New high-speed open-die forging press from SMS group in operation at WST

Western Superconducting Technologies Co. Ltd., (WST), headquartered in Xian, in Shaanxi Province, China, has successfully put into service a 63/80-MN two-column high-speed push-down open-die forging press supplied by SMS group. The supply also included two integrated railbound 25-ton manipulators and a mobile eight-ton loading and unloading manipulator. The Chinese company is now able to flexibly manufacture various high-quality products for its customers from the aerospace industry, for example. The new high-speed press forges extremely precisely and reliably, with a maximum press force of 63 MN and an upsetting force of 80 MN. Thanks to the advanced hydraulic and control systems installed, the new open-die forging press forges highly demanding and temperature-sensitive materials such as titanium and titanium alloys in a technologically perfect way. The two integrated railbound forging manipulators handle the forgings weighing up to 25 tons accurately to the millimeter and perfectly synchronously with the press stroke, even at very high stroke rates. The double rail-bound manipulators enable WST to boost their throughout of forgings.

“SMS group has fulfilled our expectations in all respects: in terms of technology, deadlines, quality and solution competence. The new open-die forging press produces excellent titanium products, enabling our company to make a valuable contribution to the progress of the Chinese aerospace industry,” says Mr. Changhu Peng, Vice General Manager of Western Superconducting Technologies.

SMS group is a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the steel and nonferrous metals industry. It has some 14,000 employees who generate worldwide sales of more than EUR 2.8 billion. The sole owner of the holding company SMS GmbH is the Familie Weiss Foundation.