Western Superconducting Technologies Co. Ltd., a titanium alloy and high-tech materials manufacturer in China’s Shaanxi Province, ordered a high-speed open-die forging press from SMS Group, to process titanium alloys and other materials to form superconducting magnets for aerospace applications.
Established in 2003 in the city of Xian, WST manufactures titanium alloy products for aerospace, medical, energy source, military, mechanical engineering, transportation, traffic, petrochemical, and automotive industries. In addition to forgings, it markets bars, billets, sections, flat bars, rings, rods, wire, plate, and ingots. Products are distributed in China, India, Japan, and Australia, as well as in North America, South America, Europe, China, India, Japan, and Australia.
The 63/80-MN, two-column press — the press force will be 63 MN, with a maximum upsetting force of 80 MN —is scheduled for commissioning late in 2017.
In addition to the open-die forging press, SMS also will supply two rail-bound manipulators that will synchronize with the press for fast and accurate handling of the forgings.
The press and manipulators are developed with an eye toward very high stroke rates, according to the WST order.
An 8-mt mobile manipulator will load and unload parts from the press.
SMS noted it has sold more than 450 forging presses to operations worldwide.
