Heavy load under control

MK-Lietz is a mechanical engineering and apparatus construction company based in the Hanover area. The company attaches great importance to personal contact with its customers. Combined with many years of experience, this results in high-quality products in the field of mechanical and apparatus engineering. MK-Lietz's services include consulting, production and commissioning of transport trolleys, transport systems, systems for extraction or automation technology in the field of feeding and sorting machines. MK-Lietz's customers include national and international companies in large-scale industry.

Bulky long goods, but also up to four Euro pallets at a time, had to be transported through the hall and up to the next floor via an elevator. MK-Lietz has developed a special six-wheel system for its transport trolleys. This allows the trolley to turn 360 degrees on the spot with a load. Four swivel casters are located on the outside of the frame, two track wheels in the middle. The wheels are suspended from swing arms that are attached to the support frame via bolts and connected to the track wheels. This ensures that the trolley does not tilt and that the track wheels are always in contact with the ground. This system was also to be used by MK-Lietz's customer. However, it was not initially clear which wheels could be used. The requirements, on the other hand, were clearly formulated: "We were looking for a simple and ergonomic way to be able to transport the steel profiles for conveyor systems, which weigh up to four tons and are six metres long, to the next floor without having to reload them," describes Dennis Lietz, Production Manager at MK-Lietz.

A solution emerged after intensive discussions with the wheel and roller specialists. They recommended the use of ErgoMove 4000 for the track wheels. The electric drive system allows loads of up to four tons to be transported with minimal effort. ErgoMove drives, but also provides steering and braking assistance. In order to solve the handling task, Blickle adapted the software and made minor modifications to the trolley. It was initially unclear which wheels were suitable for the frame. "We carried out tests on site and finally suggested the use of double swivel casters of type LHD-ALB for optimum swivel capability," says Timo Sieber, Sales Manager Business Unit ErgoMove. These heavy-duty casters have the resistant Blickle Besthane tread and a surface hardness of 92 Shore A. Strong sheet steel is used for the housing, which ensures high stability. Blickle also supplied external battery boxes for a flexible charging process. A special anti-trap protection system ensures safety. This activates an immediate emergency stop if the trolley touches objects or a wall.

The combination of ErgoMove 4000 with the double load rollers has brought several advantages for MK-Lietz. "The Blickle system has provided us with an efficient and safe solution. The handling is simple and the ergonomics are perfect," explains Production Manager Dennis Lietz. In his view, the anti-trap protection is also useful. "Employee safety plays an important role when transporting heavy long goods. This is reliably ensured with the anti-trap protection." ErgoMove 4000 is being used for the first time by Blickle's long-standing customer MK-Lietz - and so successfully that further projects are already in the pipeline.

• Easy handling of the six-meter-long trolleys
• Impeccable handling with any trolley weight
• The anti-trap protection ensures the safety of employees
• External battery boxes ensure a flexible charging process