Overview
Foundry environments are among the most punishing operating conditions for material handling equipment. Temperatures exceed 1,000°F at certain process points. Sand, castings, scrap, and fines are abrasive and heavy. Dust is constant. Equipment runs continuously through multiple shifts. Conveyors that work well in a distribution center or packaging line will fail quickly in a metalcasting operation.
The SYNCRO-COIL® vibrating conveyor from General Kinematics is designed specifically for this environment. It uses the SYNCRO-CUSHION™ coil spring drive — a natural-frequency vibratory system with a rugged coil-spring connection between the drive and the trough — to deliver consistent, reliable material movement under high-load and adverse operating conditions where other vibratory systems would overheat, wear out, or shake themselves apart.
SYNCRO-CUSHION™ Coil Spring Drive
The heart of the SYNCRO-COIL is its drive system. The SYNCRO-CUSHION coil spring drive operates at the system’s natural frequency, meaning the energy required to maintain vibration is far lower than in forced-vibration designs. The coil spring connection between the drive and trough also acts as a protective mechanism — if an overload occurs, the spring absorbs the shock rather than transmitting it directly to drive components. This combination of low energy consumption and overload protection delivers exceptional durability in the harsh, unpredictable conditions of a working foundry.
Custom Trough Design
General Kinematics does not offer the SYNCRO-COIL as a catalog conveyor with standard dimensions. Every trough is designed for the specific application. The engineering team considers bulk density, angle of repose, particle size, material temperature, abrasiveness, and process requirements to determine trough width, depth, material thickness, and internal geometry. For high-wear applications, modular trough sub-assemblies are available to speed up trough replacement without removing the entire conveyor from service.
Features and Benefits
Every element of the SYNCRO-COIL is selected for durability in demanding industrial environments.
- SYNCRO-CUSHION™ coil spring drive operates at natural frequency for low energy consumption and overload protection
- Custom trough design engineered for each application’s material and process requirements
- Available in infinite lengths and widths — no standard-size limitations
- Configurable for straight, inclined, declined, or circular conveying paths
- Heavy-duty construction for continuous operation in heat, dust, and abrasive environments
- Modular trough sub-assemblies available for fast replacement in high-wear applications
- Low energy drive system powers through adverse operating conditions
Applications
The SYNCRO-COIL is the standard vibratory conveyor for foundry and metalcasting operations. It moves castings, foundry sand, mold material, scrap, fines, and process byproducts between shakeout, cooling, cleaning, and handling stages. Beyond metalcasting, it serves any heavy industrial application where high temperatures, abrasive materials, dusty atmospheres, and continuous-duty operation make conventional conveyors impractical — including mining, aggregate processing, and heavy manufacturing.
SYNCRO-COIL vs. KWIXTROK
Both are General Kinematics products, but they serve different needs. The SYNCRO-COIL uses traditional vibratory motion to move heavy, abrasive materials in extreme environments. The KWIXTROK uses differential-friction horizontal motion to move fragile, dusty, or flow-sensitive materials gently. Choose the SYNCRO-COIL when the material is hot, abrasive, heavy, or the environment demands maximum ruggedness. Choose the KWIXTROK when gentleness, low dust generation, and flexible path configurations matter more.