Page 22 - MetalForming April 2015

A robot tends an oven in a new state-of-the-art press cell at Experi-Metal. Hot stamping enables the company to meet the need for stronger, yet light, steel parts increasingly sought by automakers.
Specialty
Specialty
Hydraulic Press
Hydraulic Press
Whether hot stamping, warm forming, deep drawing or general stamping, Experi-Metal’s new press cell can do it all.
BY LOUIS A. KREN, SENIOR EDITOR
On the leading edge of develop- mental and prototype stamp- ing, Experi-Metal Inc. has, since 1959, honed its expertise to serve cus- tomers from automotive to aerospace, with nearly every sector in between. Positioning itself as a fully integrated world-class supplier and manufactur- er of prototype tooling, low-volume metal stampings, trim moldings, spe- cialty items, subassemblies and fully assembled bodies-in-white, Experi- Metal’s (www.experi-metal.com) use of advanced technologies allows it to help bring products to market with unprecedented speed. Company capa- bilities include sheetmetal stamping (max. press size 2000 mtons with a bed size of 96 by 180 in.) of various materi-
20 MetalForming/April 2015
www.metalformingmagazine.com
a Flexible Fit for Leading-Edge Prototyper
als including, but not limited to, mild, high-strength low-alloy, dual-phase and stainless steel; aluminum; and Inconel. Experi-Metal also performs bending, using both manual tabletop and preproduction stretch benders, of rollformed sections and extruded alu- minum profiles. Other capabilities: foam-pattern construction, kirksite casting, CAD die design, CNC machin- ing with maximum work sizes of 78 by 236 in. and laser cutting with maxi- mum work sizes of 84 by 168 in. The company also performs resistance, gas- metal-arc, gas-tungsten-arc and cold- metal-transfer welding along with other fabrication and assembly methods.
Experi-Metal recently added to its arsenal, bringing hot-stamping capa- bility under roof at its 250,000-sq.-ft. Sterling Heights, MI, facility. The new technology comes courtesy of Macro- dyne (www.macrodynepress.com) and its 600-mton hydraulic press, cus-
tomized to handle hot stamping, alu- minum warm forming, deep-draw operations and general stamping.
The varied capabilities of this press suit Experi-Metal to a T. Creating lim- ited-run and one-off parts in various shapes and sizes, versatility permeates the company’s operations. It is fully ISO-certified for automotive and also holds AS 9100C certification for the aviation, space and defense indus- tries—testament to the company’s prowess.
Heavily into prototyping for the automotive industry, Experi-Metal also manufactures a variety of aftermarket automotive replacement panels and assemblies for 1950s, ’60s and ’70s vehi- cles. It even manufactures full steel bodies for the 1932 and 1934 Ford three-window coupes and Tri-Five con- vertibles. It also holds the technology and experience necessary to engineer and manufacture complete body-in-