MechChem Africa April 2020

⎪ Power transmission, bearings, bushes and seals ⎪

A leading systems integrator for the automotive industry has adapted a MAXOLUTION ® electrified monorail system (EMS) and 23 HK Series gear units from SEW-EURODRIVE for its overhead trolley systems for a major local expansion project. Gearmotors and monorail system for automotive manufacture

A ccording to McCormick Engi- neering owner, Vaughan Pike, his project house was approached by a local automotive manufacturer to optimise its existing system to cater for a capacity increase and newmodels. “Wewere contracted to redesign the system in terms of these specific parameters.” Themainproject had two components, the first for delivering engines and gearboxes to themain line, anda second transfer systemfor moving ahalf-built chassis overhead fromone floor conveyor to another. McCormick Engineering systemdesigner, JacoViljoen, approached SEW-EURODRIVE to become involved upfront in the gearbox and drive selection for the project. It pro- vided expert assistance in calculating the correct speed needed to accommodate the capacity increase, which in turn affected the gearbox selection. All of this information and parameters were fed into an actual simula- tion of the final system to demonstrate how it would operate. “On the hoist drives themselves, we needed a great deal of control due to the high level of accuracy required,” Viljoenpoints out. TheHK Series consists of special gearmotors with integrated couplings, making them ideal for overhead trolley systems such as those deployed by automotive manufacturers. NineHKSeriesgearunitswereusedonthe first part of the project, and 14 on the chassis transfer system. These trolley and hoist units operate seamlesslywitheachother across the entire EMS system at the plant. Whentheautomotivemanufacturercalled for secondary hoist brakes to be installed for added safety precautions, SEW-EURODRIVE was able to prove to its client that its pre- cision-engineered and highly-controllable technology was perfect for the application. This resulted in a significant cost-saving for the client, and demonstrated the close work- ing relationshipwithMcCormickEngineering indesigning, installing, andcommissioning the upgraded system. “Themajor benefit of our state-of-the-art technology for the client is that the drive and automation specialist is able to supply the complete system, from the stationary control level to the sensors themselves. MAXOLUTION ® allows for highly accurate simulation for trouble-free start-up, produc-

SEW-EURODRIVE has supplied a MAXOLUTION monorail system and 23 HK Series gear units to a systems integrator in the automotive industry.

HK Series gear units from SEW-EURODRIVE consist of special gearmotors with integrated couplings.

tion support and project acceptance. Tailor- made for specific production requirements, the modular EMS is integrated seamlessly

into the existing system,” concludes SEW- EURODRIVE sales representative, Philip Steyn. q

April 2020 • MechChem Africa ¦ 11