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Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

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Triform Sheet Hydroforming Press Specifications - Beckwood Press Company

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Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

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Triform Sheet Hydroforming Press Specifications

Triform Model 24-10-5

Triform Sheet Hydroform Press 24-10-5

Capabilities
Maximum Chamber Pressure	10,000 psi (69 Mpa)
Maximum Blank Diameter	24" (609 mm)
Lower Punch Force	630 Tons
Lower Punch Stroke	5" (127 mm)
Draw Depth Capacity	6" (152 mm)
Maximum Punch Tool Diameter	17" (432 mm)
Daylight (Fully Open Chamber)	19.25" (489 mm)
Punch Tool Attachment	2.5" - 12

System Dimensions
Overall System Length	160" (406 cm)
Overall System Width	94" (239 cm)
Overall System Height	92" (234 cm)
Floor System Required	Flush Floor (No Pit)
Floor Space Required	118" x 220" (300 x 559 cm)
Total System Weight	40,000 lbs. (18,144 kg)

Control System
Programmable Controller (PLC)	Allen Bradley
Electrical Components (Majority)	Allen Bradley
Touchscreen Operator Interface	Allen Bradley PanelView (Color)
Cycle Parameter Storage/Recall	500+ Job Capacity

Power System
Main Motor Horsepower	100 HP
Pump Manufacturer	Oil Gear
Working Fluid	ISO 46 W
Heat Exchanger (Requires Water)	Included
Temperature/Level Sight Gauge	Included
Main Power	480V
Phase	3 Phase
Hz	60 Hz
Control System Voltage	110V
FLA Draw	120 Amps
Air/oil Heat Exchanger & Alternative Power Configurations	Available Upon Request

Performance
Forming Pressure Control	(+/-) 1%
Forming Position Control	(+/-) 0.002" (0.05 mm)
Average Cycle Time (5,000 psi w/ 4.0" punch extension)	28 seconds

CNC Control

The hydroform press is programmable in three (3) modes:

Blow Down Mode
Punch Mode
Punch and Blow Down Mode

The full featured control offers job storage and recipe handling with expansion capabilities. In addition to sequential programming of pressure and position, the operator interface data/program screens include:

System Diagnostics
Alarm Handling and Logging
Multi-level pass word protection
OEM set-up screen for remote system performance adjustments
PLC Input/Output visualization
Batch Counter
Cycle Timer

Optional remote VPN connection via Ethernet allows for the press system to be monitored by the factory for immediate technical support.

Preventative Maintenance for your Hydraulic Press - Beckwood Press Company

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Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Preventative Maintenance for your Hydraulic Press

1. Follow the prescribed preventive-maintenance schedule supplied with your press. Different presses with varying capabilities require special maintenance. While most hydraulic presses share the same core needs for maintenance, start by following the specific schedule supplied in your machine manual.

2. Check hydraulic lines and fittings regularly for leaks. Small leaks can lead to large problems and large messes. If a leak is detected, tighten or replace the hose or fitting and then monitor the correction.

3. Check for proper oil level and operating temperature. Improper oil levels can lead to pump inefficiency due to cavitation, where air enters the liquid being pumped. Oil that runs too hot can lead to premature breakdown. Monitoring oil temperature also serves as a warning that some circuit components may not be performing adequately. Press systems traditionally running cool and then suddenly changing to run hot, may have a failing component that is passing oil and detracting from efficiency, not to mention adding heat to the system.

4. Ensure oil cleanliness. Contaminated oil can cause complete system failure and significant damage, and lead to extended downtime. Many basic hydraulic systems can run with simple return-line filtration circuits using 10-micron filters. Higher-performance systems utilizing proportional or servo valves will require more advanced or cleaner filtration (perhaps 6-micron filters) and the use of in-line pressure and return-line filters. The type of system and required cleanliness should be specified by the manufacturer. Periodic oil sampling is suggested, and can be analyzed by a third party or dedicated oil-testing service. Often, a local hydraulic-component distributor can perform this duty or suggest a reliable company.

5. Mind the fasteners. Whether the press is of all-welded construction or is a tie-rod model, it relies on numerous nuts and bolts for proper operation. Monitor cylinder attachment monthly. Once the bolts have been checked to the proper torque, baseline marks can serve as at-a-glance indicators for future monitoring. Many presses carry marks on all attachment bolts when the bolts have been certified to the proper torque. Also, monitor bolster-plate fasteners and tie-rod pre-tensioning nuts.

6. Monitor the safety system on a daily basis. Press systems with light curtains, gate interlocks, safety mats, etc., should be tested prior to operation. If a safety device has been found defective or unreliable, lockout the press and perform needed service immediately. Also, test the E-stop safety circuit daily.

7. Record press data. Data logging, though not often used, is one of the best tools for monitoring press-system performance. Recording items such as operating pressures during rapid-advance, pressing and rapid-retract portions of the press cycle can provide valuable data as to press-system efficiency. Your equipment manufacturer should capture this data during equipment testing and report it to you. Ideally, record this data when the press is commissioned and refer back to it periodically. If you start to see increases in operational pressures, components may have begun to fail or are performing below optimum levels.

8. Be proactive in replacing press components. Most presses are constructed of several hydraulic components either from a single manufacturer or from multiple companies. Each manufacturer has an expected service life for each component. Replacing components proactively before a failure saves unexpected downtime and costly repairs. A hydraulic component can fail and introduce contamination into a hydraulic system--especially true for pumps. It is far easier and less costly to change out components on a regular basis than to wait for a component to fail and possibly contaminate the system.

Triform Hydroform Press Information - Beckwood Press Company

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Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Triform Hydroform Press Information

The New Technology in Sheet Hydroforming

Deep Draw with Punch The Triform Sheet Hydroform Press is a unique and specially engineered system. It is based upon a century of proven hydroforming techniques that have been combined with 21st century technology to provide a new hydroform option for todays manufacturers. Modern engineering has enabled the system to be compact, highly versatile and cost efficient. The result is a floor top CNC controlled press weighing a surprising 33% of traditional systems.

Why Triform Hydroform?

The Triform family of presses was developed by Pryer Technology Group (PTG). The founders of PTG are highly experienced engineers and manufacturing professionals with backgrounds in the aerospace and machine tool industries. They found that there weren't any good options available for manufacturers seeking hydroform presses. New hydroform press prices were out of reach and used presses, if available, were in poor condition and antiquated. PTG realized the need for a modernized sheet hydroforming solution.

How is Triform Unique?

The use of advanced engineering allowed for the design of a unique pressure containment system that significantly reduced the press size without sacrificing integrity or durability. The 2,200 ton press does not require a special floor and has a low overall height, eliminating the need for expensive pits and foundations. It is highly portable and installs in one day at most any facility. The Triform Sheet Hydroform comes standard with CNC controls for fast job set up and tight control of the forming process.

CNC Control

The hydroform press is programmable in two (2) modes:
- Bladder Only Mode
- Bladder and Punch Mode

The full featured controls offer job storage and recipe handling with expansion capabilities. In addition to sequential programming of pressure and position, the operator interface data/program screens include:

System Diagnostics
Alarm Handling and Logging
Multi-level pass word protection
OEM set-up screen for remote system performance adjustments
PLC Input / Output visualization
Batch Counter
Cycle Timer
Optional remote VPN connection via Ethernet allows for the press system to be monitored by the factory for immediate technical support.

Hydropress Features and Benefits

Deep Draw Hydroforming
High pressure containment system allows for the production of complex shapes with tight tolerances
Single Tool Technology
Compact and lightweight design allows for portability and flush floor operation
Easy setup and quick installation
Value Engineered
Designed for low maintenance and durability
Precision control of the forming pressure down to 1% of full scale and punch positioning within .002"
Low tooling costs and greater flexibility with processes and part design
High speed cycle times for product productivity
Net shaped part capability

Active Leveling Control - Beckwood Press Company

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Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Active Leveling Control

Active Leveling Control Technology with Hydraulic Presses

In an attempt to offset decreasing margins and increased competition, today's manufacturers are driven to consolidate processes, minimize operator error and reduce material scrap. In order to thrive in these conditions, manufacturers must push for a greater emphasis in technology. The hydraulic press market has grown with these challenging demands. One of the most popular advances is the utilization of Active Leveling Control. This technology counteracts the negative effects of off-center loading, significant breakthrough shock with high strength steels and reverse shock loading associated with the use of nitrogen in dies.

1. What is Active Leveling Control?
Active Leveling Control (ALC) is a technologically advanced system that utilizes closed loop control for each corner of the press ram, keeping the press ram in parallel and reducing shock. Presses equipped with ALC utilize a high speed motion controller, linear transducers and proportional valves to synchronize the press actuators. The 32-bit multi-axis high-speed motion controller provides less than 1 msec control loop time

Active Leveling control for bed-to-ram parallelism is offered in either 2 or 4 axis depending on the application. Two-axis control provides either left to right, or front to rear parallelism. For users requiring both left to right and front to rear parallelism, four-axis control is recommended.

2. How does Active Leveling Control benefit off-center loading?
Off-Center loading can be caused by many issues. While Off-Center loading may be beneficial, or needed in the manufacturing process, it can cause unwanted issues to arise within the press, dies and overall application. Poor part quality & inconsistency, premature tool wear, and detrimental stress on the press structure are all likely to occur if the press has not been properly designed to handle an unbalanced load.

Hydraulic Presses with Active Leveling Control The most common cause of off-center loading is due to the geometry of the part formed not being conducive to an even load. Many applications do not form evenly over the press bed and can wreak havoc on a press or tooling. Other difficult Off-Center Loading processes many include progressive dies and the desire to consolidate multiple operations (and multiple dies) into a single machine. In addition, many presses can be improperly loaded due to operator error, creating additional alignment problems. This can especially be a problem for presses with big beds and/or small tooling.

A properly engineered Active Leveling Control system will provide many capabilities to counteract the negative effects of off-center loading. This improvement supplies protection for the press structure and tooling while decreasing maintenance costs. Many processes that historically could not be unified in one press are now being efficiently combined and properly executed with the integration of the ALC system. This feature enables companies to displace multiple presses and save valuable floor space, which in turn reduces labor costs and creates room for more capacity. The ALC technology is paralleled by servo mechanical presses but offers more flexibility at a significantly reduced price.

3. How does Active Leveling Control decrease the effects of breakthrough shock?
Challenging issues often arise in blanking of advanced high-strength steels, causing tremendous breakthrough shock. In these instances, the high-speed controller senses the acceleration of the ram during breakthrough and adjusts the axis control valves to restrain the ram all while remaining parallel. This greatly reduces the effects of the breakthrough shock in challenging applications and improves the life of the press and die.

4. How can Active Leveling Control be engineered to handle reverse shock loading?
Beckwood's Active Leveling Control system also features a unique solution for dies with nitrogen springs. Nitrogen springs, although sometimes critical to the die, can cause issues that need to be compensated for in the press system. Nitrogen is typically engineered into dies for blank holding, shock control or compensation for load distribution. Traditional springs are dynamic and offer resistance to compression and constant extension force. New and much more expensive nitrogen systems can be engineered with dampening controls to minimize the affects of extension forces once compressed.

In traditional applications, as the press retracts, the up acting force from the Nitrogen springs can cause reverse loading shock in the press. In many applications nitrogen springs are used to balance off-center loads. While this works well in the down motion of the press ram, it can wreak havoc in the retract motion of the ram.

Beckwood's ALC system goes beyond controlling just the down or extend portion of the press cycle and controls the retract portion of the press cycle. The controlled retraction maintains bed to ram parallelism in unbalanced nitrogen systems and allows for smoother decompression by utilizing programmable distance on the upstroke. Once the ram has retracted past the nitrogen stroke, it can be placed safely into a traditional open loop fast-retract mode.

5. Summary
As hydraulic design technology advances, manufacturers will be presented with new capabilities to increase the efficiency of their production processes. Active Leveling Control can be integrated into a new hydraulic press to increase part quality, reduced die wear, and reduce complex setup time. This system provides the ideal solution for manufacturers who need to counteract the effects off-center loading, significant breakthrough shock, and reverse shock loading situations.

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Contact Us

Please utilize the following information to locate or contact us. Fill out the form below for free literature on our hydraulic presses and machinery, or to have a Beckwood representative call or e-mail you.

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Fenton, MO 63026-2405
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Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
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Customer Service - Beckwood Press Company

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Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Customer Service

Customer Service Each press is inspected with a variety of quality control checks before it is shipped to our clients. Beckwood Hydraulic Presses are cross-checked with the customer's specifications and our own comprehensive testing runoff. Our user manuals are easy to understand and operation training is available for all new presses. Excellent service continues after delivery by experienced technicians who provide phone and e-mail assistance for questions ranging from simple maintenance to complex technical issues. We pride ourselves in responding to customer questions with information and solutions in a timely and professional manner.

Beckwood has made major advances in our sales and customer service for the Mexico marketplace. Through a strong network of dealers, we now offer local support and sales management. This new development strengthens Beckwood's already excellent service record and reinforces our expansion into this growing market. Contact a Beckwood support technician for more information.

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Client Testimonials - Beckwood Press Company

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Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

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Client Testimonials

Index

Pressing for a Better Hybrid
Hydraulic Presses: Changing the Way We Utilize technology
Spotlight on Customized Hydraulic Presses
Hydraulic Press Propels Tube-Forming Productivity
Metalworking Ages Gracefully
Client Testimonial

1. Pressing for a Better Hybrid

Beckwood's Accu-Flex mixes electrical, hydraulic technologies

By Lincoln Brunner, Contributing Editor, FF Journal

As Seen in FF Journal, March 2006

Mixing features of servo and hydraulic press technology make Jeff Debus an alchemist of sorts. Getting engineers from both fields to understand one another in the process just might make him a miracle worker.

Labels aside, what Debus and his team at Beckwood Press Co. have come up with is an inexpensive way for small to medium-sized shops to use the best of both technologies in a maintenance-friendly format. Debus, Beckwood's vice president, says that the idea was to take advantage of wide-spread servo-motion technology-particularly vector drives, or VFD's and combine it with hydraulic actuators in a package that is far less costly than a true servo-hydraulic press.

Servo-hydraulics are expensive,Debus says. Their maintenance costs, their up-front costs and their complexity are all high. In response to that cost-versus-need problem, Beckwood wanted to answer the question, How can we do this more effectively and more efficiently for our customers?

The answer was the Accu-Flex press. Beckwood offers the Accu-Flex in tonnages ranging from 15 tons to 150 tons. That sweet spot marks the range where a ball screw machine can't keep up with the tonnage and a true servo-hydraulic can't compete with the prices. We're a customer press builder, so if somebody comes in and says they want a 300-ton version, we'll take a look at it, Debus says. You start to get to a certain point where your power-drive costs put you into a place where the servo-hydraulic price starts to match. Then you would go to a more traditional route.

Accu-Flex users can choose between position control with force override or the inverse, depending on whether precision force or position is more important for the application at hand. The system uses an Allen-Bradley VersaView interface and is completely programmable: Force, approach speed, distance and dwell time all can be changed instantly. There's no parameter in the cycle that you cannot program, Debus says. In addition, the control system provides real-time trending that allows users to plot process variables, such as position or pressure, and observe how they interact. An operator can store those scenarios and download them via Ethernet either to a computer database or a printer. For industries with strict certification requirements, such as aerospace, those capabilities provide the kind of traceability a shop needs.

The system also has built-in go/no-go gauges that can be programmed to accept or reject parts based on certain parameters that a user knows are needed to produce a part correctly. For instance, Debus says, if you know you need 6 tons of pressure to insert a rod into a bushing 3 in., the system will reject parts if the machine happened to use, say, 5 tons or 7 tons. It's all programming, Debus says. If it deviates from what you told it to do, it'll tell you.

It's really easy to tweak and change; you can change it on the fly, he says. When you change parameters, the parameter curve will actually change dynamically to match what you programmed.

The Accu-Flex has been on the market for less than a year. The blend of technologies might be easy to use, but getting the right mix engineered properly wasn't exactly automatic. Beckwood essentially had to bring two disciplines together that don't necessarily intersect in the real world. "When we would say force control, the hydraulic guy completely understood; the servo guy had no idea what we were talking about, Debus recalls with a laugh. Because in servo-motion, you are dealing with velocity and torque. In hydraulics, you're dealing with pressure and flow. So we had to work to integrate and blend those two technologies together so that they understood what each one correlated to. At the end of the day, they were all looking at each other saying, We get it! We understand. This is great. All the lights were coming on."

The result is a press that is highly applicable for R&D, production and assembly, provided you don't need mechanical press speeds, and you're in that traditional hydraulic press speed application, Debus says.

For more information on this product line, please see Beckwood's article in the March 2006 edition of FF Journal by selecting this link (or contact us for a free issue).

2. Hydraulic Presses: Changing the Way We Utilize Technology

Case History of Manufacturing Problem Solving

As Seen in Manufacturing Engineering, November 2005

For The Boeing Company, a continual search for new technology has kept them thriving in the aerospace industry for almost 100 years. Through their many research facilities and manufacturing plants, they are able to stay ahead of the technology curve. Boeing Canada Technology in Winnipeg is an important composite manufacturing center for The Boeing Company, and the applied technology they develop is utilized to expand the horizons of worldwide flight. They have teamed up with the Beckwood Press Company to develop a customized press to reduce costs for their current product, and develop new parts for Boeing's cutting edge passenger plane technology.

Opening in 1971, Boeing Winnipeg began with 50 employees at their facility and has grown to be the largest aerospace composite manufacturer in Canada. The company has expanded to 940 employees with a manufacturing plant that covers roughly 600,000 square feet. Boeing Winnipeg designs, develops and fabricates complex composite structures and sub-assemblies for aerospace customers. They specialize in Wing to Body Fairings, Engine Strut Fairings, Thrust Reverser Blocker Doors as well as additional complex composites including Nacelle Chines, Landing Gear Doors and High Performance Ducts.

The Boeing Company is constantly developing new technologies to reduce cost and weight of their products. Often, the Winnipeg Division looks to replace components that were historically fabricated from metals, and substitutes them with cutting edge composites. In a recent application, Boeing Winnipeg needed a state of the art press to manufacture reinforced thermoplastic laminate (RTL) components. This was a new technology for this plant, and they needed a single responsible hydraulic press partner to work with the automation and integration of the production process. The flexibility of design was extremely important as we had to integrate a specialized, Winnipeg built, pre-heat oven with the press. We needed a Company that was willing to work with us on the integration with a tight timeline said Mark Shead, a leading Boeing Engineering Specialist.

This customized hydraulic press needed to be developed by a press manufacturer who would be flexible with their production, and work hand in hand with the Boeing Winnipeg engineers to integrate the product. They were looking for someone with experience in value engineered designs that would build a relationship with them while meeting their needs with reliability and durability.

Boeing found a press company who was application competent and able to work with their engineers to develop the project. Beckwood Press was chosen as they offered the best value and could meet our (Boeing Canada Technology Winnipeg) tight timelines. They were also willing to integrate the press and control system with the custom pre-heat processing oven that was being built here, said Shead.

The confluence of this relationship was a 230 ton capacity hydraulic press that utilizes an up-acting design with a highly precise 32 x 44 heated platens. Beckwood was able to combine a variety of engineering specifications from their experiences with different types of applications to create a press with a high level of control over position and speed. Hydraulic presses have evolved over the years and have made great advancements in controls and flexibility says Jeffrey Debus, Vice President of Beckwood Press Company. We utilize our own standard and proven designs from our vast experiences in a multitude of industries, to tailor the perfect press for each customer. Boeing was an interesting project for us, as it required many different performance criteria that we satisfied through previous systems that have been proven out over the years.

Feedback for the aforementioned position and speed is controlled through independent zones with linear and pressure transducers that work with an Allen Bradley control system for critical precision. The speed is variable throughout the stroke and the press is equipped for a variable dwell under pressure. Beckwood integrated the compression molding press with a pre heat oven and shuttle mechanism that moves the piece seamlessly through the press. The parts are heated with tight temperature control and a precision heated platen with a maximum heating temperature of 450o. The press was efficiently engineered with a 22 stroke and remote power.

The new press is currently being utilized for the fabrication of Boeing 737 and 777 slat track flex tabs, but the potential for future applications is where the excitement begins. This new manufacturing process will be expanding to larger and more complex applications over time.

RTL applications include flight hardware on the new 787, which will have almost 40% more composite materials than the 777. Lighter and faster than traditional planes, this new aircraft will have unsurpassed fuel economy for a cleaner environment. According to Boeing, the plane will have 20% more fuel efficiency and 20% fewer emissions than similar sized planes. The top speed of this airplane is the fastest in its class (.85 mach) and it can travel 8500 miles from point to point. The plane is designed with the passenger in mind, as the windows and cargo area have been expanded, and it has the potential to enable live e-mail and Internet for every passenger. Boeing has already accepted proposals from 20 airlines and expects to demand for this type of airplane to be over 3,500 units over the next 20 years. Major production of the new 787 airplane begins in 2006, first flight is scheduled for 2007, and the first delivery will be in 2008.

Through the entire process, the project has run smoothly and Boeing has been satisfied with the end product. Beckwood rigorously tests their equipment, and after putting the press in production, Boeing was able to accomplish their goals and they have had their expectations exceeded. The staff at Beckwood were very quick to respond (with the project) as our requirements and needs changed during the program. The most impressive aspect of the press is its reliability. It has been in production for over a year and we have had no break downs, said Shead.

Beckwood Press Company is a leading hydraulic press manufacturer located in St. Louis, MO. They utilize standard hydraulic press designs that are tailored to their customer's specific applications. Beckwood manufactures presses for a multitude of industries, from 2-2000+ tons, and they specialize in creating cost effective solutions for unique applications. Boeing and Beckwood forged a partnership for this project and were able to construct an innovative compression molding hydraulic press for the application.

For more information on this Case History, see Beckwood's article in the November 2005 edition of Manufacturing Engineering magazine by selecting this link (or contact Beckwood for a free issue).

3. Spotlight on Customized Hydraulic Presses

Smaller footprint, exact capabilities, no wasted investment

By Sue Roberts, Executive Editor, FF Journal

As Seen in FF Journal, March 2007

Customized hydraulic presses have been dancing around the fabricating industry for many years. Tailored to specific needs, the features and options of each press are chosen by the user to perform a specific application such as blanking, coining, compression molding, forming, punching or stamping.

Each customer becomes part of the design team, working with the machine tool builder to incorporate the speeds, bed size, tonnage, stroke and any specialty options to best meet production goals.

Choosing hydraulics over mechanical operations provides the additional benefits of minimizing the footprint and reducing the overall investment. Hydraulics allow the generation of high forces in a compact area, reducing the overall structure and mechanism required for support of the force actuators. A mechanical press of the same tonnage is a larger machine requiring significantly more space and upping the initial investment.

The number and variety of custom-designed hydraulic presses available at any given time is virtually limitless. Each machine is the product of a fresh design, making the most recent machine shipped from the manufacturer virtually the newest model.

Cooperative creativity

In some cases, the customer brings more to the design table than his forming requirements. Acuity Brands Lighting's Indiana production facility, for example, worked with Beckwood Press Co. to integrate press bed rollers to minimize die setup time for its latest press.

Acuity, the world's largest manufacturer of lighting fixtures, has 24 manufacturing facilities throughout North America and Europe. Products include indoor and outdoor lighting for commercial, institutional, industrial, infrastructure and residential applications. Architects, contractors, energy service companies and maintenance personnel alike are familiar with Acuity brands that include Lithonia Lighting, Hydrel, Peerless, MetalOptics and Carandini.

Corporate-wide emphasis at Acuity continually focuses on creating a leaner, more effective organization to support efficient production and new product development. Part of that focus is to make machine purchases and initiate processes that increase capacity without increasing headcount. In 2006, the companyÃs efforts were rewarded with a 12 percent increase in customer orders.

Production of reflectors that are incorporated into a myriad of Acuity lighting fixtures is done at all the Crawfordsville, Ind., facility. Anodizing, spinning, buffing, punching and hydroforming processes pump out a broad variety of the aluminum components. For many of the reflector designs, material moves from metal spinning operations to hydraulic presses, many of them custom, that punch sockets and side holes in the down-lighting pieces.

Progressive and lean

One of the lean initiative goals in the town of Crawfordsville facility is to reduce the setup time by 25 percent. Currently, dedicated setup people handle the die changeovers. A typical changeover takes from 10 min. to 20 min.; the goal is 12 min. to 15 min. With continuous adjustments and improvement, they expect to meet this goal before the end of 2009.

Ronald Knight, product manager at Acuity's Crawfordsville plant, explains that 15 of the company's newest presses have been fitted with computerized "smart die systems" to reduce die changeover time. The smart die systems stores job parameters for each die. Precise pressure and position, including pressure-holding, speed-control dynamic adjustments to real-time operating variances, can be controlled.

"We are currently running 200 to 300 dies," says Knight, "some of which run one to two orders. Quick die change is very important to our production process."

New machine tool purchases must fit into Acuity's lean equation, which is where working with customized hydraulic presses comes into play. Acuity defines the machine requirements for the specific application and includes its own ideas to improve the production process.

Newest is best

Features of the newest Beckwood press include a 35-ton capacity, a 30-in. press stroke and 36-in.-by 36-in. bolsters. Optimum speeds for the application were determined to be 440 ipm on approach, 36 ipm for press and 44 ipm for return.

Several design elements work toward time- and labor- saving goals. Bed rollers provided by Acuity were integrated into the design to assist with quick die change. A new safety light curtain incorporating a four-corner mirror system eliminates the guards with safety interlocks, increasing productivity while still safeguarding operators.

"We asked Beckwood for a larger control transformer for integration with our smart die system," Knight explains. "We had them change the swing-out pedestal to give the operator a little more usability. Operators love the quick die change and the light curtain. The setup men love this press."

Acuity also came up with an idea to add a bed bolster extension to retain clamping ability. Beckwood engineered a system to meet this request using Finite Element Analysis design testing to ensure structural integrity.

Acuity's presses have varying levels of customization and sophistication. Some applications may share the same requirements for speeds, bed size, tonnage stroke and other features, but they may vary depending on the system and product needs. The idea behind the customization is to provide the optimum system for each application at the right price.

Knight has seen value in investing in custom presses. "The benefits to customization are not buying what we don't need," he says. "With our last press purchase we didn't need the standard 100-ton press. We needed a 35-ton press with a 30-in. stroke and larger bed size. Why waste money on extra options or a higher capacity press?"

For more information on this process, please see Beckwood's article in the March 2007 edition of FF Journal (or contact us for a free issue).

4. Hydraulic Press Propels Tube-Forming Productivity

The ability of a press to handle off-center loading allows a manufacturer to load three dies onto one press bed and run the three stations independently or in tandem. One press, three dies, and no die changes.

By Brad Kuvin, Editor, Metalforming Magazine

As Seen in Metalforming Magazine, April 2007

Why invest in three low-tonnage presses, for three separate dies, or deal with time-consuming non-productive die changes, when you can purchase on large press to hold all three dies? That was precisely the reasoning at Hutchinson/Mayrath/TerraTrack, Clay Center, KS, late in 2005 as it sought to replace an aging and rather beat-up press.

The firm manufactures grain and material-handling equipment, including conveyors, unloading equipment and augers. Portable grain augers, in 20 models, are a key market for the manufacturer, and it boasts of the durability of the machines, in part due to their sturdy welded undercarriage.

Undercarriage assemblies are of welded tubular-steel construction. To feed welding booths with fabricated tube sections, Hutchinson/Mayrath/ TerraTrack employs a metalforming press to cut tubes, of hot-rolled steel, to length and crimp the tube ends. This tube-end preparation optimizes weld-joint design, improves fitup and, ultimately, maximizes joint strength.

The firm fabricates three diameters of tube 2 7/8-in. OD by 10-gauge wall thickness; 2 3/8-in. OD by 10-gauge wall; and 1.9-in. OD by 11-gauge wall. Each tube size calls for its own forming die to cut to length and end-crimp. To avoid die changes and still use only one press, off-center loading couldn't be avoided.
"We run the die for the largest OD tube in the middle of the press and then run the other two dies off center," explains industrial engineer Scott Rickley. "On our old mechanical press, which we converted over to hydraulic more than 20 years ago, this off-center loading took its toll. The press bed would twist and the ram would come down out of level, which ultimately destroyed the press. It also took a toll on our tooling, and made it difficult to keep up with production."
Designed for Off-Center Loading

When the old press became too war-torn for use, Hutchinson/Mayrath/TerraTrack turned to hydraulic-press builder Beckwood Press Co., St. Louis, MO, to design a new press specifically designed to balance the hydraulic system for multiple load requirements. The new 80-ton press, delivered in June 2006, can handle die requirements of 80 tons of force at its centerline, and 48 tons 21.5 in. to the right and left of press center. Each station can be operated independently of one another, or in tandem. The press has a 36-by-72-in. bolster, a 12-in. stroke and an automatic ram-slide lubrication system. Ram speeds: 115 in./min. approach, 24 in./min pressing and 120-in./min return.

"We fed tube in lengths of 20 to 40 ft. through the press by hand, manually setting stops to shear to length anywhere from 7 to 16 ft.," says Rickely. "In one hit in the die, we shear and crimp the end the ability of the hydraulic press to control forming speed provides the precise amount of tube-end deformation we need to optimize weld fitup and quality." Order size ranges from just a few pieces to as many as 20 parts.

Moving from the old press to new required only a routine sharpening of the tooling. With the poor ability of the old press to handle off-center loading, the firm had to pull the dies every three months, Rickley recalls, for resharpening.
"Since we took delivery of the new press," Rickley says, "we have yet to pull the dies for maintenance."

Beckwood Press Company recently interviewed Scott Rickley, an Industrial Engineer at Hutchinson/Mayrath/Terra Track in Clay Center Kansas, for an article with MetalForming Magazine. Rickley provided insight on his company, and how Beckwood was able to help him with his dedicated off-center loading application.
BW: What are the products and markets served by your plant? What is the process, and who are your customers?
SR: "We use the (Beckwood) Press to shear and flatten round tubing in preparation to be used in a weldment. The press performs the entire operation of preparing the tubing for the weldment. The end product is the undercarriage for our portable augers, which is vital for the safety of the auger and its operators. Parts must be of good quality or serious safety issues could arise.

Our primary product is grain handling equipment in an agricultural application. Our primary end users are farms and large grain storage facilities. Our product is distributed through a dealer/distributor network."
BW: What solutions did Beckwood solve by engineering this press system to your specific requirements?
SR: "Beckwood's design allowed us to load three different dies into the press at one time. We were doing this in the past with our old press, however, it was not designed for that application and when we used the dies that were off-center, the ram would come down out of level.

By designing a press with off-center loading capabilities Beckwood made it possible to load all three of the dies at one time and the press would compensate pressure to keep the ram level no matter which die we used."
BW: Did the sales engineers answer all of your questions and make things as smooth as possible for your company?
SR: "Beckwood made the entire process very easy, from initial ordering to final approval and training, right up through delivery."
BW: What example, in particular, have you been most satisfied with your Beckwood Press?
SR: "The press is very maintenance friendly with its automatic lubrication system. By not having to change dies on this press, our set-up times have basically become zero."

For more information on this testimonial, please see Beckwood's article in the April 2007 edition of Metalforming Magazine by selecting this link (or contact us for a free issue).

5. Metalworking Ages Gracefully

Metalworking equipment suppliers keep up with the times by offering more flexibility and quick changeover.

By David Simpson, Contributing Editor, Appliance Magazine

As Seen in Appliance Magazine, February 2007

Michael W. Riehn, director of marketing at The Beckwood Corporation (St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.), sees significant advantages in the advancement and integration of electrical and hydraulic control technologies. Capitalizing on the inherent benefits of hydraulic presses (speed, force and position control) has proven to add considerable cost savings by decreasing setup time and minimizing scrap material costs in the way of bad parts, he says. Up-front costs associated with programmable control systems that include job storage and recipe handling have continued to be more attractive. The costs of adding these control features to new presses at the time of order can often be recouped in as little as 4 to 6 months. The hydraulic flexibility provided by these controls can be used to further increase the presses ability to quickly make good quality parts immediately after die set-up. Being able to quickly dial in speed, force and position variables to compensate for material inconsistencies saves set-up costs in terms of labor as well as material.

For more information on this testimonial, please see Beckwood's article in the February 2007 edition of Appliance Magazine (or contact us for a free issue).

6. Client Testimonials

"I am pleasantly surprised with your inquiry related to my recent dealings with Beckwood's service department. Your company's assistance goes over well in my arena. We rarely receive that kind of support from OEM's. Your staff was most helpful, even with the back-to-back phone calls and requests for next-day parts."

- Mark Bohn, Bohn's Sales & Service, Inc.

"We had [Beckwood] give the operators a little more usability. Operators love the quick die change and light curtain. The setup men love this press."

- Ron Knight, Acuity Brands Lighting

"Beckwood Press was chosen as they offered the best value and could meet our tight timelines. They were also willing to integrate the press and control system with the custom pre-heat processing oven that was being built here."

- Mark Shead, Boeing

"The benefits to customization are not buying what we don't need. With our last press purchase we didn't need the standard 100-ton press. We needed a 35-ton press with a 30 in. stroke and larger bed size. Why waste money on extra options or a higher capacity press?"

- Ron Knight, Acuity Brands Lighting

"On our mechanical press...off-center loading took its toll. The press bed would twist and the ram would come down out of level, which ultimately destroyed the press. It also took a toll on our tooling, and made it difficult to keep up with production. Since we took delivery of the new [Beckwood] press, we have yet to pull the dies for maintenance."

- Scott Rickley, Hutchinson/Mayrath/TerraTrack

"Everything arrived in perfect condition. It has been an absolute pleasure dealing with the Beckwood Press Company. All of my conversations, whether by phone or e-mail, were dealt with promptly and accurately. Customer service is everything when dealing over the phone and internet. I would give your company a "10"."

-Michael R. Vetter, Weasler Engineering Inc.

Hydraulic Press Link Partners - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Hydraulic Press Link Partners

Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT)

Concord Steel

Dura-Glider Company

Formtek Inc.

Frost Electric Supply Company

Interface Devices, Inc.

Kaskaskia Tool and Machine

State Electric Supply Company, Inc.

Steve Smith Studios, Inc.

Unique Engraving

Venture Technologies

Precision Metalforming Association (PMA)

Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)

Fabricators and Manufactureres Association (FMA)

Superbolt, Inc.

Cee Kay Supply

Vibro Dynamics Corporation

CWP (Cooper-Weymouth, Peterson)

Benchtop Press Features - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Benchtop Press Features

How-To Choose the Right Benchtop Press for Your Application

Whether your process is light manufacturing or assembly, choosing the right benchtop press for your application is crucial. The options vary from simple hand-operated arbor presses, to more advanced hydraulic & electromechanical models that can be integrated with PLC control modules. A company in the market for a benchtop press must consider several factors before making an informed purchase. Identifying the right press capability up front can eliminate additional costs and start up delays for the future.

To see a variety of benchtop examples click here.

By answering the following questions, you can easily determine the right benchtop press for your application:

1. Is your application a high-volume application?
2. What type of power supply, if any, is available for this press system?
3. Does this application require a high-level of flexibility and/or control?
4. Does your application require a high-level of precision?

The answers to these questions will determine which type of benchtop press is ideal for your application.

Arbor Press

The most basic form of benchtop presses are hand-operated arbor presses. These machines are ideal for lower tonnage applications and have the benefit of not requiring an external power source. Because arbor presses generate their force through leverage and manpower, they tend to work best in low volume situations.

Air/Oil or Booster Press

A second type of benchtop press is the air/oil or booster press. These machines are ideal for low to mid-level production volume applications and have an approximate maximum force output of 10 tons.

Booster presses use an air over oil intensifier system to achieve the force comparable to traditional hydraulics, but are not equipped with a hydraulic power unit. Because a hydraulic power system is not required, most booster presses can operate using standard 110V, single phase power systems and a shop air connection.

Air/oil presses offer a more user friendly system than arbor presses, as well as the ability to incorporate safety equipment such as light curtain guarding and two hand anti-tie down controls. Even with its advantages, certain applications may not be well suited to the booster press option. The "power" part of the stroke on a booster press is usually limited to less than 1" for full force. Maintenance can be challenging on a booster press: if all of the air is not properly bled, the air inside the oil portion of the system will compress and limit force output. Additionally, most booster presses are limited to a two hand control module and a few simple relays for logic, making integration of ancillary equipment such as feed systems and die sensors difficult.

More information on Beckwood's air/oil presses can be found by visiting the DBP booster press page.

Straight Hydraulic Press

A third type of benchtop press is the straight hydraulic press. Because hydraulic presses utilize traditional hydraulic systems to generate the desired force, they have the ability to deliver full pressing force anywhere in the range of stroke and can vary the shut height to utilize multiple dies. These features make the hydraulic benchtop press suitable for a wide variety of applications.

Below you will find a video detailing our DJ Press features. The video walks viewers through the aspects of the bench top hydraulic press, showing the functions of the various buttons included on the press:

The hydraulic press can be controlled in a variety of ways, ranging from basic relays to more sophisticated PLC or PC control systems. Operator interfaces can be added to press systems to facilitate the ease of job setup and recipe storage. PLC's also offer easy integration of ancillary equipment such as feed systems and in-die sensors. For a review of our standard benchtop controls, check out the below video on our standard Allen Bradley Panelview system. The video walks viewers through the aspects of the hydraulic press control system, showing the functions of the various buttons included on the PanelView interface:

Ram force and speed can be controlled in any direction with various levels of precision. In many cases, modern hydraulics allow for control rivaling Electromechanical presses.

More information on Beckwood's straight hydraulic benchtop presses can be found by visiting the DJ Series press page and selecting the DHS (Full welded steel frame with shank tool holder from 3-20 tons), DHS-R (Full welded steel frame with guide ram from 5-40+ tons), and DHC (Cast iron frame with shank tool holder from 3-5 tons) product links.

Electromechanical Press

The electromechanical press may be the ideal option for end users requiring an extremely high level of precision. Using advanced control systems, these presses feature precision closed loop position and force control for optimum performance. Often used in production as well as R&D or laboratory environments, electromechanical presses can be equipped to handle numerous motion profiles, each with the ability to infinitely adjust to the end user's requirements.

Production volume, precision requirements, and ancillary equipment integration are all critical factors to consider when shopping for a benchtop press. Whether it is a simple, hand operated arbor press, a mid-level production booster press, or a more technologically advanced hydraulic or electromechanical press, benchtop machines continue to be a mainstay in the light manufacturing and assembly processes, for a variety of industries and organizations.

Technology Center - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Technology Center

Compression Molding Presses

Compression molding requires precise pressure, position, speed control, and parallelism throughout the working stroke. Hydraulic presses can dwell under Compression Molding Press pressure for any length of time, vary ram speeds, and provide a constant force over a large area, which is precisely the press characteristics compression molding requires.

What is Compression Molding?

One of the growing market segments for hydraulic presses is within compression molding. Many components that historically were fabricated from metals are being made from composites. Compression Molding is a way to mold material using heat to cure the material. It is often preheated and placed in a heated mold cavity (often heated through heated platens on a press) to a set temperature. The mold is closed with the material inside, pressure is applied to force the material together with all mold areas, and heat and pressure are maintained (to varying degrees) until the molding material has cured.

Compression molding is the main process for thermoset resins in a partially cured stage. It is a high-volume, high-pressure method suitable for molding complex, high-strength fiberglass reinforcements, among many other materials. Compression molding is able to mold large, fairly intricate parts for a variety of industries. Advanced composite thermoplastics can also be compression molded and the process produces fewer knit lines and less fiber-length degradation than injection molding.

A large majority of compression molding applications require large bed sizes but comparatively low tonnage. The ability to easily customize a hydraulic press assures that the purchaser need only purchase the press capacity they require, versus whatever is standard with a larger bed size.

Beckwood Compression Molding

Beckwood compression molding presses are designed with the ability to be integrated into any molding application by offering a wide variety of performance packages for your needs. Hydraulic press improvements engineered to optimize the compression molding process include control of ancillary process equipment, actuation of internal die components (such as core knockouts, ejectors, and punches), and up-acting or multiple-action rams. Precision-heated platen integration with customer-specified heating tolerances and die controls are also common.

All Beckwood Presses can be designed with the ability to dwell under pressure, have variable ram speeds and provide a constant force over a large area. Additional features such as double and triple action rams and part ejection systems can be incorporated into a fully integrated press system.

Click here for a sample of our compression molding press examples.

Technology Center - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Technology Center

More Information Coming Soon! Please click here for examples of our assembly presses.

Beckwood's Accu-Flex Provides Affordable Servo Motion Technology for Assembly Applications

Beckwood Press Co. has engineered an inexpensive way to use the best of both servo and hydraulic technologies in a maintenance-friendly format. The Accu-Flex (patent pending) is a line of servo-driven hybrid presses, designed to provide users with unlimited flexibility with precision performance for both position and force control. (Click here for examples)

Jeffrey E. Debus, Beckwood's Vice President, says that the idea was to take advantage of widespread servo-motion technology (particularly vector drives), of VFDs-and combine it with hydraulic actuators in a package that can be far less costly in many true servo-hydraulic press applications. "Servo-hydraulics are the right fit for many challenging applications, but can be very expensive in certain cases", Debus says. "Their maintenance costs, their up-front costs and their complexity can be very high and have been excluded from many jobs that could use its benefits."

Beckwood manufactures many presses with servo-hydraulic capability, but noticed certain applications in the 5-150+ ton range were too costly for the application. In response to that cost-versus-need problem, Beckwood wanted to answer the question: How can we do this more effectively and more efficiently for our assembly customers?

The answer is the Accu-Flex press. Accu-Flex users can choose between position control with force override or the inverse, depending on whether precision force or position is more important for the assembly application at hand. The system uses an Allen-Bradley VersaView interface and is completely programmable: Force, approach speed, return speed, distance and dwell time all can be changed instantly. "There's no parameter in the cycle that you cannot program", Debus says.

In addition, the control system provides real-time trending that allows users to plot process variables, such as position or pressure, and observe how they interact. An operator can store those scenarios and download them via Ethernet either to a computer database or a printer. For industries with strict certification requirements, such as assembly or aerospace, those capabilities provide the kind of traceability a shop needs.

The system also has built-in go/no-go gauges that can be programmed to accept or reject parts based on certain user parameters that are needed to produce a part correctly. For instance, Debus says, if you know you need 6 tons of pressure to insert a rod into a bushing 3 in., the system will reject parts if the machine happened to use, say, 5 tons or 7 tons. "It's all programming", Debus says. "If it deviates from what you told it to do, it'll tell you."

"It's really easy to tweak and change; you can change it on the fly", he says. "When you change parameters, the parameter curve will actually change dynamically to match what you programmed."

Beckwood offers the Accu-Flex in tonnages ranging from 5 to 150+ tons. That ‘sweet spot', marks the range where a ball-screw machine can't keep up with the tonnage and a true servo-hydraulic or servo press can't compete with the prices, "Provided that you are in that traditional hydraulic press speed application", Debus says. "We're a custom press builder with an experienced engineering team, so we'll analyze each application and recommend the right solution for each job. If you get to a certain point where your power-drive costs put you into a place where the servo-hydraulic price starts to match, we'll find the most efficient way of engineering your process and recommend that to you."

The blend of technologies might be easy to use, but getting the right mix engineered properly wasn't exactly automatic in the beginning. Beckwood essentially had to bring two disciplines together that don't necessarily intersect in the real world. "When we would say force control, the hydraulics guy completely understood; the servo guy had no idea what we were talking about", Debus recalls with a laugh. "Because in servo-motion, you're dealing with velocity and torque. In hydraulics, you're dealing with pressure and flow. So we had to work to integrate and blend those two technologies together so that they understood what each one correlated to."

"At the end of the day, they were all looking at each other saying, ‘We get it! We understand. This is great.' All the lights were coming on."

The result is a press that is highly applicable for assembly, R&D, and production, providing another solution to the many application needs in the industry.

How-To Choose the Right Benchtop Press for Your Assembly Application

Whether your process is assembly or light manufacturing, choosing the right benchtop press for your application is crucial. The options vary from simple hand-operated arbor presses, to more advanced hydraulic & electromechanical models that can be integrated with PLC control modules. A company in the market for a benchtop press must consider several factors before making an informed purchase. Identifying the right press capability up front can eliminate additional costs and start up delays for the future.

To see a variety of benchtop examples click here.

By answering the following questions, you can easily determine the right benchtop press for your application:

The answers to these questions will determine which type of benchtop press is ideal for your application.

Arbor Press

Air/Oil or Booster Press

A second type of benchtop press is the air/oil or booster press. These machines are ideal for low to mid-level production volume applications and have an approximate maximum force output of 10 tons.

More information on Beckwood's air/oil presses can be found by visiting the DBP booster press page.

Straight Hydraulic Press

Ram force and speed can be controlled in any direction with various levels of precision. In many cases, modern hydraulics allow for control rivaling Electromechanical presses.

Electromechanical Press

Production volume, precision requirements, and ancillary equipment integration are all critical factors to consider when shopping for a benchtop press. Whether it is a simple, hand operated arbor press, a mid-level production booster press, or a more technologically advanced hydraulic or electromechanical press, benchtop machines continue to be a mainstay in the assembly and light manufacturing processes, for a variety of industries and organizations.

Technology Center - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Technology Center

Beckwood's Accu-Flex Mixes Electric, Hydraulic Technologies

Beckwood manufactures many presses with servo-hydraulic capability, but noticed certain applications in the 5-150+ tonnage range were too costly for the application. In response to that cost-versus-need problem, Beckwood wanted to answer the question: How can we do this more effectively and more efficiently for our customers?

The answer is the Accu-Flex press. Accu-Flex users can choose between position control with force override or the inverse, depending on whether precision force or position is more important for that application at hand. The system uses an Allen-Bradley VersaView interface and is completely programmable: Force, approach speed, return speed, distance and dwell time all can be changed instantly. "There's no parameter in the cycle that you cannot program", Debus says.

In addition, the control system provides real-time trending that allows users to plot process variables, such as position or pressure, and observe how they interact. An operator can store those scenarios and download them via Ethernet either to a computer database or a printer. For industries with strict certification requirements, such as aerospace or assembly, those capabilities provide the kind of traceability a shop needs.

"It's really easy to tweak and change; you can change it on the fly", he says. "When you change parameters, the parameter curve will actually change dynamically to match what you programmed."

"At the end of the day, they were all looking at each other saying, ‘We get it! We understand. This is great.' All the lights were coming on."

The result is a press that is highly applicable for R&D, production and assembly, providing another solution to the many application needs in the industry.

Control Features & Packages - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Control Features & Packages

Safety First

All Beckwood manufactured presses have control systems that meet all OSHA and ANSI B11.2 (1995) standards for control reliability. Our control engineers will integrate these systems so that no single component failure can cause unintended motion in the ram.

What is the right control system for you?

Beckwood Hydraulic Press Control Interface Beckwood Press Company is experienced in a wide array of hydraulic press control technology and is perfect for any type of application. We have partnered with Allen-Bradley for our standard control systems, but have experience in, and will utilize almost any control manufacturer upon request.

Beckwood provides thorough and complete integration, communications setup and training on all press systems and is experienced in finding the most efficient control package for your needs.

Whether you need a simple indicator/pushbutton panel, or a more robust touchscreen panel with large capacity job storage, we are experienced in integrating the right panel for your press needs.

What is a Programmable Control System - Standard?

Beckwood utilizes a PLC control package standard with every hydraulic press. This includes manually adjustable mechanical limit/ proximity switches for ram position sensors and a digitally programmable pressure switch for pressure control.

Beckwood Standard Controls Common adjustable features include:

Pressure
Down Limit Switch
Up Limit
Slow Down
Selectable Return on Position or Pressure
Dwell Timer (optional)
Integration of controls through Auxiliary Equipment

What are the upgraded Programmable Control Systems?

The upgraded hydraulic press control systems utilize an Operator Interface for HMI functions. A wide variety of packages are available from Set Point Input Panels through a more robust Touch Screen Interface. These systems utilize pressure and linear transducers for press performance inputs and reduce set up time by programming the cycle parameters. The upgraded production package features fully programmable job set up and recipe storage. Systems can be programmed to accommodate many different specifications for a variety of press parameters.

Programmable Option Level 1: Digital Interface with 6 user programmed inputs

A limited number (8 setpoints/ displays) of programmable press parameters may be developed and designed per the end users' specifications. This interface replaces mechanical limit switches and a stand alone switch. Operator programs desired cycle parameters for each cycle, reducing manual set up time.

Common adjustable features include:

Tonnage/ Pressure
Up Limit
Slow Down
Return on Position or Pressure
Dwell Time
Multiple Job Storage
Serial Communications
Password Protection

Other adjustable features may include but are not limited to:

Ram Speeds
Auxiliary Equipment
Language Options
Graphical Trending
Expandable Memory
Password Protection
Ethernet communications

Programmable Option Level 2: Productivity Package with job storage

Includes touchscreen operator interface with job storage and recipe handling. All cycle parameters are programmed and saved for recall, significantly reducing operator set up time. Additional features are available, see below. System is programmed for application specific requirements to suit user needs.

Common adjustable features include:

Tonnage/ Pressure
Up Limit
Slow Down
Return on Position or Pressure
Dwell Time
Multiple Job Storage
Serial Communications
Safety Alarms
Password Protection

Other Features may include but are not limited to adjustable:

Ram Speed Control
Integration of controls through Auxiliary Equipment
Language Options
Data Collection
Graphical & Report Trending
Expandable Memory
Ethernet communications
Diagnostic Control
Press Monitoring
Production Rate
Plus much more.

Full specifications can be developed with a Beckwood Sales Engineer.

Standard Components, Customized Design

Beckwood designs each press with standard interfaces from top of the line component manufactures. Each control system is designed with the end-user's needs in mind. We strive to find the most efficient fit for each application without any unnecessary cost additions.

Standard HMI and PLC Packages

Allen Bradley PLC: Micrologix, SLC 5/00's, Compact Logix, Control Logix
Broad Range of communications packages from DF1 (serial) through ethernet
Allen Bradley 7" panel view and color touch screens with standard serial and ethernet connections

Optional HMI and PLC Packages

Any combination of PLC and touchscreen is possible per the customers' requirement, including: Mitsubishi, Siemens, Automation Direct, Omron, GE. (Other panels and PLCs available upon request.)

Beckwood Tough - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Beckwood Tough

Beckwood was one of the first companies to solely focus on the build to order needs of the hydraulic press industry. As such, our engineers are experienced in consistantly working to improve our product technology for many different types of applications. We utilize these improvements to standardize our desings and value engineer our presses for efficiency and rigidity. Click on our hydraulic press example link for a wide variety of examples

Extra Long Heavy Duty Guide Bushings

The ram slide bushings on Beckwood Presses are designed to be low maintenance, non-wearing components. They consist of a proprietary, non-metallic cast material. Due to the unique properties of this rugged and proven composite material, there is no wear of the bushing surface provided that the ram is periodically lubricated. There is also no guess work on the lubrication schedule. This is determined by a simple visual inspection confirming that the ram slide maintains a uniformly greased surface area, or wetted appearance. In high production applications, the press can be outfitted with an auto-lubrication system to ensure proper lubrication.

The most significant advantage of the Beckwood bushing system is the massive amount of guidance provided to the ram. Even for minimal designs consisting of 20" tall ram bushings, each bushing provides greater than 375 square inches of guiding surface area. This serves to minimizing the lateral wearing forces otherwise subjected to a short ram slide with a metallic bushing. The uniquely tall ram slides also provides outstanding ram rigidity, bed to ram alignment and repeatability.

No Beckwood Press has ever required the bushings be replaced due to failure or wear. The bushings are designed to last the life of the press. Should the bushings ever become damaged through misuse of the press or failure to lubricate the ram slides for an extended period, replacement of the bushings can be performed. This can be accomplished on site or at the Beckwood Press facility depending upon the construction style of the press. Please consult the factory for more information on this subject or for specific information regarding your press.

Service and Reliability Through Testing and New Technology

Every press system is engineered and constructed using proven methods based upon our historical success. Once the press and equipment is engineered, it is subjected to rigorous simulation analysis through FEA design testing before it is manufactured. We utilize this stress testing software for structural rigidity testing of all press equipment.

Regardless of the level of sophistication, each press undergoes an exhaustive review through our Quality Control Certification Testing (Q.C.C.T) program. This review is updated throughout the manufacturing process and subjects every press system to continuous duty cycling, insuring hydraulic system integrity and performance at peak production rates. After delivery, Beckwood's customer service department monitors start-up and offers expert assistance when needed.

Beckwood Press Company Expands Plant For Larger Machines

Beckwood Press Company has expanded our manufacturing plant in St. Louis, MO U.S.A. to accommodate our growth in the hydraulic press industry and to allow for further technological advances.

Beckwood Designs Presses for Extreme Off-Center Loading

Beckwood Press Company offers an answer to off-center loading problems with a press designed specifically to balance the hydraulic system for multiple load requirements. These machines are rigidly guided, and able to significantly reduce machinery costs by incorporating one press to handle multiple die sets and progressive die application needs.

Beckwood was recently asked to deliver a press that would handle three individual die sets for a leading agricultural and products supplier. The press was designed to accommodate trimming and punching dies with varied part requirements. Beckwood Engineers studied the application and designed one hydraulic press for their multiple, but pre-determined, load requirements. This reduced the initial concept from three separate presses into one efficient machine. Beckwood was able to utilize their innovative guidance system, combined with customized hydraulic technology, to provide a simplified solution for the customer's off-center loaded application.

This hydraulic press was engineered to handle dedicated die requirements of 80 tons of force at press centerline and 48 tons to the right and left of press center. Each station can be operated independently of one another, or in tandem, for work with dedicated dies. Other press specifications include a 36" x 72" bolster, 12" stroke and an automatic ram slide lubrication system. Beckwood designs their presses specifically for each customer's exact needs, and can provide off-center loading presses with a wide range of options and specifications. More information about this specific example can be found by visiting our website at: http://www.beckwoodpress.com and typing in 315 in the Press Example Number search engine box at the bottom left side of the homepage.

Beckwood Press Co. develops innovative SSE Hydraulic Presses

Challenged to provide a solution for an application with a leading customer in the Appliance industry, Beckwood Press Company engineered an innovative new hydraulic press entitled the Straight Side End-Frame Hydraulic Press (SSE). Through this experience, Beckwood has developed this technology further for many challenging conditions. These hydraulic presses, offer the rigidity of straight side press assemblies with the advantages of cylindrical guidance. The SSE ranges in size, stroke, speed and features and can be built from 250-2000+ tons.

The straight side end frame hydraulic press design serves to unitize the frame and offers superior structural integrity. This, coupled with elongated cylindrical guide bushings and a heavy duty tie rod construction, increases performance for all challenging conditions. Many SSE hydraulic presses are built with a heavy duty tie rod construction and are equipped with an Allen Bradley SLC 5/03 PLC control system with an Allen Bradley Panelview Interface. More information about these specific example can be found by visiting clicking here.

Standard Features and Available Options - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Standard Features and Available Options

Available Options

Stroke, Shut Height to Spec.
Daylight to Spec.
Ram Guide Bellows
Bolsters Machined to Spec.
Bed Cushion/Ejector Cylinder
Quick Die Change System
Designed for Minimal Deflection
Light Curtains
Allen Bradley PLC Controls
E-Stop Safety Relays
Operator Interface with Productivity Package
Dual Anti-Tie Down, Anti-Repeat Zero Force Palm Buttons
Lockable Disconnect
Guarding to Spec.
Bolt On Metal Guards/Gates
Digital Pressure Switch
Built in Overload Protection
Off-The-Shelf JIC/NFPA Components
Dwell Control
NEMA Rated Encolsures
Integrated Press Safety Circuit
Ram Slide Positioning Monitoring
Auto-Slide Lubrication System
Heavy Duty All-Welded Frame
Pressure Lock Valves
Parker Hannifin Cylinders
Oil Cooler
Regenerative Hydraulic Circuit
Kidney Loop Filtration System
Oversized Guide Posts & Bushings
Ram Speeds to Spec.

Available, but not shown

Up-Acting or Side-Acting Rams
Multi-Action Rams
Rotary Index Table Integration
Bed Shuttle and/or Booking Ram
Vibration and Leveling Mounts
Heated/Cooled Platens
Closed Loop Servo Press Control
Fixed Stops
Feather Touch Hand Lever w/ Safety Palm Button
Intrinsically Safe Capability
Foot Pedal Control
Modular Tie Rod Construction
Bi-Lingual Operation Features
Rubber Pad or Guerin Box
Remote Power Station
Custom Paint
Turnkey Automation and Integration
Tooling, Transfer/Feed System Integration
Vickers/Bosch Rexroth Hydraulics
High Speed Pre-Fill Systems
Die Roller Systems
Plus Much More...

Press Speed Conversion - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Press Speed Conversion

Hydraulic Press Speeds

What Ram Speeds Do You Need?
Hydraulic presses are normally offered with multiple ram speeds, such as; Fast Approach, Pressing and Fast Retract. Typically, these speeds are expressed in Inches Per Minute. The Fast Approach Speed is designed to lower the ram quickly during the portion of the stroke that does not require any force. The pressing speed is commonly referred to as the working portion of the stroke where force is required and is usually slower. After the working or pressing portion of the stroke is completed, the ram retracts at a Fast Retract Speed which affords little force. This Retract Force is commonly referred to as the "Stripping Force".

Many customers with mechanical press experience refer to press speed in cycles per minute. Hydraulic presses can be designed to provide a certain amount cycles per minute once the cycle profile has been determined. The cycle profile consist of an accurate description of the physical aspects of the cycle. These aspects are:

1. Distance of ram travel under no load (Fast Approach)
2. Distance of actual working stroke (Pressing)
3. Distance of Fast Retract (usually the combination of the previous two distances)
4. Any Dwell Time at the bottom of the stroke or while under pressure

Once these parameters have been established, the appropriate ram speeds can be developed in conjunction with the right power system to provide the necessary cycles per minute.

Variable ram speeds are also available through the use of flow controls and variable volume pump systems. These and many other cycle profile characteristics can be provided - ask your Beckwood Press Systems Engineer for more details.

Industry Terms - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Industry Terms

Stroke
The amount of possible ram travel. Stroke is the total distance that the ram can travel, from full extension to full retraction.

Shut Height
The distance between the bed bolster and the ram bolster when the ram is fully extended. This is also commonly known as the Closed Height. As standard, this dimension is usually within "0.25" due to assembly processes. For precision shut height requirements, consult the factory.

Daylight
The distance between the bed bolster and the ram bolster when the ram is fully retracted. This is also commonly known as the Open Height.

Bolster
The removable plate that serves as the working surface for the bed and ram. The plate is typically bolted to the bed and ram substructures. The bolsters can be machined with a variety of work holding features such as; T-Slots, Drilled and Tapped Holes, Lift Rails for Quick Die Change, etc...

Stroke Control
The ram travel of the press may be controlled in a variety of ways. Most hydraulic presses are standard with Adjustable Retract Limit Switches to limit the retract distance of the ram (also know as the Up Limit Position). This can shorten cycle times by only utilizing the required stroke for part loading and unloading. Other adjustable limits may include: Slow Down Limit for deceleration from Fast Speed to Slow Speed; Bottom Stop Position and/or Bottom Stop Pressure, etc...

Bottom Stop
By Pressure:
- The press may be designed to 'return on pressure'. This method utilizes a pressure sensing device which is adjustable and is set to determine the desired maximum pressure to be achieved by the ram. Once this pressure is achieved, the ram typically completes the cycle by returning to the home position or Up Limit position.
By Position:
- The press may be designed to 'return on position'. This method utilizes either a position sensing device or a limit or proximity switch that can be set to signal that the desired ram extension has been achieved.

Bed Height
Bed Height is the distance from the bottom of the hydraulic press structure to the working height or top of the bed bolster.

Dwell
Hydraulic presses are capable of maintaining force on the work for extended periods of time. This is typically accomplished by using pressure lock valves or variable volume pumps that are remotely controlled for precise and long periods of pressure holding.

Bed Cushion
A bed cushion is a commonly required for draw tooling and is a system that applies resistance when pushed upon. This resistance can be dynamic or statically controlled throughout the stroke. Bed cushions have a "pusher pin plate" that is located just beneath the bed bolster. The bed bolster is provided with multiple through holes where "pusher pins" are inserted. These pins are used by the tooling to generate resistive force as the hydraulic press ram pushes down. The cushion can also be configured for multiple control zones for on-the-fly dynamic control.

Remote Power Skid
Some press applications may require that the hydraulics be located remotely from the press itself. Other applications may preclude the power system from being able to be installed at the top around the crown structure of the press. In these cases, the power system and even the controls may be designed into a separate unit capable of being placed adjacent to the press or away from the press.

Heated Platens
These are plates that have heating capabilities. They can be heated using electric rods, steam, oil, water or other medium. These system usually require thermal breaks between the heated plates and the hydraulic press structure. Heating controls can be separate or fully integrated into the press control system.

Hydraulic Press Benefits - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Hydraulic Press Benefits

The hydraulic press continues to be the press of choice for today's modern manufacturers. The advantages of the hydraulic press versus mechanical presses is being realized and utilized by more and more manufacturers. Today's modern hydraulic presses provide; Performance, Reliability, and Unlimited Capability in almost any application. Stamping, Punching, Blanking, Drawing, Bending, ..... All standard press designs and circuits can be configured to match even the most non-standard press requirements.

A hydraulic press is powered by a hydraulic pump to a hydraulic cylinder or cylinders that drive the slide. Hydraulic presses allow for job parameters such as travel distance, force and return position to be easily configured for a variety of jobs within a single press. Various levels of sophistication are available from simple mechanical switches to digitally programmable control. This flexibility yields a hydraulic press's greatest advantage.

Brought to you by: Beckwood Hydraulic Press Company

Presses

Full Tonnage Throughout The Stroke - The hydraulic press has the ability to deliver full pressing force anywhere in the range of stroke, unlike mechanical presses which can only develop full force at close to bottom of stroke. This significantly adds to the inherent flexibility of hydraulic presses.
Customization - Whereas most mechanical presses are offered in standardized bed size and tonnage relationships, it is easy to design the hydraulic press to meet the customers' specific requirements. Users that require large bed sizes but little tonnage can get just that. Conversely, customers that require high tonnage be applied to a small work area, can get a machine that is designed to handle point loading and reduced deflection for the concentrated load.
Flexibility - With a hydraulic press, you are able to adjust tonnage and maximize cycle time for each job. You can be more efficient with your application by eliminating excessive ram movement, changing pressure and/or varying or maintaining ram speeds throughout the cycle. This can maximize cycle time when you customize the options for each job.
Dedicated or Multi-Functional - The hydraulic presses can be designed to any level of sophistication. Whether the need be a simple dedicated cell press or a fully integrated multi-purpose system, hydraulics are cost effective and easily modified for the task at hand. Their flexibility is further enhanced by additional stroke capability for simplifying die changes and reducing set-up time. Multiple dies with varying shut heights can be run efficiently in a single press.
Lower Up Front Costs / Fast ROI - In regard to presses, hydraulic presses are the most simple in basic design and often utilize standardized, proven hydraulic components that are readily available. The basic components to mechanical presses, such as crankshafts, clutch and brake systems, etc..., are expensive and often custom built components which serve to add machine cost. hydraulic presses are often much less expensive up-front and in long term operation.
No Design Limitations - The principles of hydraulic force allow for creative engineering. Presses can be designed for traditional down-acting, up-acting, side-acting and multi-action operation. Power systems can be placed above, below or remote from the press and force actuators. Large bed presses can be designed for low tonnage applications and small bed presses can be designed for high tonnage requirements.
Over-Pressure Protection - The incorporation of hydraulic relief valves into hydraulic circuits provide built-in overload protection. A press' force cannot exceed the pressure that it is allowed to build, thereby limiting the maximum pressure attainable controls maximum force.
Unlimited Control Options - The hydraulic press can be controlled in a variety of ways ranging from basic relays to more sophisticated PLC or PC control systems. Operator interfaces can be added to press systems to facilitate ease of job set by storing individual job parameters for each die. Presses can be controlled for precise pressure and position; including pressure holding, speed control and dynamic adjustments to realtime operating variances. Ram force and speed can be controlled in any direction with various levels of precision.
Condensed Footprint - Hydraulics allow for generation of high pressure over small surface area. This ability reduces the overall structure required for support of the force actuators. When compared to mechanical presses, hydraulic presses consume almost 50% less space for the same tonnage capability. This size advantage results in lower manufacturing costs and a faster return on investment by requiring less long term overhead expense.
Part Accuracy - A hydraulic press's control over forces and motions empowers the press to provide greater overall quality of a manufactured part than many other types of presses. Control of lateral slide movement caused by off-center or unbalanced loads helps achieve tight tolerances and improves part quality.
Click here for industry terms
Click here for press speed conversion

Off-Center Load App - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Off-Center Load App

Choosing the Right Press for Running Off-Center Loaded Dies

In a perfect world, all tooling and dies would create perfectly balanced loads across the bed of a press. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world and many manufacturers are required to design production systems that require off-center loading in their presses. The reality is that symmetrical loading is sometimes inefficient, and sometimes impractical to achieve. Often, no matter what type of structural measures are taken, off-center loads can be problematic.

There are a variety of reasons for off center loading. The most obvious is the geometry of the part being formed is not conducive to an even load. However, the trend to improve production efficiency and reduce costs is spurring an increase in off-center applications as manufacturers consolidate multiple dies or processes into single machines.

3 Simple Questions

By answering the following questions, you can easily determine the right press solution for your application:

1. Is the application going to be evenly loaded?

2. Is the off-center load going to be dedicated?

3. If it is dedicated, will it be the same for every cycle of the press?

The answers to these questions will determine which type of press is ideal for the job.

Dynamic Loading

Manufacturers that are looking for a multiple purpose machine to run multiple processes with varying load configurations are going to experience Dynamic Loading. This type of off-center loading is best accommodated by an Active Leveling System. These presses are equipped with a multi-axis high-speed motion controller, linear transducers to monitor ram position and sophisticated proportional hydraulics. The motion controller provides closed loop servo control of each individual press cylinder to maintain bed to ram parallelism.

Active Leveling control is offered in either 2 or 4 axis depending on the specific application. Two Axis control provides parallelism from left to right or front to rear, while Four Axis control provides control of both left to right and front to rear.

Dedicated Loading

In dedicated applications, the tooling and loading is known at the time of press design and compensation for the off-center loading is engineered into the structure and hydraulic design. To further define dedicated loading, we can subdivide into selective and non-selective applications.

Non-Selective Loading

In applications such as progressive die applications, multiple dies or stations are present in the press at the same time and are actuated simultaneously during each cycle of the press. This is referred to as Dedicated Non-Selective Loading. The press can be designed to handle the specific off-center load through hydraulic and/or structural modifications. This type of system usually results in lower up front costs but results in a press system that is dedicated to and limited to the specific application.

Selective Loading

Selective off-center loading is ideal for manufacturers that want to consolidate multiple processes into a single press system whereby 2, 3, 4 or more dies are always present in a press but only one die set is loaded and actuated per cycle. By utilizing traditional on/off valving and structural balancing, the press manufacturer can electronically shift the press force to center over different locations on the press bed. The operator then "selects" a specific die to be "active" during a given cycle. In addition to decreasing or eliminating die set up time selective off-center loading is an effective solution to save floor space by displacing multiple presses.

Whether the end user's application requires dedicated off-center loading, or a more advanced active level control, emerging technologies in the field of hydraulics are being implemented to insure part quality, reduce die wear and reduce complex setup time. This technology is transforming what was once considered an obstacle, into a reliable method for meeting our customer's off-center loading needs.

New Technologies - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

New Technologies

Beckwood was one of the first companies to solely focus on the build-to-order needs of the hydraulic press industry. As such, our engineers are experienced in constantly working to improve our product technology and efficiency for many different types of applications. The following examples include some of our most recent hydraulic press solutions.

Beckwood Press Company Offers Exclusive Servo Motion Press

The Accu-Flex is our line of presses with our exclusive servo motion press technology (patent pending) and is designed to provide users unlimited flexibility with precision performance in both position and force control modes. Utilizing servo motion control and not servo hydraulics, these presses offer significant cost savings over competitive equipment. Currently, the presses are available in multiple configurations from 5 to 150+ tons.

Additional benefits of servo motion control in lieu of hydraulics is noise reduction, simplicity of design and reduced operating and maintenance costs. These presses are suitable for both production as well as R&D or laboratory environments.
The Accu-Flex is equipped to handle numerous motion profiles, each with the ability to infinitely adjust to the end users requirements. All cycle parameters (such as speed, stroke, shut height, and force) are programmed and infinitely adjustable. Programs can be saved and stored in the standard operator interface.

All Accu-Flex programming also includes Go/No-Go options for part quality certification and on the fly part verification. Force or position min-max parameters can be included within the cycle profiles to ensure that parts comply with the manufacturing requirements. Full motion profile and cycle performance data is available either on screen for real time review or stored for output to a customer's computer.

These systems minimize the use of hydraulic components and replace the more expensive hydraulic servo valves with servo motion control devices. The result is a more simplified press with significantly more performance.

Beckwood Press Company Announces Plant Expansion

Beckwood Press Company has expanded our manufacturing plant in St. Louis, MO U.S.A. to accommodate our growth in the hydraulic press industry and to allow for further technological advances.

The new facility was is equipped with a 40' high ceiling and a 50 Ton Bridge Crane. These new features allow Beckwood to work more efficiently with larger hydraulic press applications and grow with our customers' needs. The expanded portion of the plant is also being used as a runoff and demonstration area and has allowed us to expand our offerings. Contact Beckwood for a plant tour of our facility: Contact Information

Beckwood Press Company Adds Capability to Decrease Lead Time

The Beckwood Press Company recently announced an expansion of their manufacturing capabilities with the addition of a new HAAS 4-Axis Vertical Machining Center. "This new VMC will allow us to accelerate our delivery times for those projects that require precision tooling, automation and assembly equipment in addition to our hydraulic presses," says Jeff Debus, Vice President. "The larger size and capability of the 4-axis control will allow Beckwood to reduce previously outsourced machining requirements." Beckwood has seen significant increases in requests for single source vendor responsibility, whereby customers are procuring not just new built-to-order hydraulic presses but the tooling, material handling and feed equipment such as pick and place, part transfers and coil feed lines. Beckwood is focused on continual product improvement, technology advances and value added equipment to accommodate all customer integration needs.

Beckwood and Boeing Team Up to Build Innovative Compression Molding Press

Boeing found a press company who was application competent and able to work with their engineers to develop the project. "Beckwood Press was chosen as they offered the best value and could meet our (Boeing Canada Technology Winnipeg) tight time lines. They were also willing to integrate the press and control system with the custom pre-heat processing oven that was being built here," said Boeing.

The confluence of this relationship was a 230 ton capacity hydraulic press that utilizes an up-acting design with highly precise 32" x 44" heated platens. Beckwood was able to combine a variety of engineering specifications from their experiences with different types of applications to create a press with a high level of control over position and speed. "Hydraulic presses have evolved over the years and have made great advancements in controls and flexibility" says Jeffrey Debus, Vice President of Beckwood Press Company. "We utilize our own standard and proven designs from our vast experiences in a multitude of industries, to tailor the perfect press for each customer. Boeing was an interesting project for us, as it required many different performance criteria that we satisfied through previous systems that have been proven out over the years."

For more information on this press, see the November issue of Manufacturing Engineer Magazine, (scroll down until you see "press Produces Laminate Components")

Beckwood Press Co. Develops Innovative SSE Hydraulic Presses

Many SSE hydraulic presses are built with a heavy duty tie rod construction and are equipped with an Allen Bradley SLC 5/03 PLC control system with an Allen Bradley Panelview Interface. More information about these specific example can be found by visiting clicking here.

Other Technologies

Please contact a Beckwood sales representative for more information about Beckwood's new technologies including:

*Rotary Index Table Integration
*Advanced Control Features with our Productivity Package
*Tooling/Feed System Integration
*High Speed Pre-Fill Systems
*Our new SolidWorks 3D Modeling and Design Analysis Software
*Capabilities

Prensas Hidráulicas - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Prensas Hidráulicas

"CALIDAD COMPROBADA AL PRECIO JUSTO"

Acerca de Nosotros

Beckwood utiliza diseños estandar ya probados que estan hechos a la medida de los requerimientos de nuestros clientes. Ofrecemos una variedad de Prensas Hidraulicas de alta calidad y bajo costo que van desde 2 hasta más de 2000 toneladas y que proporcionan duración, confiabilidad, valor y eficiencia a su producción. Estas prensas pueden ser fabricadas para casi cualquier industria con una cantidad ilimitada de funciones y opciones. Beckwood ha estado en el negocio de fabricación por casi 30 años y se ha creado un nombre de confianza entre la comunidad de fabricantes. Proveeremos una analisis y evalución sin costo de cualquier aplicación para lograr una solución simple y costeable para cualquier industria.

Nuestra filosofía de trabajo es la de hacer las cosas de la manera mas simple y eso nos ha permitido servir mejor a nuestros clientes, ahorrando tiempo y dinero con nuestro enfoque y sistema de trabajo orientado a la ingeniería de valor agregado. Nuestro manufactura integrado, nos ha proporcionado experiencia invaluable, en el diseño del producto, diseño y fabricación de herramientas, construcción de maquinaria para fabricación, manufactura de componentes, ensamble y empaque. Esta experiencia en manufactura nos da una ventaja competitiva sobre otros fabricantes y nos ayuda a llevar a cabo el proceso sin demoras.

Nuestro Nicho de Mercado

Las prensas Beckwood estan fabricadas de acuerdo a sus necesidades y pensando el la aplicación especifica. Nos aseguraremos de entender perfectamente sus requerimientos y construiremos la mejor maquina para sus necesidades. Los materiales usados para fabricar nuestros componentes tienen una durabilidad comprobada, estan libres de defectos y han sido producidos por fabricantes altamente reconocidos y respetados en su ramo, como Parcker Hannafin y Allen Bradley. Beckwood produce prensas durables y con la mejor construcción, con el mejor tiempo de entrega y ensambladas totalmente en nuestra planta. Nuestro sistema de cotización es el mejor de la industria ya que cuenta con tres características clave, experiencia, enfoque hacia la economía y una excelente velocidad de respuesta en las cotizaciones. Esta razones aunadas a un grupo de ingeniería y ventas cortés y bien capacitado, nos lleva a ser la mejor opción en prensas hidráulicas de 2, 4, 6 columnas, tipo C y prensas de doblado.

Ingeniería de Diseño en nuestras instalaciones

El ensamblar nuestras prensas totalmente en nuestra fabrica, nos da una ventaja de diseño y economía. Nuestro experimentado grupo de ingenieros en diseño hidráulico, mecánicos, electricistas y soldadores han sido entrenados en habilidades, así que la calidad y el valor agregado en nuestros productos estan garantizados. Fabricamos prensas con una defleccion mínima con estructura de larga duración y el mejor sistema de guiado de la industria.

Tipos de Prensas

Nuestras prensas fabricadas de acuerdo a sus necesidades, vienen en los modelos de 2, 4, 6 columnas: Tipo C y para doblado en casi cualquier tonelaje. Cualquier combinación de tamaño, tonelaje, velocidad y controles estan disponibles y las configuraciones son inferior, superior, lateral y de acción múltiple. Algunas de sus aplicaciones son:

• Insertado • Embutido • Formado • Estampado• Acuñado • Suajado • Perforado • Repujado • Marmoleado • Formación de materiales en polvo Sinterizado • Realzado • Platina con calefacción • Cojín • Moldeado por compression • Carga no concéntrica Carga excentrica• Prueba de herramental• Formación de "blanks" u hojas • Y muchas más

Innovaciones

En Beckwood, buscamos constantemente nuevos desafíos para proveer soluciones innovadoras a las aplicaciones de nuestros clientes. Hemos refinado nuestras técnicas de Automatización e Integración para que podamos ser un proveedor único a todas las necesidades de equipos de prensado de nuestros clientes. Todas nuestras soluciones ofrecen lo último en tecnología hidráulica y de control, usando la mejor calidad, en componentes estándar y disponibles en el mercado.

En respuesta a la demanda de nuestros clientes de una prensa de un diseño único para las aplicaciones más dificiles, Beckwood esta ofreciendo ahora prensas de la serie SSE. Estas prensas proporcionan la rigidez de las prensas de doble montante con las ventajas del guiado cilindrico. El diseño del doble montante servirá para que la estructura funcione como una unidad y ofrezca una integridad estructural superior. Esto junto con los largos bujes de guia incrementara su desempeño en casi cualquier operación dificil.

Mejoramientos en Ventas y Atención a Clientes.

Beckwood está consiguiendo grandes avances en nuestras áreas de ventas y atención a clientes para el mercado Mexicano. A través de relaciones sólidas con la compañía Samat S.A. de C.V. la cual cuenta con 30 años de experiencia en maquinas-herramientas ofreciendo soporte y personal capacitado para la venta y servicio en el mercado Mexicano. Esta expansión refuerza el ya excelente historial de servicio de Beckwood y nos ayuda a expandirnos en este creciente mercado.

Contactenos

Beckwood está seguro que el futuro de la manufactura no tiene que ser caro y complicado. Para encontrar una solución inteligente a su necesidad de prensado, busque a Beckwood, contactando a Michael Riehn (Director de Ventas y Mercadotecnia en los EUA) y él indicara a su distribuidor más cercano. Nuestro número telefónico es 001-636-343-4100 y nuestra dirección de correo es (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Atencion en México:
Samat, S.A. de C.V.
Tel: (55) 53988600
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Con gusto enviaremos mayor información y literatura gratuita hasta desarrollar una cotización. Contáctenos hoy y vea como Beckwood esta haciendo prensas con la "Calidad Cierta y al Precio Esperado"

Beckwood Press Company ((JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))
889 Horan Drive, Fenton (St. Louis), MO 63026-2405
001-636-343-4100 Fax: 001-636-343-4100

Company Employees - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Company Employees

	Jeffrey E. Debus: President & CEO Debus began his career with Beckwood in 1992 and has served as Engineering Manager, Plant Manager and most recently as General Manager and Vice President. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree from Southern Illinois University. As Vice President & General Manager, Debus is responsible for overseeing all company operations including providing financial services and control for all company departments and the management of daily operations. In addition to his management duties, Debus is an experienced design engineer, and a member of Beckwood's sales team. He is involved with company and product development and leads the company's successfull growth campaign.
	Michael W. Riehn: Director of Sales and Marketing Riehn joined the Beckwood Corporation in 2001, and has 10 years of experience in marketing, web and advertising creation. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with dual emphasis in Business Marketing & Business Management from Southeast Missouri State University. As Director of Sales & Marketing, Riehn is responsible for the creation, development and management of all marketing, sales promotions and public relations. His responsibilities include: brand strategy and development, marketing research and analysis, print media creation, trade show coordination, web site development, internet marketing, new product development and overall marketing direction. He also coordinates the Beckwood sales effort and is a member of Beckwood's sales team.
	Darrell B. Harrelson: Lead Application and Sales Engineer Harrelson has over a decade of experience in industrial manufacturing and possesses a practical working knowledge of modern hydraulics. He is a Certified Fluid Power Specialist and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Harrelson was formerly employed at HTE Technologies of St. Louis, a full-line Parker Hannifin distributor, where he served as their primary hydraulics application engineer. Harrelson serves Beckwood as the Lead Hydraulic Engineer, and is a member of Beckwood's sales team. He is heavily involved in the design of Beckwood's expanded offering, existing products and technologies.
	H.R. Eddens: Engineering Manager Eddens is responsible for the management of the engineering departments, new product development and continuous improvement of engineering processes. He has 20+ years experience in Engineering design and manufacturing and was formerly Director of Engineering with Formtek Metal Processing, a leading manufacturer of automated machinery systems in the metal forming industry. Eddens holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Science in Engineering Management degrees from the University of Missouri - Rolla. He has Certification in Lean Manufacturing from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
	Ryan M. Pendleton: Regional Manager - Asia/Sales Engineer Pendleton joined the Beckwood team in 2006 after graduating from Webster University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. Since coming to Beckwood, he has held the positions of Marketing Assistant, Customer Service Representative, and Manager of Beckwood's DJ Series line of bencthop presses. Pendleton currently manages Beckwood's efforts related to the Asian machine tool market and is an active member of the Beckwood sales team.
	Josh Schroeder: Manufacturing Manager Schroeder has 15+ years experience in industrial manufacturing as well as a Six Sigma Black Belt certification from Missouri State University. He has completed certification programs in Project Management, Industrial Buying, Design of Experiments and Industrial Ergonomics. Schroeder joined Beckwood from St. Clair Die Casting where he held the position of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Manager. His responsibilities included capital procurement, justification, implementation, estimating, safety, environment and customer service. For Beckwood, Schroeder oversees the Manufacturing along with the Customer Service, Safety & Quality Control Departments. He also acts as Engineering Liason for the manufacturing facility personnel, which involves coordinating the manufacturing process, scheduling, and instilling safe work practices.
	J. Douglas Hartzell: Senior Controls Engineer Hartzell has been with Beckwood since 2004 and has almost 15 years of experience in electrical controls engineering. Nine of those years were spent at BBC Industries, a leading manufacturer of innovative heating systems for packaging and print industries. While there, he achieved proficiency in programming with PLC, Operator Interface, and Heating Control. Hartzell's role at Beckwood includes all Lead Controls Engineer duties, including: project engineering, electrical integration and programming. He also manages and provides controls support for Beckwood's customer base, as well as providing research and development for the company's advances in control technology and product design.
	Marc D. Lloyd: Customer Service Manager/Quality Control Engineer Lloyd has been a member of the Beckwood team since 1997. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri - St. Louis, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. During his career at Beckwood, Lloyd has held various positions relating to product, quality and customer relations. He currently coordinates the Quality Control and Technical Support Process for all Beckwood products. His primary focus is on customer satisfaction and using customer feedback to continually improve the press manufacturing process. Lloyd's additional responsibilities include quality testing of components, press lead time coordination, quality inspection of the presses prior to shipment and press installation & shipment management.
	Kara L. Herriman: Executive Assistant/ARAP Manager Herriman has over 15 years of accounting, administrative, and customer service experience. She attended Missouri State University, majoring in Business Administration. Herriman has earned a license in Life & Health Insurance and is certified in QuickBooks Accounting Software. She joined Beckwood in 2001 after specializing in individual health & life insurance sales for Mutual of Omaha. In addition to providing general support for Beckwood's executives, Herriman manages the company's Human Resources department including insurance, employee hiring, vacation & sick time, and payroll. In her role as ARAP Manager, Herriman coordinates Beckwood's accounts payable & receivable, bookkeeping, financial review, collections, and order processing & purchasing.
	Don J. Jarzenbeck: Design Engineer Jarzenbeck began his career with Beckwood in 1993 and has held positions of Press Fabrication Specialist and Design Engineer. He has been certified as a CNC programmer and has over 10 year of experience in hydraulic press design and support. Jarzenbeck has been trained and certified in Bosch Rexroth proportional and servo circuit design, as well as Delta Computer Systems. His current responsibilities include manifold and hydraulic system design and support, quality improvement and testing and inspection of system functionality for hydraulic quality control.
	Zach Stranz: Structural Engineering Technician Stranz has over 7 years of experience in mechanical engineering. He joined Beckwood in 2005 after gaining experience as a Project Engineer with BBC Industries, and a Certified SolidWorks Technical Support Specialist & Instructor for Fisher UniTech (a leading reseller of SolidWorks manufacturing software). Stranz's current duties involve the creation and coordination of structural drawings and approvals. He is a certified CNC programmer and oversees the quality control for Beckwood's machining department. He also manages Beckwood's intensive FEA (Finite Element Analysis) program which utilizes COSMOS design testing software to monitor each press' structural integrity.
	Travis Tilley: Structural Engineering Technician Tilley has over 6 years experience in industrial engineering and holds Associates degrees in Applied Electrical Technology and Industrial Electronics & Electrical Technology from Vatterott College. Tilley joined Beckwood from Custom Rollform Products where he held the position of Mechanical Design Engineer/Electrician. His responsibilities included the design of rollform machinery, part profiles, and electrical systems through the utilization of SolidWorks & AutoCAD manufacturing software. In his role at Beckwood, Tilley is responsible for the creation and coordination of structural drawings and approvals. He also contributes to Beckwood's intensive FEA (Finite Element Analysis) program which utilizes COSMOS design testing software to monitor each press' structural integrity.

	Lance Nevois: Production Manager Nevois joined the Beckwood Corporation in 2001, from the Missouri Department of Transportation where he was a member of the Bridge Maintenance Crew. He began his career at Beckwood as a Welder/ Assembler and quickly rose to several supervisory and management positions, including Welding Foreman and Shop Foreman. As Production Manager, Nevois is responsible for coordinating the company's overall production while overseeing Beckwood's Zero Defects Initiative.

Company Directions - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

Company Directions

From 270, take Westbound 1-44 to the Bowles Avenue exit #274. The Bowles exit is approximately 0.5 miles west of 1-270.

Turn left at the light at the top of the exit ramp and go straight through the next two lights (second and third lights). Take a left at the fourth light, which is Horan Drive. There is a firehouse at the left corner of the intersection of Bowles and Horan.

Continue on Horan and drive approximately 1/4 mile to 889 Horan, which is on your left.

History - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search

History

The Beckwood Corporation was founded in 1976 as a hearth products manufacturer by Charles P. Becker, Jr. To improve our own manufacturing process, we designed and built our own customized production presses to gain a competitive advantage in this industry. This was the genesis of Beckwood's business of designing and building hydraulic presses for the unique requirements of other manufacturing companies.

Over 30 years of real life problem solving experience has generated our current day design and durability. Beckwood's self contained manufacturing process has given us valuable experience in: product design, tool design and fabrication, production equipment manufacturing, component manufacturing, assembly and packaging. This manufacturing experience gives us a competitive edge over our competition as we help you through the entire process.

Today, Beckwood utilizes proven and standard designs that are tailored to our customers' specific applications. We offer a variety of low cost, high-quality hydraulic presses from 2-2000+ tons that provide value, durability, and reliability. These presses can be made for virtually any industry, with an unlimited amount of capabilities and options.

Company Information - Beckwood Press Company

Contact Us at 800.737.0111

info@beckwoodpress.com

Beckwood Press Co.

889 Horan Drive
Fenton, MO 63026-2405
(St. Louis)
Phone : 636.343.4100
Fax : 636.343.4424
info@beckwoodpress.com

Press Example Search