Arburg, a leading mechanical engineering and plastics processing company, has significantly improved occupational safety and efficiency at its headquarters in Lossburg, Baden-Württemberg, by implementing the RUD Tecdos TM Tool Mover. The innovative tool handling solution allows Arburg to move, rotate, and turn heavy tools weighing several tons safely and quickly, enhancing both ergonomics and productivity on the shop floor.
The RUD Tool Mover enables tools to be rotated 90 degrees in under a minute at the touch of a button, replacing traditional crane operations that previously took 30 to 45 minutes. “When tools arrive at our premises, they are usually inverted and need to be turned for testing. Now, the RUD Tecdos TM Tool Mover does this efficiently and safely,” explains Roland Gruber, Group Manager of Application Programming & Commissioning in Arburg’s Automation & Turnkey department.
At Arburg’s 2,100 m² customer center, which houses over 30 Allrounder injection molding machines, 3D printers for additive manufacturing, and specialized laboratories, customers can test tools and optimize processes in a professional, hands-on environment. The RUD Tecdos TM Tool Mover also plays a key role during the commissioning of turnkey projects, ensuring smooth and safe handling of molds weighing between 200 kilograms and 10 tons, up to 1.20 meters in size.
By integrating the RUD Tool Mover, Arburg has reduced tool rotation times from 45 minutes to just 45 seconds, while improving workplace safety, ergonomics, and overall operational efficiency. Beyond its functionality, the Tool Mover adds a sleek, professional look to Arburg’s turnkey floor, making it both practical and aesthetically appealing.
Work safety and flexibility
However, saving time was not the main factor in Arburg’s decision to opt for the RUD Tecdos TM. “Our focus was clearly on increasing work safety and ergonomics for our team,” says Gruber, who sees the time savings as a nice side effect. The tool mover enables BGV-compliance and safe working without the risk of injury, for example from diagonal movements.
For the teams in the customer centre and in commissioning, the handling process has changed fundamentally: Previously, employees used to drive the tool to the crane and to the attachment points. Now the employees can bring the Tool Mover to the tool. The RUD Tecdos TM can be moved with an industrial truck, such as a forklift or pallet truck, and can be transported easily between the various halls at Arburg to the desired location.
Ergonomics for employees
In addition to increased work safety, the RUD Tecdos TM also ensures ergonomics for the team. The customer tools that arrive at Arburg are lifted onto the tool turner by crane and then rotated by the employees at the touch of a button while standing. For the RUD Tecdos TM, which Arburg also uses in its customer centre, the engineers at RUD have come up with a special system: they have lowered the work surface to a height of 595 mm. Thanks to the low working height, it is possible to work directly on the tool if required.
Gentle on the tool
The RUD Tecdos TM not only makes work safe for people, but also for the tools. The tool turner is designed for axial rotational movements of tools and machine components up to 64 tons (in the largest version). The load is turned at the centre of gravity smoothly. The RUD Tecdos TM ensures particularly smooth starting and stopping and is equipped with a high-end drive system from the Tecdos range.
Individual adaptations
Depending on requirements and customer wishes, RUD equips its tool mover with different table supports made of polyethylene; anti-slip polyurethane supports, and custom supports are optional. Optional add-on parts such as safety bars or guard rails as well as light curtains or safety barriers ensure higher safety. The RUD Tecdos TM for Arburg is equipped with polyethylene table supports – as increased protection for the customer’s tools. Another special feature: RUD has branded the tool mover in the Arburg colour (dark grey).
Arburg has also made a special adaptation for the pallet truck on the tool mover. “This adaptation was made in consultation with us, and we calculated everything necessary, for example the load capacity. Although we manufacture our mould handling products in a standard version, we are open to customisations as required,” says Tobias Rathgeb, Area Sales Manager for Mould Handling at RUD.
