Company Improves Productivity and Reduces Injuries with Gorbel Easy Arm
April 18, 2009
A major Tier One auto parts supplier has increased productivity and decreased worker injuries with the addition of 2 Easy Arm Intelligent Lifting Arms from Gorbel Inc.
In this application, the workers stamp round sheet metal blanks into clutch hubs and clutch housings for automatic transmissions. The thin blanks range in diameter from 6-14" and weigh up to 8 pounds each. They arrive in a bin and were being manually loaded into the transfer press. The loading area is a turntable with several stacks of blanks help upright by three metal spindles.
The company is very conscious of employee satisfaction, and this process was a source of concern for those manually sorting and loading the blanks. 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. The turntables are set to a timer, and if the worker is unable to load it within that set time, the machine shuts down.
Back strain and worker fatigue were the primary complaints, however other injuries related to the process included cuts to the hands, and wrist, elbow and shoulder pain. With a concern of employee satisfaction and 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® The company first installed a freestanding 150 pound Easy Arm® BX with a 10' span, and saw immediate results. The project integrator, Pressline Equipment, worked with Starquip of Ontario, Canada to design a pneumatic gripping tool for the Easy Arm®, which enabled the operators to reach into the bin, grip about 50-75 pounds of blanks and effortlessly guide them into the spindles on the loading table. This more than doubled the average of 25 pounds per lift when done manually, which resulted in faster cycle times with less worker fatigue.
The company was so pleased with the results that they explored installing an additional Easy Arm® when they installed another transfer press in their facility.
"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."
Less than a year later, the second Easy Arm® was installed at the new transfer press. This time the company installed a 330 pound capacity Easy Arm® Q with an 8' span. Not only did the new Easy Arm® triple the amount of blanks that a worker was able to move in a single lift (from 50 pounds to 150 pounds) but the newly redesigned handle offered additional benefits. The Q-360 swivel at the top of the handle allowed the operator to load and unload continuously without tangling the hose for the unit's pneumatic tooling. The digital readout also made programming and float mode easier than the previous model.
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® units.
"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."
Gorbel: A Class Above
Since 1977, Gorbel has been dedicated to providing high-quality overhead material handling solutions backed by a commitment to on-time delivery, a focus on customer service, and the industry's best warranty.
Contact for Interviews
Jeff McNeil, Marketing Manager
Telephone: 800-821-0086, ext. 6241
jefmcn@gorbel.com
Company Name: Gorbel Inc.
Address 1: 600 Fishers Run
City: Fishers
State: NY
Zip: 14453
Country: United States
Phone: 5859246262
URL: www.gorbel.com
Contact Name: Susan Griepsma
Title: Marketing Coordinator
Telephone: 800-821-0086, ext. 6733
E-mail: suegri@gorbel.com
