Acciaierie Valbruna’s new installation is 3,000-ton, two-column machine to forge round bars up to 700 mm diameter, and up to 12 m long.

One of Europe’s leading suppliers of forged products is Acciaierie Valbruna, an integrated producer of “superaustenitic” stainless and nickel-alloy steel. Earlier this year at its headquarters plant west of Venice, Italy, the producer started up a new open-die press. The 30-MN (3,000 ton), two-column machine with double 15/45 RMF manipulators forged its first billet in May, and commercial production started in June.

The new press was designed and built by Danieli Breda. In addition to the production machinery, the contract involved a production support technologies that include on-line measuring capability and automatic tool-change equipment.

Acciaierie Valbruna was established in 1925 as a forging operation, though it now conducts the entire range of operations from electric arc and induction melting through refining and deoxidizing, ingot and bloom casting, forging and rolling. Finished products include rounds, square, flat, angled, hexagonal, and flat bars, wire and coiled wire rod, and rebar — as well as billets and forgings.

The new press was installed to produce forged round bars in sizes ranging from 250 to 700 mm, with a maximum length of 12m.