Sorting scale for sawn steel sections

We were commissioned by a supplier in the mechanical engineering / automotive sector to manufacture a sorting scale for inspecting round steel sections that had previously been sawn.

These must fall within tight weight tolerances to ensure 100 per cent quality in the subsequent process steps.

The installation conditions for such applications are always challenging due to vibrations, dirt and temperatures. We have therefore created a sorting scale specifically designed for these harsh environments.

• Base frame constructed in a very robust and heavy-duty design to significantly reduce ambient vibrations.
• Conveyor belts on the individual conveyors are of a low-wear design to withstand the sharp edges of the sawn timber.
• Continuous product flow right through to the sorting unit
• Sorting unit for classifying the sections into ‘too light’, ‘too heavy’ and ‘correct weight’ using diverters

The resulting overall system ensures efficient production and clean product handling, from receiving the material from the upstream saw right through to sorting the products into different classes.

To ensure a continuously reliable process, the weighbridge and the saw communicate with each other via Profinet. Each individually recorded weight is evaluated and used as part of a trend control system to optimise the cut length.

For the end customers, this has resulted in a comprehensive solution that is perfectly coordinated and can be seamlessly integrated into production.

The system has become so well established that we have already been able to implement further projects for similar applications.