Grinding cells reduce labor shortage problem, increase consistency and throughput.

USER--Aarrowcast, Inc., Shawano, Wisconsin 

OPERATION--Aarrowcast is a producer of gray and ductile iron components for off-highway equipment, engines and water and irrigation systems.

PROBLEMS--Faced with a labor shortage problem, the foundry was searching for a long-term solution for its grinding department that would replace manual grinding. In addition, Aarrowcast, always ergonomically mindful, wanted a solution that would alleviate any concerns about carpal tunnel syndrome developing in its workers. The company also felt it could alleviate a bottleneck in cleaning and finishing with an automated system.

SOLUTION--The automated solution for Aarrowcast was the installation of three grinding cells from MAUS and their North American partner ReichCompanies, Trussville, Alabama. Aarrowcast installed one Model SAM 600 and two Model SAM 1200-L systems over the course of 2000-01. These cells significantly reduced manual labor, resolved ergonomic issues of noise, dust and physical concern for employees and significantly improved consistency of castings as these computer controlled cells are repeatable and uniform. The system has shown an improvement of up to 800% in grinding speed on certain jobs.

Maus Automatic Grinding--ReichCompanies

P. O. Box 218, Trussville, Alabama 35173

Tel: [phone] * Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail] * Web site: www.maus.it

Contact: David Reich

MAUS offers a proven design for automatic grinding utilizing ragged CNC platform, precise individual casting position verification, grinding wheel wear verification and multiple-operation options. MAUS has developed a range of machines that cut risers on steel and cast iron castings. Grinding, milling, gauging, turning, boring and finishing may be incorporated. The concept is applicable to jobbing as well as high production foundries.