Movable machine housing for strip rolling line

Definition of the task

A protective housing is required for an 18-m long strip rolling line for the production of cold-rolled wire. The purpose of the housing is to protect the surrounding area from oil mist generated during the process, therefore it needs to be impervious. Moreover, it is to serve as a key distinguishing feature to reflect the quality and design of all the customer’s systems. To ensure access to the different areas of the line, the housing needs to be made up of several individual moveable elements. The elements are to be mounted on rollers so that they can be moved by hand.

The customer uses a modular machine stand system for its machines to enable it to respond flexibly to the requirements of its customers and the situation on site. The machine housings from mk, which have been implemented many times before, must therefore also be modular in design.

Solution from mk

A multi-part protective cover made from series 50 aluminium profiles was designed to provide a modular solution for this requirement. The cover is made up of three sections, each with three cover elements of approximately 2 m in length, which can be slid into one another.

The transitions between the elements are sealed with brush strips so as to create negative pressure inside the housing, which is necessary to extract the process-related oil mist.

The design and colour scheme of the housing match the customer’s specifications. The majority of the panel frames were sealed with powder-coated steel. The panel frames at eye level feature panelling made of transparent polycarbonate.

To ensure that the individual cover elements can be moved easily and safely, they are guided by flange rollers at the bottom on the front and with track rollers at the top on the rear in the corresponding profile guide. The outer sections of the protective covers are each fitted with machine handles.