Gateway Extrusions adds new equipment

Fast growing national aluminium extruder Gateway Extrusions, in Union, has implemented the second phase of its multi-phase expansion program with the acquisition of a new 7-inch extrusion press.

Purchased and installed this summer, the equipment underwent rigorous testing and calibration before being brought into full operation this fall. The new press represents a major upgrade from the company’s existing 7-inch aluminium press.

“This state-of-the-art press has greatly enhanced our capabilities and improved production speeds,” said Tom Ziegler, vice president for Gateway Extrusions. “We’re able to offer our customers the extruded profiles they need in a broader range of lengths and tempering with the new equipment. The system’s features allow us to operate more efficiently, moving from one extrusion order to the next with minimal transition time in between.”

The company is already seeing significant increases in the new unit’s net pounds per hour throughput and will build on that with additional operation improvements.

Gateway’s new extrusion press system includes many notable production features and benefits:

The system provides saw lengths from 4 feet to 30 feet with inspection tables and a 148-foot run out capability. The high-temperature felt belt handling system keeps extrusions flawless. For extrusion orders that require it, the misting quench hoods produce harder metal in the final cooling process than air cooling.

Production speed and efficiency are also improved. A dual die changer coupled with the six single-cell infrared die ovens facilitate quick change outs and minimizes down time between runs. The system’s 40-ton automated final stretcher reduces the number of required operators by 50 percent.

The new aluminium extrusion press is manufactured by Mei Ruey Industrial, which has distributed aluminium extrusion and processing equipment worldwide for over 25 years.

“What really expedited delivery and installation were the extra steps taken by the equipment manufacturer to fully assemble and test the entire press line at its factory before breaking it down again into modules for shipment,” said Ziegler. “Once the equipment arrived, the team reassembled the modules and it was up and running in a fraction of the time we anticipated.”

The new 7-inch press purchase is one part of Gateway’s multi-phase expansion program, which includes upgrading existing equipment, adding new equipment to increase capacity, and constructing additions to the factory and office spaces to accommodate new services. Earlier this year, the company purchased its current 129,000-square-foot facility, which it had been leasing, as well as the adjacent 200,000-quare-foot (4.6 acre) property in the Union, MO industrial business park. Construction plans are underway for 2016 to add to the existing facility to house further equipment acquisitions.