Ergo Cup Winners 2012

2012 Ergo Cup Winners:

First place — Pacific States
Pacific States installed pneumatic-driven wedge(s) on the pipe extractor to break the sand core, which eliminated the need to strike the core 6–8 times with a 14-pound sledgehammer. This task was being performed up to 20 times per hour for each pipe produced, 10 hours per day.

Second place — Clow Valve
Clow Valve won second prize for their workplace redesign, which significantly reduced the number of steps required to assemble each hydrant stem. They installed a new assembly table 4 inches taller than the old table and also added two-hand directional controls. This ergonomically superior redesign eliminates two bends, at least one twist and 50 percent of the steps taken per assembly at approximately 18,000 per year.

Third place — Amerex
The third place Amerex team implemented a crane system, designed a special lifting device to hold cylinders in place and installed a hydraulic positioning device for use when picking up un-welded cylinders and sliding them in place on a seam welder. This change not only increased safety, but also improved the quality of the product and resulted in a lower product cost.