Beckwood Press Company, a manufacturer of custom hydraulic and servo-electric presses, automation systems and the Triform line of precision forming equipment, was recently awarded a contract by Metal Forming Industries to manufacture a 200-ton hydraulic forming press. Scheduled for delivery later this year, the press will make copper components for the utility industry.

The custom four-post press will offer 200 tons of force with a Delta high-speed motion controller to achieve positional accuracy within ±0.005” (±0.13 mm) or better. A 20-ton ejection cylinder will strip the finished part from the tool and present it for easy removal. To overcome the deflection caused by point loading of the tool, the press structure will feature additional rigidity. With a fast approach speed of 373 inch/min (9.5 m/min) and a retract speed of 299 inch/min (7.6 m/min), the press will decrease Metal Forming Industries’ current cycle times by 50%.

Also included is Beckwood’s proprietary Pre-Preventive Maintenance system (PPM) which uses closed-loop monitoring to analyse system performance and notify operators and maintenance crews when service is necessary. It is possible to monitor pump efficiency, safety system status, filter cleanliness, valve performance, oil condition and more from the press HMI to prevent unplanned downtime.

“Metal Forming Industries approached us wanting to increase speed, accuracy, and precision in their forming operation,” says Beckwood sales engineer Caleb Dixon. “Through consultation and creative engineering we were able to design a press that will meet their operational needs for years to come.”

For further information
www.beckwoodpress.com

After in-person events came to a halt due to the pandemic, FABTECH will be the first large-scale manufacturing trade show to return to McCormick Place in Chicago on 13-16 September. The event brings all aspects of the metal fabricating, forming, welding and finishing industries together to showcase technology, innovation and solutions.

“FABTECH is one of the largest events held at McCormick Place, bringing $73m worth of delegation spending to Chicago,” says Ed Youdell, president and CEO of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association. “Our last event in Chicago employed just short of 4000 labourers with over 110,000 hours of work. This contributed $5.3m of labour to the overall Chicago workforce. We are looking forward to bringing these jobs back. In addition, FABTECH will provide an important boost to the hospitality industry, utilising over 40 hotels as well as many entertainment and restaurant outlets during the 19 days.”

FABTECH facilitates connections between exhibitors and attendees in order to conduct business, share knowledge and shine the spotlight on advanced manufacturing equipment and technology. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore three halls filled with cutting-edge technology, new product debuts and first-hand product demonstrations from over 1000 exhibitors.

FABTECH has co-ordinated with state and local public health guidelines to develop a plan for its return, which should see around 30,000 visitors in attendance.

McCormick Place is fully prepared and ready to welcome events back. As North America’s largest convention centre, the entire McCormick Place Campus holds the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s GBAC STAR accreditation, the gold standard for clean and safe facilities.

Attendee registration for FABTECH 2021 is open now.

For further information
www.fabtechexpo.com