SMS group received the final acceptance certificate from Japan’s Hitachi Metals following the successful commissioning of its open-die forging press. This is the largest four-column open-die forging press in push-down design that SMS group has built in the last 25 years. The press, which operates with a forging force of up to 90 MN and an upsetting force of 108 MN, forges flat and round bars from ingots at a maximum starting material weight of 30 tons. Hitachi Metals intends to use it to process titanium alloys, tool steels, high-speed steels and nickel-based alloys.

Scibond SL-87 is an environmentally friendly blend of water-based polymers that is applied as a coating, rather than a reactive bath like zinc phosphate.

A horizontal forging reciprocator features Spra-Rite technology.

In what is becoming an annual April tradition, we’ll take a look at some significant industry events.

SMS group received a contract from Chinese steel and forging company Daye Special Steel Co. Ltd. for the engineering and delivery of a high-speed hydraulic open-die forging press. The press operates with a forging force of up to 50 MN and an upsetting force of 60 MN. The high forging frequency of the press enables sophisticated materials requiring a narrow temperature range to be forged and reduces machining times. Daye Special Steel plans to use the press, which will be installed in its Huangshi plant, to forge a variety of products of high-temperature alloys and special steel. Commissioning is scheduled for May 2020.

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.