“Dying” to get a lift - Alwayse Die Lifters

Rapid, efficient die change has been a challenge for metalformers for many years – as part runs become shorter and part numbers grow. The ability to slash time from “last part out to first part in” keeps presses running and productivity soaring. Moving a tool on a press bed can be a real hassle, but by integrating Alwayse Die Lifters to the press bed those initial frictions will completely disappear and moving tools will become nearly effortless, totally safe and faster than ever before. You will also save on cleaning time, as its one-piece construction prevents the shavings from piling up.

You can adapt Alwayse Die Lifters to existing (former) standard systems for press-line layouts and standard applications – as they are perfect candidates for quick-die-change systems upgrades. Additionally, you can directly integrate them into the design and manufacture of new machines.

You can achieve this by either fitting Always T-Blocks or by integrating them directly into the bed of the press.

The Alwayse Die Lifters are spring-loaded, retractable units that enable easy tool changeovers for press and machine tools, within a housing unit that protects the Ball Transfer Unit by enabling it to retract and rise.

Why Would You Use A Die Lifter?

Prevents shock-loading – minimising the risk to your business
Protects Ball Transfer Unit integrity
Easy tool changeovers
Precision movement and 360° rotation
Combines effortless positioning with rigid clamping

But these are only their benefits at a glance. Single Minute Exchange of Die Procedures (SMED Procedures) are one of the most effective strategies in the Lean process. Die Lifters are essential to SMED Procedures. Similarly they’re known as Quick Changeover, which reduces the time it takes to change from one operational process to another. With an Alwayse Die Lifter, you can minimise tool changeovers to under 10 minutes, helping to reduce costs and increase flexibility within a process. Our Die Lifters and Ball Units can be applied to both SMED Internal Elements (when machinery is stopped) and External Elements (with machinery still running) – a major advantage over other clamping methods.

SMED Internal Elements

In SMED, changeovers are made up of steps that are termed “elements”. There are two types of elements and internal elements must be completed when the equipment is stopped. What does this mean in relation to an Alwayse Die Lifter?

Set into the T-slot of a power press or machine tool, our spring-loaded Die Lifters combine effortless positioning with rigid clamping.

The Die Lifters enable easy multi-directional movement for quick and accurate positioning of tools. Then as the new tool is clamped down, it pushes the load ball into the unit body to hold the tool in place.

SMED External Elements

The second type of element are external elements, which must be completed while the equipment is running. The core of the SMED system is to turn any possible changeover steps into external elements and to simplify and streamline the remaining steps.

Ball tables or scissor trolleys enable tools to be quickly and easily transported from storage in advance of the changeover. To transfer tools back onto shelving, scissor lifts or forklifts with a ball platform is ideal for raising the tool to the required height.

T-Blocks

You can set T-Blocks into the power press or machine tools that have t-slots, enabling effortless positioning of tooling and large machining blanks prior to clamping.

At Alwayse, we have high standards. For the last 80 years, we have been designing and manufacturing innovative movement solutions for almost every application imaginable. We test each unit we design and manufacture hand to ensure faultless, long-lasting, and smooth performance. And our Die Lifters are the perfect example of this commitment.