Six R&M Materials Handling Inc. overhead crane systems were installed at the newly constructed Kimura Foundry America Inc. factory in Shelbyville, IN. The facility is the company's first venture outside its native Japan, where it provides rapid prototype (RP) castings and small lot production services.
Service Crane Co., which provides industrial cranes, workstation cranes and hoist systems, installed the R&M crane components in Kimura's new 45,000 sq. ft. facility.
Cody White, Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator at the Shelbyville site, said: "Before a new part, component or product hits the market, extensive research, development and testing must take place. Here at Kimura, we are responsible for manufacturing those items prior to mass production. We employ the latest information technology to increase productivity. As a result, we can provide more value-added RP castings and small lot production services to our customers."
"With Kimura's processes, they shorten industry-standard lead times by months, delivering final products to customers within five to seven days," said a Kimura spokesperson.
The Challenge
"With the goal of becoming the `world's number one clean foundry', the factory was a pioneer in factory operation based on `5S': sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain," continued the spokesperson. White, who oversaw installation of the cranes and conducted operator training, said, "Kimura's automated systems are recognized for an ability to reduce performance variation and increase safe operation, as well as to improve productivity. Its clean factory operation effectively reduces workplace accidents and risks."
Due to Kimura's short lead times, it relies on crane components and parts that are readily available, easily serviced and provide dependability, all while keeping a safe working environment. That is when Service Crane turned to R&M for a solution.
The Solution
Mark Drake, Territory Sales at Service Crane Co., explained, "Originally only five top-running cranes were required-two 3-ton and three 2-ton-but the end user requested an additional 3-ton unit when the others were already installed. The larger ones all have a bridge span of 63.1 ft."
Drake added, "We continue to embrace the varied material handling challenges of Kimura, which has already involved supplying below-the-hook equipment to connect our lifting machinery to the facility's varied loads."
For more information contact:
R&M Materials Handling, Inc.
4501 Gateway Boulevard
45502 Springfield, OH 45502
937-328-5100 / 800-955-9967
rm.communications@rmhoist.com
www.rmhoist.com