Direct link between the toolmaking department and the automation hall
Rapid Transport for Rapid ToolingOur new automation building has been in operation since the start of 2020. The new developments in the day-to-day manufacture of our tooling components are making our production process much easier and faster! However, the physical separation from our toolmaking department has created an ‘in-house logistics problem’ when it comes to transporting the large number of aluminium milled parts produced daily for our tool inserts.
True to the motto “Railroad instead of back pain”, we decided to install a rail link between the automation building and the toolmaking department – naturally using plastic injection-moulded rails that we developed and produced ourselves!
Sustainable means of transport
With a track gauge of 360 mm, the track was laid using inexpensive standard concrete slabs. Three weeks ago, our home-built electric locomotive set off on its maiden journey. It can easily transport 50 kg of aluminium tooling components in its two trailers during a single journey and ispowered sustainably by solar panels on its roof.
The Solidtec railway runs and stops fully automatically thanks to sophisticated control electronics, and is both waterproof and weatherproof. Since then, our timetable has been constantly packed – rapid transport for rapid tooling!
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