A Texas manufacturing company making large gearboxes for the petrochemical industry needed to invert a large heavy gearbox casting up to 8 ft long x 6 ft wide x 4 ft high, weighing up to 10,000 lb, during their machining and assembly process. The precision-built component had to be inverted 180 deg or upside down, and then downside up, several times during the process. The machined surface had to be protected from damage or scratching.
Safety was an important consideration, with attention to the need to protect workers from the stretching, reaching, bending, and heavy lifting that cause back injuries. And of course, efficiency and timely delivery is also an important factor.
Handling Heavy Parts with Ease
Air Technical Industries of Mentor, OH came to the rescue, designing and manufacturing a special Upender Inverter equipped with heavy-duty powered conveyors for automatic loading. The Upender Inverter securely clamps the casting, inverts it 180 deg, unclamps it, and finally discharges the heavy machined parts automatically onto the waiting conveyor.
After machining of one end has been finished, the process is then repeated in reverse, with the entire procedure taking only two minutes. The mission repeats itself over and over again safely, securely, and efficiently, producing quality components without any damage or injuries.
Custom Models Available
As more machines are built for the petrochemical industry to help America become more self-sufficient and less dependent on foreign oil imports, thousands of other components will need to be inverted. To meet this need, ATI offers standard Upender Inverters from a capacity of 250 lb up to 50,000 lb and in sizes ranging from 24 x 36 in. up to 96 x 144 in. of humongous jaw bites.
And, when a standard unit will not meet the need, ATI is flexible in making modifications to satisfy the needs and offer effective solutions to meet the customer's application. The more challenging the task, the more eager the ATI team is to develop a practical solution.
