Easy Arm Intelligent Lift Q Series

EASY ARM FOR AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Easy Arm® Increases Productivity By Allowing Operator To Lift Five
Times As Many Parts...
A major tier one auto parts supplier stamps round sheet metal blanks into clutch hubs and clutch housings for automatic transmissions. The thin blanks range in diameter from 130 - 300 mm and weigh up to 4 kgs each. They arrive in a bin and then manually loaded into the transfer press.

THE PROBLEM

In order to load the blanks into the press, operators had to bend over the edge of the bin, grab as many blanks as they could hold, and then turn and carry them to the loading turn table. By the end of worker’s shift, fatigue would set in and productivity would drop. Many workers complained of back strain and fatigue, however other injuries related to the process included cuts to the hands, and wrist, elbow and shoulder pain.
A new stamp press was being installed, and after an evaluation of injury risk for every
job in its facility, the company decided to seek a better handling solution for loading the machine.

THE GORBEL SOLUTION

A freestanding Easy Arm® Q The company installed a 150 kg capacity Easy Arm® Q with an 2.5 M span in the loading bay of their stamp press. The project integrator, worked with the company to design a pneumatic gripping tool for the Easy Arm®, which enabled the operators to reach into the bin, grip about 75 kgs of blanks and effortlessly guide them into the spindles on the loading table. This allowed operators to move 5-times the number of blanks compared to the average of 12 kgs when done manually. The result was much faster cycle times with less worker fatigue and no productivity drop-off near the end of a shift.
The newly redesigned handle of the Q Easy Arm® offered additional benefits beyond lifting capacity. The Q-360 swivel at the top of the handle allows the operator to load and unload continuously without tangling the hose for the unit’s pneumatic tooling. The handle’s digital readout also makes programming and float mode easier to engage.
“We were very pleased with the initial results,” said the company’s Environmental, Health & Safety Manager.
“We had no more repetitive use injuries among Easy Arm® users, and workers are moving faster with less fatigue. We’ve had older ladies who are able to do this job now with no problems. We wouldn’t be buying a second unit if we had any doubts about it.”
While higher productivity and smooth operation are beneficial, the lack of injuries related to this job was the primary goal attained with the Easy Arm®.
“We try our best to make our employees happy,” said one manufacturing engineer.
“The Easy Arm® helps keep our employees safe, and that makes everyone happy.”