To meet increasing demand from the automotive industry, Thyssen Krupp Materials de Mexico has expanded its operations in Silao, Guanajuato, by installing a ‘state of the art’ Schuler blanking line featuring ServoDirect technology.

This can produce up to 45,000 aluminium and steel parts a day, and it has increased the site’s annual processing capacity by 70% (to 270,000 tonnes).

The line has been set to process aluminium and carbon steel for ‘exposed and unexposed’ automotive applications, including high-strength steel up to 1,200N/mm² tensile strength.

From the initial coil line to the final stacker, Schuler supplied all parts of the blanking line; they are co-ordinated and operated by a single control and safety system.

At the heart of the line is an 800-tonne servo press with a top stamping rate of 75 strokes per min. Schuler says the machine’s programmable slide motion means productivity can be up to 150% more compared with a blanking line equipped with a conventional mechanical press.

The coil line features a maximum coil speed of 120m/min, while the roll feed with servo-direct drive offers accelerations up to 13m/sec².

Belt-cleaning devices and wipers along the blanking line reduce cleaning intervals, with separate pairs of rolls provided for steel and aluminium.