Kotzur is investing into new technologies to enhance productivity, reduce lead times, and improve safety across its operations.
As customer expectations and industry standards evolve, standing still was not an option for Kotzur.
The company has a 70-year legacy of delivering adaptability, innovation, and quality, which was built on a commitment to continuous improvement.
To avoid jeopardising this legacy, the business has a clear focus – streamline its manufacturing processes, reduce waste, and deliver even greater value to customers.
Kotzur systems engineer Scott Janke told ABHR several key technologies and practices are currently being implemented to achieve these goals—each with measurable outcomes and long-term benefits.
“We now balance aeration fan impellors in-house, which reduces operational noise and extends the life of motors and bearings,” Janke said. “It’s a small step with a big impact on performance and reliability.”
In recent years, Kotzur has invested heavily in bringing more capabilities in-house.
The result is a higher degree of control over quality, reduced transport costs, and improved production timelines.
In-house flight forming has also brought noticeable efficiencies. Screw conveyor flights, traditionally difficult and time-consuming to fabricate, are now produced to a higher accuracy.
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“The flights we form are more consistent in helix, diameter, and end flatness, meaning we spend far less time cold-forging them into position during fabrication,” Janke said.
A standout development in Kotzur’s production evolution is the expansion of robotic welding technology. Already well-established in Kotzur’s Walla Walla facility, robotic welding has proven invaluable in taking on repetitive, high-volume welds with speed, precision, and consistency.
Now, Kotzur is extending this capability to its Toowoomba facility, further enhancing productivity and allowing skilled welders to focus on more complex, custom fabrication work.
“These robotics will focus on short setup times, allowing us to reduce the need for large inventory holdings and respond faster to orders,” Janke said. “Delivering consistent welds, improves quality, and reduces time spent on finishing work like grinding.”
Importantly, these robotics also come equipped with a fume extraction system that supports safer air quality within the factory— an enhancement that aligns with Kotzur’s commitment to deliver on their values around safety and sustainability. Technology alone is not enough – it needs people behind it. Kotzur is actively investing in training and upskilling its apprentices and trades team to work alongside these new technologies. From robotics to digital design, staff are equipped with the tools and knowledge to thrive in an increasingly automated environment.
“This isn’t just about machines – it’s about preparing our workforce to be confident and capable with advanced tools,” Janke said. “We see this as a long-term investment in both our people and our performance.”
As part of Kotzur’s continuous improvement roadmap, future innovations include further expansion of automation, increased use of digital systems for quality control, and the development of smarter production cells. By leveraging new technologies while strengthening in-house capability, Kotzur remains focused on delivering products that are built to perform and designed to last.
“Our goal is simple,” Janke said. “We want to build better products, more efficiently – and technology is helping us do just that.”