Transfer cart shuttle by ELS helps automotive company move dies

ELS recommended a propane-powered steerable transfer cart for a die-moving application.

Making difficult jobs seem easy: this is the mission that Engineered Lifting Systems & Equipment (ELS) takes upon itself. Whatever a business needs to lift or move, ELS offers the right solution. A Tier 1 automotive-supply company learned this several years ago, when it needed to move large dies weighing up to 25 tons each. ELS recommended a propane-powered steerable transfer cart to get the job done.

A safer, more functional solution

The company was using a fork truck-towed cart to move their dies. However, using this straightforward back-and-forth shuttle cart was unsuitable for the task because the travel path included several turns. Their die-handling method contributed to a bottleneck in production, as there was often time spent waiting for an available fork truck. The company needed a safer, more functional solution to keep up with increasing production demands.

After reviewing a variety of products available in the marketplace, the company chose a custom-designed cart manufactured by ELS. This is a propane-powered steerable transfer cart with a 30-ton-rated load capacity and a wooden deck, which acts as a cushioned surface for dies. The cart’s turning radius is equal to its length, making it manoeuvrable around corners and able to handle 360 degree turns easily when needed. The wooden deck prevents damage during handling activities.

The company especially valued the cart’s onboard power system. The cart’s power source – a small propane generator – appealed to the company for two reasons. First, the valve automatically switches from an empty tank to a full one with the ease of swap-out fuel-tanks. Second, propane power can be seen as superior to DC battery power because there is minimal cart downtime, as opposed to waiting for DC batteries to charge. With the long travel path, the company didn’t have to worry about the cart running out of power during its travel. They also eliminated the need to wait for an available fork truck which was delaying production.

Once again, ELS knew the perfect solution.

To learn more, contact ELS.

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