Major modification to address safety and ergonomics issues
Type of load: A wide variety of products on a daily basis
Project: MDS Nordion, a market leading, global health science company, and one of Almac’s largest and oldest customers, required a major modification to address safety and ergonomics issues in relation to their tote load/unload stations.
The Needs
- Machine must be constantly active, with minimal downtime\
- Must be able to manage heavy loads
- Must make the loading and unloading ergonomically easy on employees
- Must take into consideration the fragility of the products, while maintaining the strength and durability of the system
The Solutions
- Almac recommended limiting the number of moving parts, which translates in to a limited number of items can could cause possible malfunctions
- The use of a variable frequency drive (VFD) method, rather than typical chain and sprocket systems, so that Nordion could avoid regular adjustments
- Use of quality, heavy-duty structural steel frames to maximize durability and longevity
A 1 HP Eurodrive, multi-stage gear motor with break, activated the tilt mechanism. Complete control over the tilt stations at all angles of rotation was achieved using the Eurodrive. Finally, after experimenting with several types of gearboxes and drive shafts, a VFD drive shaft provided complete control.
The Results
Almac was able to balance the human component (safety, reduce manual effort of a repetitive task, ergonomics) and the type of load. By using a tilted design in the final solution, it was easier to extract the product while drastically minimizing strain on the employee.
The tilt stations were able to function around the clock, without the general maintenance other systems require.