Clinton MachineCustom Automation & Bar Handling SystemsClinton Machine Inc. • 1300 S Main Street • Ovid, MI 48866 www.clintonmachine.com
Group FocusLeading the Industry in the development & manufacturing of advanced technologies, and product equipment systems for the heat-driven transformation of metals and specialty materials.Aquired 2012Clinton Machine joined the group in 2012 and supplies the Group with Integrated Material Handling Solutions and Custom Automated Equipment to offer turnkey systems to the global marketplace.Who are we Drawing on over 60 years of equipment building expertise, Clinton Machine has earned a reputation as an innovative leader in the world of automated assembly, test, and material handling systems. Our company is a proven resource for customers wanting to automate their manufacturing operations to drive down costs and increase efficiencies. Whether we are designing & building lines of custom equipment or working as a system integrator of third-party technology and special equipment, the extent of Clinton Machine’s capabilities serves many industries. Typically you will find us serving our core markets including Automotive, Transportation, Bar & Tube Manufacturing, and Custom Automation, although we offer our years of experience to all the manufacturers seeking automated solutions throughout the world.As a division of the Inductotherm Group of companies, a global leader in the transformation of metals & processing technologies; Clinton Machine offers a local, yet global presence as a provider of automated solutions. With the Corporation holding over (40) divisions located throughout the world, Clinton Machine provides a unique synergy between all the divisions when working together to address and solve customer challenges globally. At the end of the day, our company understands the demanding challenges our customers face in competing in today’s highly competitive global environment. We strive to be a valuable extension of their business needs and pride ourselves in developing close partnerships with our customers, built on loyalty, value, integrity, responsiveness, and trust. Our mission is to provide customers with solutions that provide overall value to their company through innovative manufacturing ideas, quality-built equipment, greater efficiencies, and return on investment.Worldwide Presence – 40 Divisions3STRONGER THROUGH OUR DIVISIONSOffering Extensive Equipment Solutions through the Group
Industries Served STEEL MILL / PART MFG.Bar Handling:• Bundle Breakdown Table• Bar Descramblers• Draw Bench Automation• Straightener Handling• Shot Peen Handling• Bar Transfer Conveyors• Bar Packaging Lines• Bar Chamfer Systems• Bar Marking Systems• Inspection / NDT Test• Bar/Bundle Saw Handling• Bundle Splitting SystemsTUBE / PIPE PART MFG.Tube Handling:• Quench & Temper Lines• Thread Hardened & Temper• Mill Exit Offload Systems• Robotic Handling Cells• Tube Transfer Conveyors• Tube Packaging Systems• Stack & De-stack Systems• Inspection & Test Systems• Tube Forming Systems• Straightener Handling• Tube Marking SystemsCUSTOM AUTOMATIONCustom Automation:• Assembly & Test Systems• Alum. Extrusion Handling• Foam Mold Automation• Custom Material Handling• Part Stacking/ Packaging• Induction Heat Treat Cells• Stamping Assy Fixtures• Stamping Blank Turnovers4
Industries Served AUTOMOTIVE | TRANSPORTATIONSuspension Equipment Systems:• Bumpers & Impact Beams• Axles Bar - Automotive & Truck• Torsion & Stabilizer Bars• Coil & Leaf Springs• Brakes & Rotors• Bearing Quench & Temper• Robotic Handling Work Cells• Station Assembly Build• Inspection & Test Systems• Fastener Installation Systems• C-Press Units/ Pierce Fixtures• Dynometer Test SystemsFORGING & INDUCTION EQUIPMENTForging Equipment:• Forging Work Cells• Bin Tippers• Billet Feeders• Billet Conveyors• BPS - Billet Purge Systems• Graphite Billet Coaters• Billet Weighing Systems• Billet Cut-off Systems (shears & saws)• Billet Escapements (Robotic Press load)5
CapabilitiesENGINEERING & DESIGNAt Clinton Machine, Engineers skilled and knowledgeable in the areas of Automated Equipment & Material Handling systems form the foundation of our business. Drawing on over 60 years of experience specific to manufacturing processes and part applications has allowed the company to amass a wealth of electro-mechanical knowledge and idea’s to offer our customers innovative and effective manufacturing solutions.ENGINEERING CAPABILITIES (Design Software)• (5) Seats of 3D Model Solidworks • (5) Seats of AutoCAD 2021DESIGN CAPABILITIES • Consulting – Manufacturing Systems• Ergonomic Process Evaluations• Engineered Equipment Designs• Engineered Work Cells & Processing Lines• Integrated Systems w/Existing Equipment• Plant Layouts & Floor Plans6
CapabilitiesMANUFACTURING & BUILD Clinton Machine has earned a reputation for providing innovative solutions, and robust, quality-built equipment. We pride ourselves in being able to offer customers a “one-stop-shop”, because of our vertically integrated in-house manufacturing capabilities. Clinton Machine retains the equipment, resources, and manpower skills required to provide customers with an automated turnkey system; (or) products to any level of the typical manufacturing build process; including fabrications, detail machining and system sub-assemblies. We also work closely with customers to offer full systems integration with other pieces of equipment to develop a complete manufacturing line or fully integrated work cell.• Systems Design & Build Capability• Engineered Concept Designs & Plant Layouts• Process Research & Development• Electrical Controls Design & Programming• Systems Integration & Line Layouts• Saw & Sheet Metal Fabrication• Welding Fabrication, Steel, SST & Alum• Machining – Detail, Weldments & Bases• Electrical Controls, Panel build & Wiring• Assembly Build, Pipe & Wire• Controls design and programing• System Tryout & Installation Commissioning7
Bundle Breakdown Tables Bundle Breakdown Tables provide manufacturers with a more economical means of separating bars from bundles and allow bars to spread out across the table once bundles are un-banded. Operators assure the bars create a single-level accumulation, either by reciprocating shaker system or manually; which allows bars to be metered one at a time using an integrated bar escapement system at the end.Bar DescramblersAutomated Bar Descramblers are used for the separation of individual bars from bundles. These systems can be designed for round, square and hex shapes and typically have the exibility to accommodate a range of bar diameters and lengths. An integrated bar escapement system integrated into the descrambler allows individual bars to be metered one-at a time onto adjacent conveyors or other equipment that feed bars into another process upstream ie. bar saws, shears, chamfer systems, etc.. Additional features such as a bar return system allow the equipment to kick back tangled bars back into the bundle to be re-cycled again allowing them to untangle.8
Bar Stacking / De-stacking SystemsGANTRY-STYLE DE-STACKING SYSTEM9Clinton Machine is known for its stacking & de-stacking systems for Tube, Bar, or OEM-specic parts. Pictured is a typical dual-position de-stacking system to remove a layer of bars from a WIP rack and deposit them onto an accumulating conveyor, that transfers the bars to a metering escapement that feeds them one at a time to a robotic servo-positioning pusher system for robotic pick-up.Hex Bundling System (Bar & Tubular Product) Gantry-Style Product Stacking System with part centering feature for developing each part layer width required in the overall stacking sequence. A material handling robot upstream in the operation, deposits a processed bar (tube) onto an accumulating conveyor which transfers it to a metering escapement that meters the correct number of bars required to create the next layer width in the “hex stacking” sequence. Once accumulated, the overhead Gantry system crowds the layer together, magnetically picks up the layer, moves it over to the bundle being created and stacks it on top to continue to build the bundle size.
Bar Sawing / Bar Shear SystemBAR SAWING | SHEAR SYSTEMIntegrated Bar Saw (or) Bar Shearing lines, provide manufactures with a variety of part cut-to-length capabilities. Typically, a line will include a means to descramble bars from bundles and feed them to either a Saw or Shearing system for cutting. The lines are then congured with a bar infeed system, bar clamping system and various forms of back gauge systems use to accurately set the overall cut length based on cut tolerances. Cut-to-length bars can then be feed to the next manufacturing operation, collected as WIP, or re-accumulated back in to smaller bundles. Bar Saw Stack System• Bar Descrambling Unit• Dual Bar Escapement System• Dual Bar Infeed Conveyor• High-Speed Cut-off Saw• Crop / Remnant Extraction System• Bar Exit Conveyor w. Accumulation Table• Dual Position Pick & Place Stacking System10
Bundle Banding SystemsBAR BUNDLE & STRAP PACKAGING SYSTEM Bar Packaging System. System designed to receive bars from upstream equipment & accumulate into various bundle sizes depending on bar count or bundle weight. Bundles are end-aligned, manually banded weighed and tagged by customer order number; then transferred down to the bundle accumulating crane saver conveyor downstream.This system can also be integrated with Clinton Machine’s Bar De-scrambler to create a Bundle-splitting system for steel distributors.11
Bar Packaging SystemsBAR BUNDLE & PACKAGING SYSTEMSSemi-Automatic Banding System Recipe driven programmable banding station. Based on bundle length & weight the system automatically positions the bundle for the next banding position in the overall sequence of bands required. Operator merely completes banding operation every time the bundle stops, and manually releases bundle downstream once all bands are installed properly.12Automated Bundle Formation System Bar accumulation & sequenced layer formation to create Hex Bundle configuration based on Bar size and bars per bundle requirement. Bundle formation system can create hex, square or rectangular bundles based on the shape of steel bar profile.Bar Bundle & Banding SystemClinton Machine’s Bar Packaging Systems are used to create bundles of processed bars for packaging & shipping to customers. Systems designed to create round, square & hex bundles with bundle sizes & shapes determined by programmed recipes in the system controls; and based on bar count and bundle weight. Bundles are end-aligned, banded, weighed and tagged; then transferred downstream to the accumulating crane saver conveyor for crane (forklift) pick-up and loading onto trucks for ship to customers.
Bundle Accumulating CranesaverBUNDLE INFEED & OUTFEED CONVEYORSInfeed & Outfeed Bundle Conveyors (aka “Crane Savers”) are used to pre-stage accumulated bundles for infeed into an upstream operation such as Bar Descrambling, Bundle-Splitting, or Bundle Sawing; (or) upon completing a downstream operation such as creating bar bundles and banding, typical of a packaging operation. The term “Crane Saver” conveyor was coined because the typical crane operator can better optimize the crane usage by pre-staging multiple bundles for infeed operation (or) removal of multiple bundles in a post-stage operation.Crane Savers are custom designed for heavy-duty weight capacities typically ranging from 40,000 to 120,000 #lbs. and include cross transfer features to load or unload integrated intersecting cross conveyors. In some cases bundle weighing is integrated into the system design to weigh and tag each bundle coming off the production line. Specially designed bundle positioning features allow these systems to nest either (2) or (3) bundles next to each other on the conveyor, to optimize crane utilization time.Some of the more typical uses of these conveyors include:• Bundle Packaging Systems• Bundle Sawing Applications• Bundle Breakdown Applications• Bundle Splitting Applications• Pre-staging Bundle Accumulation Applications• Post-Staging Bundle Accumulation Applications13
Bar Chamfer SystemsBAR CHAMFERSpecial bar end preparations are achieved through a Mill & Chamfer process. (see pictures). Typically, bar end prep is provided for end-customers feeding bar to secondary processes where bar leads and correct lengths are important. Clinton Machine understands the importance of this special process and provides our series of custom Bar Chamfering equipment designed to address specific bar prep situations required of our customers.14
Draw Bench HandlingDRAW BENCH HANDLINGBar Handling Automation used to load 1,2 or 3 bars into a draw bench infeed conveyor. This system utilized an overhead Gantry System designed to pick-up either 1,2 or 3 bars; depending on bar sizes to be drawn; and transfers them to be loaded, on center, with the draw dies of the draw bench. 15Bar Handling to unload processed (drawn) bars includes a special profile extraction system designed to reach in underneath the finished drawn bars and remove them to an offload station whereby they are accumulated, but then transferred and metered one at a time onto an adjacent straightener system.
Cast Log Handling System CAST LOG SAW HANDLING EQUIPMENTCast Log Infeed Pusher system used for sawing billets to varying lengths. Application shown required handling large and heavy bars, combined with positioning accuracy of +0.25/-0.0 to produce cut billet lengths required for extrusion press. System included weigh scale system to measure starting log weight vs. cut billet(s) weights to determine yield and scrap. System also included ability to maximize log yield by optimizing the various billet size combinations per log length. CAST LOG FURNACE UNLOAD AUTOMATIONApplication: Heavy-Duty Cast Bar unload and cool-down transfer system, with opposing integrated high-speed band saws for bar-end cutting.This bar transfer system was designed to receive bars exiting a heat treat furnace and transfer the cast bar at programmed rate to cool the bars down. As the bars reached designated positions across the table length, a series of powered rollers would raise up between the transfer chains and drive the bars in opposing directions (L/R) into the cut-off saw stations, where each bar would then receive a pre-determined cut section off the end, to remove the stress fractures typically found at the ends of the heated bar. System was designed for bar sizes ranging between 2.00” – 12.00” in diameter and weights up to 10,000#lbs per bar.16
Hot Bar Cooling TableCool-Down SystemsTempered Tube - Cool Down Table. This table is designed to received heated tubes from upstream operations; and transfer the tubes across the table length at variable speeds allow them to properly cool before depositing it into a accumulating bunk, or onto the next operation. The table design also includes a nesting feature that promotes rolling the tube in place, as it travels across the table to minimize lineal distortion (bend/bow) across the length of the tubes.17
Bar Inspection & Test UnitsBar Eddy-Current NDT SystemsIn-line NDT Eddy-Current Bar Tester used to check processed bars for defects, porosity and microstructure anomalies. The system is designed to control the positional relationship between the bar infeed & outgoing paths through the Eddy-Current coil to maintain its centerline as it travels through the coil; thus maximizing the effective accuracy of the readings produces.Bar Fatigue Test SystemsFatigue Testing of forged formed bars (Stabilizer). Test system designed to cycle bars within pre-defined test parameters & varying ranges of travel to determine the degree of bar fatigue over cycles and final levels of bar failure.Bar Straightness GaugeBar straightness system used to determine bar straightness over bar length after processing.The gauge was designed to measure bar straightness to < / = 0.5mm over (5) specified point locations along the bar using special precision readouts . System included a quick-change length adjustment feature to inspect lengths from 1.5M to 3.5M; and a data collection system torecord measurements and track results.18
Induction Bar FormingAs a division of the Inductotherm Group, Clinton Machine collaborates with other group companies to provide turnkey solutions using electromagnetic induction for melting,heating and welding applications across multiple industries. Induction is a fascinating method of heating whereby a piece of metal in an induction coil can be heated and turn cherry red in a matter of seconds. Induction heating equipment requires an understanding of physics, electromagnetism, power electronics and process control, but the basic concepts behind induction heating are simple to understand.19Thermal Induction Heating TechnologyIt is used in applications to harden & temper bar sections or bar ends; including thread hardening using a controlled scanning process.Bar FormingThis automated forming cell using the induction heating process for heating the bars in the apex area of the bend. The total system included a horizontal forging press, material handling robot, specially designed EOAT (end-of-arm tooling) with internal cooling for handling hightemp bars, integrated mold release spray system, high agitation submerged quench system, reject & inspection station, robotic part nesting on adjacent temper furnace.Forged Bar Upset CellForging cell automation utilized a series of single bar induction coils to progressively heat the bar ends and then utilization of an industrial robot with special high-temp EOAT tooling to manipulate the bar throughout the upset forge process. Special infeed & outfeed indexing tables were used for singular separation of bars for robotic pickup; and accumulation of finished processed bars.
Contact us to see how we can help with your next Automation Application.989-834-2235Clinton Machine Inc. • 1300 S Main Street • Ovid, MI 48866 www.clintonmachine.com