Fori Automation Employee Spotlight Ryan Manzo - Mechanical Engineer
What does a typical day look like for you?
I will get a line up from the Project Engineer and we will go through the quote and discuss what direction we want to go with the design. Then I will start designing the machine and we will have customer reviews and then finalize it, release it, and eventually get to see everything working properly on the floor.
What’s your favorite part about working for Fori?
My favorite part about Fori is probably seeing the growth in the company. They are always trying to expand, try new things, and take on a variety of new jobs. It is also nice to see everything come together. A design starts off from just words on paper and then finally getting to see the machine functioning on the floor is really cool.
What has been the most exciting or important innovation at Fori you’ve witnessed?
Well, I haven’t been here too long but from what I have seen, probably an Aluminum Ingot Transfer AGV that had to carry 250,000 pounds. It had to move aluminum ingots from station to station across the plant.
What is your proudest moment working at Fori?
I don’t necessarily have a proudest moment, but I really enjoy working on the FEA’s - the stress analysis. We can take the machine, put it in the software, and replicate the working conditions and can see all of the stresses and deflections that are happening on the machine. We take that information and make it better and stronger. Then when we design something similar in the future we can take what we learned from that and avoid any problems.
What advice would you give someone who is thinking about a career at Fori Automation?
I think it’s a great company with great people. It’s nice to work for a company that’s thinking about the future – always trying to expand and try new things. Since I’ve been here the last couple years, we’ve built a new facility across the street. And I hear we’re expanding globally. It’s always good to see a company trying to expand.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I don’t drink coffee!
What have you gained from working at Fori?
I’ve gained a lot of knowledge on the manufacturing industry as a whole and just how everything works. The process behind everything going from a quote, to a design, to an approval, to a final build. Finally seeing it come to life is pretty cool.
How would you define success?
Success to me is learning from your past mistakes or successes and building off of that and constantly pushing yourself to be the best you can.
When you’re not at work, what are you most likely doing?
I am most likely golfing, snowboarding, or spending time with friends and family.
latform, or other centering system.
The dual camera fixed audit headlamp aimer was developed for a customer and installed in 2018. The HLA system included a fixed gantry frame with the (2) high resolution camera boxes, a whiteboard that was collapsible for easy storage and a PC control panel.
The HLA application was used to perform headlamp aiming audits on various GM vehicles from the car and truck platforms. A simple manual cent
ering system and leveling plates were included to provide a low cost method for centering the vehicle during the audit process.
The (2) high resolution cameras provide an accurate method of finding the true headlamp center and headlamp aim position, to accommodate requirements set forth by the latest IIHS standard.
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The wheel alignment machine is designed for automatic measuring of toe and camber. Feedback is supplied to the operator, who completed a manual adjustment of the vehicle parameters. The wheel alignment equipment is designed for a wide range of wheel bases and tire tread width sizes.
An integrated headlamp aimer (HLA) measures the vehicle headlight intensity and positions the aimer automatically to guide the operator to the correct adjustment necessary. The “Fori Vision” aiming unit utilizes a 2.3 megapixel camera based system to me
asure the intensity and position of the headlight.
The latest hi resolution camera box was also included for improving the headlamp aiming resolution and accuracy required by the latest IIHS standards.