We immerse ourselves deeply in the customer’s processes

In many industries, rolls, coils, slit strips, wire rings, and drums are standard forms for semi-finished, intermediate, and finished products. The way they are handled throughout internal material flow – from goods receipt to processing and storage – significantly impacts process efficiency, workplace safety, and product protection. “Our product managers, engineers, and consultants are familiar with the specific issues related to handling such quasi-cylindrical objects from numerous projects,” says Oliver Stauch-Vaupel, who heads the Powered Handling and Transport Systems unit at EXPRESSO. He and his team continually develop and implement innovative complete solutions for roll and coil handling, based on the multifunctional floor transporter lift2move, the servo-motorized E-BalanceLift, and extensive in-house expertise in load-handling engineering. A crucial factor that currently sets EXPRESSO apart from many other market providers is the high quality and intensity of the consultation before, during, and after the project phase. The specialists from the German company will explain the methods, tools, and procedures they use at this year’s Fachpack in Nürnberg/Germany (24-26 September 2024) in Hall 7 at booth 650.

Custom tailored

For example, EXPRESSO is showcasing a lift2move of the latest generation, equipped with Industry 4.0 interfaces and lightweight battery packs (Li-Ion) for operating its electric lifting mast. To safely handle rolls weighing up to 100 kg with internal core diameters between 50 mm and 76 mm, the mobile lift-and-lower device can be fitted with a pick-up mandrel, a roll mandrel with top-mounted guide rollers, or a roll turner. Alternatively, a V-block is available for lifting cylindrical parts with diameters up to 600 mm and lowering them flush with the floor. “All these standard systems for roll and coil handling can be adapted in various ways to the requirements of different customers or industries. In addition, we can always develop special customized solutions tailored to specific on-site conditions,” emphasizes Oliver Stauch-Vaupel.

All EXPRESSO handling and transport systems are extensively modularized to inherently provide the necessary variability for customization. What the modular concept does not cover is then taken over by the company’s engineering team. “Whether we configure a standard system for a specific application or start a completely new development, we always immerse ourselves deeply in our customers’ processes and create highly individualized solutions based on our engineering know-how and the interdisciplinary consulting expertise of our area sales managers, project managers, designers, and service teams,” says Oliver Stauch-Vaupel. For visitors to EXPRESSO’s Fachpack stand, this means they can not only inspect the latest versions of the lift2move and the E-BalanceLift but also gain deep insights into the consulting methodology used in developing customer-specific system solutions.

It’s important to note that there are currently hardly any ready-to-use or certified handling devices for roll or coil handling available on the market. Therefore, it is crucial to start the realization of such a solution with an on-site visit from a knowledgeable consultant to analyze the customer’s specific requirements. This involves examining issues with the current state, special requirements of the quasi-cylindrical objects, aspects of ergonomics, route optimization, and more. Often, this initial analysis leads to the first sketches of the future roll and coil handling system. Accompanying this process, configurator apps and the company’s know-how database, featuring over 300 videos showcasing various application examples, are also used.

Delivery and after-sales service

Following the analysis work, EXPRESSO prepares a detailed technical description and calculates the project costs. “At this point, it often becomes evident that we can arrive at very economical solutions surprisingly quickly due to the depth of our consultation,” says Oliver Stauch-Vaupel. The implementation phase then involves providing a pilot device, with which the customer can already conduct practical trials. These test runs may yield further pointers for fine-tuning the future handling solution. The provisional final phase consists of the customer’s acceptance of the finished system and its commissioning. This includes training the operating personnel and final adjustments, usually taking place at EXPRESSO in Kassel. In some cases, acceptance can also occur directly at the installation site.

EXPRESSO’s complete offering also includes regular visits to the customer as part of after-sales support. This serves both as an opportunity for experience exchange with the on-site production and operations managers and to renew the company’s quality promise. “With each service appointment, we work with the customer to develop further perspectives for fine-tuning processes, improving ergonomics, or optimizing MRO services through our technicians and consultants,” reports Oliver Stauch-Vaupel. This high level of customer focus has led many clients to see EXPRESSO as a reliable competence partner who can be consulted whenever there are issues in intralogistics.

During its presence at Fachpack, the company is also offering a range of activities from which customers and interested parties can significantly benefit. For instance, it is hosting an online webinar on roll and coil handling on 6 September at 11:00 am. The webinar will be live, allowing the EXPRESSO experts Maximilian Kühn and Henning Petersen to answer participants’ questions directly. The webinar will focus on case studies that address specific challenges and solutions in industrial roll and coil handling. Shortly thereafter, the company will offer a white paper on this topic for download on its website. Additionally, at the trade fair, it invites experts in material flow, conveyor, or assembly technology to a presentation at the “Innovation Box Forum” in Hall 2 (Stand 208/210).