Air skates ease press forging tool handling

Three sets of four Hovair air skates are used to inflate and lift a 12,000kg tool train clear of the floor to easily move the forging tools under a 17.5MN forging press.

Wiggin Alloys installed a Hovair air film system in 1983 to move a forge press tool train under a 17.5MN (1,750 tonf) forging press, and is still being 25 years later.

In the hot and dirty environment of the forging plant, the Hovair air skates have withstood the test of time.

Hovair is now part of British Turntable.

Similarly, the name of the Hovair user in hereford, UK, has changed to Special Metals Wiggin.

The company produces high performance nickel based alloys for the aerospace, petrochemical and automotive industries.

Three sets of four Hovair air skates are used to inflate and lift a 12,000kg forging tool train clear of the floor, whilst controlled airflow creates an almost frictionand#8208;free film of air between the skates and the floor.

Once the train is and#145;on air', a drive motor and chain arrangement move the desired tool under the press.

The high capacity of the air bearings, low floor pressure and low frictional coefficient means that the heavy load can be moved easily using low power drive motors without damaging the floor in the way that wheels would.

The maintenance supervisor of the forging machining, James Sinclair, said: "The skates provide ease of use and low maintenance just - swapping skates and air tanks as required, with the balancing valves evening the lift height of each set".

Hovair air skates come in a range of sizes and capacities, with a set of four capable of moving between 2,000kg to 120,000kg (say 2-120 tons).

In addition to air skates, Hovair designs and manufactures bespoke air film and materials handling systems.

British Turntable's comprehensive materials handling and engineering systems also include HGV (heavt goods vehicle) access turntables, materials handling carousels, large revolves capable of carrying a military tank or an aeroplane, and distribution rights for Jung lifting equipment in the UK.

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