Skating on air for 25 years
August 1st 2008 Wiggin Alloys first installed a
Hovair air film system in
1983 to move a forge press
tool train under a 1750t
forging press. In partnership
with Hovair – now part of the
industrial division of British
Turntable, the company is
still using the same air film
system in its manufacturing
process 25 years later. The
forging plant, now Special
Metals Wiggin, produces
high performance nickel
based alloys for the
aerospace, petrochemical
and automotive industries.
Three sets of four Hovair
air skates are used to inflate
and lift the 12 000kg tool
train clear of the floor, and
controlled airflow creates an
almost friction-free film of air
between the skates and the
floor. Once the train is 'on
air', a drive motor and chain
arrangement move the
desired tool under the press.
The high capacity of the air
bearings, low floor pressure
and low frictional coefficient
means that the heavy load
can be easily moved using
low power drive motors
without damaging the floor
like wheels. A set of four
Hovair air skates can move
2000kg-120 000 kg. More articles from Movetech UK: | 
