve a wide variety of raw ingredients, significant dust generation, frequent formula changes, and high precision requirements.

Based on the analysis of the product characteristics of Wuxi Xielì Automation Equipment Co., Ltd. and industry-standard specifications, the following are the key selection criteria:

1.  Determine the ingredient processing mode (core decision point)

Wuxi Xielì primarily offers two mainstream configurations, which should be selected based on the factory layout and production volume.

Mobile cart type (batching car):

Applicable scenario: Large number of hoppers (typically) >8 1) Scenarios where site space is limited and the position of the hopper needs to be adjusted flexibly.

Advantages: A single vehicle can serve multiple hoppers, resulting in relatively low equipment investment and flexible layout.

Note: It is necessary to confirm the stability of the trolley’s movement, the requirements for track installation, and the power supply method.

Fixed conveyor belt (belt) / Screw conveyor:

Applicable scenarios: Large-scale production lines with high output, continuous production, and fixed hopper locations.

Advantages: Extremely high degree of automation, fast conveying speed, and suitable for large-scale continuous operations.

Note: The civil engineering foundation requirements are high, and once built, it’s not easy to modify.

2.  Weighing Accuracy and Sensor Selection

Certain additives in friction materials—such as graphite, fibers, and metal powders—are used in extremely small quantities yet have a significant impact on performance; therefore, precision is of utmost importance.

Sensor brand: Confirm whether internationally renowned brands (such as Mettler) are used. -  Toledo, HBM etc.) or top-tier domestic brands, to ensure long-term stability.

Range Matching: Follow the principle of “use a large-scale scale for large materials and a small-scale scale for small materials.” For components added in trace amounts, it is recommended to select a high-precision microscale to avoid measurement errors that may arise from using a large-range scale to weigh small quantities of material.

Anti-interference capability: Friction material workshops typically feature large-scale mixing equipment, so it’s essential to verify the weighing instruments’ resistance to vibration and electromagnetic interference.

3.  Poka-yoke and Traceability System (Key to Quality Control)

This is standard equipment in modern friction material factories. The systems provided by Wuxi Xielì typically feature the following functions; when selecting a system, it’s essential to clearly define your required level of performance:

Barcode /RFID Scan: Before adding ingredients, you must scan the barcode on the raw material bag. The system will automatically verify whether the barcode matches the current recipe. If there’s a discrepancy, an alarm will sound and the system will lock down to prevent human error in ingredient addition.

Formula Management: Does the software support unlimited storage of formulas? Does it support hierarchical permission levels (operators can only call formulas, while technicians can modify them)?

Data Traceability: Can it automatically generate ingredient reports for each batch (including actual weighing values, tolerance ranges, operator, and time), and support integration with... MES or ERP System integration?

4.  Raw Material Compatibility and Dust-Proof Design

The physical properties of the raw materials for friction materials vary widely (including fluffy fibers, extremely fine dust, and heavy metal powders).

Arch-breaking device: For fibrous or moist powders that are prone to bridging, is the discharge outlet of the hopper equipped with a vibrator or a pneumatic arch-breaking device?

Sealing: Is the entire conveying and weighing process enclosed? Is the dust removal interface designed appropriately to prevent dust from escaping and contaminating the environment as well as affecting weighing accuracy?

Wear Resistance: Are components that come into contact with metal powders or hard particles (such as screw blades and belts) made of wear-resistant materials?

5.  Control System and Software Functions

PLC Brand: Confirm that the brand is a mainstream one such as Siemens, Mitsubishi, or Omron, to facilitate subsequent maintenance and spare parts procurement.

Human-machine interface ( HMI ): Is the user interface intuitive? Does it support Chinese? Are the fault-diagnosis prompts clear?

Scalability: If new silos or new process flows are added in the future, are expansion capabilities reserved in terms of software licensing and hardware interfaces?

6.  After-sales service and customization capabilities

Non-standard customization: Wuxi Xielì excels in non-standard customization. When selecting a solution, make sure it can be customized to match your existing plant drawings rather than simply applying a standard solution wholesale.

Training and Maintenance: Inquire about the specific installation and commissioning schedule, the operator training program, and the response time for spare parts supply.

Selection Recommendation Steps:

1.  Organize the list List the names of all ingredients required, along with their maximum amounts. / Minimum single weighing capacity, material characteristics (flowability, hygroscopicity, etc.).

2.  Clarify production capacity : Calculate per class / The total daily output determines the system's required operating speed.

3.  On-site survey We invite technical personnel from Wuxi Xielì to the site to conduct measurements and assess constraints such as the hopper layout, floor height, and ground load-bearing capacity.

If you require a detailed configuration plan tailored to specific production volumes or ingredient lists, we recommend contacting Wuxi Xielì Automation Equipment Co., Ltd. directly to obtain a customized technical proposal.