05/07/2007

Schuler at Blechexpo Fair in Stuttgart

Automatic blanking and forming presses with servo drives - higher output and maximum flexibility - system solutions for the entire process chain of forming technology

The current growth in the metalworking industry is also benefiting those companies which supply car manufacturers with pressed parts. Stamping plants are reporting good utilization of their capacities. When it comes to investing in new plant, these suppliers are particularly interested in flexible system solutions which will not only help them meet current orders but can be adapted to a variety of future requirements. In view of the speed of change and shorter economic cycles, only flexible machine concepts can provide the required combination of productivity and investment security. Schuler’s metalforming experts have therefore tailored their products exactly to these needs and will present them in June at the Blechexpo fair in Stuttgart, Germany.The highlight of Schuler’s fair stand will be the new automatic blanking and forming presses with servo drives. The new servo-driven presses were first unveiled at a customer event in Göppingen, Germany, to mark their launch in January 2007. Schuler is now set to present the new machine generation to a wider audience at a specialist fair where it can inform visitors about the wide variety of possible uses. Schuler will focus above all on the flexibility of the new press technology. This is particularly well demonstrated by the new blanking and forming presses, which can be tailored to meet widely diverging application needs.

Higher output and maximum flexibility

In contrast to conventional mechanical presses, the slide movement of servo-driven blanking and forming presses is almost freely programmable. This means that the optimal forming speed no longer only dictates the pace of the entire press cycle, but that the die is opened and closed much more quickly. As a result, output can increase by as much as 50 percent – depending on the particular part and process. Further benefits of the servo drive are the ability to flexibly adjust the press to various forming processes and transport processes when using progressive or transfer dies. The presses are also ideally suited to tryout operation, as the slide can be moved up and down gently with the aid of a hand-wheel. The new range comprises automatic blanking and forming presses with press forces of 2,500 to 6,300 kN. Due to their modular design based on standard components, the presses can be supplied quickly and are also easy to service.

System solutions for the entire process chain of forming technology

A further key area of focus at Schuler’s fair stand are the company’s system solutions for the entire metalforming process chain – from blanking to the actual forming operation to stacking the finished parts. This also includes an innovative machine concept which combines a hydraulic transfer press with a flexible robot automation system; a modified drive system which raises the slide stroke of Schuler’s tried and trusted knuckle-joint presses; and new forming solutions for the production of complex parts using active media. Finally, in the field of automation technology, Schuler will present its new, electronic, modular three-axis transfer system with highly dynamic servo drives which help enhance the performance of transfer presses. With its modular design, the transfer system is ideally suited to retrofitting and can be adjusted in its performance to the respective needs of the line being used. To round off Schuler’s fair offerings, the company’s Hot Stamping Center of Excellence will be showing new approaches for the forming of high-strength steels at the Blechexpo.

- Schuler at the Blechexpo fair from June 13 to 16, 2007, Hall 7, Stand No. 7214
- Vögtle Service at the Blechexpo from June 13 to 16, 2007, Hall 7, Stand No. 5501
- Müller Weingarten at the Blechexpo fair from June 13 to 16, 2007, Hall 7, Stand No. 7210

About the Schuler Group

As the technological and global market leader in metalforming, Schuler supplies machines, production lines, dies, process know-how and services for the entire metal-working industry. Our most important clients include car manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as companies in the energy, electrical and household equipment industry. Schuler is also the market leader in coin minting technology. Headquartered in Göppingen, Germany, the company is represented in over 20 nations around the world. In its fiscal year 2005/06, the Schuler Group generated sales of over € 560 million with 3,600 employees.
The Göppingen-based Schuler Group is one of Germany’s oldest industrial enterprises and can trace its roots back to a locksmith shop founded by Louis Schuler in 1839. Schuler subsequently emerged as the international flagship company in the metalforming equipment industry. In addition to its numerous foreign subsidiaries, the Schuler Group also comprises Müller Weingarten AG, which it acquired in April 2007.