Aluminium profiles for e-mobility in highest quality
Process cranes for
the aluminium industry
the aluminium industry
Automated cranes for the aluminum industry
The manufacture of high-quality aluminum products — whether foil, strip, sheet, or extruded profiles for the automotive, aerospace, or medical technology industries—places extraordinary demands on internal logistics. Loads of up to 35 metric tons, material temperatures of several hundred degrees Celsius, sensitive surfaces, and tightly scheduled production processes cannot be handled cost-effectively with standard crane solutions.
Vollert develops and implements fully automated crane systems that are precisely tailored to the process logic of rolling mills, extrusion lines, and sheet metal production facilities. The systems not only handle transportation but are also fully integrated into production and transport control systems as well as ERP environments—ensuring a seamless, resource-efficient material flow from raw materials to shipping.
Where Heavy-Duty Cranes Are Used
From slab delivery and coil transport to the fully automated logistics of extruded profiles: Vollert designs automated crane systems for the aluminum industry that reliably handle heavy loads, ensure high precision, and meet tight process cycles.
Ingots and coils – heavy-duty under extreme conditions
The transport of raw aluminum ingots is the first critical step in rolling mill logistics. Ingots are heavy, bulky, and must be handled with precision so that downstream processes — furnace charging, hot rolling, and cold rolling — can run without interruption. Errors or delays at this stage have a direct impact on the entire production chain.
Aluminum coils are also among the most challenging goods to transport in the metal industry. Weights of up to 35 metric tons, temperatures of several hundred degrees Celsius immediately after the rolling process, and sensitive surfaces that cannot tolerate any damage — this combination requires crane systems that are mechanically, thermally, and control-wise designed for this application.
INGOT HANDLING
Vollert manufactures fully automated ingot transport cranes equipped with laser-controlled measurement systems that ensure precise positioning even across large hall spans and at high throughput rates. The systems are designed for the specific geometries and weights of the respective ingot formats and are integrated into the overarching plant control system. Ingot stacking is fully automated.
COIL HANDLING
Vollert develops coil cranes with specially designed gripping tools and slewing mechanisms that safely pick up coils from the ground or a conveyor system, position them precisely, and place them in flat storage areas or at transfer stations. These systems take into account both the thermal loads on the equipment and the requirements for surface protection and positioning accuracy.
Automated transport in sheet metal and profile production
Extruded aluminum profiles are everywhere: as window frames, facade elements, in the construction industry, or as structural components in vehicles. What they all have in common is a multi-step manufacturing process that places high demands on internal logistics. Bolts are delivered, profiles are extruded, cut to transportable lengths, stacked in baskets, heat-treated in aging furnaces, and then finished or packaged.
Aluminum sheets for the automotive or aerospace industries are also among the highest-quality intermediate products in metal processing. Surface defects, scratches, or deformations caused by improper handling lead to scrap and costly rework. At the same time, material flows and storage times in component manufacturing must be organized in such a way that production schedules are met and lead times are minimized.
PROFILE HANDLING
Vollert implements complete material flow automation for extrusion lines—from billet delivery to shipment of the finished profiles. Crane systems with up to three synchronized hoists handle the transport of long, delicate profiles between the saw, aging furnace, anodizing or powder coating line, and packaging station. Overhead cranes enable high throughput even in confined workshop spaces. Swing damping, four-rope hoists, or diagonal cable bracing—everything is tailored to the specific application.
SHEET METAL HANDLING
Vollert sheet metal handling cranes are designed to meet the specific requirements of this application: damage-free gripping and transport of delicate aluminum sheets, precise positioning at processing and storage stations, and fully automated control with integration into the warehouse management system. Integrating all transport routes into a higher-level control system ensures that sheets are available at the right place and at the right time—without manual intervention and without the risk of damage.
Aluminum industry uses different crane systems
Intralogistics in aluminum plants differs fundamentally from traditional heavy-duty applications. Here, several challenges converge simultaneously: extreme weights, high material temperatures, sensitive surfaces, and a production process that cannot tolerate unplanned downtime. Anyone working with standard cranes in this environment risks quality losses, downtime, and unnecessary operating costs.
Aluminum coils, for example, emerge from the rolling process at temperatures of several hundred degrees Celsius and weigh up to 35 metric tons. They must be gripped precisely, transported safely, and positioned accurately—without surface damage, without delay, and without error. At the same time, slab transport, furnace loading, and profile logistics must mesh seamlessly so that the entire plant operates efficiently.
Vollert not only provides the right crane mechanics for these requirements but also the process expertise necessary to develop crane systems as an integral part of the production logic. This is what distinguishes an engineering partner from a mere crane manufacturer.
System architecture
A crane system alone does not ensure an efficient material flow. What matters most is how the crane system is integrated into the overarching process logic: What information controls the crane? How does it communicate with warehouse management, production control, and ERP? How are buffers, transfer stations, and process steps coordinated?
Vollert not only supplies the crane mechanics but also helps develop the entire control and management system architecture. Transport and production control systems coordinate all movements within the plant, prioritize orders, manage storage locations, and ensure the traceability of every piece of material. Integration with host systems and ERP platforms is standard—not a custom solution.
It is this depth of system integration that sets Vollert apart from pure crane manufacturers. Customers such as Hydro, Speira, Aluminium Duffel, Novelis, AMAG, Neuman, and HAI have relied on this combination of process knowledge, mechanical engineering, and control expertise for decades.
