Higher Machine Uptime in the Copper Production

The anode casting wheel plays a crucial role in copper production: Here, the molten copper is cast into anode molds. A lifting device then takes the cast anodes out of the molds of the casting wheel – up to 1,500 times a day. The repetitive motion sequences place enormous strain on the gripper arms of the device. If signs of wear are not detected in time, this could damage the system or the anodes themselves. This is where IoT comes into play: With the help of motion data, anomalies in the motion sequence of the gripper arms are to be detected at an early stage to carry out the necessary maintenance work. This positively affects the availability, performance, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) of the lifting device.