Multi-Coupling Plates: Single Movement Improves Tool Changeover Times

A wide range of quick release connectors are assembled on various tools and machinery to provide connection to hydraulics, pneumatics, water, or other types of fluid power. Hydraulic quick couplings and adapters provide power to diverse markets and applications such as automotive manufacturing, industrial equipment, mobile equipment, railway, oil and gas and many others. Maintaining reliable and leak-free connections with quality quick release couplings is key to many of these industries meeting productivity goals and safety standards.

Multi-coupling plates provide the single most significant improvement to reduce tooling changeover times, while providing many other benefits.

Custom Multi-Coupling Plate Parameters and Development

Multi-coupling plates provide benefits to many diverse applications such as providing quick connect and release on hydraulic injection molding presses or die casting operations. Stucchi offers various multi-plate solutions for hydraulics, pneumatics and other media custom designed to meet your specific application requirements and always aimed to improve your performance, equipment uptime, and safety. Our hydraulic specialists take the time to partner with our customers to consider all critical parameters including:

 

●       Equipment and application

●       Environmental considerations

●       Non-spill or leak-free requirements

●       Type of fluid or media

●       Type of hose and valving system

●       Frequency of connection and disconnection

●       Method of connection

●       Electrical connection requirements

 Stucchi designs and manufactures specific multi-coupling plate solutions based on your application and performance needs. Our multi-coupling plates are proven in many applications to significantly improve tool and die exchange time, helping automotive manufacturers to meet Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) goals with a reduction in changeover time as significant as six full minutes. This case study explains more benefits provided to this 2^nd tier automotive supplier which included additional capacity and business.

Benefits of Multi-Coupling Plates in Manufacturing

The benefits of connecting and disconnecting multiple lines at once are significant and drastically improve efficiency during machinery and equipment maintenance and tooling changeover times. Many automotive suppliers operate with just-in-time practices and must meet production demands quickly for immediate shipping with little time in inventory. The automotive industry demands suppliers with lean practices and a focus on continual improvement in all processes.

Reducing tooling changeover time significantly improves equipment uptime, overall capacity, and productivity, all leading to a more efficient and profitable operation. Stucchi’s multi-plates are proven to drastically improve injection molding processes as well as die casting operations with efficient tooling changeover times.

In addition to significant time saved, multi-plates improve safety by eliminating cross connection of lines. Stucchi’s multi-plates combined with our leak-free, easy to connect under pressure quick couplings improve operator safety while preventing leaks on the shop floor or to the environment.

Multi-coupling plates with Stucchi’s leak-free connectors provide many benefits such as:

 

●       Significant time saved in tooling changeover

●       Improved equipment uptime with reduced maintenance

●       Increased safety with elimination of cross connection

●       Environmental protection with no spill connections

Stucchi Multi-Coupling Plates: Quick and Safe Changeover

Stucchi assists manufacturers of all sizes including automotive OEMs and suppliers to improve tooling changeover time with quality and efficient quick connect products. We provide specific solutions that increase efficiencies, safety, and equipment performance.  The GRE Series helps manufacturers with quick connect and disconnect of 4 to 18 lines in the same diameter with different media including water, air, oil and/or electrical lines.

Our multi-coupling plates and couplers are helping manufacturers to meet automotive manufacturers injection molding and die casting requirements, with improved productivity and safety.

Stucchi has been providing hydraulic solutions for more than 60 years, with a wide range of quick couplings, adapters, and custom engineered quick connect solutions.  We custom design your quick connect products to meet your unique specifications and solve current fluid transfer or quick release problems. Contact us to learn more about improving your productivity with quicker tooling changeover utilizing Stucchi’s multi-coupling plates.

This article was previously published at: https://www.stucchiusa.com/blog/multi-coupling-plates-single-movement-improves-tool-changeover-times/

 

 

Improving Hydraulic Quick Connect for Tractor-Trailers

 

 Hydraulic fittings and quick couplers are used in many market segments where they must withstand intense stress and pressure without malfunctioning or leaking. Quick couplers that undergo hydraulic shock and heavy vibration may experience brinelling, damage to the locking groove which can cause equipment downtime and fluid leakage. This poses safety risks to workers and causes environmental contamination along with added cleanup costs.

This is particularly true in the transportation sector when trailers are connected with hydraulic circuits and quick couplers. A faulty coupling on the line could cause a malfunction which could lead to an unmanageable vehicle and serious accidents on the highway. Hydraulic fittings, couplings and adapters must meet the requirements of the two main categories of the transportation haulage industry which includes Road Trailers and Self- Propelled Motor Trailers.

Road trailers: quick couplers provide the connection between the powerpack and the trailer when road trailers are coupled to street legal, motorized vehicles for use on motorways and urban roads.

Self- Propelled Motor Trailers (SPMT): quick couplers provide connection between several trailer units and long vehicles which are equipped with several sets of wheels and designed to handle bulky, heavy loads. Typically used on private areas such as factories or building sites.

Hydraulics Provide Critical Functions on a Tractor-Trailer

The suspension system and a tractor-trailer is controlled by a hydraulic system and hydraulic lines which control the suspension and also provide steering of the wheels. Quick couplings located on the trailer should be protected as much as possible from dirt and impact while paying attention to the radial loads the pipes generate. Hydraulics may also be used to control the drive and drainage lines.

Hydraulic fittings used in the transportation, tractor-trailer sector come into contact with medium to high conditions for wear and corrosion.  This makes it critical to carefully choose all components on a tractor-trailer transportation system including heavy duty, leak-free, thread to connect hydraulic quick couplers.

Stucchi Offers Heavy Duty Quick Couplers That Improve Tractor-Trailer Hydraulics

Stucchi offers heavy duty hydraulic quick couplers for use in many demanding mobile applications such as construction, demolition, snow removal, forestry applications and more, including the transportation industry. Our heavy-duty threaded flat face coupler, the VEP HD series, provides a greater degree of safety and protects the environment with leak free quick disconnect.

Stucchi provides hydraulic solutions that improve your overall process for improved safety, efficiency, and overall productivity. Our multi-coupling plates improve uptime by providing easy quick connect and disconnect of multiple lines at once, significantly improving trailer connection and disconnection procedure times and safety. With our multi-couple plates, there is no chance for human error or cross connection mistakes. Couplings connect and disconnect easily with one simple movement requiring minimal force. The GR series of Stucchi’s multi-coupling plates provides solutions to the transportation industry with improved efficiency, safety, and uptime.

Stucchi offers hydraulic solutions for many industries and segments with a wide range of quality hydraulic fittings, couplings, and adapters. We offer custom design solutions to meet your specific application requirements. Contact us with any questions on improving your hydraulic system for transportation tractor-trailers or any mobile equipment.

This article was previously published at: https://www.stucchiusa.com/blog/improving-hydraulic-quick-connect-for-tractor-trailers/

 

Why a Self-Contained Compactor is Better than Open Dumpsters

 

If you are evaluating the waste management services for your business, you may be wondering if you should choose a dumpster or a trash compactor.  A dumpster is an open container where all types of trash are disposed of. A self-contained trash compactor is often worth the investment for businesses and provides many advantages over an open dumpster.

Some benefits that a self-contained compactor provides to businesses over using a dumpster for waste disposal include: 

1. A self-contained compactor saves money - dumpsters require more frequent waste hauler pickups. If you fill your dumpster frequently, you should consider using a self-contained trash compactor instead. A compactor does not fill up as quickly as a dumpster because it continually compacts your trash and can last a lot longer until it needs to be hauled away. Using a compactor instead of a dumpster can eliminate three or four waste hauler trips per month or more, depending on your volume.
   

2. A self-contained compactor provides sanitary disposal of wet waste - disposing of liquids in a dumpster can make a big mess which attracts bacteria, mold, and creates a foul odor.  Sealed, self-contained compactors allow for clean and sanitary disposal of wet waste for a cleaner and safer environment.
   

3. Compactors save time - with the compactor, you can save time and labor without having to break down boxes and try to manually compact trash before disposing of it.
   

4. Self-contained compactors prevent tampering - with all of your trash compacted, you eliminate the risk of someone going to your trash causing identity theft which could be possible picking trash out of a dumpster.
   

5. Better pest control - you do not have to worry about scavenging rodents are animals getting into your trash in a sealed, self-contained waste compactor.
   

Protect Your Self-Contained Trash Compactor and Your Business Investment

If you choose to use a self-contained compactor for your business waste disposal, consider protecting your compactor against damage and downtime. Compactors are operated by hydraulic power with hoses stemming from a hydraulic power unit to the compacting unit. When a waste hauler takes your compactor away, the driver must disconnect these hydraulic hoses prior to driving off or serious damage and fluid spills will occur.

Now that you have decided to take this safe, sanitary, and efficient route to use a trash compactor for your business, consider protecting your investment by protecting your hydraulic quick couplers and hydraulic power unit (HPU).  A compactor breakaway safety system, C-BASS, allows for abrupt disconnection without any fluid spills or equipment damage.

Stucchi is a leading global provider of hydraulic solutions to a wide range of industries and sectors, customizing innovative hydraulic product solutions to meet the needs of our customers.  Our C-BASS solution to protect waste compactors mitigates risk, protects your business and your investment. Learn more about the advantages of self-contained trash compactors and Stucchi’s compactor breakaway safety system, C-BASS.

This article was previously published at: https://cbass.info/blog/blog/why-a-self-contained-compactor-is-better-than-open-dumpsters/