Aluminum Wheel Handling Manipulator

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Requirement

A Midwest wheel manufacturer was handling 40 pound aluminum wheels by hand and palletizing them from a conveyor. A system was needed to alleviate the repetitive stress injuries occurring to their operators during this process while maintaining productivity/tact times.

Solution

A high-speed, servo drive PLC controlled lifter was fitted with a custom, pneumatically operated probe-style tool. This device allows the operators to pick, move and place the wheels as quickly as if doing them by hand. The tooling incorporated non-marring ID grippers so as to not affect the mirror finish on the wheels. In addition to reducing recordable injury statistics, the customer has been able to broaden the workforce qualified to work at this position.