Mechanical Technology

Mechanical Technology — August 2015

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Materials handling and minerals processing

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or the past decade, the Port

Elizabeth branch of Demag, a

specialist crane and component

manufacture, has supplied its

unique Demag mono-rail system (DMS)

to the South African automotive industry

– which has specific needs for robust and

heavy-duty linear overhead materials-

handling solutions.

DMS has been developed specifically

as a modular solution to meet such cus-

tomer requirements. “When we designed

the system initially we were looking to

cater for increased throughput in terms

of cycle times, while taking safe working

loads into account,” Demag project en-

gineer and technical sales representative

Niki Mizen begins.

“Our success with the system over

the past decade has marked our long

involvement with many of the major

automotive OEMs in South Africa,”

Mizen says. “This success has largely

been attributable to our focus on being

innovative and flexible.”

DMS is complementary to its KBK

light crane system, which consists of sus-

pension monorails for overhead materials

handling requirements.

The main features of DMS are:

• Ease of installation due to light alu-

minium construction.

• Silent and smooth operation from

polyurethane wheels running on alu-

minium (no metal flaking).

• High transfer speeds.

• Accuracy of positioning.

• Low maintenance and running costs.

• Locally manufactured to European

standards.

Low maintenance requirements are due

to the fact that there is no metal-to-metal

contact on any moving parts. This, in

turn, enhances the robustness of the

entire system. “Our aluminium system

uses polyurethane tyres to prevent metal-

on-metal flaking, which makes it ideal

for applications such as automotive body

shops and paint shops,” Mizen explains,

adding that the system developed by

Demag project engineer and technical sales representative, Niki

Mizen, talks about the company’s Demag mono-rail system

(DMS), already successful in the South African automotive

industry and now attracting interest from as far as Egypt.

The Demag mono-rail system (DMS) is ideal for robust and heavy-duty linear overhead materials-handling

requirements at manufacturing facilities such as automotive assembly plants.

The DMS uses polyurethane tyres to prevent

metal-on-metal flaking.

Mono-rail system for the local

automotive industry

Demag Port Elizabeth has been sup-

plied worldwide for many years.

“The quality of the system has gener-

ated invaluable global exposure for us.

This is a total solution for the automotive

industry that has stood the test of time,”

Mizen adds.

Another feature of DMS is that it can

be fully or partially automated. “We

can supply a total solution for what-

ever components need to be picked up,

for any end-products that need to be

transported or assembled. DMS is fully

customisable to utilise specific branded

components required by the end-user,

such as switchgear and PLCs. Industrial

wireless communication allows for seam-

less integration between the hoist and the

main control panel.”

The fact that this is a modular system

means it is flexible enough to cater for

a range of parameters. Such modularity

also allows for easy transportation or

shipping via 12 m shipping containers.

“This is a solution-orientated system that

can be designed to fit any factory layout,”

Mizen continues.

“Our considerable success in this

regard has been due to the fact that we

not only supply the best solution for our

customers, but that we are able to offer

a total turnkey system, including all the

conveyors and accompanying storage

retrieval machines.”

Demag Port Elizabeth’s first major in-

ternational customer was General Motors

Egypt. “When the General Motors global

operation heard what we had achieved in

South Africa, it immediately directed an

enquiry for a specific solution from the

Middle East to us.

“This not only entrenches our repu-

tation for quality technology, but also

consolidates our presence as a major

international player. The fact that we

can carry out complete turnkey projects

means that Demag Port Elizabeth is in

the unique position of being a one-stop

shop,” he concludes.