TPT November 2013

2013

Customised 4-way forklifts

In addition to mill equipment, Rafter provides mill accessories. These mainly include weld squeeze boxes, seam orientation units, and turkshead straighteners. In the past year, Rafter has provided many upgrades in these areas. For 2013, Rafter will offer a new machine design for the roll forming industry. This design will be targeted for custom roll formed profile producers that require high-quality machinery with quick-changeover capabilities. The new machine will be officially introduced in November at the Fabtech International show in Chicago. Originally started in 1917 as a design 4-way Combi-CB on show caters for the requirements of operations that need to handle a mix of palletised and long loads. Combilifts work as counterbalance, sideloader, and narrow-aisle forklifts, and allow for the maximum use of all available storage space. Sideways travel with loads resting on the platform avoids the need for hazardous high-level transportation, significantly improving safety procedures. With fully synchronised 4-way steering providing manoeuvrability and flexibility of use, Combilifts can be deployed from the initial stages of offloading raw materials, during the manufacturing process, through to the handling, storage and dispatch of finished product.

manufactures tube mills and pipe mills, roll forming machines, cutoff machines, and other related mill machinery. The company is able to provide equipment for tube sizes from 0.188" (4.76mm) to 16" (400mm) OD. It has supplied mills using high-frequency induction (HFI), high- frequency contact (HFC), TIG/plasma, and laser welding. The equipment has been used for the production of the following tubular products: mechanical, structural, HSS, energy, API, refrigeration, automotive, appliance, and other tubular products. Rafter has remained busy throughout the recent economic downturn. An RT-3000 automotive tube mill was commissioned this year for the production of drive shaft tubing. The mill is capable of producing tubing up to 127mm OD x 4.8mm wall (5" x 0.188") with a maximum diameter-to-thickness (D/t) ratio of 78:1. The line included a complete strip entry system with vertical strip accumulator through an overseas partnership. All the drive electrics and controls for the mill and entry system were sourced through the US and are serviced locally. Also included was a web-based VPN diagnostic portal that allows Rafter to access the PLC remotely. COMBILIFT Ltd manufactures a wide range of customised 4-way forklifts, all of which are designed for the safe and space saving handling and storage of the large and bulky loads typically handled in the fabricating sector. The exhibits on Booth S2381 at this year’s Fabtech are a small selection of the products that Combilift manufactures at its HQ in Ireland and exports to over 75 countries worldwide. Alongside a model from Combilift’s original core CSeries, exhibits will include a model from the ST stand-on range. This features a very narrow cab for operation in much narrower aisles than the original C series, making it suitable for use in steel and pipe stockholding facilities, for example. The compact counterbalance

Combilift Ltd – Ireland Fax: +353 47 80501 Email: info@combilift.com Website: www.combilift.com Combilifts work as counterbalance, sideloader, and narrow-aisle forklifts

Tube, pipe and cutoff mills RAFTER Equipment Corporation

roll forming machine builder, the company was purchased, relocated, and transformed into North America’s premier tube mill manufacturer in 1988. Since this time, Rafter Equipment has provided nearly 100 tube mills and more than 400 mill accessory upgrades. Its focus is to provide robust equipment that is simple to operate and maintain, and it supports its equipment through personalised and dedicated after-sales service and spare parts. Rafter – USA Email: sales@rafterequipment.com Website: www.rafterequipment.com

Rafter Equipment Corp – RT-3000 Tube Forming and Welding Mill

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N ovember 2013