Germany is one of the largest steel processors in the European Union - and with almost 42 million tons of crude steel, it is even the seventh largest steel producer in the world (2016). The steel industry has always been considered the backbone of the German economy - its close links with other branches of industry boost the success of the automotive industry and mechanical engineering, for example.

A major advantage of the steel industry and steel processing is the flexibility in production. By adapting the plants and the sometimes creative alignment of the machines, every part can be produced with precision. Companies that can adjust their systems quickly and easily to current requests are among the preferred cooperation partners. Flexibility and simple but reliable systems are a clear competitive advantage.

The EDC electric chain hoist is particularly lightweight and can be integrated into existing systems. © Kito

Lifting aid for flame-cutting plates
Kito recently supported a large steel processing company in Kassel with the reorganization of its branches throughout Germany. The company was looking for a way to place flame-cutting plates weighing around 30 to 40 kilograms into a grinding machine and then transport them from the grinding machine onto a pallet. Other customer parameters: Ergonomics, time efficiency, easy handling - and low space consumption.

The company Simon from Kassel developed a suitable handling solution with components from Kito. The dimensionally stable Herkules ST articulated jib from Simon was a perfect fit, allowing all necessary areas to be reached despite the limited space. For handling, the articulated arm was extended with the Kito EDC electric chain hoist with adapted magnetic gripper and features.

According to the company, the EDC electric chain hoist is currently the lightest of its kind. It is suitable for fast handling of any load and is therefore the first choice for operation. Two different speed levels are possible via the potentiometer. The hoist is also equipped with a precise cylinder handle control. This means that the operator can guide the load with one hand and control the lifting process with the other. This is an advantage for recurring transport processes and guarantees safety during operation.

The Herkules ST articulated jib from Simon with Kiito EDC electric chain hoist and magnetic grab. © Kito

Safe even in the event of a power failure
For this special order, every element was tailored to the customer: The one-hand grip on the chain hoist was omitted and replaced by a specially developed load handling attachment with magnetic grippers and the necessary two-hand operation from the Simon company. It is predestined for fast and safe use with steel parts and is also protected against accidental or premature depositing of the components by the two-hand operation. Even in the event of a power failure, it does not lose its charge as it uses electro-permanent magnets that require a pulse via the two switches on the handle to demagnetize. The pulse can only be emitted when the system is supplied with power.

Kito and Simon have been working together for five years. The core of the collaboration is to combine the lightweight and simple components of both companies in such a way that the customer's expectations in terms of cycle time, frequency and reliability are met. The Kito components were able to meet the requirements of the new lifting aid in every respect. A lightweight, ergonomic and safe system was developed for operation, which guarantees efficient work - both for the machine process and for the employees, who now have less strain during the lifting process. as