Thöni orders 55-MN extrusion press line from SMS group
Thöni group, headquartered in Telfs, Austria, has placed an order with SMS group covering a press line for the extrusion of aluminium.
The line includes a 55-MN front-loading press to process billets that have a maximum diameter of 12 inches (304.8 mm) and a maximum length of 1,600 mm. This extrusion press is already the fifth one SMS is going to install for Thöni. The line is to be established in a new works at the recently developed location at Pfaffenhofen and will produce profiles and aluminium alloys for application in the automotive and other markets.
“From the end of 2019, the new line will produce about 8,000 tonnes per year of high-quality aluminium profiles for the European automotive industry. Through subsequent processing we will refine these products ready for installation,” says Helmut Thöni, CEO and shareholder of Thöni group.
To satisfy its demanding customer base, Thöni group has invested in most advanced extrusion press technology. Billet heating will be done in a patented induction furnace, a combination of induction furnaces from IAS, a subsidiary of SMS group, and a gas-fired furnace from extrutec GmbH in Radolfzell, Germany. Aluminium bars will be stored in a warehouse, then heated to approx. 480 °C in an inline furnace, sawed to a maximum length of 1,600 mm and transported to the billet loader.
The 55-MN front-loading extrusion press will be built to SMS group’s latest design and be equipped with the highly precise linear guidance system for all moving main components, servo drive technology for all auxiliary functions as well as the proven EcoDraulic concept to reduce energy consumption.
Directly downstream the extrusion press, an advanced runout will be installed by Omav, another company SMS group is holding a stake in. Two high-performance cooling systems using spray water and air will cool the extruded profiles down to around 100 °C. A special challenge here is to adapt the cooling rates to the product extruded in order to prevent profile warping. All cooling parameters will be recorded and managed by Midis. This makes sure identical material properties such as strengths can be reproduced in follow-up orders − a must for the automotive industry. A double puller, a flying saw, a stretcher, a final cutting saw and an automation system complete the runout area.
“With this state-of-the-art extrusion press line from SMS group we are setting the course for the growing demand for aluminium components. We have devised the new works for possible expansion by further extrusion press lines right from the start,” adds Helmut Thöni.
Commissioning is scheduled to take place in summer 2019. Extrusion of the first billet is planned for July 15, 2019.
The equipment (presses and handling and heat treatment systems) is to meet the growing demand from the automotive industry for high-quality profiles.
After just ten months of construction, the new extrusion line from Hydro Extrusion Rackwitz was successfully put into operation at the end of November.
The completion of a state-of-the art 25-MN extrusion press and a revamp project mark a step forward in Kautec’s commitment to innovation and excellence in aluminium extrusion.