CPT International 01/2015

MICHENFELDER
Controlled molding sand
quality
Michenfelder (ME), Mainz, Germany,
stands first of all for a maximum of expertise
concerning the process-technical
procedures of molding sand
preparation and of the factors influencing
sand quality. This knowledge
is based on experience gained during
more than 50 years with the installation
of Michenfelder-designed control
systems in sand preparation machinery
of major manufacturers in
foundries world-wide. There are very
few in the industry who can rely on
such a wide basis of experience with
machinery and plant-specific – positive
as well as negative – specialities
and characteristics. The ME expertise
is therefore highly regarded in connection
with molding sand plant analyses
or preparatory investment consultancy,
because planning or optimization
of sand preparation plant covers more
factors then just throughput per hour.
ME also stands for the technically
leading FoMaSys conception of networked
moisture measuring, sand testing
and process control systems for
real-time monitoring and control of
molding sand quality. In the range of
moisture measuring and control systems,
integrated into mixers and coolers,
which are the key elements of any
FoMaSys introduction, there is a new
type series, Micomp 5, ready to take
off. The Online-Sandlab, which is also
new, is generating fully automatically
and in real time a so far unmatched
multiplicity of quality-relevant measured
values, directly at the molding
machine. These include compactability,
shear and compression strength,
moisture and temperature, fines content,
the bentonite equivalent and, for
the first time worldwide, permeability.
Combined with the central process
FoMaSys – The modular process-integrated molding sand management system
with Online-Sandlab, process control system MiPro and the latest system
generation Micomp 5 for continuous sand moisture measurement and control
in coolers and mixers (Photo: Michenfelder)
control system MiPro, the measured
values and process data are prepared
and analysed in a comprehensible
manner and the connected system are
remotely controlled and serviced. In
addition, Michenfelder supplies various
systems for sand-premoisturizing
on conveyor belts.
The outstanding performance in the
market with regard to consistency of
the most important sand parameters
at the decisive points of the sand
preparation process makes the difference
to ME competitors. ME is asking
to demand a guarantee for the performance
data and accuracies when the
application of measuring and control
technology is decided on. ME guarantees
the following control accuracy
values:
» Output moisture at cooler: ±0.1 -
0.2 %
» Output moisture at mixer: ±0.05 -
0.1 %
» Compactability directly at the molding
machine: ±2 % (frequently even
better values with ±0.9 - 1.5 % are
achieved in daily routine).
These data apply in first standard deviation
and when basic processing rules
in sand preparation are observed.
Hall 16, Stand A12
www.michenfelder.com
48 Casting Plant & Technology 1/2015