Siempelkamp's machine and plant engineering business unit received an order for a 2,000-ton down-stroke press including the hydraulics, automa-tion and tool shifting table for the production of sheet molding compounds (SMC). C.F. Maier Kunstharzwerk GmbH & Co KG in Königsbronn, Germany, will supply the fiber-glass reinforced semi-finished plastic parts manufactured on this press to the automotive industry.

The special feature: The press can be changed from the SMC process over to the resin transfer molding process (RTM process) in only a few steps. Composite presses have become an important component in Siempelkamp's latest product offering.

The close cooperation between the research and development, design and electrical engineering departments made it possible for Siempelkamp to land another order in the area of presses for fiber composite materials.

In the past, Siempelkamp supplied a RTM press to ACE GmbH and a sandwich press to Elbe Flugzeugwerke. The 2,000-ton SMC press for C.F. Maier has a highly precise single cylinder control and thus guarantees high quality for different component shapes and geometries.

Highest product flexibility with Siempelkamp technology

For approximately 40 years, C.F. Maier has been specializing in processing fiber composite materials into components for the commercial vehicle, construction machinery and other in-dustries. The company mainly uses the SMC process. A prefabricated resin-coated mat is placed into the press mold and then pressed under pressure and heat.

With the SMC compo-nents manufactured on the new Siempelkamp press the customer can achieve smaller toler-ances than in the past. Furthermore, the unique hydraulic control allows the use of many dif-ferent tools. These tools are provided by the customer.  For the further development of the innovative machine technology, both companies entered into a cooperation agreement.

With a simple modification, C.F. Maier can change the press over from the SMC process to the RTM process. During the RTM process a fibrous material sheet is placed in the mold, which is then closed.

Afterwards, resin is injected via special dosing systems into the mold where it cures under heat and pressure. The double function of the new Siempelkamp com-posite press will allow the customer to react flexibly to future market requirements.

Siempelkamp presses for composites

The experience Siempelkamp gained with the RTM press for ACE, supplied in 2011, provided an advantage when developing the new press. The Krefeld mechanical engineering company has played an important role in the composite market since 1993. The Siempelkamp name stands for solid and precise technologies. With the SMC press for C.F. Maier, which is ex-pected to start operating in the beginning of 2014, Siempelkamp strengthens this reputation.