“The new forging press from SMS group is our flagship and will ensure the competitiveness and also the technological leadership of OTTO Fuchs for the next 30 years,” says Dr.-Ing. Klaus Welschof, head of Aerospace Division, OTTO Fuchs KG.
The hydraulic die forging press, also named 60k press as it can exert a force of 60,000 short tons (U.S.), has a die clamping area of 6 by 3 m and a working stroke of 2 m. It is designed for hot and cold forming. An essential feature of the press is its balancing system with latest valve technology and highly sensitive electronics, resulting in extremely high precision forging.
It will support Weber Metals in the manufacture of products for the aerospace industry from forged aluminium and titanium. The forgings will be used in fuselage, wings and undercarriage duties.
The new die forging press opens up completely new perspectives to designers and manufacturers in the aerospace industry for larger, weight- and structure-optimised components that offer increased safety at reduced weight.
The inauguration ceremony; most of the press is below floor level
In the future, such parts will allow for the design of aircraft featuring higher transport capacities, improved safety and reduced fuel consumption. These new, larger and lighter components are key to the future of mobility.
Moreover, thanks to its enormous forging power, the plant can shape even new high-strength and ultra-high-strength materials. Companies able to offer such raw materials will find markets that could not be served so far, which means clear competitive advantages and added value.
The manufacture of the press drew on companies far and wide. The huge components had mainly been manufactured in Europe and Asia, and then been shipped to the USA. In particular, there are 34 cast and forged parts having weights between 100 and 330 tons. SMS group used about 9,000 tons of steel to build the plant, which is more than used for the Eiffel Tower. Also, the earth and installation work, plus the auxiliary assembly aids specifically designed for this project, were record-breaking.
