We watched, from a distance, as a maintenance worker struggled to assemble a cast grid liner system in their rotary shakeout. He and his team had been working for a couple shifts but were only halfway through the process. As he was assembling the next row, a grid panel unexpectedly let go. Struggling to get out of the way as the casting fell, we knew something had to be done. It was that day the GK LOCK-TITE™ Liner System was born.
What We Found
Analyzing the current system, three major deficiencies were immediately apparent:
- Too many pieces created a difficult to install and dangerous system.
- Excessive inner flights jammed up, and were nearly impossible to clean out.
- There was no easy way to modify the liner system to tweak it for individual castings and processes.
How We Improved
To address these design and safety concerns, General Kinematics started with a clean slate. Materials were chosen for the work surfaces that would be more wear resistant than castings, which allow the liners to be lighter weight while maintaining the same or better wear characteristics than the old system. This fabricated design also allows for quick modification to flights and dams, so users can tweak the process to better meet their particular production objectives. The inner flow path of materials were analyzed and modified to create a smoother flow path for sand and tramp metals that would prevent jamming. By having each individual panel bolt in with simple hand tools, replacing single panels or removing them for local repair was now an easy process.
LOCK-TITE™ Liners are delivered in pre-assembled cartridges, which can be easily slid into position with a come-along. You no longer have to balance castings, hoping they don’t fall in on you as you pin the last one in each row in place. They also don’t require any special tools or knowledge. Slide the section in, use a porta-power to expand them in place, and tighten the bolts. Quick, simple, and safe.
Our Pledge
Looking back to the day we first saw the panel fall, ignited the spark that spurred our passion for making products safer for the employees that use them throughout the industry. This passion continues throughout all of our equipment lines making them safer, more effective, and customizable for our customers.
We invite you to visit GK to see first-hand how GK’s LOCK-TITE™ Liners can impact your foundry process.