October 2020 - Grinding Techniques

Railway revolution a competent partner in rail.

Posted on October 29, 2020 at 12:15 pm.

Grinding Techniques, a well-known abrasive company and part of the Tyrolit group of companies have been supplying abrasive solutions to the railway market for years. With specialised grinding products exported to satisfied customers worldwide, we offer an extensive range of high-quality cut-off and grinding wheels, specialised industrial and diamond tools and a wide range of surface finishing tools. All products are manufactured in accordance with international standards (ISO, EN and OSA).

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Since 2014, Grinding Techniques is an important part of the global TYROLIT Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of grinding and dressing tools and a system for the construction industry based in Austria. As of 1919, TYROLIT’s innovative tools have been making an important contribution to technological development in numerous industries. TYROLIT offers tailored grinding solutions for a varied range of applications and a comprehensive assortment of standard tools for customers all over the world. The family-owned company based in Schwaz, Austria, combines the dynamic strengths of the Swarovski Group with over a hundred years of commercial and technological experience.

TYROLIT believes in thinking and acting globally. With a worldwide sales network currently in 65 countries and with our own production plants in 12 countries on five continents, we
offer our customers all the advantages of a globally operating company.

Grinding Techniques and Tyrolit have long-standing experience in the extremely diverse applications and processes involved in rail machining. With innovative technology, constant research and ongoing improvements to our products and direct contact with our customers, we are continually increasing our leadership in innovation. With our goal of revolutionising the entire industry in mind, we have been manufacturing products to improve safety and all our products are built for optimum performance. Designed for high stock removal and continuance, we are able to not only offer a product that is cost effective, but also well known for its consistent reliability.

When it comes to construction and railway projects, we understand that you require tools to meet demanding deadlines under difficult application conditions.

The requirements for grinding and cut-off wheels for the machining of over-ground and underground railway lines and tram lines are extremely diverse. Whether for manual work or use on grinding trains – Grinding Techniques – as a supplier of both our own and Tyrolit products – are able to deliver suitable products to reduce grinding times combined with increased life, even under the most difficult application conditions.

The newly developed rail cut-off wheels have been designed to be durable and abrasive. These special rail cut-off wheels may only be used for hand-operated cutting, fixed to rail with a suitable clamping device they offer shorter cutting times coupled with minimal effort under extreme conditions such as humidity, cold and fluctuating temperatures. The Zirconium Aluminium Oxide grain in a rigid bond system enables an aggressive cutting performance.

Our cut-off wheels are available in 80 m/s or 100 m/s configurations depending on the machine in use.

When longer sections of track are ground – for prevention or correction – using trains equipped with up to 96 grinding spindles are typically utilised. Our high-quality grinding tools enhance the surface quality of the rails, helping to reduce noise and extend rail lifetime.

Our hand-operated grinding tools are used on short sections of rail for eradicating surface flaws, but also, in particular, for laying new individual rail sections. Grinding the weld seam
produces rail head profiles with high dimensional and shape accuracy.

Whether you need railway cup wheels, straight grinding, domed shaped grinding wheels or fixture points, we are able to manufacture all, including custom specification wheels.

With realistic minimum quantities and competitive production times, technological expertise and attractive prices – we offer a complete package focused on service and customer satisfaction – perfectly positioned to serve and supply your abrasive requirements.

For more information contact us: 011 271 6400 | info@grindtech.com | www.grindtech.com.

Keeping the rollers rolling in your roll grinding shop – partner with Grinding Techniques for perfect steel production

Posted on October 20, 2020 at 2:33 pm.

Written by Nicolene Breitenbach

Steel manufacturing companies play a significant role within the South-African economy, not only by providing much needed jobs but also being responsible for the manufacturing of material to be used in various parts of the construction, mining and manufacturing industry.

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Grinding Techniques – a Tyrolit Swarovski Company, locally manufactures a variety of products under the brand name Andor for roll grinding used in the refurbishment of rolls in steel mills. From non-reinforced cut-off wheels used to cut steel samples prior to sanding with (NCH) No Centre Hole sanding discs, to cleaning of the surface in order for the metallurgy of the materials to be analyzed all the way to the roll grinding wheels in the grinding shops. Whether you need abrasives for laboratory work, or roll grinding shops, we offer a complete package to cater for all your abrasive requirements.

Due to the continuous use of rolls to their limit in the production line, an ever-high demand is placed in terms of wear resistance and surface structure of the rolls to promote increase in life and usability. Roll grinding shops within steel plants in particular require high quality grinding wheels to grind and prepare the rolls for use and re-use after refurbishment. Whether focusing on cold or hot mills, it is important to note that each mill presents their own challenge when it comes to machining rolls. Different rolls are used in the process from work rolls to back up rolls and these all have different profiles ranging from flat, CVC or Crown shaped. With new developments in the materials used for roll grinding such HSS, ICDP and forged steels various materials are now presented with a higher percentage chrome content for wear properties, and the advent of fully automated grinding machines, it is now of utmost importance to use reliable, consistent high-quality grinding wheels.

Hot mills require wheels offering fast stock removal rates and high performance, where surface finish tends to be less important. These rolls can range in diameters from 600mm to 800mm and with lengths ranging from 1600mm to 3400mm. In strip- and-plate mills, these diameters can go up to 915mm. Due to their extremely high stock removal rates, grit sizes ranging from 30 to 46 are normally preferred.

Cold mills on the other hand doesn’t have the same amount of material to be removed, but surface finish plays an important role. The work rolls in cold mills range in diameters from 300mm to 700mm and come with lengths up to 2500 mm. Grits sized between 46 and 150 will be preferred, as a finer grit is required to ensure a better surface finish.

Back up rolls in both hot and cold mills provide the necessary support and pressure to the work rolls and are larger in diameter going up to 1600mm. Usually made of cast and forged steels with a chromium composition of 2 to 5 percent, they are not ground as frequently as work rolls but have more material to be removed – in some cases material of up to 2 mm.

Common problems experienced in roll grinding shops such as grinding chatter, traverse marks and bruising can be eliminated when partnering with a manufacturer that understands the quality demands within the industry, and produce wheels of only the highest standards. Grinding Techniques’ research and development center regularly test and review products to ensure that grinding wheels produced conform and exceeds the required standards, and that optimum results, longevity and value are evident when using our products.

Since 1981, we have been a trusted precision wheel supplier to steel mills. Our years of expertise and the latest cutting-edge technology allow us to combine high quality grains and proven bonding systems to manufacture wheels with exceptional stock removal rates, cooler cuts and longevity.

Part of the Tyrolit group since 2014, we are also able to supply specialised Tyrolit grinding wheels specifically manufactured for wire rolling mills. As these mills make use of grooved tungsten carbide rolls, they have a diverse range of wheel designs with specific profiles. As these profiles get worn quite quickly, they need to be regularly ground. Metal bond is the wheel of choice due to its high-profile holding properties for this complex application. With the CSS Wire roll range of super abrasives made in either metal, resin bond or electroplated, you will get both longevity and high stock removal with quality that never disappoints.

Apart from manufacturing and supplying precision grinding wheels, we also carry a range of dressing wheels to dress the wheels back to its original profile, which can be tailor-made with regards to sizes used on different machines.

Grinding Techniques is able to offer a complete abrasive solution with products to suit various applications. With constant innovation, development and research, we have been the preferred precision partner for decades. Let us help you keep the rollers rolling. Contact our precision business development team for more information on customised specifications and sizes to suit your requirements.

For more information contact us: 011 271 6400 | info@grindtech.com | www.grindtech.com.

Getting the job done with Ceramic Abrasives

Posted on October 7, 2020 at 9:33 am.

Written by Nicolene Breitenbach

Ceramic abrasives are one of the newest innovations in grain technology. This high-performance grain has the ability to constantly re-sharpen as is wears, providing fast cutting action through its usable life. They provide the longest life and fastest cut rate of all coated abrasives. They represent the ultimate in performance, providing an aggressive, consistent cut under moderate to high pressure. Ceramic grains feature very small fracture planes which allow each grain to constantly re-sharpen and provide extremely consistent stock removal through its entire life cycle.

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Grinding Techniques proudly South African abrasive manufacturer and coated converter offers ceramic abrasive technology through our partnership with Starcke and Deerfos Abrasives. We offer a wide range of basic and finished products for almost every kind of application. At Grinding Techniques our aim is to provide you with the best coated or bonded abrasive product for your manufacturing process actively, objectively and reliably.

Typical applications where one would benefit from using Ceramic Abrasives includes but is not limited to:

The quality of coated abrasives depends on numerous parameters such as the amount of grain and weight per unit area, the quantity of base, topcoat and curing temperatures. These parameters have been defined with a view to production and substantiated by quality assurance measures after every manufacturing step for each product. Not only do we manufacture abrasive products according to ISO standards, at Grinding Techniques we also strive to consistently meet and exceed maximum standards to ensure compliance with strict customer requirements.

Longevity and outstanding surface quality are the most important factors when it comes to supplying quality coated abrasive products. The world of “coated abrasives” presents itself with as much diversity as there are materials in order to achieve precise stock removal on metal, varnish, wood, natural stone, glass, plastics, ceramics and rubber. Our stock is easy to cut to all shapes, lengths and widths. Being a local converter of coated abrasive products, this is done according to customer requirements in order to facilitate and optimize delivery time, logistics and stock keeping for all parties concerned.

Coated abrasive products supplied by Grinding Techniques are designed to give the finishing touch to a wide variety of materials in the metal and wood industry and many more industrial sectors.

Contact us for the latest innovation in coated abrasives. Training and technical assistance is available from our product specialists who are ready to provide solutions to all your questions and processing issues.

Grinding Techniques remain the partner of choice for the Foundry Industry

Posted on October 1, 2020 at 9:37 am.

Written by Nicolene Breitenbach

Since the beginning of time, man found value in utilising various materials for the production of products related to self-sustainability. These materials evolved over time as technology and knowledge increased. From the humble beginnings of the copper age to the current highly sophisticated alloy age, casting of materials in usable forms and shapes remain a critical function.

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The oldest metal casting known to man is believed to be a frog casting in Mesopotamia around 3200 BCE. It was the first cast product to show the forming of a mould prior to casting the molten metal.

The bronze age was the era where tin and copper were mixed in the melting process, the new metal was developed in Turkey, Iran and Iraq. It was however the Egyptians that really perfected this process to a fine art and produced many a weapon and other industrial appliances, dominating the bronze age.

With the iron age that followed, the Chinese mastered the art of metal casting and the systematic production of metals around 1000 BC. They managed to mass produce cast tools and farming equipment and the world’s first cannons and gunpowder. Along with the change in metal production came the changes in the agricultural, religious and cultural spectrums. Europe was only able to produce its first iron products 1000 years later.

After the iron age, the industrial age followed. This era was known as the age of the technical revolution. The demand for cast products was on the rise, and soon new machines were developed to keep up with mass production and demand. Products now casted would include machine components, engine components, rail equipment, equipment for the airline industry, and a vast array of other consumer goods.

Through the evolution of castings, the basics still remained the same; make the mould, melt the metal, cast, cool and finish off.

As the science of metallurgy has grown in the past three hundred years, so too has the methods used to machine and shape the relevant products. In ancient times, sand stone was used to “file” the relevant pieces. Eventually bigger grinding stones were mounted on hand turned machines to grind and sharpen products. Today we have Ceramicists and Bio-chemical Engineers developing bonding systems for new artificial abrasive minerals being created. Machines that run at speeds exceeding 100m/s and achieving metal removal rated higher than ever before, whilst maintaining form accuracy to literally micron tolerances. Alloys are now being developed to be harder than glass, but still maintain the toughness synonymous with steel and metal related products.

As the science of metallurgy has grown in the past three hundred years, so too has the methods used to machine and shape the relevant products. In ancient times, sand stone was used to “file” the relevant pieces. Eventually bigger grinding stones were mounted on hand turned machines to grind and sharpen products. Today we have Ceramicists and Bio-chemical Engineers developing bonding systems for new artificial abrasive minerals being created. Machines that run at speeds exceeding 100m/s and achieving metal removal rated higher than ever before,
whilst maintaining form accuracy to literally micron tolerances. Alloys are now being developed to be harder than glass, but still maintain the toughness synonymous with steel and metal related products.

Grinding Techniques – a Tyrolit Swarovski company is uniquely positioned to offer application-based solutions. With more than 138 combined years of experience in manufacturing abrasive tools, both Tyrolit and Grinding Techniques are able to offer a comprehensive range of specialised products.

The product range for a typical foundry application includes, but is not limited to:

Our ability to manufacture custom made products to assist in optimising your fettling processes, is unrivalled in the industry today. Our understanding of metallurgy and equipment has propelled us to a become leading role player in the Foundry Industry. Our new innovative Premium Ceramic and Zirconia products are a prime example of market leading technology.

We offer an optimization service that allows for scientific comparison in all aspects of the grinding tool process from the material removal rate, to tool life comparisons and heat generation.

With one of the most comprehensive product ranges available in the Southern African market today, it is no wonder Grinding Techniques is the Industry partner of choice when it comes to the Foundry Industry.

For more information contact us: 011 271 6400 | info@grindtech.com | www.grindtech.com.