In recent years, with the continuous advancement of Industry 4.0 and intelligent manufacturing concepts, motor automation equipment has become increasingly significant in the manufacturing industry. As a crucial means of improving motor production efficiency and reducing labor costs, the demand for automation equipment has grown rapidly. However, despite the growing demand, many motor automation equipment manufacturers are hesitant to accept orders from single-machine manufacturers. The root cause of this reluctance is closely related to the positioning of “custom automation” in business strategies.

Today, let’s analyze the deeper reasons why motor automation equipment manufacturers are reluctant to accept orders from single-machine manufacturers from multiple perspectives.

Why “Decline Orders”? (A Realistic and Rational Interpretation)

Low Cost of Single Machines, Limited Profit Margins

In the current market environment, the price of single machines is generally low, with severe price compression, which in turn shrinks the profit margins across the entire industrial chain. For manufacturers focusing on “custom automation” solutions, the profit margins of such single-machine projects often fail to cover the high-intensity costs associated with research, design, and debugging.

High Customization Costs: Even seemingly simple single-machine projects may require specialized mechanical structure design, control program development, and on-site debugging. This represents the high-cost reality faced by “custom automation.”

Lack of Economies of Scale: Compared to batch orders or full-line projects, single machine orders have very low marginal returns, making it difficult to generate economies of scale. This prevents sustainable development of the “custom automation” system.

High Time Costs, Limited Resource Allocation

Automation equipment manufacturers often handle multiple projects simultaneously, especially large integrated projects, leading to tight schedules and heavy workloads.

Priority Allocation Issues: Given limited resources, companies prefer to prioritize projects with higher profits, longer durations, and greater technical complexity, which aligns with the high-value path of “custom automation.”

Pressure on Personnel Allocation: Although single-machine projects are smaller in size, they still require specialized teams, which can lead to fragmented use of human resources and affect the efficiency of “custom automation” projects.

Single Machines Are Not Simple, Automation Integration Is Difficult

This is one of the core reasons many automation manufacturers refuse to take on such orders. It also highlights the importance of “custom automation” capabilities.

Inconsistent Control Systems: Different manufacturers use various brands of PLCs, servo drivers, and HMIs, with differences in protocol interfaces. This makes system integration difficult—one of the key issues that “custom automation” aims to resolve.

Lack of Standardized Interfaces: Many single-machine devices do not have standardized communication interfaces or modules, making it complicated to integrate them into production lines and raising the technical barriers for “custom automation” integration.

Inadequate Technical Support: Some single-machine manufacturers lack professional electrical engineers or automation technicians, which leads to frequent communication barriers and technical bottlenecks during commissioning, making it difficult to meet the high standards of “custom automation.”

Market Positioning Misalignment, Strategic Differences

Automation equipment manufacturers usually have clear market strategies and development directions, and “custom automation” is one of their core strategies.

Focusing on the Mid-to-High-End Market: Some leading automation manufacturers are more inclined to serve large end customers or provide full-line solutions, and their “custom automation” capabilities are better suited to meet the needs of these clients.

Brand Value Considerations: Partnering with small or non-standardized manufacturers may affect brand image, especially in areas like after-sales service and quality control. This conflicts with the “custom automation” approach, which emphasizes end-to-end service.

Risk Management Challenges

Credit Risk: Some single-machine manufacturers have weak financial strength, long payment cycles, and potential payment risks.

Project Execution Risks: Due to a lack of experience or technical accumulation, there may be delays and frequent changes during project execution, increasing management costs and affecting the overall delivery of “custom automation” projects.

After-Sales Support Pressure: With a large number of widely distributed single machines, after-sales maintenance becomes burdensome. Without a local service network, manufacturers may struggle to handle this, posing challenges to the sustainability of “custom automation” services.

Conclusion

Although single-machine devices are small in size and have limited functionality, they present significant technical challenges and resource consumption due to their lack of standardization, poor compatibility, and insufficient support. These challenges make it difficult for automation equipment manufacturers to take on such projects. It’s not a matter of unwillingness, but rather that they can accept the orders but cannot afford the consequences.

In the wave of intelligent manufacturing, no company can complete the entire value chain on its own. Whether it’s a motor automation equipment manufacturer or a single-machine manufacturer, only by breaking down barriers and deepening cooperation can they stay competitive in the market. “Custom automation,” as an efficient and precise service model, is the key bridge for collaborative development between both sides.

As a high-tech enterprise in the field of intelligent manufacturing, ZEKTA is dedicated to providing genuine “custom automation” solutions for its customers. The company offers a one-stop service, covering product development, solution design, equipment manufacturing, and on-site commissioning. This service spans across fields such as new energy vehicle motors, rail transportation, automotive electric components, humanoid robots, low-altitude flying vehicles, household appliances, and industrial sectors, continuously driving innovation and application of “custom automation” technology.