Fully automated structural steel processing system

The key to this fully automated process is the new automatic sorter system, the AS1000, which manages any mix of cut material length and, critically, auto-sorts either short remnants, trim-cuts or very short to full length finished material. The AS1000 Auto-sorter provides what has been the missing link in the total automation of structural lines, namely the elimination of operator intervention, which had been required, particularly to deal with remnants, trim-cuts or very short cut lengths. The Auto-sorter is positioned on the output side of the saw and has a wide capacity push-pull gripper system, plus lateral traversing. Running parallel to its own roller-way table, integrated software enables the automatic transporting and sorting of remnants and short finished parts, which can be laterally off loaded into designated containers. The AS1000 can also move intermediate cut lengths onto a flat bed, silenced stillage, or full-length material onto the main conveyor-crossway system. This fully automated technology could enable companies to load material at the end of a day shift and run automatically overnight in readiness for fabrication the following day.