Lifting Columns Electric Height Adjustment Optimized

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LINAK GmbH

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A supplier of solutions for wrapping cable harnesses has broken new ground in the redesign of the underframe of a taping machine and now uses lifting columns from Linak for electrical height adjustment.

An ergonomic industrial workstation not only promotes the health of employees, but also helps to improve product quality and reduce downtime. The fact that workbenches can be adjusted in height is considered standard in many industries—including at Komax Taping GmbH & Co. KG. When the company redesigned its Rotar 500 taping machine, those responsible opted for lifting columns from Linak for the design of the base frame.

The taping machines in the Rotar 300 and Rotar 500 series can process highly complex wire harnesses for the automotive industry. The individual work steps can be visualized on a monitor and easily configured. "When redesigning the product, our main focus was on quality. We also wanted to optimize our procurement process for the components," explains Christian Deiss, responsible project purchaser at Komax Taping in Burghaun, Hesse. With the machine's predecessor model, additional guides had to be fitted around the lifting columns to ensure stability during transportation or when wrapping thicker cable harnesses. The task was to find a lifting column that had both the necessary strength and stability to adjust the height of the entire construction—at a feasible price.

All Requirements Fulfilled

The decision to opt for a Linak column was made for a number of reasons: "Linak's product actually appeared to be out of our price range. But we were very impressed with how Linak supported us throughout the entire development process and in the end we found a good solution that met our requirements and also remained within our price range."

Two-Part Column With High Stability

TheLinak DL2 lifting column and the CBD6S control unit are used. Thanks to its anodized aluminium housing and robust design, the two-part DL2 column offers high stability and can lift heavy loads. The DL2 can be used as a single column or in a parallel system with 2, 3 or 4 columns and even in multi-parallel systems with up to 16 columns. It offers a lifting force of 2,500 newtons. The stability of the column is so good that it was possible to dispense with the second column on the smaller Rotar 300 taping machine and only one column is required.

One major advantage was the ability to dispense with an external control element for up and down movement. "We were able to connect our switch for the height adjustment of the machine directly via the Linak bus system and connect the virtual buttons of our HMI. Setting the individual height limit was also easy and straightforward using the special Linak software," praises Timo Semmelroth, the designer responsible for the Rotar taping machine.

Costs And Installation Time Saved

The new design and the use of the Linak column also resulted in synergy effects during assembly. As numerous components are no longer required due to the elimination of the additional guide, costs are saved—as is assembly time. The simple assembly of the column and the control system also resulted in considerable savings.

For Björn Dietz, responsible for strategic purchasing at Komax Taping GmbH & Co. KG, it is not only the technical aspect that forms the basis for selecting a supplier, but also the good and trusting cooperation: "Our aim is to build a long-term and trusting relationship with our suppliers. It's not just the quality, but also the cooperative collaboration that impressed us in the joint project with Linak." Linak's customer proximity is particularly impressive when it comes to advising on individual solutions. (jv)

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