Ohmi Press Works and Forging in Japan orders an energy-efficient, latest-generation ring rolling machine from SMS group

• Long-standing partnership: Ohmi orders sixth SMS ring rolling machine.
• Japan’s first ring rolling machine featuring the patented energy-saving electrohydraulic direct drive concept.
• Reproducible rolling results and close manufacturing tolerances backed up by a digital technology package.

Japanese forging company Ohmi Press Works and Forging has placed an order with SMS group for a RAW 500/400-4500/800 EH radial-axial ring rolling machine. This is Ohmi’s sixth ring rolling machine from SMS group.

By expanding capacity at its Shigaraki plant, Ohmi can supply larger and heavier rings for a wide range of applications in the automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace, mechanical engineering, oil & gas, and wind power industries. The new RAW is capable of rolling seamless rings with diameters of up to 4,500 millimeters and a maximum height of 800 millimeters. The ring rolling machine is scheduled to go into operation in May 2024.

‟We chose SMS group because we are convinced that it’s the best technology on the market. We rely on SMS as a system supplier who not only delivers the plant and equipment but has also been supporting us with expert technical service for many years”, says Hiroyuki Sakamoto, President of Ohmi Press Works and Forging.

Ohmi benefits from the innovative electrohydraulic direct drive concept featured in the RAW EH: Depending on the application, energy consumption is reduced by up to 25 to 50 percent compared with conventional ring rolling machines. This drive concept developed and patented by SMS provides even more precise and energy-efficient control of the ring rolling machine. Instead of a large central hydraulic system, several small electrohydraulic drives are used for all rolling axes, which supply the necessary power on demand. In contrast to conventional fully hydraulic ring rolling machines, the electrohydraulic drive concept reduces the need for machine and foundation pipework, resulting in significantly lower investment costs.

‟Ohmi’s trust in our machines and technologies is encouraging us to boost our commitment to long-term and productive collaboration. We are confident that our wealth of experience and our dedication to the development of advanced technologies will help to consolidate Ohmi’s position as a leading manufacturer of ring rolling products”, says Martin Gellhaus, Head of Technical Sales Ring & Wheel Rolling at SMS group.

The ring rolling machine ordered by Ohmi Press Works & Forging has a radial rolling force of 5,000 kN and an axial rolling force of 4,000 kN. SMS group’s scope of supply covers all machine components including the rolling tools and an extensive software and technology package.

The RAW comes with CARWIN (Computer Aided Rolling under Windows) control software and the ROLLTECH Rings and ROLLTECH Profiles technology software. CARWIN checks the target data for the ring to be produced and controls the automatic rolling process together with the ring rolling machine’s CNC system. The ROLLTECH technology package enables the ring rolling process to be simulated and certain process parameters to be generated. To this end, the finished ring geometry and the material are entered into the system. The technologies used enable reproducible rolling results and can be relied on to ensure close manufacturing tolerances. The quick tool changes and remote-controlled tool settings also contribute to this and guarantee a high level of machine availability.

The Ring Monitoring System (RMS) can be used to continually optimize product quality during the rolling process: Working in conjunction with the line laser, it delivers real-time measurements that are displayed in graphical mode as the ring geometry and form deviations. The state-of-the-art plant technology is rounded off by digital solutions developed at SMS for intelligent monitoring (Smart Alarm) and a comprehensive overview of the status of production and the condition of the machine (SMS-Metrics).