FIBRO successfully fullfils VDI directives for gas springs usage

Photo by FIBRO GmbH

The leading standard parts specialist FIBRO 100% fulfils in the global marketplace the specifications of the VDI directives for the use of gas springs, which are revised by the Böblinger Arbeitskreis (VDI-BAK). Renowned national and international automobile manufacturers such as FORD AG, have their personnel trained in risk prevention by FIBRO onsite using these products.

Process reliability has the top priority in the automobile industry. Maintenance and set-up times have a direct negative effect on unit costs. The use of wear-relevant components in the manufacture is thus specified in the scope of defined guidelines. This is revised by the Böblinger Arbeitskreis (VDI-BAK), in which the automobile manufacturers Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Opel and VW are represented. Its goal is to simplify processes thus reducing production costs. In terms of safety and reliability, the requirements are correspondingly high and are fixed in corresponding VDI directives.

For the use of gas springs, the standard parts specialist FIBRO fulfils the specifications of the VDI-BAK in their full scope, whose employees actively participate in VDI. With its program, the company from Hassmersheim is a technology driver in the industry. Technical system developments substantiate this. Thus, all products from the diverse range of gas springs feature a host of patented safety features. These have been transparently demonstrated to the BAK-VDI. Different cut models were manufactured and presented specifically for this purpose. FIBRO was clearly able to demonstrate that it invested a great deal of time and effort in terms of safety. Because the use of inferior products by the operator not only leads to malfunctions that have a detrimental effect on the production process, inferior products also expose workers to potential hazards and dangers.

The overtravel protection system (depending on the spring type) ensures that either the cylinder wall of the gas spring deforms in a specific way or the piston rod destroys a bursting screw in the base of the cylinder allowing the gas to escape. Special guides and a safety stop in the piston rod protect the product in the event of an uncontrolled return stroke. If the speed is too high during the return stroke, the collar on the piston rod will automatically break. The integrated safety stop then destroys the seal, this allows the gas to escape into the atmosphere and the gas spring to become depressurised. The gas spring also reacts functionally in the event of an unwanted increase of the inside pressure above a defined value. The overpressure protection functions by means of the automatic destruction of the sealing set on the safety collar. The gas escapes and the gas spring is depressurised in a controlled manner. All these features are expected to be used as specification for the use of gas spring in the planned VDI directives.

Moreover, a variety of reliability features provide for the high standard of quality of the gas springs. The Flex Guide System is a flexible guide of the gas spring, which compensates for lateral movements of the piston rod thus minimising the increase in friction-induced operating temperature. Secure hose connections are established using the Dual Seal System. These ensure tight connections even when subject to vibrations.

Only the interaction of these individual product features provides for the safety and reliability features required in the industry, which also was able to convince the BAK-VDI. The manufacturer guarantees the 1 million strokes required by the BAK-VDI – incidentally at the respective maximum permitted filling pressure and operating temperature. In addition, the gas springs are approved for at least two million strokes according to the Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EG.

FIBRO has gone yet a step further with process reliability by developing the Wireless Pressure Monitoring System (WPM). This system allows the temperature and pressure level of gas springs to be monitored wirelessly. Before a faulty part is created, the press operator receives a message from the WPM and can initiate preventative measures.

FIBRO’s gas springs are utilised by all leading automobile manufacturers. In December, employees of the Ford AG received training in the handling and risk prevention with gas springs and controlled gas springs at FIBRO’s headquarters in Hassmersheim. Because the training of employees plays in important role in the optimisation of manufacturing processes. And finally, because people are at the heart of FIBRO.

For more information, please visit http://www.fibro.de.

• CID: 20771