(How KUNDEL’s K-TRAC, I-STRUT, and Lift-Assist Systems Raise Throughput Without Overhauling Your Floor)
Why Semi-Automation Is the Upgrade Most Shops Say “Yes” To
Shops turn to semi-automation because it addresses problems that show up every single shift:
- Operators muscling materials that are too heavy or awkward
- Cycle times that vary based on who’s doing the lifting
- Workflow inconsistencies that pile up across the day
- Ergonomic strain that builds over months, not minutes
Industry data consistently points to strong ROI for semi-automation because it reduces the highest-cost issues: injuries, downtime, rework, and bottlenecks.
And unlike full automation, semi-automation respects the variability, pace, and skill of real human operators.
Where KUNDEL Fits Into That Equation
Every KUNDEL system is engineered around one principle: industrial-grade performance without industrial-scale complication.
K-TRAC
Lightweight, low-friction track that makes overhead handling feel nearly effortless.
I-STRUT
A modular backbone for building the exact overhead structure your workflow needs — nothing more, nothing less.
Lift-Assist Arms & Rails
They take on the strain, but operators maintain the precision and control. The load moves, not the injury risk.
A customer recently put it plainly:
The K-TRAC is the most useful… it will enable me to work for 10–15 more years.
That’s the impact semi-automation should have: extend careers, strengthen teams, improve output.
The Financial Logic Behind Semi-Automation
The smartest investment isn’t always the biggest one. Semi-automation delivers measurable improvements without:
- large capital planning cycles
- major construction
- system downtime
- workforce disruption
KUNDEL’s approach is intentionally simple and low-risk:
- Walk the floor
- Identify the real bottleneck
- Install the smallest system that solves the biggest problem
- Expand only when the gains justify the next step
This removes the gamble from automation. Each upgrade proves itself before you move to the next phase.
When Semi-Automation Makes Sense
It’s the right solution when:
- Loads are repetitive, awkward, or ergonomically risky
- Your throughput needs a boost without a new work cell
- Part mix or batch sizes change frequently
- You want to support your team, not replace them
Full automation has its place, but many operations gain 70–80% of the performance increase from the right semi-automated system… at a fraction of the cost.
The Strategic Advantage Moving Shops Forward
In our opinion, semi-automation is the most strategic, workforce-aligned upgrade a modern shop can make.
KUNDEL’s K-TRAC, I-STRUT, and lift-assist systems are engineered for exactly this purpose: scaled improvements that make an immediate difference on the floor and create a clear pathway to future automation.