Air skates ease press forging tool handling

Tag : Tool Sets

Hovair is now part of British Turntable.
Similarly, the name of the Hovair user in hereford, UK, has changedto Special Metals Wiggin.
The company produces high performance nickel based alloys for theaerospace, petrochemical and automotive industries.
Three sets of four Hovair air skates are used to inflate and lift a12,000kg forging tool train clear of the floor, whilst controlledairflow creates an almost frictionand#8208;free film of air betweenthe skates and the floor.
Once the train is and#145;on air', a drive motor and chainarrangement move the desired tool under the press.
The high capacity of the air bearings, low floor pressure and lowfrictional coefficient means that the heavy load can be movedeasily using low power drive motors without damaging the floor inthe way that wheels would.
The maintenance supervisor of the forging machining, JamesSinclair, said: "The skates provide ease of use and low maintenancejust - swapping skates and air tanks as required, with thebalancing valves evening the lift height of each set".
Hovair air skates come in a range of sizes and capacities, with aset of four capable of moving between 2,000kg to 120,000kg (say2-120 tons).
In addition to air skates, Hovair designs and manufactures bespokeair film and materials handling systems.
British Turntable's comprehensive materials handling andengineering systems also include HGV (heavt goods vehicle) accessturntables, materials handling carousels, large revolves capable ofcarrying a military tank or an aeroplane, and distribution rightsfor Jung lifting equipment in the UK.