Beckwood to Deliver 200-Ton Forming Press to Metal Forming Industries

The custom four-post press will feature 200 tons of force with a Delta high-speed motion controller to achieve positional accuracy within +/-0.005″or better. A 20-ton ejection cylinder will strip the finished part from the tool and present it for easy removal. To overcome the deflection caused by point-loading of the tool, additional rigidity will be added to the press structure. With a fast approach speed of 373 inches-per-minute (IPM) and a retract speed of 299 IPM, this press will decrease Metal Forming Industries’s current cycle times by 50 percent.

Also included will be Beckwood‘s proprietary Pre-Preventive Maintenance (PPM) system, which uses closed-loop monitoring to analyze system performance and notify the operators and maintenance crews when service is necessary. Through the press’s HMI, it will be possible to closely monitor pump efficiency, safety system status, filter cleanliness, valve performance, oil condition, and more to prevent unplanned downtime.

“Metal Forming Industries approached us wanting to increase speed, accuracy, and precision in their forming operation,” says Beckwood sales engineer Caleb Dixon. “Through consultation and creative engineering, we were able to design a press that meets their operational needs for years to come.”

Mark Easterling, chief engineer at Metal Forming Industries (MFI), writes: “Here at MFI, management recognized that we have limited surplus capacity. And, with the age of our existing equipment, the potential for unexpected downtime and high repair costs is a major concern. I was given the task to find another press. After searching the used equipment market, it was apparent I was not going to find what we needed. I decided to contact Beckwood, knowing about their ability to build custom presses. From the time I made the initial web contact request until receipt of a formal quote, to our specs, was two days. Impressive! And to our surprise, the price was affordable. Looking forward to working through this project with Beckwood.”

Beckwood Press (St. Louis, MO) manufactures custom hydraulic and servo-electric presses, automation systems, the Triform line of precision forming equipment, and the EVOx line of servo-electric presses.

Metal Forming Industries is a contract manufacturer of grounding ferrules, battery terminals, semiconductor components, specialty connectors, and more for utility companies.