Wickert Hydraulic Presses is a global manufacturer of fixture hardening systems for heat treated high-tolerance parts, such as the carburization of gears or parts requiring forming and hardening. Wickert’s 110 years of in-depth knowledge of the process has led it to develop a new and innovative technology — Grip Smart System (GSS) grippers. Wickert’s GSS has been developed to minimize the risk of defective goods caused by tilt and/or mislocation of production hardening masks. Moreover, the GSS avoids pressure points and prevents damage to delicately interlocked components that are often encountered with conventional grippers in a heat treat system.
Wickert’s GSS provides the ability to directly check the position of the rings during closing. This alleviates the tilting of the component — a common issue in the hardening press. As a result, the Wickert GSS prevents damages to the hardening mask, as well as manufacturing errors.
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An additional advantage with the GSS is that workpieces are treated gently after hardening. Compared to current off-the-shelf type grippers, the new GSS has a specialized surface treatment to create a damping effect that improves the gripper reliability. When working with delicate gears and intricate workpieces, these smart grippers provide up to a 50-percent increase in productivity with reduced rejects.
Wickert delivers custom-engineered fixture hardening systems. Its turnkey packages provide tooling, including automatic tool-change function, ovens, and preheating stations with component buffers. Wickert also offers a single control package for the entire system with component tracking, production data monitoring, and SPC, including pre-selectable testing reports. Installation and worldwide service are included in a complete service package.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: wickert-usa.com