Repairs and Rebuilds
Furnace and Forehearth Rebuilding
AFT has always been involved with the supervision of furnace construction and repair but has, over the past few years, become involved in total furnace and forehearth projects. In keeping with our tradition of development and innovation, we have designed special block lifting and handlng systems to help facilitate this work.
These systems, which incorporate hydraulic, vacuum, and electrical technology, are aimed at elevating refractory handling operations to an improved status with regard to safer, quicker and more precise installation.
The photographs shown here serve to illustrate some items of equipment developed in-house by AFT to assist refractory manipulation during furnace building and repair.
The Blockmaster
This purpose designed heavy duty tool (we call it the "Blockmaster!) eases the process of moving large refractory blocks and is especially useful when placing soldier blocks.
Monorail
AFT's certificated monorail system is designed to allow safe, speedy and cost-effective forehearth rebuilds whilst maintaining an improved standard of refractory installation.
Simple to install and remove, the monorail permits the placing of heavy container-forehearth channel blocks accurately and without the hard physical effort usually associated with this operation.
Vacuum Lifting Pads
These certified pads are evacuated by a small, purpose-built vacuum unit and are in use here to simplify the the precise positioning dalles on the furnace base.
The dalles are normally transferred to the furnace using a "Blockmaster" which can be seen at the rear of the work area.
Further Developments
The mobile dalle layer shown in this photograph is a derived from the manual equipment shown above.
Again AFT's aim is to remove, where possible, the hard manual effort often involved in placing dalles.
The system has been enthusiastically embraced by the operatives who appreciate it's effectiveness and ease of use.
Special Grips
These specially designed, certificated rubber faced grips are another AFT in-house creation.
They are used to manipulate and locate heavy refractory blocks and help to minimise the possibility of damage to these expensive refractories.
