Han-Tek, Inc. (www.HAN-TEK.com) has supplied Firth Rixson, a leading manufacturer of metalworking, one furnace loading manipulator for Firth Rixson’s East Hartford, CT facility.

Han-Tek supplied the semi-automated furnace loading manipulator to Firth Rixson to assist them in metalworking productions. It goes through a quench cycle where it begins when the furnace hood/door opens and it ends when the product is just one inch below the surface. The cycle starts when a machine operator initiates a ‘Quench’ command from the remote radio. When initiated, the loader will place the product in the quench from the furnace. The shuttle is being operated by a remote radio.

The manipulator was made for a quench cycle time of 33 seconds according to the rate at which the furnace door opens to permit the manipulator forks entering the furnace. The rate is about two seconds and any time past that will add to the 33 seconds.

All of the motion controls are installed in a NEMA control panel, placed on the opposite side of the shuttle from the furnaces. It includes programmable logic controller (“PLC”) equipment and a wireless unit. The enclosures were planned accordingly and its ambient temperature will remain below 125° F.

“The operator positions the shuttle at the furnace access rails. The operator actives the locking pin into the “receiver” on furnace access rail support. This will lock the shuttle in place and help to ensure a safe and smooth transition for the loader from the shuttle to the furnace rails,” said Bruce Bareham, Sales Engineer of Han-Tek.