MechChem Africa May-June 2020

⎪ Manufacturing and food processing ⎪

Promising start for Schuler automatic blanking press An automotive supplier in northern Germany has successfully produced complex sheet metal parts on a Schuler MC 400 machine since the beginning of the year.

A t its site inWoldegk near Neubran- denburg, Germany, Lang Metall- waren produces stamped and deep-drawnparts insmall and large series for customers such as BMW, Valeo and Webasto. Because theproducts arebecoming increasinglycomplex, theautomotive supplier required longer dies for the increasing num- ber of forming steps, and therefore a press with a larger clamping surface. Lang Metallwaren requested the Schuler MC400automatic blankingpresswitha table size of 1 400 to 3 000 mm, from the leading manufacturer in sheet metal, which has been in operation in the newly built hall. “We now achieve significantly higher out - put rates on the Schuler automatic blanking press,” reports plant manager Jörg Monsig. Although the products, made of stain- less steel and other heat-resistant metals, are relatively small with an average size of 100 to 200 mm, they combine an increasing number of functions in line with customer requirements. LangMetallwaren’s existingmachine park also includes a 160-ton and a 250-ton press A recent installationby the SouthAfrica- based original equipment manufacturer (OEM) successfully assisted a salt producer in Namibia to reduce moisture content in its product. According to Multotec Process Equipment senior process engineer KhathutsheloMutshinyalo,afit-for-purpose vibrating centrifuge was the answer in this application. “Thecustomerhadaspecificrequirement to achieve a low moisture level in its coarse saltapplication,”Mutshinyalosays.“However, we also needed to prove upfront that our solution would deliver the correct result.” With its experience and its in-house test- ing facilities, Multotec was able to define a test work method to meet the customer’s preciseneeds. Itwas alsoable todrawon the capabilities of its state-of-the-art Centrilab technology, developed by sister-company

fromanothermanufacturer. Compared to the other manufacturer, set-up on the Schuler machine fromdie to coil is faster, saysMonsig. “The coil loading chair simply saves time. Thanks to a touch-sensitive monitor with a diagonal of 18.5 inches, the system can be operated intuitively and easily, allowing employees to familiarise themselveswith the machine in a very short time.” Monsigaddsthatheisalsosatisfiedwiththe progress of the project adding that it worked out perfectly for the company. “Because of site-specificconditionsforthefoundation,the

The Schuler MC 400 automatic blanking press has been in operation at Lang Metallwaren since the beginning of the year. resents a further investment in the company’s competitiveness. “We already have initial orders for the new press until the end of the year, and naturally we hope that this will lead to many more,” he concludes. q

schedule had to be takenbackby some time before the project started.” With automa- tion by robots and other acquisitions, the plant manager has graduallymade the site fit for the future. For Monsig, Schuler’sautomatic blanking press rep-

Stamped and deep-drawn parts combine an increasing number of functions at the request of the customer.

Multotec centrifuge excels in food sector Well known in the mining sector for de- watering and other mineral processing solutions, Multotec Process Equipment has also been growing its footprint in food and chemical applications.

Siebtechnik Tema. The Centrilab tests the separabilityofsuspensionsinthecentrifugal field by simulating the particular centrifuge operating conditions. “This allowed us to specify the optimal machine for the customer, and prove the results before the order was placed,” he says. “The vibrating centrifuge we specified features a maximised area inside the hous- ing, to optimise the dewatering process.” TheresultwasthatMultotec’scentrifuge achieved a moisture content 10% better than the customer’s expectation. Achieving better than the desired moisture content ensures there is minimal to no formation of lumps in the product, which saves the customer potential penalties. “By testing to ensure the right solution, anddeploying a product specialist and tech- nicianon site, we could commission the cen- trifuge outside South Africa within a week,” he says. He notes that Multotec’s footprint with this technology includes companies in South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya using it for similar applications. q

Khathutshelo Mutshinyalo, senior process engineer, Multotec.

Multotec was able to define a test work method to meet the customer’s precise needs with its experience and in-house testing facilities.

May-June 2020 • MechChem Africa ¦ 35