20th International Forgemasters Meeting - IFM 2017

The energy efficiency in forging technology is an ongoing task for the forging industry due to global challenges (resource availability, environmental impact), legislative decrees (eco-design of products) and national projects (energy transition). An eco-design of energy-using products is required as described in the European directive 2009/125/EC. As continuously rising energy prices put a significant strain on a company's profits, machinery and equipment investment decisions depend increasingly on energy consumption and energy costs. How can energy be used most efficiently? And where can resources be saved? Especially simple and low-cost solutions for improving energy efficiency for new and existing Presses are required. The purpose of this presentation is to show the technical approaches and the potentials to improve the energy efficiency of forging presses. It describes the key aspects for enhancing the energy efficiency of forging presses and problem-solving approaches of innovative hydraulic systems for presses. Maximum performance and flexibility with minimum energy consumption are not a contradiction. The on-demand delivery of hydraulic energy can be provided automatically without intervention. The implementation will be demonstrated on examples of the modular concept of EHF, an intelligent energy saving system with huge potential, developed by Schuler. “Efficient Hydraulic Forming” (EHF) can reduce energy consumption of hydraulic presses by up to 60 percent. The new technology offers energy savings in all operating phases – fully automatically, without the need for any action by the machine operator.