Cores chucks shafts and brakes review

1 March 2007




Reusable core claimed to cut costs

In the UK, Ultra-Core has developed a “technologically advanced” reusable composite core which is said to be providing current customers with a means of reducing costs, and improving performance whilst also tackling environmental issues.

The cores offer “unparalleled levels of performance, outstanding dimensional stability, exceptional beam strength and unprecedented crush and rotational characteristics”, it is claimed. These features are said to help to eliminate bounce, tear-out and vibration, resulting in vastly reduced wastage and reduced costs.

Ultra-Core claims to be the only dedicated UK supplier to offer reusable, high performance, advanced composite cores and believes its high tech product will “revolutionize the industry as we currently know it”.

The company, whose research operation is based in Poole, recently announced a multi million pound investment from Merseyside Special Investment Fund that will see production and test facilities move from their current base in Manchester to a new purpose built facility in Merseyside.

The company has also invested in its key management team: Francis Davis, a former director of Shotton Paper and UPM-Kymmene’s Newspaper Publishers Division, has joined as consultant director. Sales director John Herbert, formerly with board core manufacturer Corenso, is said to have brought his considerable manufacturing experience within the paper, packaging and converting sectors.

Light on weight, tight on tolerance

Schlumpf claims its low weight, “budget priced” six inch MonoGrip aluminium winding shafts to be “amongst the lightest on the market”. The shaft body, developed using a ‘finite element’ analysis, is made from a new high tensile aluminium alloy. “In terms of weight,” says Philip Fletcher, of UK agent Arrowhive, “a complete 1,000mm length shaft would only weigh 17kg, with an additional metre length adding only 8.8kg to the final weight.”

Despite its low weight and claimed budget pricing, the MonoGrip is said to be engineered to tight tolerances and, “unlike other products on the market”, suitable for cores with an internal diameter of 150 or 152.4mm. Five, wide and profiled expansion segments ensure uniform and safe clamping with minimal core deformation, it is claimed. The expansion range is a full 10mm, taking expansion from 148mm to 158mm. After deflation the expansion segment ends retract automatically and do not hamper the insertion into the core, states Schlumpf.

Any maintenance needed can be carried out from the outside, and without the need to remove shaft. The robust expansion tubes incorporate a special textile coating to ensure long life, and the expansion tubes are protected by the expansion segments from damage, according to the company.

Special chucks

New from Neuenhauser Vorwald is a series of chucks developed for special applications. Unlike the company’s existing chucks which use expansion elements with individual springs, the new model has the expansion elements expanding and retracting using a mechanical guide. This is said to give greater functional security with problematic cores, especially in automated processes.

An additional feature is the innovative material used, a combination of special bronze, synthetic material and a hardened steel on the sliding surfaces, which allows a level of torque transfer which has not previously been possible, it is claimed. This combination of features enables Neuenhauser Vorwald to offer an “economic, compact chuck with small power requirements” which incorporates a pneumatic cylinder.

The new chucks have already been thoroughly tested on a series of machines, and production trials are said to have shown “excellent results”. They are available in mechanical, pneumatic or safety chuck form, with the dimensions tailored to customer’s requirements.


Brakes in abundance

With more than 20 different models to suit applications as diverse as label converting, paper machine winding, sheeting, and coating and laminating, Montalvo claims to offer the largest selection of brakes available.

The brakes with range expanding facilities are used in conjunction with the company’s System 3000 control modules, which feature inertia compensation, sample, hold and splice ratio, fieldbus connectivity, and a cycling range expander with two, three or four valves.

The brakes’ open fin design is said to be highly efficient in optimizing heat dissipation. The V-Series also incorporates a cooling fan for some heavy duty applications where there is a problem of obtaining optimum air cooling at low speeds.


Airshafts and chucks repaired and serviced in the UK

Neuenhauser Vorwald agent in the UK Simplex-Turbulo has a fully equipped repair facility servicing airshafts and chucks from an extensive range of manufacturers, including Vorwald and Deublin. The workshop is said to be efficient and fast and “has built up a happy and satisfied customer base”, the company boasts.

Shafts are thoroughly assessed prior to any work being carried out in order to ensure that the repair is economic, it is claimed. The assessment includes a complete examination of the condition of all wear parts. Following repair or service, all units are tested carefully to ensure a long and trouble-free operation, the company states.

Amal acquired

Manufacturer of custom designed pneumatic expanding reel shafts Amal has been acquired from Megtec by Swedish engineering company Hofpartner. The purchase included all manufacturing equipment and technical documentation, as well as the trademark and patents. All the Amal personnel accepted new employment with the new owner.

Hofpartner aims to develop the business using the patented carbon fibre reinforced reel shaft as a “winning concept”. The shaft is said to have 90 per cent of the axis strength of a steel shaft, but only 30 per cent of its weight.



Contacts

Amal
Tel: +46 (0) 532 608580
Ultra-Core
Tel: +44 (0)845 257 3456
Schlumpf
Tel: +41 784 43 43
Neuenhauser Vorwald
Tel: +49 (0) 541 50546 0
Danarota Technic
Tel: +45 75 57 27 11
Simplex-Turbulo
Tel: +44 (0)1264 860186





External weblinks
Converting Today is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Amal
Schlumpf
Simplex-Turbulo
Danarota Technic
Neuenhauser Vorwald

Reusable cores from Ultracore Reusable cores from Ultracore


Privacy Policy
We have updated our privacy policy. In the latest update it explains what cookies are and how we use them on our site. To learn more about cookies and their benefits, please view our privacy policy. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy unless you have disabled them.