Tenaris will open a sucker-rods manufacturing facility in Conroe, Texas, in July. The $70 million investment is equipped with advanced technologies to optimize efficiencies and reduce production times. The facility includes heat-treatment, threading and finishing processes; nondestructive testing (NDT); robotized forging lines; and a state-of-the-art quality testing lab. The mill also has an on-site training facility and classroom.

SMS group received an order from China’s Sichuan Liuhe Forging Co. for a high-speed, 50/55 MN open-die forging press. The press is a two-column, push-down design and features a table shifter and die shifting unit. Operating with a press force of up to 50 MN and a maximum upsetting force of 55 MN, it is suited to forging high-quality products with finished dimensions within the close tolerance range of ±1 mm.

Schuler received an order for a 30,000-ton closed-die forging press from Otto Fuchs, a manufacturer of high-quality forged pieces, extruded products and rolled rings for the aerospace, automotive and construction industries. The press will be used to manufacture aircraft landing gear, engine discs and structural parts made of aluminum, magnesium, titanium and nickel alloys. It will be supplied with press mechanics, adaptation of water hydraulics, transport, full assembly and CE certification. Start-up is scheduled for January 2021.

SMS group received an order from Musashi Europe for the delivery of a 5,000-ton eccentric forging press for its plant in Bockenau, Germany. Commissioning of the closed-die forging press is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019. The press will enable Musashi Europe to produce large rotationally symmetric forgings for passenger cars and truck applications in a highly efficient, fully automatic production process.

This is a continuation of David's first blog post in almost two years, which can be read here.

Onex Inc. of Erie, Pa., designed and manufactured a front-loading forge furnace for a leading North American forging company. The furnace, one of the largest of its kind in North America according to Onex, has workspace dimensions measuring 26 feet wide x 20 feet deep x 14 feet tall. It features an engineered lintel system that provides a longer life than traditional refractory lintels. The furnace also has a combination module roof, which is less costly than a full polycrystalline lining and does not shrink like traditional ceramic-fiber containing zirconia.

We have returned to the U.S. after eight (or so) years of working internationally in the U.K., Europe, India, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. The work has been both exciting and extremely interesting, focusing on the following subjects...