ASAŞ Alüminyum, one of Turkey’s largest aluminum manufacturers, is expanding its extrusion operations with the order for two new presses. This includes a 45 MN press line and a 150 MN extrusion and tube press line, which will produce profile sizes that currently cannot be produced anywhere in Europe.
Both presses will be supplied by SMS group, a company that has worked with ASAŞ for many years. This includes four extrusion lines, a single-stand aluminum cold rolling mill, and a color coating line (CCL) that are currently being operated at ASAŞ. The signing ceremony for the order for two new presses was held on September 27th during the ALUMINIUM show in Germany.
As Europe’s largest extrusion line, the 150 MN press will open up new opportunities for ASAŞ on the international market for extra-large extrusion profiles. Such profiles are used for a variety of industries, such as the railway industry for the construction of railway cars.
The 150 MN extrusion and tube line is equipped with most modern plant components to produce finish-sawn profiles up to 30 m in length. Along with the SMS engineered press, the line includes an induction log furnace from IAS and a quench and complete handling equipment by OMAV (both IAS and OMAV are subsidiaries of SMS group). Using 18 inch or 24 inch aluminum billet, the line will be able to produce impressive profile sizes with a maximum width of 900 mm and a maximum height of 450 mm. Furthermore, tubes with various wall thicknesses can be produced.
The 45 MN line includes a HybrEx® press with an energy-efficient hybrid drive system. Compared to conventional extrusion presses, the hybrid drive technology allows energy savings of 30-50%. Furthermore, less non-productive time significantly boosts productivity. The new line will also be equipped with a gas-fired billet furnace and an induction furnace and an advanced quench and runout system with profile stretcher and precise in line profile cutting.
The line is capable of producing profiles with a maximum width of 400 mm and a height of up to 280 mm. The lightweight yet highly stable profiles will be primarily used in automotive components, such as battery housings or bumpers.
As a systems supplier, SMS will deliver the two extrusion lines all from a single source. The lines will be developed and manufactured to ensure the excellent quality of its products and to provide efficient and trouble-free plant operation — all factors to which ASAŞ attaches great importance.
The two new extrusion lines are scheduled to go into operation in 2025.