Big Forge Presses

There are more photos in "Forging Metals (Open Die Forge)."

Sam Lyon posted, cropped via Dennis DeBruler

 

Richard Vertrees posted, cropped via Dennis DeBruler

This is the second largest open die forging press in the world, which is installed in Seah Besteel.– HBE press

I wonder how long and skinny that shaft is to become. It may take a while. Or is it going to be a trunnion and the final shape will be short and fat.

I was going to say it looks like hydraulic presses have made drop hammers obsolete. But part of the way through the video I heard a drop hammer in the background.

Another trend I have noticed is that all of the videos showing forging in America are old videos. HBE press and Seah Besteel are  Korean companies. We have already seen that the assets of another press manufacurer, Verson Allsteel Press, were sold to a Chinese+Japanese company.

Update: Use of another big forging press and manipulator: video of the forging of a generator shaft.

Gregory Wolf posted
A steam hydraulic press at the Krupp steelworks in Essen, Germany, circa 1928.
Robert Carl Herrmann: Look's like it's pressing a concave straightener roll.

The Beauty of Steel project posted

I have just learned, that this massive 120 MN forging press in Ostrava was most likely scrapped recently.

The press was built in 1954 and used to be among the largest ones in Europe.

Is there anybody who could confirm the demolition?

Viktor

• Tijmen Stam

  I have seen videos of presses like that where they don't just excert a lot of pressure but really slam the thing down and then very quickly raise it - eg in https://youtu.be/q_ZhgOlxX_A?t=169 . I'm really impressed by how to move such a heavy hammer+piston so quickly. Are these massive hydraulic pumps or is there some other mechanisms at play? In the same video at about 7m50 you can see another press that seems to rely on pressure alone and not impact.

  

  YOUTUBE.COM

  Dangerous Giant Heavy Duty Hammer Forging Process, Excellent Hydraulic Steel Forging Machines

  Dangerous Giant Heavy Duty Hammer Forging Process, Excellent Hydraulic Steel Forging Machines

  

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• Melvin Gurganus

  Lehigh Heavy forge in Pa. is largest in North America. Got to see it forging one of our 100 ton Back up rolls.

  

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• CJ Schmit

  Ladish in Cudahy, Wisconsin still has the largest double blow hammer in the world 

  

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• Rob Craven

  There is an old forge press in the Waterfront, Homestead, PA.

  Left over from the old US Steel Homestead Works

  It sits next to Lowes.

  

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  • Rich Pantaleo

    Similar in size to this one as well - it was 12,000 ton (106 MN) though 50 years older being manufactured in 1903. https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.pa3333.photos/?sp=8

    

    LOC.GOV

    8. CROSS-VIEW OF No. 1 PRESS. - U.S. Steel Homestead Works, Press Shop No. 1, Along Monongahela River, Homestead, Allegheny County, PA

    8. CROSS-VIEW OF No. 1 PRESS. - U.S. Steel Homestead Works, Press Shop No. 1, Along Monongahela River, Homestead, Allegheny County, PA

    

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    • Rob Craven

      Rich Pantaleo

      I used to work in Homestead Works, almost until they closed.

      

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nmih (172 photos)
Citation: Bethlehem Steel Corporation, “Shaft for S. Morgan Smith,” Bethlehem Steel Corporation Photo Collection, accessed October 2, 2022, https://nmihbethlehemsteel.omeka.net/items/show/8.

The Homestead, PA, press