May 2021 Volume 3

INDUSTRY NEWS

16,000-ton Line About to Be Delivered Following successful internal assembly, one of the biggest mechanical forging presses will soon be delivered to thyssenkrupp

In 2022, thyssenkrupp Gerlach is expected to start production on a Farina forging press from Schuler. Internal assembly for the 16,000- ton line – one of the largest mechanical machines in the world – has been completed in Suello, Italy, and after the test run the components with a total weight of 1,700 tons will make their way to the customer's forging plant inHomburg, Germany. The Farina GLF series presses cover forces from 750 to 16,000 tons. They feature a novel direct drive concept without connecting rods. Thus, the design engineers at Schuler and Farina succeeded in reducing the machine height compared to conventional presses. One

result of the optimization for hot forging is, among other things, a very high deformation reduction and thus a significantly reduced flash thickness on forging parts. Farina had already supplied a 4,000-ton forging press to thyssenkrupp in 2008. Schuler had acquired the Italian press manufacturer based in Suello, the leading European supplier of forging lines in the mid- price segment, in 2018. "This order shows that we have successfully completed our product portfolio with this acquisition," said Schuler general manager Frank Klingemann. ■

ForgingLines InstalledforChineseCustomer Fully automated presses form aluminum chassis parts / Virtual commissioning enables production start-up despite pandemic

In the middle of the Corona pandemic, Schuler has installed two forging lines inChina, one of which has already been handed over and the other is about to be. This was made possible not least by remote maintenance and virtual commissioning, which allowed all functions to be simulated in advance on the computer and adapted to the customer's needs.The screw press and the crank press forge aluminum chassis parts fully automatically. Schuler supplied the lines including the dies and furnaces. The production data of both lines can optionally be accessed via the "mySchuler" portal from anywhere and at any time. The "Production Monitor" displays the operating status and the current stroke rate. The "Press Force Monitor" provides information about the load on the machine and die, "Drive Analytics" enables operators to monitor the main drives and "Cooling Analytics" allows them to monitor the cooling circuits. "Lubrication Analytics" makes it possible to control the lubrication circuit including lubrication cycles, system pressure or oil temperature depending on the stroke rate. In this way, possible deviations can be detected at an early stage and quickly remedied. Screw presses from Schuler feature a press force of between 250 and 28,000 tons. The water-cooled servo direct drive transmits the torque of the motor without losses and offers a high level of robustness, precision, operational reliability, and economy. The 750 to 16,000

ton crank presses are particularly suitable for mass production. Depending on the specific requirements, the press frame as well as the drive system is designed for high manufacturing precision and high production rates. About the Schuler Group – www.schulergroup.com Schuler offers customized cutting-edge technology in all areas of forming—from the networked press to press shop planning. In addition to presses, our products include automation and software solutions, dies, process know-how and service for the entire metalworking industry. Our customers include automobile manufacturers and automotive suppliers, as well as companies in the forging, household appliance and electrical engineering industries. Presses from the Schuler Group mint coins for more than 180 countries. When it comes to the digital transformation of forming technology, we support our customers worldwide as a supplier of innovative system solutions. In the 2019 fiscal year, Schuler generated sales of € 1.136 billion. Founded in 1839 at our headquarters in Göppingen, Germany, Schuler AG has approx. 6,000 employees at production sites in Europe, China and the Americas, as well as service companies in more than 40 countries. The company is majority- owned by the Austrian ANDRITZGroup. ■

FIA MAGAZINE | MAY 2021 57