Product category:
Sawing and cutting-off machines and automation systems
News Release from: Friedrich Remmert | Subject: Flexible bridge system, honeycomb, sawing systems
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 February 2008
Automatic storage/cutting speeds steel
deliveries
Speedy and flexible order processing for steel products are ensured primarily thanks to the use of integrated, fully-automatic storage and cutting technologies.
Production concepts such as just-in-time production and lean production increasingly require the supply of fixed lengths, custom-tailored semi-finished products or even workpieces that are ready for installation, said Friedrich Remmert, Germany Consequently, many European steel dealers are becoming steel service providers
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 24 Nov 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Their use of integrated, automatic storage and cutting technologies ensure speedy and flexible order processing.
Speaking about market development in Europe, vice president of Eurometal (European Federation of Associations of Steel), Juergen Nusser, said: "The European steel trade is currently experiencing a major transition.
For example, classic purchasing and sales increasingly take place in the background, and services such as blank provision and material processing are becoming important factors for competitiveness.
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An intelligent 6-axis robot transfers the sheet steel from the laser profiler to its rotary table, sorts the finished parts into predefined load carriers and disposes of scrap.
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Small, automated sheet metal storage systems are straightforward and as a single or double tower solution, they ensure optimum use of the space available.
In the future, the dealers will consistently transition from 'competitor' to highly customer-oriented steel service partner".
Nusser continued: "The rising demand for services in the steel trade can primarily be traced back to the fact that an ever-increasing number of metalworking companies are concentrating on their core competencies and commissioning the sawing of blanks and other prefabrication stages from suppliers".
He explained: "The requirements involved here are clear to see.
Steel and metal dealers of today must guarantee an effective, precise and flexible order-processing system.
It must cover both the compensation of production fluctuations via large material buffers and the efficient cutting of small-batch steel products and punctual provision of goods within a few hours".
He added: "These key qualifications are nearly impossible to manage without modern storage technology and fully-automatic handling processes.
German storage and logistics expert Remmert specializes in the optimization of long-goods stocking and offers steel and metal dealers three modern systems that have set standards in Europe".
* Flexible bridge system reduces storage space by up to 70% - many European steel dealers who want to implement very compact long-goods stocking and saw connection in the smallest storage space possible use the Remmert 'Bridge' storage type.
In comparison with floor or cantilever storage, this automatic system makes it possible to store materials in a very compact way.
The bridge reduces the required storage space by up to 70% and is therefore ideal for use as a material buffer integrated in a sawmill.
Designed for material lengths up to 8.2m and load capacities up to 5 tonnes for each load carrier, the storage system is adapted to each individual customer's specific requirements.
Its bridge shape allows for efficient attachment of saws on the interior of systems.
The integrated processing machines are supplied with the required material quickly and in an uncomplicated way.
Executive director of Remmert, Matthias Remmert, said: "Our bridge system reduces cost-intensive production space considerably.
On average, our customers save an additional 7m of factory width." The powerful warehouse management system PRO WMS, which implements the management of material and storage space, also provides for a continuous flow of information, increased inventory security and a continual stock inventory.
* High-performance picking storage - steel dealers requiring a very quick picking storage system due to high material throughput rely on the 'Honeycomb' storage type from Remmert.
Remmert said: "40 to 55 double cycles can be realized per hour with this system.
Thus in comparison to manual stocking, the goods output of the system is over 200% greater".
He added: "In addition, the total storage personal can be reduced by nearly half with the same throughput.
Depending on the inventory turnover ratio, only one or two employees are required to operate the system.
They can also take on additional work like sawing, picking or packaging".
Modern honeycomb storage is comprised of two shelving systems separated by an alleyway.
High-capacity shelf access equipment implementing fully-automatic material placement and removal moves between the storage blocks.
The cassettes of honeycomb storage are designed for a maximum length of 8.2m and a load capacity of up to 5 tonnes.
Modularly-designed honeycomb storage operates very efficiently as either a large or small system.
It is also possible to connect the system to one or more sawing machines mechanically and for data communication.
Fully-automatic removal of the material to an integrated picking zone is also possible.
Overall, the storage system is characterized by very high availability and easy maintenance.
* Fully integrated storage and sawing center - steel service centers that turn out many small-batch sawed blanks are largely dependent on productive and speedy order processing.
The Remmert sawing cell solution is custom-tailored to meet these requirements and is used by leading system service providers throughout Europe.
Thanks to fully-automatic linking of all processes, from placement of the raw material in storage to optimized automatic feeding of machines to order-specific gathering of sawed blanks, the system ensures minimized production processing times and material handling by minimal personnel.
Four different system components mesh perfectly here, as follows.
1 - Room-optimized cassette storage.
2 - The flexible production system PRO FMS.
3 - Depending on the system size, one or two portal grips (picking systems).
4 - Several high-performance saws with integrated gathering robots.
The picking systems remove the required raw material from the cassette and feed it to the CNC machines fully-automatically in the goods issue area of the storage facility.
After cutting with saws occurs, the mechanized return transfer of remaining material is carried out.
The capacity of the sawing cell is up to 55 changeovers per portal grip per hour, where a single picking system serves up to three sawing machines.
The production process is controlled by the flexible production system PRO FMS.
Under consideration of various optimization criteria, the software supplies the connected machines with materials to be processed and production orders.
"Thanks to the perfect meshing of the individual system components, the sawing cell ensures optimum utilization of all connected production machines and thus operates economically, even with the smallest batch sizes," explained Remmert of the advantages of this solution.
* Summary - the use of automatic storage and handling systems, whether as fully-integrated sawing cells, fast picking storage or compact material buffers, is a significant competitive factor.
This is not just applicable to European companies dealing in steel.
Around the globe, steel and metal distribution is facing major challenges.
Dr Thomas Ludwig, chief executive officer of Kloeckner and Co, the largest manufacturer-independent steel and metal distributor in all of Europe and North America, emphasized that: "Innovative service offerings for the steel-working industry are the strategy of the future." He meant that the North American steel trade must operate more flexibly in both the mid and long terms.
By using modern automatic storage systems and fully-integrated handling systems, steel dealers and steel service centers are equipping themselves optimally for these future demands.
* Technical details - Bridge storage.
Height - up to 25m.
Cassette load capacity - up to 5 tonnes.
Cassette length - up to 8.2m.
System capacity - 20 double cycles/h.
Economical storage sizes of 100 cassettes and up.
Crosswise and lengthwise removal possible.
Tunnel variant for optimum use of space.
Factory-supporting version possible (silo construction).
* Technical details - honeycomb storage.
Height - up to 20m.
Cassette load capacity - up to 5 tonnes.
Cassette length - up to 8.2m.
System capacity - 40 - 55 double cycles/h.
Economical storage sizes of 500 cassettes and up.
Mechanical pull/push unit.
Factory-supporting version possible (silo construction).
* Technical details - sawing cell.
Height - up to 12m.
Cassette load capacity - up to 3 tonnes.
Cassette length - up to 8.2m.
System capacity - up to 55 double cycles/h.
Cassettes with multiple divisions.
Economical storage sizes of 300 cassettes and up.
Fully-automatic storage and sawing processes.
Factory-supporting version possible (silo construction).
* About the Remmert group of companies - the Remmert group of companies, with around 500 systems installed around the world in various industries, is a market-leading provider in the storage technology field.
Remmert implements custom-tailored logistical storage solutions for sheet metal, long goods, pallets and small parts.
Our product spectrum extends from individualized, production-integrated solutions based on standard components to complex total solutions provided by Remmert as a general contractor.
In addition, the logistics expert has intelligent robot systems for fully-automatic gathering of finished parts at sawing and laser machines.
Since 1987, Friedrich Remmert , together with Friedrich Remmert Datentechnik (Remmert PRO), has offered complete storage solutions from a single source.
Each system is the custom-tailored overall result of storage technology, software and logistical knowledge.
The objective of all our systems is the same: increase production economy for the customer.
All process control and software systems from Remmert can be easily integrated into the customer's existing software architecture.
The interfacing expertise has been available within the company for years.
From development and planning and construction and installation to subsequent service, Remmert provides every service from a single source.
The customer's existing structures and their future development potential are taken into account during the planning phase.
This Westfalian company guarantees worldwide 24h customer service in every area by its own employees.
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