MasterMover Global News
Electric Tugs Bring Lean Manufacturing Benefits To Construction And Mining OEMs
Manufacturers of large construction and mining equipment are benefiting from lean manufacturing practices thanks to the use of pedestrian electric tugs from MasterMover®.
MasterMover® specialises in moving heavy loads in a simple and cost-effective manner thanks to the unique design of its electric tugs, which use the principle of weight transfer to allow an operator to tow the load.
This presents a real benefit to the construction and mining sector, where large-scale equipment such as loaders and excavators must undergo a complex manufacturing process. Due to their low production volumes, an assembly line is not a practical or cost-effective option, meaning that some other method of moving components within the factory must be used.
MasterMover® tugs offer a robust solution in order to give construction and mining customers a fluid assembly process based on lean manufacturing principles. Crucially, the compact size and pedestrian operation enables companies to lay out their factories to suit production requirements, rather than be forced to reserve space for a road network of forklifts.
“Typically, construction equipment manufacturers set up dedicated areas where key sections of the machine – such as the chassis, the engine and the cab – are built. Each of these completed sections can weigh up to 25 tonnes, which must then be transferred to the production line for final assembly,” explains Andy Owen, Managing Director of MasterMover®.
MasterMover® recommends a system whereby components are assembled directly onto trolleys. These can then be quickly and safely towed using MasterTugs, initially within that section’s production area, and subsequently to the production line.
Effectively, this means that the customer benefits from a bespoke assembly line process, built around the optimum order of manufacturing.
