Astas Alüminyum relies on the newest press generation from SMS Meer

Astas Alüminyum San. Ve Tic. A.S. (Astas) from Istanbul, Turkey, has placed an order with SMS Meer for the supply of a 14-MN HybrEx extrusion press. It is the first machine of this kind for the Turkish aluminum market. Compared with conventional extrusion presses, the new technology reduces energy consumption by up to 55 percent and boosts productivity by up to 20 percent.

On the new machine, Astas can produce between 5,000 and 10,000 tons of profiles per year, depending on the product, for motor vehicles, solar modules and the building industry. The HybrEx operates with very short non-productive times. A reduction of just one second of down time allows an increase in production of up to 100 tons of profiles per year. The reduced non-productive time results from the idea of replacing the conventional hydraulic drives with high-speed electric servo drives for the movements where speed is the primary requirement. The electric servo motors save more energy, are faster and can be positioned more precisely. They are also easier to commission.

The new 14-MN HybrEx at Astas extrudes 6-inch aluminum billets with a maximum press force of 14 MN and a maximum speed of 23 millimeters per second. The high specific pressure available allows the production of very precise and thin-walled profiles. The press is equipped with the “power on command” motor control system which energizes only the units required for the press cycle.

“We are proud to be able to set a high standard of quality with the new technology,” says Türker Kökhan, owner and Chief Executive Officer of Astas. “The fact that this also means lower maintenance costs is an additional benefit to us.”