Sep 23, 2021 12:00 PM
World’s most advanced forging line in Homburg/Saarland starts production
80 million Euro investment in new forging facility for truck chassis components
An important step in growing and diversifying the company’s product portfolio
A significant contribution to ongoing efforts to increase energy efficiency in production
thyssenkrupp's new forging line at the Homburg site
thyssenkrupp's new forging line at the Homburg site in Germany's Saarland region has started producing the first sample parts for truck chassis components in September. Despite many unexpected challenges caused by Covid-19, the project is full-on track. This production expansion with 80 million euros spent in the last two years represents the most significant single investment ever made at thyssenkrupp's Homburg site and a substantial step in the expansion of the product portfolio.
For many years, the plant in Homburg has been the most efficient production site in thyssenkrupp's global forging network. The production of powertrain-independent truck chassis components is part of the company's strategy to open up new markets and product segments in the light of future e-mobility developments.
The centerpiece of the new highly automated and digitized forging line in Homburg is a 16,000-ton forging press measuring nearly 15 meters in height (without frame and damping system) and weighing 1,700 tons. The new line can produce 360,000 forged components per year and will be able to make different large-scale products. In addition, the new line will be the next step in the ongoing efforts to reduce energy consumption in production. Requiring significant investments and smart ideas, the energy consumption per ton of produced products was reduced by 40 percent over the last ten years at the Homburg plant. With the new line, the plant will further develop energy efficiency leadership in forging.
thyssenkrupp has manufactured forged components at the Homburg site since 1947. With a roughly 750-strong workforce, it is one of the region's larger employers. The new investment will secure employment at the production site for the upcoming years. Construction of the world's most advanced forging line started in February 2020.
The Business Unit Forged Technologies maintains one of the world's most extensive forging operations networks, with annual sales in excess of 1 billion euros. Its product portfolio includes forged and machined components and systems for automotive, construction, and mining machinery. The company's goal is to further grow and diversify its product portfolio over the upcoming years in reaction to the changing market environment. Forged Technologies operates some 50 forging presses at 15 sites worldwide and has a broad distribution network in over 70 countries. thyssenkrupp's forging business currently employs around 6,800 people.