Page 29 - ITAtube Journal 2 2022

production cycles shortened - the basis for a long-term economical production process.
Technically superior
The bending press has a press force of 70,000 kN, which is achieved by six con- trolled hydraulic cylinders on the bending sword. Thanks to a special force distribu- tion and control system, even the small, thick-walled tubes can be produced. For six-meter-long tubes, for example, the press achieves a press force of an excep- tional 52,000 kN.
If tube diameters of up to 100” are to be produced, the press can be used to bend half-shells which are later assembled into a tube. A specially developed handling system ensures the automated removal of the half-shells after the bending process. Simultaneously, all process parameters are stored with help of the Graebener® BendPro automation system, so that the settings and travel range for recurring products can be recalled at any time.
Faster production of different batches
On the one hand, large pipe producers have to ensure high throughput with con- sistent quality. On the other hand, they are expected to respond flexibly and quickly to customer requirements, even for special dimensions and small batches. Frequent
tool changes, however, especially for small batches, cost time and money. All Graeben- er® bending presses are therefore de- signed in such a way that the various tube sizes in the standard dimension range can be produced flexibly and without changeo- ver using only a single tool set. The change- over time for dimension-dependent tools is eliminated and thus contributes to increas- ing the efficiency of the bending process.
Limited heavy-duty route requires de- sign rethinking
It was not only the customer’s require- ments that demanded special design solutions. The new pipe bending press was also a challenge for the special machine builder from a logistical point of view. Due to the required output and the resulting design, the press weighed around 1,100 tons and was not only the largest and heaviest pipe bending press in the history of Graebener®, it also required a special design of the cross beams. Since these
far exceeded the maximum weight of the heavy-duty route, Graebener® carried out the construction in such a way
that the individual cross beams
were manufactured in two parts and welded together on site.
Press releases
ITAtube Journal June 2022
29
Graebener
Maschinentechnik GmbH & Co KG Am Heller 1
57250 Netphen
Germany
Tel: +49 492 737 989 200 Fax: +49 273 798 9110 Email: graebmasch@
graebener-group.com Web: www.graebener-group.com