Scrap handling systems and equipment manufacturer PRAB Inc., has introduced a new division, PRAB/Monlan, to provide shops with integrated solutions for chip removal and fluid filtration.

PRAB/Monlan’s modular chip and fluid management systems, based on vacuum and pneumatic technology, can be scaled to meet the needs of plants of any size. Photo courtesy PRAB/Monlan.

Based in Kalamazoo, Mich., PRAB/Monlan combines the scrap management expertise of PRAB Inc. with the Monlan Group Inc.’s focus on fluid recovery and filtration systems. The new division follows PRAB’s 2008 acquisition of Envirodyne Technologies Inc., Monlan’s parent company.

PRAB’s chip handling equipment includes conveyors, modular chip briquetters, chip wringers and pneumatic scrap conveyance. PRAB/Monlan combines these products with a line of equipment for the recovery, filtration and recycling of coolants, lubricants and wastewater.

“We can now offer complete, turnkey solutions for all chip and fluid management needs, including system design, installation and ongoing support,” said Ned Thompson, CEO of PRAB and PRAB/Monlan. “We have had customers use PRAB for chip handling and then use three or four other suppliers to obtain fluid processing equipment.” The new division will help shops streamline chip and fluid management strategies, he added.

Thompson said that with the formation of the new division, PRAB will focus on its chip handling customers, while PRAB/Monlan will serve existing Monlan customers and new clients with a need for integrated chip and fluid management systems.

According to PRAB/Monlan, its chip and fluid management systems can help shops meet economic and environmental challenges. For instance, chip handling equipment turns wet metal chips into dry, shovel-grade material or compressed briquettes. Because processed chips are not considered hazardous waste, they have a higher scrap value and are not subject to surcharges assessed by downstream recyclers on polluted material. The company said its systems can reduce new fluid purchases by 40 to 90 percent and reduce waste fluid volumes by 50 to 90 percent, which can help manufacturers reduce costs, meet zero-manifesting goals and comply with federal, state and local discharge regulations.

In addition, company officials said its modular chip and fluid management technology will allow small and medium-size operations to incorporate waste management technology formerly only practical for large facilities. Tim Hanna, president of PRAB/Monlan, said the company’s modular systems, which are based on vacuum and pneumatic technology, can be installed above the shop floor and scaled to meet the needs of any plant size. With modular systems, chips are conveyed through compact tubes from individual machining centers to smaller fluid removal, chip handling and fluid processing stations. The modular approach can be an economical solution for small shops. “These shops have always had to incur the expense of hauling away truckload after truckload of polluted chips,” Hanna said. “They also had to worry about disposing of fluid they could be reusing. We’re offering these shops practical solutions that will reduce costs and make them more efficient, more sustainable and ultimately more competitive in the global economy.”

—Cutting Tool Engineering, June 2009

With the aim of improving customer service and minimizing the need for emergency on-site visits, BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc. is expanding its presetter service offerings.

‘BIG Kaiser:’ BIG Kaiser’s new presetter services are designed to minimize unplanned downtime and emergency on-site visits. Photo courtesy BIG Kaiser.

The Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based company reported that Speroni S.p.A., Italy, is installing a secure PC-to-PC connection program on new presetters with a computer control. By purchasing an identical software license, BIG Kaiser can now install the free user licenses on existing customer machines. The expanded presetter service package includes three key features:

• Speroni online service management program allows BIG Kaiser’s service technicians to connect remotely to a Speroni PC to troubleshoot programs, provide online training and upgrade software.
• Presetter calibration checks for tool presetters from any manufacturer. This service provides reports on spindle runout and column squareness to the spindle centerline. No repairs are made during the routine calibration check, but customers can use the report to initiate repairs.
• Speroni preventive maintenance program minimizes unplanned downtime. This service includes cleaning, inspection and lubrication of all applicable machine parts, verification of repeatability and zero-point calibration, plus performance evaluation and verification of all functions.

Additional features include cleaning and adjustment of mechanical and optical assemblies and inspection and adjustment of bearing preloads on X- and Z-axis slide assemblies.

—Cutting Tool Engineering, June 2009

Taking as its theme “Smart Solutions for the Future of Metal Cutting,” the second High Speed Steel Forum Conference was held in Aachen, Germany, Jan. 20 to 21 and drew about 100 people from 15 countries.

Those attending represented HSS producers, tool manufacturers, coating companies and finishing firms. “In spite of the tough economy, we had almost as many attendees as in 2005 and some excellent talks, especially on machining of new titanium alloys such as Ti-5-5-5-3,” said Adeline Riou, general secretary for the conference. “Several talks highlighted how the most modern-coated P/M HSS tools can achieve much better performance, offering an economic alternative to cemented carbides.”

Other topics included reducing tool grinding costs, vibration-assisted dry drilling of holes up to 30 diameters deep using coated HSS tools and the effect of surface finish and coating on tool life. For more information on conference proceedings, visit www.hssforum.com.

—Cutting Tool Engineering, June 2009