Overhead Cranes for Clean Foundry Operations

Six overhead crane systems from R&M Materials Handling Inc. (Springfield, OH) were installed in just three weeks at the newly-constructed factory for Kimura Foundry America Inc. (Shelbyville, IN), which produces rapid prototype (RP) castings and provides small lot production services. Service Crane Co. (Morristown, IN), which sells, installs and services industrial cranes, workstation cranes and hoist systems, installed the R&M crane components in this new 45,000 sq ft facility. “Before a new part, component, or product hits the market, extensive research, development, and testing must take place,” said Cody White, the environmental health and safety coordinator at the Shelbyville site. “Here at Kimura, we are responsible for manufacturing those items prior to mass production. We employ the latest information technology to increase productivity. As a result, we can provide more value-added RP castings and small lot production services to our customers.” Kimura’s processes shorten industry-standard lead times by months, delivering final products to customers within five to seven days.

With the goal of becoming the ‘world’s number one clean foundry,’ this factory is a pioneer in manufacturing based on the ‘5S’ operating philosophy: sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain. White, who oversaw installation of the cranes and conducted operator training, said Kimura’s automated systems are recognized for an ability to reduce performance variation and increase safe operation, as well as to improve productivity. Its clean factory operation effectively reduces workplace accidents and risks. Due to Kimura’s extremely short lead times, they relies on crane components and parts that are readily available, easily serviced and provide dependability, all while keeping a safe working environment. That’s when Service Crane turned to R&M for a solution. Mark Drake, the territory salesman at Service Crane, explained that originally only five top-running cranes were required – two 3 ton and three 2 ton – but the end user requested an additional 3 ton unit when the others were already installed. The larger ones all have a bridge span of 63.1 ft. “We continue to embrace the varied material handling challenges of Kimura, which has already involved supplying below-the-hook equipment to connect our lifting machinery to the facility’s varied loads,” added Drake.

R&M Materials Handling Inc., 4501 Gateway Boulevard, Springfield, OH 45502, 937-328-5100, Fax: 937-325-5319, rmhoist.com.