Auxiliary Equipment
Steele auxiliary equipment extends service life of wear parts and improves production efficiency
We engineer and manufacture a growing line of auxiliary equipment, driven by input from our global customer base.
New additions to our auxiliary equipment line
Check out the new Steele external gearbox lubrication system.
Machinery, engineering and service
Steele makes continuous improvement in the quality, control and production efficiency of our machinery. To assess their suitability for your Steele material preparation and shaping machines, talk to your regional Steele sales or service representative, or contact us.
- Articulating Oil Manifold
- Atlas Copco Vacuum System
- Auto-Systems Cutter
- Double Tank Vacuum System
- External Gearbox Lubrication
- Extruded Pellet Cutter
- Hydraulic Die Changers
- Model B Load Control
- Model E Waste Chopper
- Water Control Systems
One point for easy access and safe lubrication
Installed unit featuring Steele QR code, for instant online access to technical information.
The new Steele articulating oil manifold gives your machine operators a safer way to adjust oil pressure, moving the operator away from the front of the active die door. This upgrade lets you control oil pressure to prevent friction and heat buildup in the die, without compromising worker safety or slowing production.
Engineered for easier, faster maintenance
The articulating oil manifold uses the Steele color-coded hose system and quick couplings for easy identification of hoses and faster change-outs. Preventive safety — it’s not flashy, but it’s effective. And safer is always better.
Better vacuum quality with reduced energy and oil usage
The Atlas Copco GHS VSD+ vacuum system sets a higher performance standard.
Vacuum is critical for high-quality stiff extrusion, so Steele now offers the Atlas Copco GHS VSD+. Its Pressure Set Point Control operates the pump at maximum efficiency, reducing the amount of scrap product resulting from pressure fluctuations. This completely contained vacuum system reduces your energy, oil usage and maintenance requirements:
- Energy savings delivered with lower power requirements for equivalent vacuum performance
- Energy savings compounded using VFD for maximum power to maintain required vacuum level
- Uses 1/40th the oil previously needed to run the system
- Maintenance savings – separation technology eliminates need to drain tank
The same Steele service commitment
The Atlas Copco vacuum system comes with the same level of service and support as all Steele upgrades and wear parts.
We also work closely with the local team of Atlas Copco specialists based near our Statesville, NC corporate offices, to make sure your vacuum system delivers the performance and ROI you expect.
A simpler way to cut a clay column
Most cutters combine pneumatics and hydraulics, adding complexity and maintenance. Simple solutions need reliable machinery, so the Auto-Systems Cutter has an all-electric drive to synchronize dual cutting blades with column speed.
A simple half-turn rotary motion makes each cut, with an encoder determining column position and speed. The operator selects slug length using the supplied display.
Our Auto-Systems Cutter includes a mounting base, guards and abrasive-resistant transition plates.
For consistent high vacuum during extrusion to eliminate voids and improve extruded product quality
Vacuum is a key part of Steele stiff extrusion, so the Double Tank Vacuum System uses an oil cooling circuit upgrade to maintain consistent high vacuum and improve extruded output.
High temperatures in the vacuum pump’s service oil causes its moisture to evaporate, reducing pump capacity and its ability to de-air raw material. This upgrade uses a high-capacity oil cooler, larger oil circulation pump and check valve, and high-efficiency filtration.
Monitored lubrication for longer gearbox life
The new Steele external gearbox lubrication system extends the service life of your gearbox. It delivers direct lubrication to all bearings and gear meshes, and eliminates dry starts for longer gear life. An inline canister filter cleans gearbox oil, eliminating contaminants that degrade oil effectiveness and shorten service life.
Lubrication problems trigger a PLC signal, disengaging the clutch to prevent gearbox damage and alerting maintenance. An HMI touchscreen pinpoints the fault location, for quick corrective action and minimal downtime. There are various monitoring levels available, for the input and control you want.
This system is now standard on our 120 and 45 Series extruders and pug sealers. It’s available on new and installed 90 Series machines and as an upgrade on installed 75 machines.
Steele plans to offer a retrofit kit in mid-2022.
External thrust bearing filtration
Steele now offers an external positive displacement pump, to circulate and filter oil in the thrust/radial bearing housing. A replaceable spin-on filter removes oil contaminants, extending the life of your thrust and radial bearings.
Temperature and pressure sensors monitor the system, to tell you when it’s time to replace the filter.
The system delivers direct lubrication for all bearings and gear meshes.
Flexible pellet size during extrusion
Ideal for highly plastic materials that don’t form desired pellet size during extrusion, with a variable frequency drive to control your Steele extruder production output.
The extruded pellet cutter features removable knives for fast cleaning and change out.
Faster, safer die changeovers
Change a die or product size in about 60 seconds — the push of a lever replaces an entire maintenance crew handling multiple heavy components.
Steele hydraulic die changers mount on the extruder’s front barrel, with a circular liner clamp ring to accept standard die holders for all Steele dies. We make three models:
- 3225 Hydraulic Die Changer — For the Steele 25B Extruder
- 32A Hydraulic Die Changer — For the Steele 75AD Extruder
- 3690 Hydraulic Die Changer — For the Steele 90AA Extruder
These die changers require an oil pump and the Steele Model B Load Controller or its equivalent, as there’s no shear pin.
Automatic overload protection to prevent extruder damage
The Model B Load Control monitors extruder motor current draw, alerting the machine operator to excess motor amperage and shutting the extruder down, if necessary, to prevent damage, downtime and maintenance costs.
Operator early warning system
The Model B’s lower set point serves as an early warning system. It triggers warning devices (horns or flashing lights) when amperage reaches the first limit. Without resolution, the second, higher set point triggers an automatic shut-down to prevent extruder damage (this is a latching alarm and must be reset after it’s been tripped).
We configure the Model B before shipping and include set-up and operations instructions for adjustments.
Recycles unwanted clay slugs for return to the pug mill
Robust, dependable sizing and recycling, with separate drives running two shafts at different speeds to reduce slugs from the clay column for recycling in the pug mill.
Model E Waste Chopper shown with motors mounted on left. Right-side version also available.
Steele Pug 100 and Pug 1000 Water Control Systems — Accurate, reliable metering of water for extrusion
Two simple, efficient systems to control water addition in your extrusion, each with an independent water source and pump, isolating production from the flow and pressure fluctuations of public water systems.
Our Auto-Systems Cutter includes a mounting base, guards and abrasive-resistant transition plates. Neither system uses the moisture content of raw material or dry feed rate to control water addition.
Steele makes two water control systems:
Pug 100
- Air actuated valves to control the pump’s constant water flow
- Flow meter provides precise operator feedback on manual adjustments
Pug 1000
- Air actuated valves to control the pump’s constant water flow
- Flow meter provides precise operator feedback on manual adjustments
- Flow control valve and separate control panel permit remote control of water addition
- Push button control signal control valve to maintain set point
Machinery, engineering and service
E Series Even Feeders deliver reliable feeding for a wide range of bulk raw materials. To assess their suitability for your application, talk to your regional Steele sales or service representative, or contact us.