SMS group builds new generation of Sutton extrusion press

SMS group is building a new generation of the Sutton extrusion press in the U.S.A. During a ceremony to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Sutton brand, SMS presented the new Sutton MK-V in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. The extrusion press has been developed over the last two years. All mechanical, hydraulic and electrical components and spare parts come from the U.S.A. This guarantees that they can be procured relatively easily and quickly – a competitive benefit for the extrusion press companies in the NAFTA region (U.S.A., Canada and Mexico) at which the new press is targeted.

‟The fifth generation of the Sutton extrusion press combines the best of the two worlds of SMS and Sutton,” says Holmer Kleist, Project Manager Forging at SMS group. In concrete terms this means: The plate-type press frame now employed – an SMS development – makes the construction of the press significantly more rigid and more resistant. The linear guides for the container holders and moving crosshead operate precisely and are practically maintenance-free – a major advantage compared with the flat guides previously used. In this new press generation, the pumps are again located inside the tank. This reduces the space requirement by around 30 percent compared to the installation on the shop floor. The holistic solution developed by SMS for American extrusion press operators also includes the foundation, the design of which is better suited for the Sutton press. This reduces the costs of the extrusion press for the owner.

The motors of the press are started using soft-starters. This allows the pumps not required during the extrusion process to be shut down and facilitates a soft run-up when they are switched back in. This method saves up to 25 percent energy compared with presses with conventional drives, where pumps that are not required continue to idle.

The Sutton MK-V is offered on the NAFTA region market in four different sizes – with press forces ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 U.S. short tons, corresponding to 18 to 35 MN. Robert Saroli signed the contract for this press right at the site in Cranberry Township. ‟I am very impressed by the workmanship of the press,” said the owner of the Canadian aluminum processing company, Can Art Aluminum Extrusion Inc. ‟And the press has just the right size for us.” Saroli is convinced that the new press will help Can Art improve its position on the hotly contested market. The press will go into operation at Can Art in January 2016.

The U.S.A. is an important extrusion press market for SMS. The new Sutton press is specially tailored to the needs of customers in the automotive industry and in the construction and transport industries. The extrusion presses are equipped with Allen Bradley controllers. A further benefit for the customers is that the manufacture in the U.S.A. means an elimination of import duties. The Sutton extrusion presses are marketed and sold in the U.S.A. through the SMS national company, SMS Technical Services LLC. Customers therefore have the right contacts directly on hand, making order handling and service support faster and more flexible.

The Sutton Engineering Company was founded in 1914. After being a member of the SMS family since 1979, in 1998 Sutton was eventually merged with the SMS company Eumuco. Up until 2001, extrusion presses were manufactured in Bellefonte under the name SMS Sutton.

The Sutton MK-V 27. SMS presented the latest generation of press at a ceremony to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the Sutton brand. The press is manufactured specially for the NAFTA market

Based on SMS Group information