




St. Louis, MO (PRWEB)
June 30, 2015
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a planet leader in the research and development of sophisticated materials and economical green power solutions, has awarded Beckwood Press Company a contract to manufacture a custom hydraulic press for the compression molding of numerous composite components. The research and development efforts created on the press will ultimately contribute to automotive and aerospace market lightweighting efforts, intended to generate greater performance merchandise with improved fuel efficiency. Scheduled for completion in September 2015, the 100-ton custom press will feature a 36”x36” function region and integrated numerous zone heated platens for precision temperature control.

In addition to the custom hydraulic press, ORNL will set up a Triform Model 16-5BD Fluid Cell sheet hydroforming technique (also manufactured by Beckwood), which features 5000 PSI of maximum forming pressure and a 16” diameter forming region. The Triform 16-5BD enables for the formation of complex geometries with the use of a pressurized diaphragm, which can be programmed to apply a range of forming pressures to accommodate the different components getting formed. The inherent flexibility of the Triform method – which involves the capacity to dwell, or preserve pressure on the part for extended periods of time – along with the capability to use inexpensive tooling (including 3D printed tooling), will enhance ORNL’s capacity to conduct critical material and manufacturing-approach study, per their project objectives.

“It is our goal to make this lab the intersection of our 3D printing capabilities and composites processing,” mentioned Jesse Smith, Manager of Industrial Partnerships & Financial Development Science & Technologies Partnerships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “It is going to be a extremely impressive showplace for industry, and we are excited to have Beckwood on our group!”

The Beckwood machines will be used at ORNL by the Institute for Sophisticated Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI). Led by the University of Tennessee and heaquartered in Knoxville, the IACMI’s primary purpose is to develop new low-cost, higher-speed, and effective manufacturing and recycling approach technologies that will promote widespread use of advanced fiber-reinforced polymer composites. By way of the new IACMI Institute, a world-class team of leading industrial makers – such as Beckwood, material suppliers, computer software developers, government and academia will concentrate on lowering the general manufacturing fees of advanced composites by 50 percent, reducing the power utilized to make composites by 75 percent, and escalating the ability to recycle composites by a lot more than 95 percent inside the subsequent decade. Beckwood is a proud supporter of the IACMI and all of its goals and initiatives, and through the contributions of these machines is operating diligently to attain “Resource Member” status.

“Beckwood is honored by every partnership we forge,” mentioned Beckwood’s President, Jeffrey Debus. “Manufacturing organizations rely on our 40 years of knowledge to give sophisticated manufacturing solutions that boost their capability, and competitiveness in the marketplace. But this certain Department of Energy chance, and the long-term influence their analysis & improvement efforts could have on the automotive and aerospace industries, is unique,” he continued. “The chance to contribute in this manner, and be a element of this critical, macro R&D work, is anything that offers our group of engineers and manufacturing pros wonderful pride.”

About Oak Ridge National Laboratory:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the largest US Department of Power science and power laboratory, conducting simple and applied analysis to provide transformative solutions to compelling issues in energy and safety. Headquartered in Knoxville, TN, ORNL’s diverse capabilities span a broad variety of scientific and engineering disciplines, enabling the Laboratory to explore basic science challenges and to carry out the investigation necessary to accelerate the delivery of solutions to the marketplace.

About Beckwood Press Firm:

The Beckwood Press Organization is a top hydraulic press manufacturer, positioned in St. Louis, MO USA. They supply top quality, custom hydraulic presses for virtually each and every business & application, like a line of temperature controlled presses for compression molding, composite forming and high-temperature Hot Forming / SPF applications. Beckwood also manufactures the Triform line of Sheet Hydroforming Presses in each Fluid Cell and Deep Draw configurations, hydraulic ring expanders / sizers, hot joggle presses, as effectively as a line of stretch forming machines for each extrusion, sheet / major edge applications. Get the latest news from Beckwood at http://www.beckwoodpress.com/news.