AP&T, which has worked with press hardening technology since the beginning of the 2000s, was entrusted with supplying an ultra-modern press hardening line to MA Polska’s facility in Tychy, southern Poland.

The line was deployed in spring 2018. Not only was it the first of its kind for MA, it was also the 100th press hardening line that AP&T had installed at that point. In other words, the installation was a milestone for both companies.
MA’s new line is a complete, turnkey state-of-the-art solution, and is equipped with AP&T’s proprietary system for in-line process monitoring, which means parts can be manufactured with a consistently high level of quality in a carefully controlled process with short cycle times. As a result, the car industry’s CQI9 quality standard can also be effectively fulfilled.
“MA understood the opportunities afforded by our technology early on, which has made co-operation very invigorating,” says AP&T product manager Lennart Johansson. “It is always especially gratifying when both parties aim high and are able to reach common goals.”
The headquarters of MA are in Rivoli, Turin, Italy, and the company has been a major manufacturer of cold-formed sheet metal parts for the global automotive industry since the 1970s. A few years ago the company decided to begin manufacturing press hardened components as well, which thanks to the combination of low weight and high strength, are increasingly being selected for use in modern passenger cars.
For further information www.aptgroup.com

S-HTF series ball screws from NSK are for the first time enabling powder-press manufacturer Osterwalder AG to employ servo-electric drives on its larger machines, rather than conventional hydraulic drives.

As a result, new systems such as the Osterwalder OPP 2000 multi-level machine with 2000 kN press force, use around 80% less energy than hydraulic counterparts of equivalent power output. In addition, pressed parts are produced with significantly higher dimensional accuracy, which reduces the amount of reworking and substantially lowers process and material costs.
Lyss, Switzerland-based Osterwalder offers a wide range of machines, and with the CA-SP and CA-HM electric powder presses introduced around five years ago, brought to market a completely new type of drive technology. Direct Drive Technology (DDT), as it is known, comprises servo-electric motors and NSK ball screws, and thus replaced the hitherto dominant hydraulic drives in this field of application.
The DDT drive principle has proven itself over the past five years, initially for press forces up to 160 kN, and then up to 640 kN. As a result, it was only logical for Osterwalder to take the next step and equip its larger presses with this drive technology. However, the HTF series from NSK and comparable ball screws from other manufacturers reach their limits here with regard to nominal service life.
As part of its ongoing development programme, NSK had in the meantime developed its S-HTF ball screw series, which would prove extremely timely for Osterwalder. S-HTF ball screws offer a higher dynamic load capacity with the same dimensions, thus delivering a service life that is significantly extended.
Endurance tests performed in the NSK laboratory showed that the TF technology used in the ball screws of the S-HTF series results in triple the service life, as well as a 30% higher dynamic load capacity.
For further information www.nskeurope.com

Roemheld’s newly developed block cylinder S (‘strong’) is purposed designed for use in forming technology, including punching machines. This sturdy and compact cylinder is a further development of the established Roemheld block cylinder.

The block cylinder S is hydraulically double-acting and universally applicable for all linear movements with high force requirements. According to Roemheld, the cylinder can withstand high mechanical and thermal loads, and is suitable for operating pressures up to 500 bar and operating temperatures up to 200°C. Versions up to 250°C are also available on request.
Block cylinder S shows its strengths where high loads and side loads are to be expected, such as on punching, pressing, trimming, bending and stamping machines, as well as in joining and press-in devices. All designs are equipped with piston and rod guide rings, which absorb side loads between the moving components. The rod guide rings also prevent direct metal contact between the piston and cylinder housing, minimising mechanical wear. Importantly, the operating pressure of block cylinder S must be limited to 250 bar for these applications because of very high loads during punching.
As a result of numerous variants and small dimensions, block cylinder S can also be used for a range of other applications, such as operating core pullers and sliders in mould tools. The cylinder can also be deployed in fully automatic production systems with short cycle times thanks to its high load capacity. Inductive stroke end controls are provided for optional position monitoring.
A total of five sizes with piston diameters from 32 to 80 mm, and four stroke lengths from 25 to 100 mm, are available. If required, the standard stroke can be shortened by 5 to 29 mm by means of a shrink-fit distance bushing. Piston variants with internal or external thread
can be supplied.
For further information www.roemheld.co.uk