Osterwalder to unveil new OPP 2000 CNC multi-platen electrical press
April 9, 2018
Osterwalder’s OPP 2000 CNC multi-platen electric press (Courtesy Osterwalder)
Osterwalder AG, Lyss, Switzerland, will launch its new OPP 2000 CNC multi-platen electric press at ceramitec 2018, Munich, Germany, April 10-13. According to the company, the 2,000 kN press is the first CNC multi-platen electric press for high press forces, in future ranging from 1,000–5,000 kN. The company stated that, until now, presses for higher forces have only been available with hydraulic, mechanical or hybrid drives.
It was claimed that the electric press will lead to a new benchmark in operational efficiency by providing:
- 70% – 80% saving in energy consumption
- Gain in productivity with 98% uptime
- Increased net-shape performance that saves on secondary operations
- Infrastructure savings as no pit or external die-set change is required, saving costs and making transfer of the press easy
- Higher Uptime due to less maintenance
Hydraulic drives are said to have disadvantages, including long start-up times and variations in press operation, which impact process precision and repeatability. This type of drive is also said to have a higher rate of ageing, leading to leakages with the potential to contaminate the tool room and production parts. Such technical disadvantages are detrimental to the productivity, availability and maintenance costs of hydraulic presses.
The OPP 2000 is said to be suitable for a wide range of parts and applications from automotive to power and kitchen tools, gardening and home appliances. It will replace, in the mid-term, Osterwalder’s successful KPP, CA-NC and UPP press series, used widely in the production of automotive components. Osterwalder’s HMI Impressive, presented at Ceramitec 2015, will also be introduced into the OPP series in future.
According to the company, the switch to an electric drive will improve the precision, repeatability and accuracy of the production process, making it possible for presses to meet customers’ requirements for more complex geometries and net shape parts.
The OPP 2000 is equipped with Osterwalder’s patent-pending Fast Assembly System for Tools (F.A.S.T), enabling the rapid exchange of press tools. The multi-platen die-set remains installed in the press at all times, while the tools are held in exchangeable fixtures which are very compact and can be transferred and stored in a rack. The tools are always at hand for changes in production.
The OPP 2000 is also modular, allowing for easy expansion. It incorporates what the company refers to as a novel architecture on the X axes, enabling high press forces to be applied on individual axes. While previous electric presses are said to have offered limited counterforce, on the OPP 2000, both the top and bottom plates of the press can be loaded with maximum press force. The motor wedge system also offers a large adjustment track, maximising tool flexibility.
The new press is also said to improve the operator environment by minimising emissions, leakage and noise. It does not require a pit or high working platform for the operator, but features an integrated stair top to reduce expensive infrastructural costs. Its compact design and a new guide system are said to optimise the accessibility of the entire tool area, which could make the operator’s work easier. Several patent applications are in progress.
