H+H supplies a combined stacking unit for round bars and sections

Contract announcement, October 2013. As part of a major investment in a 35-MN extrusion press unit at Aluminium Laufen, H+H Herrmann + Hieber has now been awarded the contract for a combination stacking unit, with which both sections in racks and also round material can be stacked in hexagonal bundles.

In the context of an earlier modernisation project the internal logistics at the three existing presses have already been very largely automated. Already at the time provision was made for the possible extension of production. This ensures that the now installed fourth press can be integrated seamlessly into the automated logistics concept of the plant.

Having regard to maximum production flexibility a special solution was needed, with which sections and round bars can be packed next to one another. The extrusion plant  of Aluminium Laufen AG in Liesberg, Switzerland, produces both aluminium extrusions and also extruded round bars as pre-material for drop-forged components.

For this objective, for which no standard solution is available on the market, H+H designed and constructed a combination stacking unit. The concept of automated hexagonal stacking is based on the existing automatic stacking machine for round bars, which Aluminium Laufen successfully began operating about 2 years ago. On completion of the present major investment, at the plant two round bar stacking units will be available for four extrusion lines.