Hayward Tyler: Electric Tugs Eliminate Need for Forklifts

Hayward Tyler has created leaner, more efficient flowline production systems using the MasterTugger range. Driving more flexible processes, the manufacturer has seen a significant reduction in overhead crane and forklift use, improving safety and maximizing efficiency. 

Hayward Tyler is a global market leader in the manufacture of performance-critical electric motors and pumps. Variations of applications and environments determine their shape, size and weight. The specialist motors and pumps can vary in size up to 20' in length, 5' in width and weigh up to 44 tons. Such variations can present a logistical challenge within production processes thus requiring a solution to establish methods for moving products with different specifications whilst maintaining flow efficiency.

Hayward Tyler previously used an overhead crane to lift motors/pumps and lower them onto trestle frames. Individuals or groups of engineers would then work on or add components to the motor/pump before it was transferred to a successive workstation. Transfers were frequent and would not always flow in the same direction. At sections where the two parallel overhead cranes did not meet, a forklift would be used to transport motors/pumps between cranes. This slowed the manufacturing process, reduced efficiency and increased costs.

Hayward Tyler has adopted a more efficient ‘flowline’, by adopting a single piece process perfected by the aerospace industry. All workstations follow a straight line and continue on from each other successively. This means that the base product starts from one end and is completed at the other end of the workshop floor.

Despite changing the flow of work, it was envisioned that overhead cranes would still be used for frequent lifting and moving. To reduce the need for transporting products between work areas and allow for more tasks to be performed at each station, Hayward Tyler developed a series of patented ‘intelligent’ workstations. Referred to as Crusers by the company, these bespoke pieces of equipment hold the motor/pump. In addition to providing support for them, individuals are also able to alter the height of the workstation or rotate the product. This allows the engineers to complete more tasks at a single workstation with increased safety and ease. Making the Crusers maneuverable has further reduced the need of overhead cranes.

This led to the discovery of MasterMover...

MasterMover’s MT1500+ presented impressive specifications with the capability of moving wheeled loads weighing up to 16.5 tons. To compare options, the MT1500+ was tested against a competitor’s tugger. Both machines were used to transport a 10.7 tons load. Oliver explained, “The key benefit of the MasterMover tugger was the maneuverability. The emergency stop button could bring the machine and load to an immediate halt safely and the operation was very smooth. Hayward Tyler’s operators were given a customer questionnaire and the results meant we just ‘had to go’ with the MasterMover tugger.” Hayward Tyler has already purchased an MT1500+ and is currently in the process of acquiring a MT2000+ for loads of up to 22 tons on castors and 88 tons on rails.

The partnership of Cruser and electric tugger has seen a 50% drop in the use of overhead cranes. What’s more, the need for a forklift to bridge the gap between two cranes has been eliminated completely. Hayward Tyler is now forklift-free in pedestrian areas. This aids in meeting the “Fit for Nuclear” safety requirements as Hayward Tyler is part of the Civil Nuclear Sharing in Growth program.

Such is the success of the Cruser and MasterMover electric tugger combination that Hayward Tyler is already looking for further expansion of the product and expanding its application into other areas of manufacturing using its Luton based Center of Excellence as a ‘shop-front’ for the art of the possible.