True Partnership: Developing A Work Cell Specific Ergonomic Solution

Whelen Engineering is the only US early warning equipment manufacturer to produce its products entirely in the US. They have been developing innovative safety warning systems since 1952 and have grown to be a recognized leader in their industry.

For the past 10 years, Whelen’s chosen partner for their cable processing needs has been Schleuniger due to their vast selection of high quality equipment, great number of services and commitment to customer support. They house a number of Schleuniger cut & strip machines, prefeeders, coilers, end stripping and coaxial stripping equipment.

Recently Whelen had an ergonomic and processing issue with a particular work cell involving a cut, strip and coil line. The work cell set up required an operator to reach over the coiling pans to remove the cables, proving to be ergonomically incorrect. Whelen discussed lowering the bowls, redirecting the wire and moving the controls for opposite side access, but this would require the bowls to rotate differently and would involve extensive mechanical modifications. After careful review, Schleuniger engineers designed the mechanical modifications, reconfigured the electronic motor controls and developed a customized solution to fit their needs. When Schleuniger returned with the prototype, Whelen was very happy to see that it allowed employees to operate and approach the coiler in a significantly more ergonomic fashion.

This type of personal service is rare in today’s industrial sector. Whelen believes that choosing vendors with quality equipment and a firm commitment for support is essential in keeping their business a competitive leader.