November 2019 Volume 1

EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY

Siempelkamp Forges Ahead with Massive Multifunctional Press Installation Represents L´Union des Forgerons’ Largest-ever Capital Investment

When Siempelkamp completed installation of a multifunctional press and ring rolling mill for L´ Union des Forgerons in October 2016, they did more than install highly customized machinery. They also helped UDF launch the future of its business. UDF is an employee-owned forging and ring-rolling shop in Méréville, France, that specializes in nickel-based alloy and titanium parts. The multifunctional press and ring rolling mill represent an investment of more than €20 million—the largest single capital As with virtually all of Siempelkamp’s machinery, the open-die forging press at UDF represents a unique custom product that is precisely tailored to the company’s requirements. With this press, UDF has been manufacturing workpieces with weights up to 10 metric tons. “With that high-end capability, the combination press allowed UDF to build for the future,” says Jim Kravec, Siempelkamp’s ring rolling global sales manager. “They have seen a lot of quotes come through from customers that required a package of parts, but they couldn’t produce parts on the bigger end,” Kravec says. “Since they couldn’t do the big rings, they outlay in the company’s history. Multifunction by design

had to no-quote those packages. What this allowed them to do was quote these larger opportunities that they were begin presented.” Even small batch sizes are economically viable for the combination press—an important feature for the company, which functions primarily as a job shop, according to Kravec. The same machine also manufactures ring blanks made of nickel-based and titanium alloys. An automatic tool magazine allows quick changing of forging dies and high flexibility during production. A lifting and centering device for blanks works alongside a tool shifting table to automate the three-stage forging process consisting of upsetting, pre-forming and piercing. Ring rolling goes big Next to the open-die forging and ring blanking combination press, UDF also began production on a new ring rolling mill, well. It is the second ring rolling mill supplied by Siempelkamp to date; the first machine was sold to JSCMetallurgical Plant Electrostal, Russia. With a press force of 30/33 MN, the ring rolling mill offers just as much flexibility as the combination press. It has been operating since 2017 and manufactures rings with a maximum ring diameter of 2,500 mm (98.4 in.), a height of up to 700 mm (27.5 in.) and

FIA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2019 26