Custom production and rapidly adjustable workstations – adaptable production systems are the order of the day in the age of Industry 4.0. When it comes to keeping working processes efficient in the face of demands for flexibility, short setup times are an absolute must at the work bench. The 4E FIFO Shooter from item allows users to complete a full changeover in just a few seconds. At the heart of the solution is an electrically height-adjustable work bench combined with a FIFO rack. Because the work bench can be custom configured, it is exceptionally adaptable to process-specific requirements and takes the strain off staff at the same time. item recently won the “BEST OF INDUSTRIEPREIS 2018” award in the Intralogistics category for this perfect pairing of personnel and production processes.
Boosting efficiency in manual production and easing the strain on staff at the same time – that’s exactly what the 4E FIFO Shooter work bench from Solingen-based item Industrietechnik GmbH does. The work bench with integrated supply trolley is electrically height adjustable and can therefore be adjusted to suit the height of staff working at it. What’s more, as the working height changes, so too does the height of the integrated supply rack. The 4E FIFO Shooter is extremely robust. A torsion-resistant design supports load-carrying capacities up to 4,000 N while multiple levels of roller conveyors mean work benches can be supplied with everything they need. Thanks to Karakuri mechanisms, material can be delivered and empty containers removed to suit requirements. If the worker uses the electric system to alter the height of the work bench, the locking mechanisms release the crates on the inclined roller conveyors of the material supply trolley and the containers slide right into reach. Staff thus benefit from short reaching distances and direct access to materials. If a change has to be made in production, the mobile material supply rack can simply be swapped for another, pre-stocked rack in just a few seconds. That keeps setup times stunningly short. This successful combination of ergonomics and lean production persuaded the panel of judges for the INDUSTRIEPREIS 2018 award, which is presented by Huber Verlag für Neue Medien, to declare the 4E FIFO Shooter from item “BEST OF” in the intralogistics category.
Length: 2,480 characters including spaces
Date: 15 May 2018
Image: The electrically height-adjustable work bench is combined with a FIFO rack.
About item
item Industrietechnik GmbH is a global market leader in building kit systems for industrial applications and employs around 500 members of staff. It has been designing and marketing construction solutions for machinery, fixtures and plants since 1976. The product portfolio comprises more than 3,500 high-quality components designed for use in machine bases, work benches, automation solutions and lean production applications. Thanks to the inclusion of transport solutions and dynamic elements, the company’s products can cover virtually all working processes, from manual production to automated manufacturing. The highly skilled employees work day-in, day-out to develop innovative solutions for state-of-the-art mechanical engineering and also offer exceptional consulting services. item is headquartered in Solingen, Germany. Eleven branches and support centres ensure the company is always close to customers in Germany. The group has wholly owned subsidiaries in the USA, China, Mexico, Italy, Poland and Switzerland.
