2 - ALU-WEB.DE

APT ALUMINIUM NEWS 4 | 12-2009 EXTRUSION
Aluminium Laufen AG, Switzerland
Modernisation pays off
Aluminium Laufen has
shown that with a high
technical standard it is possible
to operate an extrusion
plant economically even in
a high-wage country like
Switzerland. The prerequisite
is a continual process of
modernisation and rationalisation
of all parts of the
operation.
Aluminium Laufen
manufactures products for
demanding applications in
mechanical engineering, the
automotive component supplier
market and the building
sector as well as for special
applications. Export accounts
for over 50% of production.
Today, the company is one
of the most important extrusion
plants in the Germanspeaking
region: it has three
extrusion lines, in-house
toolmaking, a comprehensive
range of facilities to processes
the profiles and, last but not
least, its own remelting plant.
In addition to its extrusion
activities, Aluminium Laufen
also operates a jobbing foundry
with die-casting, permanent
mould casting and
low-pressure die-casting.
Following a short installation
and commissioning period,
the company started up an
additional low-pressure diecasting
machine in November
2008. This machine is a
modified form of a standard
machine. It incorporates a
freely programmable control
system with process visualisation
in the free-standing
operator console, charge
management and a teleservice
adapter for remote analysis.
The casting furnace has a
capacity of 900 kg of molten
metal.
The extrusion plant in
Laufen has been continually
modernised and extended
in recent years. Aluminium
Laufen selected well-known
equipment partners, such as
Holton Crest
launches high
capacity cut-tolength
system
Holton Crest, a leading continuous
rotary extrusion
specialist, has launched
the first purpose built cutto-length
systems for the
particular needs of the
rotary extrusion process.
The first new high capacity
holton² cut-to-length
system is already being
installed.
Elements available include
a fully integrated in-line
cutting unit designed for use
in the production of straight
lengths. It incorporates a
pneumatically actuated product
grip roller and a compact
fully adjustable vertical shear
with programmable length
and quantity features.
The second key component
of the system is a mobile
run-out table, which is capable
of collection of cut profile
lengths up to 12 metres, with
storage for over six tonnes of
product at widths in excess of
200 mm.
This mechanism can drive
fully loaded to other downstream
equipment for further
processing or packaging.
Both cutting unit and run-out
table are wholly Europeansourced.
The economical system
allows all the existing Holton
mann + Hieber, for its invest- automatic profile stacker. To
ment in a 40-MN extrusion cool the profiles, the new line
line in 1998.
allows a choice to be made
Based on the positive between intensive air cooling
experience it had with these and a standing wave system.
equipment partners during The run-out is equipped with
the installation of the 40- a double puller, with a sepa-
MN press, the management rate saw puller for on-the-fly
of Aluminium Laufen chose cutting. The maximum extru-
the same partners to build sion length is 52 metres. The
its new 27-MN press in 2007. two units, 40 MN and 27 MN,
The unit, which was based are interlinked via an auto-
on the latest state of the art, mated transport and control
includes a vertical maga- system.
The new low-pressure die-casting machine
zine for logs upstream of the As part of its ongoing pro-
press, a gas-fired furnace and gramme of rationalisation
hot shear. Downstream of the measures during this peri-
SMS Meer, Elhaus and logis- press there is a press run-out od, Aluminium Laufen also
tics specialist H+H Herr- including flying shear and completely modernised its
Alu_180x270_e:Layout 1 09.10.2009 9:17 Uhr Seite 1
Cut-to-length unit from
Holton Crest
Crest coiler range to still be
integrated into the line enabling
a dual production configuration.
It features compatibility
with standard extrusion
or run-out table applications
and can be tailored to suit
different sizes and capacities
required by the customer.
The holton² cut-to-length
system is available with the
new HC2200 and HC4000
extrusion models in the
holton² generation series
launched by the company
in April 2009. The HC4000
model is capable of producing
up to four tonnes per hour of
profiles.
www.holtoncrest.com
Photo: Holton Crest
Simply closer to
your products.
Your technology partner in the aluminum industry.
How do we meet the growing demands of our customers
in the aluminum industry worldwide? By supplying
all-inclusive mechatronic solutions. Whatever
you want to manufacture from this material, or what
product quality you aim to achieve – at SMS Siemag
we know what it takes. That’s because we listen!
And because we draw on our holistic process know-
SMS SIEMAG AG
Photo: Alu Laufen
how and experience. Our plants – whether new facilities,
conversions or revamps – always ensure that our
solutions encompass the latest developments in aluminum
production and processing.
Always closer to you – SMS Siemag.
Eduard-Schloemann-Strasse 4 Phone: +49 (0) 211 881-0 E-mail: communications@sms-siemag.com
40237 Düsseldorf, Germany Fax: +49 (0) 211 881-4902 Internet: www.sms-siemag.com
MEETING your EXPECTATIONS
7
remelting plant. This major
investment has allowed the
extrusion plant to positively
influence the quality of its
feedstock and thus the whole
process. After all, the production
of extrusion billets is
the first step on the road to
the finished profile and thus
forms the basis for a quality
product. Furthermore, this
investment has also increased
the flexibility of the plant
because the new unit allows a
programme involving differing
types of feedstock to be
implemented economically.
www.alu-laufen.ch