INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Boost productivity with double-sheet sensors

The automotive supply chain consistently faces pressure to increase productivity and reduce costs. A risk to productivity on press lines is the potential for the accidental feeding of two or more sheets (rather than one) into a press.There is also a danger of this causing expensive damage to the press tools.

According to Plus Automation, a master distributor for smart sensor specialist Contrinex in the UK & Ireland, double-sheet detection systems designed to prevent this issue are costly, limiting their use to high-volume production cells. Their high price also typically prevents their use in assembly operations, where it would be ideal to verify the presence of two sheets.

Plus Automation says that Contrinex smart sensors offer a far more affordable way to detect the presence of individual sheets and double-sheet conditions, triggering an alarm and halting production to prevent press damage.On a production line that runs a large variation of sheet materials and thicknesses, the PocketCodr is key to simplifying the configuration of smart sensors. The PocketCodr app running on a tablet monitors and quickly configures sensors during the commissioning of a new product.

In a real customer application, the combination of Contrinex inductive smartsensors with the PocketCodr sensor configurator is offering flexible and reliable double-sheet detection solutions for a manufacturer of pressed metal parts. The compact yet robust metal-bodied M18 sensors sit either side of the in-feed conveyor. Not only do they sense the presence of each sheet, allowing the automatic initiation of press operation, they also detect an unwanted double-sheet condition, triggering an alarm before damage occurs.

PocketCodr puts the monitoring and configuration of the smart sensors into the hands of the engineer on a tablet or phone and removes the need for any coding.
For further information www.plusautomation.co.uk

Large order for rail wheel production line

India-based Ramkrishna Titagarh Rail Wheels has placed an order for a wheel roller, two forging presses, automation, dies, a rotary hearth furnace and heat treatment, from Schuler and Andritz Metals. Like Schuler, Andritz Metals is part of the international Andritz technology group. Schuler says the order is in the upper double-digit million euro range

Ramkrishna Titagarh Rail Wheels is a joint venture between one of the largest suppliers of forged parts in India and the nation’s biggest manufacturer of railroad wagons in the private sector. The world’s most populous country plans to invest over $700bn in its rail network over the next few years.

“Schuler has already proven its expertise in the manufacture of railroad wheels with numerous production lines installed on the Asian continent,” says Naresh Jalan, managing director of Ramkrishna Forgings. “It was important for us to select a supplier whose equipment stands for high quality.”

Christian Palm, director hydraulic presses at Schuler, adds: “Forged railroad wheels are best at handling the extreme stresses of heavy acceleration and deceleration. We’re pleased to help take rail transportation in India to the next level with this production line.”

The forming of rail wheels takes place in four steps before they enter machining. First, a 10,000 ton hydraulic forging press produces a disc-shaped pre-form from a heated billet in two stages, receiving its final diameter in a wheel roller. Then, the second 5,000-ton press calibrates the rolled-out wheel before axial offsetting and piercing of the hub.
For further information www.schulergroup.com

95,000 expected at METALEX 2023

The 37th edition of METALEX 2023, the ASEAN region’sleadingmachine tool and metalworking technologies event, will take place inhalls 98-104 at BITEC (Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre) on 22-25 November. The event will see a 10% expansion on the previous show, featuringcirca 2500 brands of machine tools and metalworking technologies from 50 countries.

The organiser RX Tradex (formerly Reed Tradex) says it has tens of thousands of industrialistsfrom more than 40 countries pre-registered to visit the exhibition, which this year takes place under the theme of ‘The Innovators’. In total, the organiser expects around 95,000 visitors to attend and estimates the event will generate no less than THB7bn in trade value. In addition to the exhibition, the event will host 35 informative seminars.
For further information www.metalex.co.th

NIBE increases capacity with new press line

Heat pump manufacturer NIBE plans to increase the production of water heater components at its Markaryd, Sweden facility following the order for a new press line solution from AP&T.

“The demand for energy-efficient systems for heating and hot water production is growing steadily all over the world, and we continue to see a strong demand for our products,” says Henrik Broström, production technical group manager for sheet metal and welding at NIBE Energy Systems.“We’re now investing in new manufacturing capacity to future-proof the volumes we will need. The new production line from AP&T will manufacture stainless steel water heater ends and be an important complement to our existing lines.”

Stefan Persson, project manager at NIBE Energy Systems, adds: “In addition to manufacturing more units, the new line also ensures a stable production process with high repeat accuracy and availability.”

Together, NIBE and AP&T discussed and evaluated a number of different options before the final concept took shape.

“Our ambition was to develop a process solution optimised for NIBE’s specific needs and conditions that provides clear customer values,” explains Dan Barvö, key account manager at AP&T.“The line needed to be energy efficient, take up little floor space and be able to perform several steps with a few machines and tools.”

In the autumn of 2022, AP&T presented a fully developed proposal that met all of NIBE’s needs: a compact, energy-efficient, fully automated production line with a 500 tonne press for deep drawing, a smaller modular press, linear robots and tooling. Line commissioning will take place in 2024.
For further information www.aptgroup.com

TLM grows portfolio with ultra-short pulsed lasers

The latest addition to TLM Laser’s range, from partner FOBA Laser, is a new ultra-short pulse range of laser systems, the pulse width of which is in the femtosecond to picosecond range. These laser types are able to offer a number of distinct advantages in many marking applications.

Ultra-short pulse lasers produce an intensive beam of light that allows high-precision processing, while minimising the amount of heat absorbed by the surrounding area. Due to the adjustable pulse duration, from the femtosecond to picosecond range, the heat input remains low, despite the high pulse energy. As a result, it is possible to create precise marks even on temperature-sensitive materials, reliably and economically.

The fine structures created by the laser process prevent the reflection of light, so the laser marks appear deep black and offer good readability from different viewing angles. Almost any material can be marked with the F.0100-ir laser system. From metals to heat-sensitive components and even transparent materials, the new laser marker opens up many possibilities.

TLM Laser says the system is suitable for medical sector applications, where its performance characteristics allow it to produce high contrast marks on medical instruments made of stainless steel, titanium or even plastics. These same attributes also make it suited to various applications in the production of automotive and electronic components.

Depending on the workpiece material, marking speeds of up to five times faster than nanosecond laser systems are possible, reports TLM Laser. Furthermore, TLM says FOBA’s F.0100-ir offers one of the most compact designs in the field of ultra-short pulse lasers, suiting easy integration into production lines and laser marking machines such as the FOBA M series.
For further information www.tlm-laser.com