Valley Box specializes in helping manufacturers in diverse industries solve their material handling and crating challenges. From the defense industry's MIL-SPEC crating requirements, steel & wood trade show crate solutions, to the highly-technical requirements of the Aerospace packaging industry.
Below, we walk you through a detailed example of one of these unique types of challenges and how we designed a specialized solution for our customer.
Challenge
In this case, the customer wanted an aerospace cart to use throughout the assembly process for their carbon fiber rocket nozzles.
These nozzles sit on top of space probes to protect the spacecraft's body from high temperatures and impacts from hyper-velocity dust particles.
To ensure perfection, the customer has a complex manufacturing process that requires several in-depth steps, including layout, trimming, drilling, and part handling.
Custom Solution
The aerospace cart solution developed by Valley Box will not only be used as a build-stand but also as an assembly fixture, a transport cart, and for storage in between assembly processes.
These custom-designed carts help to facilitate the health of the overall supply chain for the aerospace program by reinforcing a lean manufacturing process, which eliminates wasted motion by manufacturing personnel.
Removable Panels
To ensure operators' easy access to any side of the rocket nozzle, the aerospace cart was designed with removable panels on the sides and ends.
The customer does not intend to secure or tie down the rocket nozzle. Normally, this method would be used to protect the part from damage. Instead, our engineers lined the inside surfaces with 1/4" foam padding and carpet to prevent abrasion to the carbon fiber.
Prevent Loss of Removable Parts
Parts can often go missing in a manufacturing environment. The resources required to locate or replace those parts cost the Company, and it's staff time and money. To prevent the loss of the removable panels, Valley Box designed a clever hanging-storage location for employees to use when accessing the part.
Protective Coating
Steel will corrode with rust over time; not only will rust degrade the strength of the steel, but it can also contaminate aerospace assembly line environments.
To increase the life and to reduce contamination to the assembly line, the aerospace cart's steel components were sandblasted and powder-coated. Additionally, any exposed wood was painted.
Conclusion
Our customer received a custom aerospace packaging solution that not only met all their needs but exceeded their expectations.
Every project Valley Box must take on is efficient, space-saving, long-lasting, and easily maneuvered by the product's end user.
