The Italian leader in fully automated die casting equipment is currently manufacturing the first fully digitally enabled, toggle-free two-platen die casting machine with 5700t closing force for a German car manufacturer. Marco Giegold from ItalPresseGauss is telling us more about the machine and what’s driving the demand for ever larger die casting equipment.
Die Casting Auto Parts with our 5700t Machine in Germany
Marco, why this monster machine?
The TF 5700 is a toggle-free machine that we’ve never before built in this size. Its platens are a huge 3500 x 3500mm. This large size has become necessary because our customers are making ever bigger components and structural parts. This is partly due to the ongoing lightweighting trend, but also the rise of e-mobility – where battery housings are a key example. Customers who are establishing new manufacturing facilities for electric vehicles are particularly interested in this machine. We’re getting enquiries from around the world.
What are the advantages of the toggle-free design?
With toggle-free (TF) machines the closing force is generated hydraulically, machines with toggle do this mechanically. This means the toggle-free machine only needs two platens instead of three, which means a smaller footprint. The latter is important where the components made on the machine are very large and, consequently, handling and all the automation around the part take up more space. In those situations, it’s helpful if the machine itself - the heart of the die casting cell - is relatively compact.
We first introduced the TF machine concept in 2005 and we were the first and only manufacturer at the time to have developed this machine type fully in-house, including the closing unit. In the nearly 15 years since, the TF has become an established machine design worldwide. Now, with the TF 5700, we’re setting a new benchmark.
In what way?
The incredible closing force and the giant dimensions, for a start. But the speeds that some of the moving parts can reach are also rather impressive. And then there’s the digitalisation. Our customers keep telling us that we’re ahead of the game, digitally. Our machines are primed for advanced use of data and are open for the connection to customer-specific systems – or to our own digital products.