Kurtz News 31 - the kurtz ersa Corporation

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GIFA concept successful Reflow one way or the other
KURTZ inspired with exhibition performance
– what is economical?
The GIFA visitors were
enormously interested in both
the foundry machine exhibits and
in the supply and performance
range of the KURTZ foundries
By Tilo Keller
The KURTZ exhibition concept for this
year‘s GIFA was a total success. At the
world‘s largest foundry exhibition, the
foundry machines sector, which is part
of the Kurtz METALS business segment,
impressively presented itself on 200 m² in
Düsseldorf from June 12 to 16.
Above all the decision to show the various
possibilities which KURTZ can offer in
low-pressure casting, also with machines
exhibited on the stand, proved to be a
complete success.
The visitors, whose international share
has risen to above 50% since the last
GIFA in 2003, were able to convince
themselves of the high machine quality at
KURTZ „hands on“. For a precise view of
the exhibits – some of them were more
than 6 m in height - our constructors at
the fair even added a second storey to
the fair stand, making a direct insight
into the relevant details of the machines
possible for the interested parties.
According to analyses by the trade
fair company, more than two thirds of
the visitors were executives with a high
decision-making competence. The KURTZ
team was able to confirm this impression.
During the entire opening hours of the fair
and often over and above this, soundly
based discussions were held and a number
of concrete projects dealt with.
Regardless of whether a „jobbing foundry“
was an absolute beginner in low-pressure
casting technology and interested in the
newly presented cost-optimised bestprice
model AL 14-10 SR, or whether an
automotive supplier wanted to implement
complex applications in mass production
– KURTZ had the matching exhibits and
solutions for all of them.
A particularly large impression was made
by a cast part weighing 250 kg. Hardly any
of the visitors had thought it possible for
such a large part to be cast in low-pressure
sand casting technology before the fair.
The fact that it is indeed possible is above
all to be put down to the KURTZ lowpressure
casting control enabling up to 20
pressure stages and a controlling precision
of ± 1 mbar.
High machine
availability, absolute
process reliability and
low consumptions of
the ERSA HOTFLOW
systems guarantee
real added value.
By Angelika Uehlein
Profitability calculations clearly show
that the use of low-cost machines with
supposedly favourable purchase prices
is a good decision only at first glance.
Increasing energy and commodity prices
have already determined operating costs
and machine availability as decisive cost
factors. Therefore, systems which can
score with an efficient energy balance,
comfortable features and a maximum
machine availability are definitely the
better choice for successful users.
The ERSA Hotflow 2 series provides
real added value
As an innovative machine manufacturer,
ERSA is setting a new standard with
the Hotflow 2 generation. The strategy
of offering a conclusive „added value
concept“ with consistent alignment to
customer and market requirements was
a total success and has given them
a leading role in the highly combated
reflow market. Here, ERSA focuses on
a maximum machine uptime, absolute
process security and minimum energy
and nitrogen consumption. The machine
concept excels thanks to intelligent
features and provides clear financial
benefits.
Cost factor maintenance time
and MTTR
A calculation example shows the
economic dimension which the factors
of machine uptime, maintenance
duration and maintenance interval have
meanwhile achieved: With a throughput
of 1,500 boards with an average
price of 300 Euro per day, one hour of
maintenance costs 18,750 Euro. Leading
board manufacturers produce more than
25,000 boards per day and line and do no
longer calculate in hours, but in minutes.
Maintainability and accessibility have
meanwhile become a top subject.
With the ASP feature, ERSA provides
an intelligent solution. ASP (Advanced
Service & Performance Package) is
optionally available with the Hotflow 2/14
and Hotflow 2/20. In detail, ASP means
all the upper heating and cooling modules
are quickly accessible through the hinged
machine top cover. Radiators, fan motors
and thermo-elements are fitted on flanged
panels. Connection wires are provided
with plug-in connections. The whole unit
can be removed by opening four quick
release clamps. Fan motors in the lower
modules are installed vertically and can
simply be flipped to the front in the case
of maintenance. The Multijet plates of the
heating and cooling cassettes can even
be pulled out without the use of any kind of
tools. All other components are designed
to allow for a replacement in less than 15
minutes. Filters and heat exchangers can
be replaced completely without any tools
in less than five minutes.
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More online:
www.kurtz-gesagt.de/31/article1
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