There are over 500 traffic signs in Germany and only a few companies that have a manufacturing license for them. The criteria for the appearance and quality of the signs are clearly defined and production is subject to strict quality management. Every day, signs are produced for new roads and road upgrades as well as replacements for dilapidated, destroyed and no longer functional signs. This is also the case in a traffic engineering company that specializes in the production of vertical traffic signs, tourist signs, street name signs and cycle path signs.

For the optimum workflow in sign production, various work steps must take place at different points. First, the corresponding signal image is printed on a special retro film. Depending on the size of the traffic sign (up to over 50 square meters are possible), one or more sheets of film are required. The cut film is then glued to the appropriate sign panel - either individually or in strips if it is a larger sign. Finally, the individual sign parts are folded together to fit and screwed together from behind. To ensure that the sign is clearly legible, no errors should be allowed to creep in during this process - the signs must be perfectly combined from the front and back.

The sign plates are processed at various workstations in the traffic engineering company. The challenge here is that each larger sign has to be both turned and safely repositioned for processing. The individual solution for this in the company is the coupling of several components for load handling: a double-girder crane from KITO Erikkila, to which a KITO ER2 electric chain hoist is attached, which in turn carries a vacuum lifting device from Schmalz.

Combination of electric chain hoist and a vacuum lifter

Vacuum lifting devices - such as the VacuMaster Comfort from J. Schmalz in this case - move heavy and large loads by more than 180°. This ensures that the signs can be turned during the work process. Hans-Hebetechnik + Metallbau has developed a special solution for the final assembly: The KITO-ER2 electric chain hoist was combined with the vacuum lifting device, both of which are carried by a KITO-Erikkila crane. This means that the vacuum load handling device can not only be used at one station to pick up and turn the traffic signs, but can also position the signs precisely at different workstations after they have been picked up.

The KITO ER2 is the best choice for smooth movement of the almost 150 kg vacuum lifting device without load swinging. Securely installed, the two devices are suspended from the 33 meter long KITO Erikkila crane runway and ensure that the signs are transported smoothly to and from their respective locations. The die-cast aluminum electric chain hoist housing not only ensures that the device and therefore the entire system can be used for a long time, but also that the sophisticated technology inside (including electromagnetic brake, frequency converter and friction clutch) is stored safely.

Coupled devices

In order to carry out the crane and trolley travel as well as the lifting and slewing movements, the KITO-ER2 electric chain hoist is not controlled via its own control system in this special design, but directly via the panel of the vacuum lifting device. The two devices were linked together for this purpose. The energy supply for the KITO ER2 and for the Schmalz VacuMaster Comfort is drawn from an external electronic trolley.

The article appeared in materialfluss 4/22.