Metal forming is a key section of material processing, where a metal is reshaped into different form and sizes by the union of force. That means we push, pull and bend the metal using tools and machines in many ways. Metal forming comes in many different forms including forging, bending and shaping. We break down raw metal and press it into useful relatively everyday products, car parts to keep our vehicles running or cooking utensils that we use every day in the kitchen.
One of the popular metal forming techniques is forging. In forging, we heat the metal until it is very hot, just about glowing. This causes the metal to become softer and easier to shape. Once the metal is hot, we forge it by hammering it or have it pressed in a machine. This technique allows for the making of strong metal parts that have uses in a variety of products. One more thing that we commonly do is bending. To do this, we use a tool called a press brake to format the metal and bend it into a certain shape. It pushes to bend the metal without breaking it so that we can create different forms.
Another important technique used in metalworking is sheet metal forming. Sheet metal is a flat piece of metal and can be bent in many ways to turn it into useful shapes, such as boxes, cylinders, etc. Now, one popular method for forming the sheet metal itself is a type of machine known as a stamping press. The sheet metal is then pressed into a special having the same shape as the tool (also called a die). You use dies to get the shape you want for the metal, like creating parts for cars or even decorations for buildings.
Depending on the project we are working on, metal forming can look very different in terms of what we are doing to the raw materials at any given time. One project, for instance, would be to make a piece for a car, and it will need to be very precise and fit perfectly. In contrast, another project could be creating a cooking tool, which could allow for more creativity. Some projects are very precise, some of them are very creative, unique, there is need to build unique designs.
Temperature is an essential parameter in the metal forming operation. Different techniques depend on a different temperature to be effective. For example, there are techniques like forging, which require the metal to be heated to very high temperatures to be formed. That's because hot metal is simpler to adjust and forge. However methods such as bending, simply need the metal to be heated fairly high, but not high enough to risk it shattering when the bending occurs.
The world of metal forming is also full of new and exciting possibilities as technology develops. Manufacturers now employ computer-aided design (CAD) software, for instance. This technology enables them to build accurate digital replicas of parts before they are even fabricated. CAD allows them to detect potential issues early. This allows them to adjust the model sheets before any metal is formed, thus saving time and resources.
They are exploring lightweight alloys with a high strength-to-weight ratio. These new materials are perfectly suited to applications where it’s critical to keep weight low, such as in aerospace. It can also be used to create lighter materials for airplanes and other vehicles so they use less fuel and are more efficient.
STON investeert zwaar in R&D en loopt voorop in technologische vooruitgang. STON heeft een R&D-afdeling die bestaat uit meer dan 20 mensen. We investeren elk jaar 30 procent van onze omzet in de creatie van nieuwe producten en in het upgraden van bestaande producten. Door onze samenwerking met universiteiten en onderzoeksinstellingen blijven we onze technologische mogelijkheden uitbreiden om ervoor te zorgen dat we snel kunnen reageren op veranderingen in de markt en de behoeften van klanten.
STON is een CNC-machinebedrijf van wereldklasse en gecertificeerd managementbedrijf. Het was het eerste bedrijf ter wereld dat de internationale ISO 9001-2000-certificering voor kwaliteitsmanagementsystemen ontving. Het bedrijf heeft ook de titels Shandong SRDI Enterprise en Shandong Gazelle Enterprise gekregen. Het bedrijf is houder van meer dan 100 patenten. Onze producten, ondersteund door meer dan 80 landen, worden erkend om hun precisie, betrouwbaarheid en uitzonderlijke vakmanschap. Ze zijn de normen in de markt.
Als er een storing is, komen onze technici snel ter plaatse om het op afstand te repareren, via telefoon of video. Als het probleem ter plaatse moet worden opgelost, zijn we zo snel mogelijk ter plaatse bij de gebruiker.
STON gebruikt verschillende kwaliteitscontrolemethoden tijdens het productieproces. Deze omvatten materiaalinspecties en testen tijdens het proces, evenals de uiteindelijke verificatie van producten. Wij zorgen ervoor dat elk product voldoet aan internationale kwaliteitsnormen en strenge tests doorstaat vóór levering. Daarnaast bieden wij op maat gemaakte oplossingen volgens de vereisten van elke klant om hen te helpen hun productie-efficiëntie te verbeteren en tegelijkertijd de bedrijfskosten te verlagen.
