Mechanical engineering company increases occupational safety with the RUD Tecdos TM Tool Mover
More occupational safety and greater efficiency when handling tools weighing several tons: this is now the current situation at Arburg. The leading machine manufacturer for plastics processing is using the RUD Tecdos TM Tool Mover at its headquarters in Lossburg (Baden-Württemberg) and now moves tools safely and efficiently. The RUD Tool Mover turns and rotates tools in seconds at the touch of a button. The Tool Mover has the Arburg employees ecstatic because it optimises work safety and ergonomics on the floor.
Arburg offers trials and tool tests together for its customers in its 2,100 m2 customer center at its Lossburg headoffice. It has more than 30 Allrounder injection moulding machines, 3D printers for additive manufacturing and laboratories for special processes. This facility benefits customers to test tools and machines and optimize processes in a practical and professional environment. The added benefit for the Arburg team is that the RUD Tool Mover looks aesthetically pleasing on the turnkey floor.
In under a minute: turning tools 90 degrees.
"When tools arrive at our premises, they are usually 'inverted' so that they must be turned 90 degrees for testing. This is now done by the RUD Tecdos TM Tool Mover," explains Roland Gruber, Group Manager Application Programming & Commissioning in the Automation & Turnkey department at Arburg. The injection moulding machine manufacturer also uses the tool mover during the commissioning of turnkey projects, i.e., when a customer uses a machine and mould before delivery. Arburg uses the RUD Tecdos TM 13/13-10, which rotates moulds weighing up to 10 tons safely and efficiently.
Tools up to 1.20 meters in size and weighing between 200 kilograms and 10 tons arrive in Lossburg. The company used a crane for the 90-degree turning of the tools. "With the crane, the entire turning process could take 30 to 45 minutes; now we have a net turning time of around 45 seconds," emphasizes Gruber.
Work safety and flexibility
However, saving time was not the main factor in Arburg's decision to opt for the RUD Tecdos TM. "Our focus was clearly on increasing work safety and ergonomics for our team," says Gruber, who sees the time savings as a nice side effect. The tool mover enables BGV-compliance and safe working without the risk of injury, for example from diagonal movements.
For the teams in the customer centre and in commissioning, the handling process has changed fundamentally: Previously, employees used to drive the tool to the crane and to the attachment points. Now the employees can bring the Tool Mover to the tool. The RUD Tecdos TM can be moved with an industrial truck, such as a forklift or pallet truck, and can be transported easily between the various halls at Arburg to the desired location.
Ergonomics for employees
In addition to increased work safety, the RUD Tecdos TM also ensures ergonomics for the team. The customer tools that arrive at Arburg are lifted onto the tool turner by crane and then rotated by the employees at the touch of a button while standing. For the RUD Tecdos TM, which Arburg also uses in its customer centre, the engineers at RUD have come up with a special system: they have lowered the work surface to a height of 595 mm. Thanks to the low working height, it is possible to work directly on the tool if required.
Gentle on the tool
The RUD Tecdos TM not only makes work safe for people, but also for the tools. The tool turner is designed for axial rotational movements of tools and machine components up to 64 tons (in the largest version). The load is turned at the centre of gravity smoothly. The RUD Tecdos TM ensures particularly smooth starting and stopping and is equipped with a high-end drive system from the Tecdos range.
Individual adaptations
Depending on requirements and customer wishes, RUD equips its tool mover with different table supports made of polyethylene; anti-slip polyurethane supports, and custom supports are optional. Optional add-on parts such as safety bars or guard rails as well as light curtains or safety barriers ensure higher safety. The RUD Tecdos TM for Arburg is equipped with polyethylene table supports - as increased protection for the customer's tools. Another special feature: RUD has branded the tool mover in the Arburg colour (dark grey).
Arburg has also made a special adaptation for the pallet truck on the tool mover. "This adaptation was made in consultation with us, and we calculated everything necessary, for example the load capacity. Although we manufacture our mould handling products in a standard version, we are open to customisations as required," says Tobias Rathgeb, Area Sales Manager for Mould Handling at RUD.
Further information about RUD at www.moldhandling.rud.com
Further information about Arburg at www.arburg.com
