Two trends are converging at Century Foundry in Muskegon Heights, MI, the growing importance of efficient mold handling, and the increasing preference for electric power over hydraulic systems. Sinto America Inc. will install its first electric mold-handling line in North America at Century Foundry later this year. It describes the project as “a significant leap in efficiency, sustainability, and performance in the foundry industry.”
Century Foundry is a green-sand molding aluminum casting operation, with four optional casting processes available to match customers’ needs. No-bake and permanent molding are offered too, and engineering, machining, heat treat, and finishing services are available.
Along with the new mold-handling line, Century is acquiring a Sinto 20x26 FBOIIIS molding machine, to be integrated with the Sinto Smart Foundry, its scalable automation platform that foundries can expand or configure according to their data analytics goals.
Efficient mold handling is an engineering objective for many foundries seeking to optimize productivity, to maximize the value of their investments in equipment and control technologies.
Electric power for production equipment is a parallel goal: In contrast to hydraulic systems, electric power is more efficient and contributes to better motion control, for accurate positioning of molds in production. Electric systems also improve machine reaction times – and compared to hydraulics they operate more quietly and are cleaner overall, both factors that are valuable in a foundry operation.
Sinto’s new electric mold handling process design using foundry-grade servo cylinders and linear actuators, for a system design that eliminates the risk of oil leaks associated with hydraulic cylinders, while also reducing energy consumption.
“Electric cylinders and linear actuators offer more precise load control and stability, resulting in better quality and fewer defects,” according to Sinto.
The other notable advance for Century Foundry will be the combination of electric control with the new automation package. Sinto describes the SSF platform as a “toolbox of products and services” that foundries draw from to implement process improvements in maintenance, quality, production, and planning.”
With Sinto Smart Foundry available, Century Foundry operators will be able to monitor molding line performance, molding line up time, and molding line power consumption, along with other system parameters.
Asked why Century Foundry chose electric mold handling over a hydraulic-powered process, v.p.-Operations Shane LeRoux stated: “The servo electric line was chosen over hydraulic for numerous reasons, but my main selling point was creating a safer environment using electricity as opposed to hydraulic fluid around molten metals. The Servo line also has more precise control of movement speed and position along with quieter operations. The lower maintenance costs also are a big perk in hopes it turns into less downtime.”