SMS group received an order from Dongfeng Forging Co., part of commercial vehicle manufacturer Dongfeng Motor Group, for the supply of an eccentric forging press with a forging force of 5,000 tons for its plant in Shiyan, Hubei Province, China. Dongfeng Forging, which operates a total of 26 forging lines at this site, intends to use the new forging press to manufacture light-truck crankshafts with a maximum finished part weight of 47 pounds (21.5 kg). The closed-die press will forge parts fully automatically with a nominal forging force of 50 MN.

The forging industry will meet in Cleveland for the third consecutive time at Forge Fair 2019. The new Huntington Convention Center will host the biennial event May 21-23, 2019.

SMS group received an order from Musashi Europe for the delivery of a 5,000-ton eccentric forging press for its plant in Bockenau, Germany. Commissioning of the closed-die forging press is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019. The press will enable Musashi Europe to produce large rotationally symmetric forgings for passenger cars and truck applications in a highly efficient, fully automatic production process.

SMS group received an order from China’s Sichuan Liuhe Forging Co. for a high-speed, 50/55 MN open-die forging press. The press is a two-column, push-down design and features a table shifter and die shifting unit. Operating with a press force of up to 50 MN and a maximum upsetting force of 55 MN, it is suited to forging high-quality products with finished dimensions within the close tolerance range of ±1 mm.

Schuler received an order for a 30,000-ton closed-die forging press from Otto Fuchs, a manufacturer of high-quality forged pieces, extruded products and rolled rings for the aerospace, automotive and construction industries. The press will be used to manufacture aircraft landing gear, engine discs and structural parts made of aluminum, magnesium, titanium and nickel alloys. It will be supplied with press mechanics, adaptation of water hydraulics, transport, full assembly and CE certification. Start-up is scheduled for January 2021.

Do you ever wonder what readers are looking at on our website? Here’s a list of the top 5 articles on www.forgemag.com according to page views in 2018. All are linked for your convenience. Enjoy!

This is a complete list of all the feature articles – by month – that appeared in FORGE in 2018. The page number the article appeared on is included. All articles are hyperlinked for your convenience.

At the FIERF 32^nd Technical Conference held last September in Long Beach, Calif., Weber Metals’ Justin Owen made a presentation about the process by which OTTO FUCHS (OF)/Weber Metals made the decision to invest $180 million in what they say is North America’s largest forging press. This became the largest single investment decision in company history.

Weber Metals of Paramount, Calif., and parent company Otto Fuchs Group (Germany) unveiled its new 60,000-ton forging press. The press was designed and built by Germany's SMS group and represents a $180 million investment. According to Weber Metals, the huge press is the world’s largest private investment in aerospace metal forging. As a result, the company will double its employment to 800 jobs. 

Weldbend Corp., a manufacturer of carbon steel fittings and flanges, started installation on what it says is the largest cold-form Tee-Press in the Americas and Western Europe at its manufacturing facility in Argo, Ill. The new press, which weighs 1.2 million pounds and contains 5 miles of wire, will significantly expand Weldbend’s forging capabilities. It will be able to forge up to a 20-inch XS Tee with material grades including Y70. The company can currently cold forge a 6-inch Tee. Weldbend’s products are used in mechanical systems and oil-and-gas pipelines.