Husco International provides products and services that optimize the performance, control, and safety of mobile equipment. Their Wisconsin plant handles valves for a manufacturer of agricultural equipment. This application involves moving valves weighing up to 225 lbs through various stations in a finishing cell. The cell operates three shifts and handles 50 to 60 valves every day.
The Challenge: The problem with traditional jibs
The plant already used workstation and jib cranes in other areas. When they looked for material handling equipment for this new cell, they first planned to use jib cranes. The rotation of the jibs allowed them to cover a wide area, but they were not an ideal solution here. Rotation was often uncontrolled. The plant ran the risk of manipulators hitting or damaging expensive machinery and equipment. Growth created further issues when the work cell expanded. This resulted in a new section that the original crane could not reach. The plant was concerned that changing the system would be expensive and difficult.
The Solution: Precision workstation cranes
Husco chose to use workstation cranes to maintain quality standards. These cranes move along X and Y axes. This movement gives operators more control. It allows them to focus on tasks instead of worrying about where the end of a boom might hit. A Gorbel telescoping bridge provided the answer for the expanded area. This bridge extends beyond the support runways. It reaches into the new section of the cell without a complete overhaul of the overhead structure.
The Execution: Retrofit strategy
The plant retrofitted a telescoping bridge into the existing system. This yellow bridge reaches the outer areas of the expanded cell. The solution was simple to incorporate. It bypassed the need for major modifications to the building or the original crane runways.
The Result: Success without modification costs
The telescoping bridge was a cost-effective solution for the growing work cell. Husco expanded the cell without making expensive modifications to the existing crane system. The facility now handles its daily volume of 50 to 60 valves with better precision.