For strip metal producers, the key to high-quality steel and stainless steel products lies in surface preparation, scale removal, and finishing—areas where Atlantech Process provides engineered machines, brushes, and integrated line solutions to optimize production.

What Are Steel and Stainless Steel Strips?

• Steel strips: Typically carbon or alloy steel, used for structural applications, automotive panels, and machinery. 
• Stainless steel strips: Chromium-containing alloys that resist corrosion and staining, ideal for appliances, medical devices, and architectural applications. 

Strip widths can range from a few inches to several feet, and thicknesses vary depending on the final application. Maintaining surface quality, dimensional accuracy, and edge smoothness is critical.

Challenges Faced by Steel & Stainless Steel Strip Producers

Atlantech Process Solutions for Steel & Stainless Steel Strip Production

1. Surface Cleaning & Scale Removal

Steel strip lines produce mill scale and oxides during hot rolling and annealing. Atlantech’s industrial bristle brushes remove these surface contaminants without damaging the metal, ensuring consistent finish and coating adhesion.

2. Non-Woven Abrasive Finishing

Non-woven abrasive brushes create uniform satin finishes, remove light oxides, and polish stainless steel strip to the desired surface profile. This is crucial for architectural stainless steel, appliance panels, and decorative metal finishes.

3. Edge Rounding & Deburring

Sharp edges can cause handling hazards and coating defects. Atlantech’s edge rounding disc brushes are engineered for both narrow and wide strip lines, smoothing edges without slowing production.

4. Wide & Narrow Strip Machines

• BM-Machine: Heavy-duty machine for wide steel and stainless steel strip cleaning and finishing. 
• FL-Machine: Ideal for narrow strip lines, offering cantilevered brushes and quick-change features to minimize downtime. 

5. Complete Process Line Integration

Atlantech provides fully integrated process line technology for steel and stainless steel strips, combining cleaning, deburring, edge rounding, and surface finishing in a single, efficient system.

Industries Served by Steel & Stainless Steel Strip Producers

• Automotive – Chassis components, body panels, and trim. 
• Appliances – Refrigerators, ovens, washers, and dryers. 
• Construction – Structural beams, cladding, and roofing. 
• Aerospace & Industrial – High-precision stainless steel for machinery, tools, and medical devices. 

Why Steel & Stainless Steel Strip Producers Choose Atlantech Process

• Enhanced Surface Quality – Bristle and non-woven brushes ensure consistent finishes and superior coating adhesion. 
• Reduced Downtime – Quick-change brush systems keep production lines running. 
• Versatile Solutions – Machines and brushes adaptable to wide or narrow strips, steel or stainless steel. 
• Expert Engineering & Integration – Atlantech customizes complete lines to meet each producer’s exact requirements. 

Conclusion

For steel and stainless steel strip metal producers, surface preparation, finishing, and edge conditioning are critical to producing high-quality, corrosion-resistant products. Atlantech Process provides machines, brushes, and integrated systems to enhance line efficiency, ensure superior finishes, and reduce downtime—helping producers deliver consistent, world-class strip metal products.

Explore Atlantech Process solutions at atlantechprocess.com.

The post Solutions for Steel & Stainless Steel Strip Metal Producers first appeared on APT.

However, the quality of the galvanized coating depends on surface preparation, oxide removal, and finishing processes—areas where Atlantech Process provides specialized machines and brushes to ensure optimal results.

What is Galvanizing in Strip Metal Production?

Galvanizing is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to flat rolled steel or strip metal. The most common methods include:

1. Hot-Dip Galvanizing – Immersing steel strip in molten zinc for a durable, corrosion-resistant coating.

2. Continuous Galvanizing – A high-speed process where strip metal passes through molten zinc in a continuous line.

The success of these processes depends heavily on surface cleanliness, oxide removal, and edge conditioning, all of which affect coating adhesion and uniformity.

Challenges Faced by Galvanizing Strip Producers

Atlantech Process Solutions for Galvanizing Lines

1. Surface Cleaning & Scale Removal

Atlantech’s industrial bristle brushes remove oxides, mill scale, and lubricants from steel strip surfaces before entering the galvanizing bath. This ensures optimal zinc adhesion and a uniform coating.

2. Non-Woven Abrasive Finishing

Non-woven abrasive brushes provide controlled surface finishing to eliminate minor surface defects without damaging the steel. This step is critical for consistent galvanizing thickness and smooth final appearance.

3. Edge Rounding & Burr Removal

Sharp edges or burrs can cause zinc pooling, coating defects, or safety hazards. Atlantech’s edge rounding disc brushes are designed for continuous strip lines, ensuring smooth edges and enhanced coating performance.

4. Wide & Narrow Strip Brush Machines

• BM-Machine – Heavy-duty solution for wide galvanized strip cleaning and finishing.

• FL-Machine – Optimized for narrow strip lines with quick-change brush capability to reduce downtime.

5. Complete Process Line Integration

Atlantech provides full process line systems that integrate cleaning, finishing, edge rounding, and deburring for continuous galvanizing lines, improving productivity while maintaining coating quality.

Industries Served by Galvanized Strip Producers

• Construction & Infrastructure – Roofing, siding, wall panels, and framing.

• Automotive – Corrosion-resistant body panels, reinforcements, and chassis components.

• Appliances – Washers, dryers, ovens, and refrigerators.

• Industrial Equipment – Coated steel for machinery, tanks, and ducts.

Why Galvanizing Strip Producers Choose Atlantech Process

• Enhanced Coating Adhesion – Clean, oxide-free surfaces for superior zinc bonding.

• Consistent Finish Quality – Non-woven abrasives deliver uniform surface preparation.

• Reduced Downtime – Quick-change brushes keep lines running efficiently.

• Versatility – Solutions for wide and narrow strip, ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

• Expert Integration – Atlantech customizes full processing lines for each producer’s specific requirements.

Conclusion

For galvanizing strip metal producers, achieving high-quality, corrosion-resistant finishes depends on surface preparation, cleaning, and finishing. Atlantech Process provides the machines, brushes, and integrated systems to ensure uniform coating, smooth edges, and consistent throughput—helping producers deliver superior galvanized products to the market.

Discover Atlantech’s full range of galvanizing strip solutions at atlantechprocess.com.

The post Galvanizing Strip Metal Producers: Enhancing Quality with Atlantech Process Solutions first appeared on APT.

Flat strip and sheet metals are essential forms of rolled metal used across manufacturing sectors. While strip metal is generally narrow and coiled, sheet metal is produced in wider, flat sheets. These materials can be made from ferrous metals (like carbon steel and stainless steel) or non-ferrous metals (such as aluminum, copper, and brass).

Industries that rely on flat strip and sheet metals include:

• Automotive – body panels, structural reinforcements, battery housings

• Aerospace – fuselage skins, interior structures, precision components

• Construction – roofing, cladding, framing, architectural finishes

• Electronics – enclosures, heat sinks, conductive strips

• HVAC – ductwork, vents, and heat exchanger plates

Leading Flat Strip and Sheet Metal Producers

Some of the world’s most recognized producers include:

1. ArcelorMittal – Global leader in steel strip and sheet products for automotive and infrastructure.

2. Nippon Steel Corporation – Produces high-grade flat steel for automotive, shipbuilding, and appliances.

3. Novelis – Specializes in flat-rolled aluminum for automotive and packaging.

4. Thyssenkrupp AG – Offers steel and stainless flat products for aerospace, construction, and industrial equipment.

5. Outokumpu – Known for stainless steel sheet and strip for food, chemical, and architecture sectors.

Production Challenges in Flat Strip & Sheet Metal Manufacturing

Atlantech Process: Flat Strip & Sheet Metal Processing Solutions

With decades of expertise in metal surface treatment, Atlantech Process offers equipment, brushes, and complete systems tailored to the needs of flat strip and sheet metal producers.

1. Surface Cleaning & Scale Removal

• Metal Surface Scale Cleaning Brushes efficiently remove hot mill scale, annealing oxides, and contaminants without damaging the substrate.

• Available in configurations for both wide sheet processing and narrow strip lines.

2. Satin & Decorative Finishing

• Non-Woven Abrasive Brushes deliver consistent satin, matte, or brushed finishes for aluminum, stainless steel, and other alloys.

• Ideal for architectural cladding, appliance panels, and decorative trims.

3. Wide & Narrow Strip Machines

• BM-Machine – heavy-duty machine for wide strip and sheet applications, featuring quick-change brush capability to minimize downtime.

• FL-Machine – designed for narrow strip processing with cantilevered brush shaft for rapid maintenance.

4. Edge Rounding & Deburring

• Atlantech’s brush technology integrates edge rounding and deburring into continuous strip and sheet lines—improving safety, coating adhesion, and component fit.

5. Complete Process Line Integration

• Process Line Technology from Atlantech offers turnkey solutions for cleaning, finishing, and deburring.

• Fully customizable for sheet widths, strip thicknesses, and metal type.

Why Flat Strip & Sheet Producers Choose Atlantech Process

• Proven Industry Expertise – Decades of global experience with both ferrous and non-ferrous production lines.

• Reduced Downtime – Quick-change brush systems keep production running.

• Consistent Quality – Automated brush dressing and precision feed control ensure repeatable results.

• Versatility – Solutions adaptable to carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and copper.

The Competitive Edge for Flat Strip & Sheet Producers

In today’s market, customers demand flawless finishes, precise tolerances, and fast delivery. Atlantech Process equips flat strip and sheet metal producers with the tools to meet those demands while improving operational efficiency. From cleaning mill scale off hot-rolled strip to creating architectural-grade satin finishes, Atlantech’s machines, brushes, and integrated systems deliver results that keep producers competitive.

Explore the full Atlantech Process product lineup here to see how your flat strip and sheet metal operations can achieve higher quality and throughput.

The post Flat Strip and Sheet Metal Producers: Industry Insights & Atlantech Process Solutions first appeared on APT.

1. Aurubis AG – Based in Hamburg, Germany, Aurubis is a premier copper recycler and producer. It specializes in converting metal concentrates, scrap, and residues into high-purity copper cathodes, as well as roll products such as wire rods, continuously cast profiles, and flat-rolled strips.Wikipedia

2. KME Group – A European heavyweight in copper manufacturing, KME produces rolled copper, tubing, bars, and cables. Fresh off acquiring Aurubis’s flat-rolled product facilities, KME now operates across Germany, France, Italy, and the U.S., with production approaching 200,000 metric tons annually.WikipediaClaight Corp

3. Xingye Alloy Materials Group – Headquartered in Zhejiang, China, Xingye supplies high-precision copper plates and strips, alongside copper-alloy variants like tin-phosphor bronze and brass. Their clientele spans electronics, automotive, and precision industries.Wikipedia

4. Yunnan Copper Company – China’s third-largest copper producer, headquartered in Kunming, Yunnan. It manufactures a wide array of copper products, including cathodes, rods, wires, and chemical derivatives like copper sulfate.Wikipedia

Other notable contributors include Wieland-Werke AG, a leading supplier of semi-finished copper alloys, and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, which, besides copper, works across electronics and building materials.Claight CorpIQS Directory

Why Copper Strips Matter

Copper strips are thin, elongated forms of copper widely used in electrical, architectural, automotive, and electronics industries. Their exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity, paired with malleability, makes them ideal for actions like forming, strip processing, and precision finishing.IQS Directory

Manufacturing typically involves combustion or induction melting, followed by laboratory testing, hot rolling, cutting, and surface finishing to ensure strict dimensional and surface standards.copper-brass-bronze.com

Atlantech Process Technology (APT) & Copper Strip Processing

Copper strip producers must maintain extremely clean, oxide-free surfaces—crucial for downstream coatings, soldering, or further processing. That’s where Atlantech Process (APT) steps in.

Atlantech Strip Finishing Solutions

• Wide-Strip Brush Machine (BM-Machine)
  Tailored for strips 30–72″ wide, this modular system enables quick-change brushes, precision control, and minimal maintenance. It’s ideal for cleaning, finishing, descaling, and deburring copper strip lines.APT

• Narrow-Strip Brush Machine (FL-Machine)
  Engineered for strips 30″ or less, its compact cantilevered design optimizes cleaning and finishing in tight spaces. Multiple heads and automated brush-dressing ensure consistent results.APT

• Industrial Bristle Brushes
  APT’s bristle brushes are available with or without embedded abrasives. Their “scale-eater” design can deeply penetrate and lift contaminants while extending brush life—optimal for cleaning copper strips in continuous processing lines.APT

• Non-Woven Abrasive Brushes (Wide-Face)
  For precision surface finishing—whether satin finishing, oxide removal, or decorative finishes—APT’s non-woven abrasive brushes offer dynamic flexibility and continuous grit exposure, essential for fine copper strip working.APT+1

How APT Enhances Copper Strip Production

Copper strip producers—from Aurubis to Xingye and Yunnan Copper—rely on consistent, clean surfaces for optimal production. APT’s specialized C-strip brush machines, bristle systems, and non-woven abrasive options provide flexible, reliable solutions tailored to the unique challenges of copper processing lines.

Contact us for more information today!

The post Copper Strip Metal Producers: A 2025 Industry Overview first appeared on APT.

This guide will explain how coil coating works, why it’s used, and where Atlantech Process fits into the picture.

What is Coil Coating?

Coil coating is a continuous, automated process that takes a bare metal coil through a sequence of operations:

1. Uncoiling – The raw metal coil is mounted and fed into the line.

2. Cleaning & Pretreatment – Oil, dirt, oxides, and other contaminants are removed.

3. Chemical Treatment – Improves paint adhesion and corrosion resistance.

4. Coating Application – Paint, film, or laminate is applied to one or both sides.

5. Curing – The coating is baked or set for durability.

6. Recoiling – The finished coil is rewound for shipment or further processing.

Why Do Manufacturers Use Coil Coating?

• Efficiency – Coat thousands of meters of strip without stopping.

• Consistent Quality – Same finish and thickness across the entire coil.

• Cost Savings – Less waste, fewer handling steps.

• Durability – Superior coating adhesion and corrosion resistance.

• Design Freedom – Wide range of colors, gloss levels, and textures.

The Role of Surface Preparation in Coil Coating

Before a single drop of paint is applied, the coil surface must be perfectly prepared. Poor surface prep leads to:

• Paint peeling or flaking.

• Visible surface defects.

• Reduced corrosion protection.

Atlantech Process specializes in pre-coating surface preparation solutions for coil coating lines, ensuring each coil meets exacting cleanliness and finish requirements.

Atlantech Process Solutions for Coil Coating Lines

1. Strip Cleaning Machines

The FL-Machine and BM-Machine remove oils, dust, and oxides before coating.

2. Non-Woven Abrasive Brushes

Non-woven abrasive brushes deliver controlled surface conditioning without damaging base metal—critical for coating adhesion.

3. Edge Preparation

Custom edge rounding disc brushes help avoid coating chips and enhance corrosion resistance.

4. Complete Process Line Integration

Atlantech offers complete system solutions for coil coating lines, integrating cleaning, abrasion, and finishing into a single high-efficiency unit.

Industries That Benefit from Coil Coating

• Construction – Roofing, siding, and façade panels.

• Appliances – Pre-painted steel for refrigerators, washers, and ovens.

• Automotive – Pre-coated steel and aluminum body panels.

• HVAC – Durable coated metal for ducting and equipment housings.

Sustainability Advantage

Coil coating is one of the most environmentally responsible finishing processes:

• Minimal overspray or waste.

• Efficient use of energy.

• Long-lasting coatings reduce the need for replacement.

Conclusion

Whether you’re an established coil coater or a strip metal producer looking to upgrade your surface preparation capabilities, Atlantech Process offers machines, brushes, and fully integrated systems to ensure your coil coating process produces the cleanest, most consistent, and highest-performing finishes possible.

Learn more at atlantechprocess.com.

The post Coil Coating 101: A Beginner’s Guide to the Continuous Metal Finishing Process first appeared on APT.

That’s where Atlantech Process comes in—offering brush technology, cleaning machines, and full process line solutions engineered for the demands of today’s coil coating operations.

The Coil Coating Advantage

Coil coating is an automated process in which a continuous strip of metal—usually steel or aluminum—is cleaned, pretreated, painted, and cured before being rewound for later fabrication. This method offers:

• Consistent quality across thousands of meters of strip. 
• Cost efficiency through high-speed, continuous processing. 
• Improved performance with corrosion-resistant, decorative coatings. 

But the success of coil coating hinges on what happens before the paint line.

Why Surface Preparation is Critical for Coil Coaters

For coil coating, the pre-treatment stage determines coating adhesion, corrosion resistance, and overall product performance. Common issues coil coaters face include:

• Mill oil residue from rolling operations. 
• Surface oxides and scale from annealing. 
• Particulate contamination from slitting or cutting. 
• Edge burrs that can damage coatings or cause downstream defects. 

These problems can cause poor paint adhesion, visible blemishes, and premature coating failure.

Atlantech Process Solutions for Coil Coating Lines

1. Industrial Strip Cleaning Machines

Atlantech’s FL-Machine and BM-Machine deliver powerful, consistent cleaning for both narrow and wide strip applications. These systems integrate:

• Non-woven abrasive brushes for oxide removal. 
• Specialized roll wringers for oil and contaminant removal. 
• Adjustable configurations to match line speed and coating requirements. 

2. Non-Woven Abrasive Brush Technology

• Non-Woven Abrasive Brushes provide controlled, repeatable surface finishes. 
• Removes light scale without damaging base metal. 
• Ideal for stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and zinc-coated strip. 

3. Complete Process Line Integration

Atlantech’s Process Line Technology seamlessly integrates cleaning, surface conditioning, and edge preparation into coil coating lines. This ensures every coil entering the coating stage meets exacting cleanliness and surface profile standards.

4. Edge Rounding & Burr Removal for Strip

Edge rounding improves safety, reduces paint chipping, and ensures even coating coverage on strip edges—critical for applications in architectural, appliance, and automotive markets. Atlantech’s edge rounding disc brushes are engineered for high-speed coil lines.

Industries & Markets Served

• Architectural Panels – Pre-painted aluminum and steel for building façades. 
• Appliance Manufacturing – Color-coated steel for washers, dryers, and refrigerators. 
• Automotive Panels & Trim – Coated strip for body panels and decorative elements. 
• HVAC Systems – Pre-coated metal for ducting, coils, and housings. 

Why Coil Coaters Choose Atlantech

Conclusion: Surface Prep is the Key to Coating Excellence

In coil coating, your coating is only as good as your surface prep. With Atlantech Process machines, brushes, and integrated line solutions, coil coaters can achieve unmatched cleaning efficiency, consistent surface conditioning, and higher coating adhesion rates—resulting in better finishes, longer product life, and higher customer satisfaction.

Discover the full range of Atlantech Process coil coating solutions at atlantechprocess.com.

The post Coil Coaters & Strip Metal Producers: How Atlantech Process Powers Precision Surface Preparation first appeared on APT.

WHY APT-WESERO?

In the fast-paced world of manufacturing, every moment counts. The efficiency and productivity of a factory are directly tied to its machinery’s functionality. When a crucial machine breaks down, the entire production process comes to a grinding halt, resulting in significant financial losses and operational setbacks. To underscore the importance of seamless operations, the role of well-built machinery with German engineering cannot be overstated.

The Total Cost of Machine Breakdowns

The repercussions of a machine breakdown extend far beyond the visible downtime. While the immediate impact is the cessation of production, the ripple effects encompass a range of hidden costs that can accumulate rapidly. These include:

• Lost Production Time: The most direct and apparent cost is the loss of production time. Each moment that a machine remains idle translates into a delay in delivering products to customers, potentially leading to customer dissatisfaction, penalties, and missed business opportunities.

Quality Machinery: The German Engineering Advantage

To mitigate these substantial losses, investing in high-quality machinery with a focus on engineering excellence is paramount. German engineering, renowned for its precision, durability, and reliability, offers a clear advantage in this regard. Here’s why:

• Durability: Wesero-built machinery is synonymous with durability. It is designed to withstand the rigors of heavy industrial usage, reducing the frequency of breakdowns and minimizing downtime.

In conclusion, the total losses a factory experiences when a machine breaks down and production halts for a day or two extend far beyond the surface-level downtime. The financial implications, labor costs, supply chain disruptions, and missed opportunities collectively underscore the need for well-built machinery that prioritizes reliability and durability. German engineering’s reputation for excellence positions it as a compelling choice for factories aiming to reduce the risks associated with production disruptions, ensuring that each moment of downtime remains an exception rather than the norm.

Give us a call for a free consultation!

Stay Healthy & Safe!

Sincerely,

David Thiemann 

The post Minimizing Production Disruptions: The True Cost of Machine Breakdowns in Factories first appeared on APT.

Hello, my name is David Thiemann and I am a Director at APT. We are a manufacture of wide face non-woven abrasive brushes, cleaning section process equipment, and customized brush machines for metal surface cleaning, degreasing, deoxidizing, descaling, and finishing flat metal strip, sheet, plate, and large and small parts.

Today we’d like to ask the questions to you, the galvanizers producing galvanized steel strip, sheet, and plate.

How much is an ultra clean steel surface, prior to galvanizing, worth to you? What is the value of a clean steel surface?

The value of a clean steel surface to a galvanizing line depends on several factors including:

• • the size and condition of the steel surface, 
  • the type of galvanizing process being used
  • the market demand for galvanized steel. 

Generally, a clean steel surface is essential for achieving a high-quality galvanized coating with good adhesion and uniform coverage.

How clean are you currently getting your steel strip? How clean would you like it to be?

In the galvanizing industry, the cost of surface preparation, which includes cleaning and pre-treatment of the steel surface, is typically considered as part of the overall production cost. The cost of surface preparation can vary depending on the size and complexity of the steel structure, the type of contaminants on the steel surface, and the required level of surface cleanliness. 

Surface preparation methods may include mechanical strip cleaning and chemical strip cleaning. 

Examples of mechanical cleaning strip surface would be using abrasive industrial bristle brushes and non-woven abrasive brushes. Another way of mechanical cleaning is using shot blasting or abrasive blasting.

Examples of chemical cleaning using caustic alkali spray and dunk tanks for degreasing and removing oils and hydrocarbons, along with pickling and using acid to soften up the oxidizes and scale on the strip surface.

Usually a combination of both mechanical and chemical cleaning are used in the cleaning sections of metal strip process lines.  

Why is a clean steel surface prior to galvanizing important?

A clean steel surface is important because it helps ensure proper zinc coating adhesion and uniformity, which are critical for the performance and longevity of the galvanized steel. A poorly cleaned or contaminated steel surface may result in inadequate coating adhesion, uneven coating thickness, or coating defects, which can reduce the quality and durability of the final galvanized product.

What are the cost savings of producing clean steel strip?

The value of a clean steel surface to a galvanizing line can be assessed in terms of the potential cost savings from:

• • Reduced coating defects, 
  • Increased production efficiency
  • Improved product quality. 

It can also impact the market demand for the galvanized steel product, as customers may be willing to pay a premium for high-quality, defect-free galvanized steel.

What is the conclusion?

In summary, while it may be challenging to assign a specific monetary value to a clean steel surface in the context of a galvanizing line, it is considered essential for producing high-quality galvanized steel and can impact production costs, product quality, and market demand. Proper surface preparation, including achieving a clean steel surface, is a critical step in the galvanizing process and is typically considered an important investment for galvanizers.

We here at APT focus solely on the cleaning section process and have a team of knowledgeable and experienced people available to you, for consultation on state-or-the-art process technology and tools to optimize your process line surface cleaning capabilities!

Please give us a call anytime to discuss your application and parameters.

Stay Healthy & Safe!

Sincerely,

David Thiemann 

The post How much is a clean steel strip surface worth to you? first appeared on APT.

Wide-face Abrasive and Non-Abrasive Bristle Brushes in Your Cleaning Section 

• With both abrasive and non-abrasive Bristle Brushes, increasing the stiffness of the brush improves efficiency in your alkali and rinse sections, because the resistance to bending (Bristle elasticity) is increased.
•  Longer bristles are not the answer to longer life. Bristle stiffness and density are the two parameters to consider first.

Wide-face Abrasive, Non-woven Brushes 

• On high-strength steel, the challenge is to prepare the surface of certain alloys for subsequent coatings. For those applications, APT has a family of Non-Woven products.
• Along with the in-process brush dressing designed into our machines, we have designed non-woven brushes and impregnations that have drastically increased the life and aggressiveness of the brushes.

Brush Machines and Process Machines in Your Cleaning Line 

• When higher line speeds are desired, the next change would be to change the RPM.
• In-Process Brush Dressing is now built into everyone of our machines. What does this mean for you?You now have to change a brush only once–at the end of its usability! Gone are the days of brush dressing. (We’ve got video of this that’s being edited, but we’ll be uploading soon!)

Atlantech Process Technology, INC., is the industry leader in wide-face brushes and brush machines for the steel industry. Our next-generation brushes and machines use materials and technology that set the standard for productivity and precision.

The post Metal Strip Producers FAST FACTS That Save Time & Money  first appeared on APT.

In 2013 the red bull racing team set the F-1 record pit stop at 1.923 seconds. The common request we hear is what we call the “Formula-1 Pitstop”. The car pulls in the tires come off, new ones come, and the car is off in 4 seconds. Modular design is very much a theme of our machines.

Most airplane replacement parts are all modular with a sensor on them. When they are not working properly, pull out the bad, put in the new, and get the plane in the air. So why aren’t our machines that way?

Most facilities we visit all operate with a fix amount of downtime or downturn time to get equipment in the line fixed, replaced, and do regular preventative maintenance checks. This is another feature that we consider and build into our machines.

The concept behind the modular design is focused on doing major regular maintenance like brush and bearing changes, not on or near the process line, but rather in a central workshop. The concept entails the full removal of the brush head to be serviced. The head consists of brush, shaft, bearings, adjustment motors associated sensors in a single assembly, pulled out through the side of a machine onto a wheeled support. In place of the just removed module a refurbished one is installed. The estimated time of removal and installation would be 10 to 15 minutes. This allows maximum line-up time and full stope maintenance to be done in a central location.

This design is a huge help if you are in the middle of processing and the line goes down because of an issue with the brush machine. This also comes in handy during regular downturns and maintenance. You only have so much time to get work completed on the line, before it has to be up and running again. By being able to switch out the brush stations, this allows you maintenance staff move on to other priorities while the line is down, and fix the brush modules later in the shop, once the line is back up and running.

Happy Brushing!

Best regards,

David Thiemann – Director

The post PROCESS MACHINE MODULAR DESIGN FOR EASE OF MAINTENANCE first appeared on APT.