Italian company San Grato produces numerous forged parts for cars, motorcycles, industrial and commercial vehicles, and agricultural machines. Many of them are made on seven Farina presses with press forces between 1,000 and 5,000 tons at the company’s sites in San Carlo Canavese (Torino) and Malonno in the province of Brescia. San Grato recently ordered its eighth press from Schuler affiliate Farina. The 2,500-ton machine features a kinetic energy recovering system (KERS), which reduces the power demand by 40%. San Grato already covers two-thirds of its energy cost through its hydroelectric power station located close to Torino and a photovoltaic system installed on the roof of both plants. The Farina press also offers increased output and reduced maintenance costs.

A fire set by an arsonist severely damaged the production halls at Mühlhoff Umformtechnik’s plant in Uedem, Germany, at the border with the Netherlands. Among the damaged components were four large presses. Six months after the fire, the company, which manufactures complex components for the automotive industry, is ready to restart some of its production with the help of Schuler Service. Schuler has already repaired two of the four damaged presses, and a new 2,000-ton press with ServoDirect technology from the TSD series is scheduled to go into operation in early 2021.

Germany’s ZF Friedrichshafen AG successfully completed the acquisition of commercial-vehicle technology supplier WABCO of Switzerland. WABCO’s integration into ZF unites two industry leaders behind a shared vision to create a customer-focused powerhouse to advance commercial-vehicle technology. The combined product portfolio now encompasses conventional and electric drive and chassis components; a comprehensive suite of sensors; and fully integrated, advanced braking, steering and driver-assistance systems for OEMs seeking technological differentiation for their new vehicle platforms.