A Union of Forging and Rolling, French Style

A French forger and ring-roller, L’Union des Forgerons, will be the site of a new production line designed by Siempelkamp and set for its initial start later this year. An 33/30-MN open-die forging press will produce conventional open-die forgings weighing up to 10 metric tons, as well as ring blanks as feedstock for a new ring-rolling mill.
The ring-rolling mill will have radial and axial forces of 4,000 kN, each, for maximum ring diameter of 2,500 mm. The mill will roll rings up to 700 mm high and weighing up to 5 metric tons.

L’Union already produces forged parts and rolled rings in specialty and tool steels (particularly for pressurized vessels), stainless, and nonferrous alloys (aluminum, copper alloys, titanium). The current operation consists of several hammer mills in the 600- to 2,000-kg range, along with an open-die press and a circular rolling mill. A range of heat-treating options are offered too, and finished products are available as-forged, sand blasted, rough machined or custom machined.
Forgerons aims to expand its capacity for nickel-based and titanium alloys at the plant in Méréville, for products in high demand by aerospace manufacturers. The new press’s precision lifting and centering system will ensure high accuracy for blank punching and piercing.
Installation of the new press will start in October 2016, followed by the ring-rolling mill at the start of 2017. Full production on the new line would begin in the summer of 2017.