Alimak • 713-640-8500 • http://alimakhek.com/
Reprinted from Grain Journal November/December 2016 Issue
Vertical access to grain elevators and silos historically has been accomplished through either rope-driven or continuous belt-driven manlift elevators. These devices, while immensely popular in the grain industry, aren’t necessarily the safest or most efficient way of transporting personnel up and down a facility.
Enter Alimak Hek – a company based in Stockholm, Sweden that has been in the business of pioneering rack-and-pinion elevators since the early 1960s. Although the company began in 1948 when its first vertical access product left the production line, it is a new player in the industry having entered the North American grain market in just the past several years. Nevertheless, its innovative elevator systems are gaining in popularity and acceptance as an excellent alternative to wire rope elevators and belt manlifts for vertical access.
“In the early ‘60s, we pioneered the rack and pinion system. We’re really the first ones to do it at all, to make a vertical access rack and pinion system – that’s our bread and butter, what we’re known for,” says Bob Daugherty, sales manager for the company’s grain segment. “The company says it created a new industry, and I guess in a way they did. We’ve only been in the grain industry for a couple of years though,” he adds.
Alimak Hek’s products are well-suited for a broad range of industries, including oil and gas, mining, power equipment, bridges and tunnels, cement plants, chemical plants, offshore oil rigs, boats, shipyards, paper mills, and construction sites. In other words, Alimak Hek’s products can be found just about anywhere reliable, vertical access is needed. And with a base of more than 22,000 installations around the world in more than 100 countries – literally from the Sahara to the Antarctic – the company’s motto, “access, any time, anywhere,” proves to be more than just fluff.
Rack and Pinion Overview
Rack and pinion elevators operate differently than other vertical access alternatives, as there are no hoist ropes, belts, or cables to contend with. The drive motor is attached to the top of the car, and the drive gear, called a pinion, is attached to the motor. This allows for a permanently-mounted gear track, creating a no-slip lift system that is especially beneficial in harsh environments.
So what exactly makes rack and pinion systems so special, and what benefits do they offer for grain facilities? According to the company’s literature, the benefits are many:
• They can go on virtually any existing or new structure with minimal modifications – they do not need a hoist way.
• They are extremely rugged and made to last for decades of service. Alimak Hek’s elevators are made of durable materials: extruded aluminum car wall panels with car support frame and mast sections of hot-dipped galvanized steel; all stainless steel electrical cabinets and landing control boxes; and optional stainless steel cars are available.
• They are much safer than belt manlifts; in fact, many companies are removing their belt manlifts due to safety concerns. In the event of a power outage or loss of function, for example, Alimak rack and pinion elevators can be lowered safely to the next landing for egress, unlike wire rope elevators.
Typical sizes are as small as two- to three-person elevators (1,000 lbs.) up to 25-plus-person elevators or elevators large enough to carry a stretcher for injured personnel egress (3,000 lbs.).
• Drive machinery located on the car means no costly machine room is required.
• Fully collective elevator control system.
• They are economical and competitive with wire rope alternatives.
Alimak units also can be utilized in hazardous dust locations (Class 2, Division 2, Group G).
According to Daugherty, as long as a grain handling facility has the space and a structure that can support one, its rack and pinion elevators can be installed pretty much anywhere.
“It’s different in the grain market with a rack and pinion as opposed to a traction lift, so we don’t have to have a machine room up on top. We don’t have to be in an enclosed hoist way,” says Daugherty. “They are built to be outside in the elements, and if you’ve got the footprint on the ground and the air space above, we can pretty well put it anywhere in the facility provided that the structure we’re attaching our mast to will support it. Or we can give them what our loads are, what we require, and they can check with the tower manufacturers to see if they can hold us or not,” he adds.
Continuous Improvement
Dedication to continuous improve- ment and the development of reliable c elevators places Alimak Hek at the forefront of the vertical access industry.
Safe Design
Safety is at the heart of all Alimak products, and all safety devices are tested in a specially-constructed testing tower prior to delivery from the factory. Not a single product leaves the factory until it has been cleared by a testing and verification process to ensure performance, quality, and critical components meet operational standards. As such, all of Alimak Hek’s products are designed to provide sustained reliability and wear resistance in the toughest work environments.
“We stress continuous improvement, our state-of-the-art facility, and quality. These are the things that come to mind that lead the production facility,” Daugherty says. “Absolutely everything is tested, one at a time. We’re always working at an optimum. It’s a quality product, and it shows. There’s a lot of pride in the product, and it’s just built to last,” he points out.
Additionally, Alimak Hek utilizes the proven lean production manufacturing methodology that has led to improved efficiency, quality, worker satisfaction, and environmentally friendly production. This is all done in the company’s state-of-the-art production facility utilizing the latest automation technology, including laser cutting, robots with vision systems, CNC-steered machinery and presses. A dozen welding robots guarantee consistent quality and increased flexibility to meet customer demands resulting in production capacity over 100,000 mast sections per year.
Pride in People and Product
At the heart of the company are its loyal and dedicated employees committed to the Alimak Hek brand and company vision. More than 300 employees have worked with the company for more than 25 years, thanks in part to a very friendly, relaxed working environment.
“The company, the people that I’ve met – the Swedes, in general, are kind of a laid back people. They’ll answer your questions. They’ll sit and talk to you,” Daughtery observes. “I think it’s a genuine concern for the product to make sure that the product is right, before it’s sent to the customer. There’s a lot of pride in the manufacturing quality.”
As a result, Daugherty says the company is gaining more name recognition in the grain industry, and Alimak Hek’s goal is to become better established and grow the grain side of the business. Of course, it plans to do that by continuous improvement and listening to what customers really want.
“I would like to see us get more units out there and to get some feedback to the design team from users,” he admits. “You know, to ask them: ‘What do you like? What don’t you like? What would you like to see us do differently?’” It may be that nothing needs to change. It may be that someone just wants something different, he explains.
Whatever the case, Alimak Hek stands ready to do whatever it takes to be the best in vertical access solutions.
