Hydraulic cylinders in tire production –
A partnership between Storz and a renowned tire manufacturer
In the high-performance tire manufacturing industry, where efficiency and reliability are crucial, hydraulic cylinders, an essential element in the production line, presented a significant challenge. One of the world’s leading manufacturers in this sector regularly faced the problem of short lifecycles and high maintenance requirements for its hydraulic cylinders.
Challenge
The central problem: The hydraulic cylinders used had to be replaced approximately every nine months, with the competitor charging almost the price of a new cylinder for a replacement seal kit. This led to high maintenance costs and inefficient production processes
Short shelf life
Expensive spare parts
inefficient processes
Solution
Storz tackled this challenge by analyzing a competitor’s defective cylinder and subsequently developing an improved product. The higher selling price compared to the competitor was offset for the customer by a cylinder lifespan that was now at least three times longer, corresponding to a 200% increase in operating time, or 27 months
Implementation
In 2013, Storz hydraulic cylinders were delivered to replace the entire fleet of defective cylinders. This first batch enabled a significant reduction in production downtime
In 2017, additional cylinders were ordered to enable maintenance work to be carried out without disrupting the production lines. A stock of spare seal kits was also established to further extend the cylinders’ lifespan.
Results
Initial skepticism regarding the extension of service life quickly gave way to a positive surprise when the Storz hydraulic cylinders demonstrated their performance.
Almost 9 years after implementation, the cylinders still outperform the previously used standard products of the competitor, with a continuous requirement of only four replacement seal sets per year for approximately ten active cylinders in tire production.
Conclusions
- Close cooperation: This case study not only demonstrates the technical superiority of Storz hydraulic cylinders over conventional solutions, but also underlines the importance of close cooperation between manufacturer and end user
- Optimization of production processes: Storz’s ability to develop a tailor-made product that not only meets but far exceeds the customer’s specific requirements has led to a sustainable improvement in production processes and significant cost savings.
- Innovation: This partnership sets a new standard in the industry and demonstrates how innovative approaches and the pursuit of excellence can lead to remarkable successes.
Your project
Optimize your processes with hydraulic cylinders from Storz. Contact the Storz Hydraulic Systems team for a consultation and benefit from the quality and durability of their cylinders.
