Industry: Electronics, Aerospace, Petrochemical Application: Loading / Unloading Product Solution: Free Standing Work Station Crane Provider: Gorbel Inc.

A manufacturer of insulated power and control cables for use in consumer electronics, aerospace and petrochemical industries was experiencing a drag in productivity and risking injury in its “bunching” application.

Full spools of wire are loaded onto one end of the “buncher” machine, which feeds a specified length of cable to fill a customer order into an empty spool. While being fed through, the cable is inspected as a final quality control station. The spools measure 36-inches in diameter, 24-inches wide, and range in weight from 100 to 600 pounds.

Issues: Operators were using an old portable lift with a hand crank winch to help with the lifting and lowering. However, it still required the operator to push the heavy load onto the turnstile of the machine, an injury risk and source of plenty of worker fatigue.

Gorbel’s Solution: After exploring motorized lifts as well as jib cranes, the company decided that a Gorbel freestanding workstation bridge crane was the most attractive solution. The bridge crane installed has runways that are 43 feet long with two 1000 pound capacity bridges with a 28 foot span.

“It was a combination of work cell coverage and ease of movement,” said the Process Manager. “It gave us the most flexibility, and allows multiple work bays to be served by one crane.”

Results: Workers quickly accepted the new lifting method. They now sling the spools and lift them with an electric hoist, and effortlessly position them onto the machine’s turnstile.

Since the crane was installed five years ago, injuries and worker fatigue are no longer concerns. “This crane is a lifesaver,” said the operator. “I’ve been here for 30 years, and without the crane, I’m sure I wouldn’t be doing this now.”

According to the Process Manager, productivity has also been significantly impacted. "We just had a record year, and we were able to completely absorb the increasing demand with our existing resources because we’ve made improvements like this.”

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600 Fishers Run
Fishers, NY 14453-0596
800-821-0086
info@gorbel.com
www.gorbel.com