For organizations that rely on coil, quality uncoiling solutions are a must, especially considering that’s where the production line starts.
But, with a lengthy list of options out there, some processors might be left scratching their heads and asking, “Which one do I need?”
Rather than throw a dart at a catalog and hope for the best, read on to learn about the uncoiling solutions EnSight offers and get a better idea of which might be best for you.
Exploring Ensight’s Uncoiling Solutions
Payout Reel
Payout reels are idea for handling coils of thicker, wider materials, as well as heavier coils and faster line speeds.
They are tall machines that feature an arbor reel on one side. Using a forklift or crane with a sling, the processor will lift the coil and slide it onto the arbor reel. Depending on the reel design, the processor can expand the arbors via manual or hydraulic controls to accommodate the coil’s internal diameter (ID) to avoid slippage. The reels also have a pneumatic drag brake to maintain a constant tension and mitigate overturning.
Payout reels are available in motorized or non-motorized versions. Which works best depends on the line. If the organization is using a powered straightener, for example, they will want to couple it with a non-motorized payout reel to allow the straightener to pull the material off the reel. Before making that decision, though, the processor should check with the payout reel manufacturer and make sure the straightener is actually powerful enough to pull the materials off the reel effectively.
For organizations that run a lot of material and need to reload the payout reel multiple times in a day, a double-arbor reel could be a life saver. The processor can load the next coil on one reel while the other is paying out coil. When the running reel is empty, the processor simply rotates the arbors, threads the material into the line and starts running again.
Upender
The upender is a great accessory for processors who use a payout reel but receive their coils with the ID facing up.
So, if a customer receives their coil like so, they need a way to rotate the coil so the ID is horizontal, matching the payout reel. With an upender, the customer just uses a forklift to place the coil, ID up, on the upender. Secure it for safety, press the start button and the upender will rotate by 90˚, bringing the ID horizontal so the coil could be picked up with a forklift or sling and slid onto the arbor reel.
Without these machines, processors have resorted to different, sometimes dangerous, methods for flipping the coil. One such method involves sliding the tines of a forklift under the edge of a coil and raising it. A tire is sometimes placed under the coil to soften the drop. But, what happens if the coil rolls away? Or even keeps tipping? That’s a hazard to team members, as well as the materials since a multi-ton coil is going to land hard enough to damage the materials.
Pallet Uncoiler
Pallet uncoilers are ideal for processors who get their coils … you guessed it … on a pallet. Whether the pallet is loaded with one or more coils, pallet uncoilers do the trick. In regard to the material, thinner materials work better because it starts vertically and then must transition to horizontal. They are also not ideal for faster applications–payout reels are better in that case.
A pallet uncoiler is extremely simple to use. The processor just uses a forklift to place the pallet on the uncoiler. Thread the materials through the proper channels, and it’s ready to go.
All EnSight uncoilers are powered. For customers who receive their materials on a top hat, we also have uncoilers with a fixture to accommodate that setup.
Lever Lift
The lever lift is a unique machine that’s designed specifically for handling materials on a spool.
With this, the customer rolls the full spool onto the drive rollers. Thread the material over the drum and through the line and start it up. The rollers will feed out the material at the pace the organization wants.
EnSight offers a number of coil handling solutions to help industrial processors start their lines right. In addition to the single-function machines just listed, we also offer the multifunction compact feed line, which combines a coil cradle with a feed in half the space of a typical line, as well as the cradle straightener combo, which combines a coil cradle with a powered straightener.
To learn more about our uncoiling solutions and how we can tailor them to fit your organization’s needs just right, contact our industrial processing specialists now.
