SWEED Talks

Innovation comes in many forms at Sweed. Much of the time, we work closely with our customers to learn about the kinds of materials they’re having trouble processing, which helps us create custom solutions that fit their needs. Sometimes, however, we have to innovate ways to handle difficult materials and maintain the durability and consistent performance that our machines are known for. When it comes to processing tube scarf, having a machine that handles a grueling environment while maintaining its functionality is key, and we made sure to create a machine that can withstand the process.

“The kind of environment tube scarf choppers have to work in is hot and dirty,” says Eric Schmidt, the engineer who created Sweed’s original tube scarf chopper. “The excessive heat of the material is obvious, then there is the steel grit that just gets everywhere – it builds up like sand.” Designing a machine that could handle these environments required finding solutions to protect the internal workings of the machine while also addressing the technical challenge of having the flexibility to process different scarf sizes. Heavy scarf requires pulling force while small and thin scarf calls for a feeding finesse that doesn’t break the material. “All of this has to fit in a small package because our machines are often placed in existing tube mill lines where space is a premium,” Schmidt adds.

To accomplish this laundry list of requirements in one machine, our team communicates with our customers extensively to understand their needs. “It’s very important that we keep up with industry changes and develop a system that functions in everyone’s different lines,” Schmidt says. Because every mill does things slightly differently, our engineers have to always be on their toes to provide solutions that are just right for a customer’s specific needs. This individualized care and attention doesn’t stop after the design process either – Sweed engineers are available at any point for technical support over the phone or email, or even on-site for in-person assistance.

We also recognize that the industry is always changing and mills are always looking for machines that can meet evolving demands, which is why we have continually upgraded our tube scarf chopper to perform better. “To bring the TS450 tube scarf chopper to where it is today, I made sure to give it a larger motor, greater pulling force, and larger opening so that it could make the scarf chopping process easier,” says Henry Rueda, an engineer who worked on the tube scarf chopper’s upgrades. “Our goal was to add these performance features while maintaining its compact footprint and not compromising its longevity and durability in these extreme environments.” Sweed’s machines are known for their durability, and the TS450 tube scarf chopper is no exception. “All the machines are out there still chopping,” Schmidt says. “We pride ourselves in building durable choppers for any need. Choppers we built in the 1960s are still in service in our customers’ lines.”

Tube scarf choppers don’t have an easy job: they have to process incredibly sharp material that can be over 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit at line speed while getting coated in steel grit. “Within a few hours of operation, that new machine can look like it’s been in use for years,” Rueda laughs. Still, we made sure to design a machine that took the risk and difficulty of processing scarf away from human workers so that mills and their employees could be safer and more efficient. Today, we still make improvements on our machine and provide expert support from the initial quote to long beyond installation so that these rugged tube scarf choppers can continue getting the job done year after year.