The ShaftLock™ safety chuck has no pinch points and opens only in the up position to allow for a safe unload operation, co. says. It is available in several models and can handle loads and roll weights up to 5,000 lbs. Co. also offers COR-LOCK® airshafts with a lateral adjust option built into the shaft. A handwheel facilitates side-to-side +/- 4-in. adjustments while the machine is running. The shafts are available in 2- to 18-in. standard diameters and can handle 500 lbs at speeds up to 2,000 fpm.

CONVERTER ACCESSORY CORP. , 800/433-2413, fax: 800/709-1007, www.handleyourweb.com

Flex-pack converter Sonoco Flexible Packaging (Edinburgh, IN) was experiencing a lot of chuck failures due to the weight of the materials it runs on its tandem extruder. Sonoco runs foil, paper and film rolls close to 2,000 lbs with 3-in. shafts on 6-in. chucks in order to keep the shaft weight down. "At the end of the day, we were just having a lot of chuck failures," said Rick Jaggers, production manager.

Not only were the chucks failing, they took a lot of time to set up. The crew wanted to get rid of the chucks and try 6-in. shafts to help reduce set-up time.

Determined to solve their production issues, Jaggers and a few Sonoco operators stormed CMM Intl. 2005 to find that 6-in. shaft. They found Tidland Corp.'s 6-in. GX Ultralightweight Shaft (www.tidland.com), which they installed in July 2005.

"They've done everything we want them to do," Jaggers said. They reduced set-up time significantly because there are no chucks to position. Jaggers was able to get rid of the 6-in. chucks and the $6,000 a month spent to maintain them. The shafts also weigh less than 55 lbs., which falls within Sonoco's weight restrictions.

SONOCO FLEXIBLE PACKAGING , 812/526-5511, fax: 812/526-0587, www.sonoco.com

TIDLAND CORP. , 800/426-1000, fax: 360/834-5865, www.tidland.com

Extending its line of Raptor Series shaftless chucks, co. adds more core ID sizes. Air-powered and torque-activated models are now available to fit a range of core sizes, from 3 to 12 in. An optional tool-less adapter allows users to switch core sizes in two steps that take less than 5 seconds overall.

TIDLAND CORP. , 800/426-1000, fax: 360/834-5865, www.tidland.com/shaftless

The Accu-Clamp™ is a one-piece rigid coupling that incorporates self-centering clamping collars at both ends for applications requiring less than 0.001 TIR axial run-out. This allows for precise shaft alignment and eliminates the conventional longitudinal slot and provides a close-tolerance bore and keyway. It is ideal for line shaft applications and is available in 0.5 × 0.5-in. to 1.5 × 1.5-in. sizes.

STAFFORD MANUFACTURING CORP. , 800/695-5551, fax: 978/657-4731, www.staffordmfg.com

The Model 1420-LF pneumatic mechanical chuck is recommended primarily for unwinding, where centering is required. The body of the chuck and the expanders (lugs or leafs) are available in steel only. Expansion is done by one or more air-activated pistons that mechanically engage the expanders. It can also be spring-activated to ensure that the core is gripped in case of air leakage in the machine. A hybrid design of this chuck, the 1420-LFH, is ideal for extremely high torque requirements, co. says. The expanding chucks have a standard base size of 3 in. with 4-, 5- and 6-in. adapters.

GOLDENROD CORP. , 800/465-3763, fax: 203/723-8230, www.goldenrod.com

The COR-SAFE safety chucks have hardened replaceable jaw sockets for core-shaft interchangeability and replacement. They come with finger guards to eliminate pinch-point problems, are available in light- and medium-duty models, and foot- and flange-mount styles.

HYDRALIGN , 800/688-0954, fax: 508/923-0886, www.butlerautomatic.com/hydralign/

Co.'s patented spline design keeps shaft journals seated without any movement, allowing faster web speeds with less vibration. When combined with co.'s lightweight, carbon-fiber shaft, heavier roll weights can be run at faster speeds. The patented safety chuck is activated with a sliding mechanism, reducing finger jamming accidents while guaranteeing roll security, co. says. Sidelay adjustment models allow accurate roll positioning with a handwheel with a horizontal range up to 4 in.

DOUBLE E CO. , 508/588-8099, fax: 508/580-2915, www.doubleeint.com

A large core gripping area on co.'s pneumatic chucks and no plastic bushing allow operators to release damaged cores. These features increase torque capacity, co. says. They work well with high- or zero-speed splicers, rewinding and unwinding stands and other shaftless applications.

EMT INTL., INC. , 920/468-5475, fax: 920/468-7991, www.emtinternational.com

Co.'s new air roll-lock differential shaft design uses a series of locking shaft collars to grip rolls firmly while giving improved control over web tension. When air is released from the locking shaft collars, the integrated rolling system allows free lateral movement of heavy rolls along the length of the shaft. Even at wide-web length, the rolling system makes loading and unloading heavy rolls easy for a single operator, co. says.

CONVERTECH, INC. , 973/328-1850, fax: 973/328-7256, www.convertech.com