Baosteel International, Shanghai No 5, P.R. China, has placed an order with SMS Meer GmbH, Germany, to design and supply a hydraulic radial forging machine complete with two manipulators, loading and unloading system and cut-off device.

The forging machine’s design was based on the technological process methods for the forging of high-grade materials. The press has a force of 1300 tonnes and an annual production capacity of 34,000 tonnes. This strategic investment in hydraulic radial forging — the first machine of its type in China — will make it possible to achieve the qualities of high grade materials with a fine-grain material structure right through to the forging core that have been difficult to manufacture to date. The new equipment will also help to facilitate a significant reduction in costs.

The works in Shanghai has specialized in the open-die forging of high-grade materials, such as tool steel, rust-free steel, nickel-based alloys, titanium alloys and other high-alloy materials. The forgings are employed as components in industrial machines, chemicals plants, oil drilling equipment, aircraft and nuclear power stations.

With the new radial forging machine, Baosteel intends to increase its production capacity for bar steel by reducing the number of forging heats. Quality will also be improved with the introduction of modern forging technology better adapted to the material being produced.

Baosteel started production with the radial forging machine in January 2005 and is now able to produce bar steel with all the standard cross-sectional forms as well as shafts with multiple throws. The workpiece weight is up to 6000 kg. The main application is the forging of materials that are otherwise difficult to process. Baosteel has also successfully forged non-magnetic manganese steels with high nitrogen contents.

In addition to the radial forging machine, SMS Meer also supplied the forging technology for all materials to be forged. As part of the contract, SMS Meer not only guaranteed the machine parameters but also guaranteed the material properties after forging, such as core density (UT), grain size, carbide size and mechanical material properties. Many of the specifications were achieved or even surpassed with the first test forgings.

SMS Meer GmbH forms part of the Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology Business Area of the SMS group. SMS GmbH is the holding for a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. The group is divided into the Business Areas of Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology, Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology and Plastics Technology. In the year 2004 some 9,500 employees worldwide generated a turnover of about EUR 2.20 billion.