ZIUR Composites Solutions

Fagor Arrasate has installed an HCL (Hydraulic Composite Lightweight) press in the ZIUR Composites Solutions (MBHA Group) plant in Spain for the processing of composite material that will manufacture suspension and chassis system components for the automotive and transport industry. This is a new press concept that offers significant advantages in energy consumption and machine height.

The delivered press incorporates active parallelism control on the forming bolster itself, which insures maximum quality standards of the parts required in the automotive sector.

The new HCL architecture allows advanced composite materials to be formed, such as the case of the HP-RTM process. This procedure offers solutions for addressing the new composite developments of the automotive industry. A sector in a continuous search of ways to improve safety, comfort and driving of vehicles at the same time as reducing weight and energy consumption.

The HCL press is notable for its energy consumption of up to 35% less than a conventional press, as well as a reduction in height of up to 40% in comparison with the traditional press of the same tonnage and characteristics. This makes it possible to fit a hydraulic unit in the pit, at floor level or on a platform, depending on customer needs. This flexibility and lower height allows its installation in a larger variety of buildings.

The reduction in height is achieved by removing the need for a press crown to provide the forming force. With this new development, the force is generated by the bolster which contains the main and parallelism cylinders. Thus, the press is made up of a slide equipped with locking mechanisms riding on precision machined posts and a press base. The reaction for forming is produced by locking the slide against machined grooves in the posts. This is performed by segmented locking cylinders in the slide which engage each post simultaneously allowing the slide to move on opening and locks it on closing.

Fagor Arrasate’s HCL presses also offer a fast closing speed of 1000 mm/s, fast pressurization of the cylinder chambers, deformation control of the bolster with respect to the slide, for optimal use of raw materials, and precise active parallelism control of the bolster.