/ By Kastalon / Automotive and Transport Industry • Case Studies • Heavy Equipment Manufacturing • Metal Processing Industry/ • • / 0 Comments

Tesla Motors aluminum process and assembly for their Model S

We are proud to be just a small part of the Tesla Motors aluminum process and assembly for their Model S, located in California. The Tesla aluminum coils weigh up to 20,000 lbs and rest easily on Kastalon’s yellow Coil Floor Storage Pads. The assembly shop found that if they create production staging areas near their lathes, they are able to protect the working surface of the aluminum rolls while they wait to be a bigger part of the automotive production.

At Kastalon, we specialize in finding effective solutions that will improve yield, quality and production efficiencies, literally from the ground up. As a roller shop keeps evolving, they are finding that at times their racks are full during production and they have nowhere to set their large steel work rolls, backup rolls or roughing rolls. That’s when Kastalon’s Coil Floor Pads come into use.

Made of bright safety yellow polyurethane, the patented deep cradle fits virtually any size roll and takes up nominal floor space. The unique design offers the versatility of using it as a movable fixture in staging areas or affixed permanently to the storage area floor.

Contact a Kastalon Sales Representative today!

/ By Lyn Thorne / Custom Engineering • Polyurethane • Steel Mill Industry/ • • • • • / 0 Comments

Polyurethane improves safety in mills

In a steel or aluminum mills, safety is always a major concern. With many employees staying in the workforce longer, there is a growing concern for reducing injuries that result from heavy lifting.

Recently, an aluminum mill established a goal to limit the maximum weight lifted manually at 50 pounds. In the roll shop this was a major concern because the bearings are held in place by a large steel split ring, known as a thrust collar that is locked into place. The maintenance process of changing out the bearing requires the worker to break the ring free and remove it. These rings can typically weigh more than 60 pounds each.

Interestingly, Kastalon was able to design a custom engineered polyurethane alternative that had all of the same strength and wear characteristics of the steel ring, but only weighed 12 pounds.

The first 4 rings well exceeded the life expectancy by lasting more than a year in continuous service and proved to reduced lost time due to back injuries in that area.

Not only did the mill find a method that would protect their workforce from unsafe practices but also found a way to achieve greater efficiency.

If you would like to learn more about our metal processing solutions, contact Lyn Thorne at lyn@kastalon.com.