Every person that owns a vehicle loathes the day that his or her four-wheel machine breaks down. Even worse, however, is when just one specific part, for instance the engine, malfunctions but the entire machine becomes defunct and irreparable. Would you rather spend $2,000 on a single part or $50K on a new truck? When you haven’t planned ahead for such an investment, the former option is generally the preferred route.
General Kinematics sought to address a similar (and burdensome) mechanical dependency in foundry equipment designs: specifically Cast Grid Systems. And they succeeded. When the cast liner system—situated inside a traditional cast grid system—wears out over time, rather than replacing the entire cast grid system, now just the liner system can be replaced.
Being able to fix one isolated part rather than the entire machine (by replacing the rotary drum liners) not only saves a foundry money but also offers a load of other awesome benefits. The revolutionary concept was catalyzed by the request of a foundry that asked GK to develop a solution that it could use to maintain an existing rotary drum that had a worn out cast liner system. GK delivered!
Why GK’s LOCK-TITE™ Drum Liners are Awesome
General Kinematics’ lineup of DUCTA-SERIES® Rotary Drums and Liner systems are groundbreaking. The selection includes ten various machine models to fit a variety of specific needs. As published in this Foundry Gate article in May 2016:
“General Kinematics’ strategic goal of becoming the most complete supplier of world-class rotary foundry technology takes another step forward with DUCTA-SERIES® line of rotary drums…General Kinematics’ Rotary Drums allow for all wear surfaces to be replaced separately. Thus, you do not have to replace the unit when items wear down, just replace that specific part.”
Here’s the general rundown: the XL Series is one configuration, a conventional design that uses a vibratory conveyor (instead of a drum body) to transmit materials. The other configuration, a more veteran approach, is featured in the SL Series which uses an inner shell of the drum to move material to the inlet.
Both DUCTA-SERIES® models use GK’s innovative LOCK-TITE™ Drum Liner System, which utilizes fabricated bolt-in liners that offer long life and easy replacement. The ability to replace the liners also enables easy accessibility for cleaning or repair.
The liner design is separated into segments and each one is bolted down, which means heavy castings are history. If a piece of the liner needs to be replaced, the overall replacement requires less time than the former design.
For more information or to get a specific quote regarding an individual machine, liner or other part costs, please select a model listed beneath the DUCTA-SERIES® Model list. Then click on the menu bar’s RFQ and fill out the contact form. A member of the GK team will respond to your request as soon as possible!
