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SFX 40 at Mubea: Heavy-Duty Transport for Centralised Tool Maintenance
In Mubea’s press shop, heavy tool changes are part of everyday operations. Press tools are loaded onto the platform transporter by crane, moved across the plant site and set down again at the destination – reliably, consistently and at a high tempo. To consolidate several decentralised maintenance areas and use space more efficiently, the site was looking for a transport system that combines heavy-duty capability, flexibility and energy efficiency. The choice fell on the electric HUBTEX SFX 40 platform transporter.
Centralisation with clear performance requirements
Moving to centralised tool maintenance significantly increased the demands on internal transport: the tools reach total weights of up to 40 tonnes – a deal-breaker for many standard market solutions. In addition, around 30 tool movements per working day had to be covered over distances of up to 180 metres. Rapid availability of a suitable system was also crucial, as the plant was already close to implementing the new structure.
"Through our constant drive for improvement, we came up with the idea of bringing several small maintenance areas together into one larger area to leverage synergies,” explains Stefan Werner, Site Manager at Mubea.
Radio control and multi-directional steering for dynamic route planning
In operation, the SFX 40 is controlled via a radio remote. This makes positioning easier during crane loading and unloading and supports safe processes in areas with changing traffic. The required manoeuvrability is provided by the electro-hydraulic multi-directional steering system: all wheels are steerable, and steering modes can be preselected on the radio controller. Particularly practical is the proportional steering via joystick: the operator steers smoothly left or right; when released, the wheels automatically return to the straight-ahead position. “Of course, the system’s flexibility is very important to us so we can respond to specific situations, for example oncoming forklift traffic,” says Werner.
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Operational synergies – and automation as the next development step
With centralisation, the site was able to realise synergies, for example through shared use of machinery and consolidated maintenance processes. Werner also highlights the course of the project: from the outset, the collaboration with HUBTEX was professional; requirements and boundary conditions were consistently captured and translated into a suitable solution. In day-to-day three-shift operation, Mubea sees the benefits of the SFX 40 primarily in its “reliability, flexibility and manoeuvrability”. The next expansion stage is already planned: “The next logical step for us is automating the system, which is planned to be implemented later this year.”
