Dryer retrofit in two and a half days

UBB Umformtechnik GmbH (UBB) from Burgbernheim in Bavaria has modernized the drying process in its electroplating plant, improving both productivity and ease of maintenance and bringing it up to the latest state of the art.

Two modern Galvadry drum dryers from Richard Tscherwitschke GmbH in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, equipped with energy recovery and a remote maintenance system, are now in use. Thanks to careful planning and preparation, the changeover to the new system was completed in just two and a half days.

30-year-old dryer replaced

The in-house electroplating shop uses "Galva-E" electroplating drums, also from Tscherwitschke. The plant with two lines operates in efficient circulation mode. Two new Galvadry dryers are replacing the ageing, 30-year-old predecessor system, whose performance had increasingly deteriorated: the previous dryers were maintenance-intensive, spare parts were difficult to obtain and the required drying parameters could often not be achieved. To ensure complete drying, the fabric volume always had to be reduced. In addition, a third dryer previously used for rack goods was no longer required. This provided more space for assembly and improved accessibility for maintenance work.

Seamless integration

Thanks to their compact design, the new dryers could be seamlessly integrated into the existing system without any structural modifications. The connected load was almost halved and the average drying temperature is an efficient 65 °C - significantly lower than before. The result: shorter drying times, reduced cycle times, higher throughput and sustainable energy savings. The decision to use the Galvadry system was based on previous experience with the electroplating drums from Richard Tscherwitschke GmbH.

Retrofit from Friday to Wednesday

The high plant capacity utilization required a quick recommissioning. The changeover was therefore precisely timed: after the end of operations on Friday, the old dryers were shut down and removed on Saturday. The new dryers were installed and connected to the system from Monday to Wednesday. By Wednesday afternoon - after just two and a half working days - production at UBB Umformtechnik was back to normal.

Effective flow through the fabric

The new dryer duo has efficient insulation that effectively minimizes thermal bridges. The air flow is matched to the drum types used, ensuring an effective flow of air through the fabric for fast, efficient drying.

Thanks to the modern design, both dryer units are easily accessible, which makes maintenance and inspection work easier. Added to this is the integrated remote maintenance, which enables faults to be quickly identified and rectified without the need for on-site intervention.

Photo: UBB Umformtechnik