• Transfer car capacity ranges from 2,000 lbs. to 150,000 lbs.
• Cars are built in 4- and 8-wheel configurations with heavy-duty frames.
• Cars are designed to meet customers’ special requirements.
• Systems are available with hydraulic or electric drives.
• V-lock positioning and external rail assemblies ensure accurate transfers and minimize load shifting at all tracks  (optional).

Hydraulically powered units are available for continuous, intermittent, and true continuous applications. PLC based controls with touch screen displays at local, remote, and central control sites make these systems easy to operate and highly reliable. Our new IPS system described here represents the very best in tunnel kiln schedule control:
 
The I.P.S. (Innovative Pushing System) true continuous kiln car pusher is a leap forward in design and functionality from yesterday's kiln pushers. This system has eliminated the need for awkward pulleys, wire ropes, limit switch towers, and lengthy calculations for pusher rate adjustments. The internal feedback system automatically compensates for mass, temperature, and other selected dynamic changes. A touch pad located on the control panel contains all the pusher functions your operator requires. A few of these panel features are:

• Digital input and output screens
• Alarm screens
• Graphical representation of cylinder position
• Speed control screen
• Pressure reading screen
• Dial-up access

Operator-friendly speed control requires only entry of the number of Cars Per Day (CPD).  The I.P.S. will establish and maintain the desired rate automatically.

Cable and chain haulages move kiln cars using floor-mounted dollies equipped with pusher dogs and a track with an endless winch design. Cable haulage systems are available in 3,000 to 15,000 pounds drawbar capacity. Chain haulage systems are available in 1,000 to 3,000 pounds capacity. Both systems are designed, wired and tested by Swindell Dressler.  The systems are electrically or hydraulically driven with PLC control. We offer both top-of-floor- or recessed-dolly design options.

Indexers safely and accurately position kiln cars at various pieces of equipment such as transfer cars, levelators, elevators, loading, and unloading machines. Multi-Dog Indexers build a train of cars with planned separation. Indexers and Multi-Dog Indexers are hydraulically operated and electrically controlled by a PLC. We offer systems with top-of-floor or recessed designs.

Turntables rotate the kiln cars 45, 90, 180 or 360 degrees for ease in loading and unloading or redirecting car travel. These tables may be electrically controlled or manually operated. They are circular in design and come in various sizes and capacities. The turntables are usually designed to be flush with the plant floor. The power-driven models have adjustable rotating speeds up to 6 rpm. Turntables are usually combined with multi-dog indexers so that some separation can be made between the kiln cars before rotating the cars.

Levelators are used with shuttle kilns.  A levelator raises or lowers one kiln car at a time for ease of loading and unloading ware. These devices are electrically controlled and hydraulically operated. Levelators are available in 5,000 to 150,000 pound capacities.

Elevators are used on tunnel kilns in combination with turntables. The turntable turns the kiln car 90 degrees; then the kiln car is placed onto the elevator. The elevator raises or lowers the kiln car, one car at a time, in increments for ease in loading and unloading ware. These devices are electrically controlled and hydraulically operated.

Swindell Dressler’s Plant Wide Car Tracking System monitors kiln car information as cars travel anywhere throughout the plant. With user-friendly graphical interfaces, car and product locations can be displayed in an instant. Bar code, RFID, or other scanners automatically read car numbers at each car transfer point, thus eliminating manual intervention, even when cars are physically removed from the system. Each car is assigned vital product and car code information. The Product Code associated with each car contains all product related information including drying and firing parameters. These product codes, in combination with the car location, can then be used to perform dynamic setpoint downloads. Dynamic setpoints allow temperature setpoints, damper adjustments, and other operating parameters to be automatically changed as new products cycle through the process. The setpoints can also be configured to automatically adjust for rate changes in the firing process. This allows for a totally automated firing process, virtually eliminating the need for operator intervention. The car tracking system also collects car thermal history as it travels through the kiln. This data provides a record of the firing curve for each individual car. This data is then archived to a database for a comparison with other kiln cars.  Customer compliance information, maintenance flags, dynamic parameters, troubleshooting, product matching, and other knowledge can be gleaned from this archived data.