TPT March 2009

H andling & P ackaging T echnology

Safe material handling in a confined area

Stierli Bieger system are the improvement in utilisation of floor space, tidy and compact storage within the factory, and fast and safe material handling. In addition, downtimes of production machinery can be minimised, and safe working practices within the customer’s company can be considerably improved. By using this system, the company claim to avoid the usual risks associated with the stacking and storage of stock materials. The number of arms, width clearance, single or double construction can be individually selected. The arms can be removed easily and safely by hand. The synchronized system developed by Stierli Bieger guarantees parallel running of the arms with a loading capacity of up to 1,500kg/arm. The arms are equipped with maintenance free grooved ball bearings. Additional sheet metal channels or wood supports can prevent damage. Stierli Bieger is the manufacturer of roll-out racks, devices for welding and dressing, Automated Solutions Inc is a global supplier of custom automated equipment, specializing in tube and pipe handling and processing equipment. All mechanical and electrical design, fabrication, assembly, and testing is accomplished at ASI’s 100,000ft 2 facility located in Knoxville, Arkansas, USA. Tube and pipe equipment includes automated tape bundling, end finishing, hex bundling, cap and coupling systems, specialized conveyors, and accumulation devices. Standard machines include designs for processing 1 / 4 " diameter to 6" diameter tubes and lengths up to 80'. Layouts and system configurations are flexible to suit customer needs. Bar code applicators, weighing systems and other peripherals can be added to compliment systems. Installation and start- up assistance is always available from Automated Solutions. Automated Solutions Inc – USA Fax : +1 479 885 2085 Email : sales@automatedsolutions.biz Website : www.asideas.com and horizontal bending machines. Stierli Bieger AG – Switzerland Fax : +41 41 920 24 55 Website : www.stierli-bieger.com

Today’s market requires every company to ensure that the in-plant material flow, storekeeping and movement of goods are organised economically. As many companies continue to experience considerable pressure on prices and lead times, the ergonomic planning of in-plant

material flow can lead to an immediate reduction in costs. Stierli Bieger AG, Switzerland, has developed a new and unique roll-out material storage system based on intensive onsite research with a number of existing customers. The main advantages of the

 The roll-out material storage system from Stierli

Hex bundling system for swift packing requirements

A new hex bundling system, from Automated Solutions Inc, will soon be in production at a major US tube and pipe supplier. The system will end align tubes, build layers of tubes and stack the layers into hex bundles. It automatically straps bundles and accumulates finished bundles on a conveyor for either crane or fork truck removal.

The system will process 2" to 6" diameter tubes (2 3 / 8 " to 6 5 / 8 " OD), wall thicknesses of 0.109" minimum to 0.280" maximum, and lengths from 16-44ft. Dual strappers optimize cycle times, especially when operating in dual stacking mode where two shorter hex bundles (ie 16ft lengths) are stacked and processed simultaneously.

The operator can select tube diameter, tube length, and bundle configurations from a touchscreen HMI, with size changeover being fully automatic. Servomotors are used for their smoothness, reliability, clean appearance, and flexibility for both the horizontal carriage travel and the vertical axis travel of the stacking gantry.

 The hex bundling system from Automated Solutions

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M arch 2009

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