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THIELE
Chain Company
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Drop Forging
THIELE – drop forging plant
Forgings weighing between 0.1 kg and
60 kg, and measuring up to 1000 mm,
are produced on three forging ham-
mers – 31.5 kJ, 40 kJ and 100 kJ (10
kJ is equivalent to an impact energy
of 1 tonne from a 1 m height of drop) –
and a 1,600-tonne forging press. The
feedstock comprises square billets
with edge lengths of between 20 and
120 mm or round billets 18.5 to 60 mm
in diameter.
The material is frst cut to size by
cropping or sawing before the
individual segments are heated in an
induction unit assigned to the
respective forging machine.
The heated blanks are then reshaped
in a die using pneumatically generated
impact energy or by a forming force
applied via a centrifugal mass. The
fash is then removed from the
fnished piece. The forming process
often involves working to extremely
fne tolerances.
After forging the components undergo
careful heat treatment in order to
fne-tune their fnal properties.
At THIELE we make all our dies
and trimming and calibration tools
in-house. We also employ program-
controlled machines that can produce
shapes using the latest technology,
including high-speed milling.