GIFA 2023: Walther Trowal shows new energy-saving continuous flow shot blast machines
At the GIFA 2023 trade show, Walther Trowal will present the THM series troughed belt continuous blast machines with the Smart Abrasive Option for the first time. Through targeted control of the abrasive delivery rate, Walther Trowal significantly reduces energy requirements and extends the service life of both the abrasive and the entire system.
Until now, large continuous blast machines with several turbines have always operated with an excess of abrasive in the circuit to ensure that all parts are perfectly blasted. For the THM 700 and THM 900 blast machines, which are equipped with up to four turbines, Walther Trowal has now developed the Smart Abrasive Option. It adapts the abrasive delivery rate in the entire circuit to the characteristics of each type of workpiece. If only a lower abrasive output is required for process-related reasons, it reduces the delivery rate via the turbines and additionally the speed of the screw conveyors accordingly. On the one hand, this control saves energy. On the other hand, it extends the service life of the abrasive, because it is circulated less frequently in the system. For the same reason, it increases the service life of the entire system and reduces maintenance requirements.
For each type of workpiece, tests are carried out to determine which parameters - including turbine speed and abrasive flow rate - lead to the desired result. This results in recipe families which are stored in the system. Typical applications for THM systems are parts for the automotive industry, for example forged aluminum chassis parts such as control arms, steering knuckles or pivot bearings. For these workpieces, more and more manufacturers of die-cast or forged aluminum parts are also using this material as a blasting medium. It allows the surface of the workpieces to be processed very gently. Meik Seidler, sales manager for vibratory finishing and blasting technology at Walther Trowal, sees an increasing demand for the large blasting systems: "With the increasing share of hybrid and electric vehicles, more high-strength chassis parts will be produced in the future, because more strong parts are needed due to the higher vehicle weight and the greater torques in the drive train. This is where Smart Abrasive THMs are the economical solution." Trowal will be exhibiting at GIFA from June 12-16, 2023, in Hall 15, Booth D15.