Germany''s largest screw press to date has been supplied to Schöneweiss in Hagen by Muller Weingarten, a member of the Schuler Group. Schöneweiss forges, for example, chassis, steering and engine parts for the commercial vehicle sector and is one of the most acclaimed suppliers of forged products.

In addition to the screw press with hydraulic ejectors in the bed and slide, Muller Weingarten also linked existing components -such as preform machines, a material feeding unit with induction furnace, deburring press and part transport system -to ensure a fully automated process. Muller Weingarten also supplied the central control unit for the entire forging line. The unit monitors all preform machines, material feeding and part transport.

The screw press was integrated into an existing line at Schöneweiss and replaces a forging hammer.The forging tools were transferred seamlessly from hammer to screw press,explains Wolfgang Putsch, Production Manager at Schöneweiss. The benefit: the line can now be run in three-shift operation, whereas the previous hammer could only be used in two-shift operation. The screw press will also raise die service life, thanks to the minimal pressure dwell times.

The new forging complex will be used to manufacture front axle beams for commercial vehicles, with part weights of up to 150 kilograms and lengths of 2,000 mm. The restructured and optimized machine concept will be capable of achieving cycle times of under 50 seconds per part, corresponding to an output of 1,400 front axle beams per day.