Technology transfer facilitates rapid sand-lime brick mould changeovers

In 2007, Lasco Umformtechnik, a machine-tool manufacturer from Coburg, Bavaria, received the Innovation Award of the German Construction Industry in the field of machine tools for its first Vario Block Press PSP line as a fully automated system for supplementary blocks in a sand-lime element system.

This innovative PSP system has been continually further developed over the last twelve years. On the occasion of bauma 2010, Lasco launched an advanced model with a doubling of the possible block formats from four to eight.

Incorporating a green block saw for post-processing single blocks made a separate machine redundant for such processes– something that appreciably enhanced investment and follow-on costs. On top of this, two tools with four differing wall thicknesses could be utilised. This means that supplementary block elements of 498 mm and 623 mm in height can now be produced without changing tools. The integrated green block saw allows gable and bevelled blocks to be fabricated individually. A unloading robot removes the cut block elements and stacks them on a curing wagon according to programming instructions. In 2012, the Vario Block Press System, consisting of a main power unit for pressing elements in varying lengths and a green block saw for sawing height and gable cuts, was enhanced by a block blank slitting saw for making slits in masonry. A prerequisite for this was the preparation and further processing of element data by means of special element management software. In 2018, Lasco succeeded in transferring the PSP’s rapid tool set-up process to conventional sand-lime systems of the KSP series. The company also took into account their customers’ requests for improving set-up times by developing a system which reduces to a minimum the extremely time-consuming alignment of upper and lower punches in the mould box.

New – mould preset-up for sand-lime presses in ongoing production

Two new features generate shorter set-up times –

essentially the reason for the innovation.

• Four centring angle brackets on the lower punch in combination with pneumatically activated locking bolts on the mould box automatically align the lower punch with the mould box. The optimised prism arrangement prevents any shifting in an x and y direction.
• The separate centring device, fitted to the upper side of the mould box, facilitates centring the upper punch easily and rapidly with the mould box. The upper tool is aligned manually using threaded spindles and pressure screws during the preparation period of the setup operation, i.e. in ongoing production. The centring frame can be removed in a simple, uncomplicated manner once the tooling package has been installed in the press and the upper tool fastened to the upper punch.

A major proportion of the above-mentioned procedural steps can be carried on during operations away from the press. It means that for the first time rapid mould changeover are also possible with conventional sand-lime systems. This, of course, has a positive impact on production output.

Lasco Umformtechnik GmbH

Hahnweg 139

96450 Coburg, Germany

T+49 9561 6420

lasco@lasco.de

www.lasco.de