| Innovative tool to remove SLA strand clips |
Description
SLA Strand Clips are used within hollow core production to hold strand wire when it is fully stressed. The clips are a critical part of the production process as failure could result in serious injury if the strand was released during stressing.
Acheson and Glover were concerned that the traditional method of removing the SLA strand clips from the steel strand, clamping the clip into a vice and hammering until it was released, was both potentially dangerous and could cause hidden damage to the clips.
A fitter developed an igneous solution to this problem. He placed a bottle jack inside a steel frame. A hole in the frame allowed the strand with the attached clip to be held upright. An unused clip was placed beneath SLA clip which was to be removed and pressure was exerted by hand pumping the bottle jack. This method released the SLA clip within seconds as it popped off the wire.
BENEFITS
• The risk of personal injury to hand and face using traditional method has been removed
• The potential to damage the safety critical SLA clips has been removed
• The lifespan of a SLA Clip had been extended from 1 month to 6+ months
• Savings of £2000 per year have been achieved with the use of the new technique.
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