The much anticipated 60,000 ton closed-die forging press, designed by SMS group for Weber Metals Inc. in Paramount, CA, has been inaugurated. An unveiling event was staged during the last week of October to mark the completion of the four-year, USD 180M project, southeast of Los Angeles.
The press is designed to form oversized parts in aluminium and titanium alloys for commercial and defense aviation and aerospace manufacturing, as well as other industrial markets.
According to president and CEO Doug McIntyre, the new press addresses manufacturersâ demand for larger, monolithic titanium and aluminium parts that reduce both weight and complexity.
The first part to be produced was a main landing gear beam for the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
Weber Metals is a holding of Otto Fuchs KG, whose managing partner Dr. Hinrich Mählmann said, âThis innovative technology will literally forge the future for parts made for aircraft and spacecraft. This, the worldâs largest pull-down forging press, will shape some of the worldâs largest monolithic parts from both aluminium and titanium. For Otto Fuchs, this is the third time we have developed the worldâs largest forging press, and the second time it has been on Weberâs property.â?
According to the press designer, SMS, the pit-mounted hydraulic forging press has a pressing force of 54,000 metric tons, a 6,000 x 3,000-mm die clamping area, and a stroke of 2,000 mm. It is designed for both hot and cold forging. Only one third of the 10-story machine is visible above ground.
