Ziehwerk Plettenberg GmbH & Co KG from Plettenberg has placed an order with SMS Meer for the supply of a new bright steel center. Plettenberg produces bright steel in the diameter range from 8 mm to 80 mm. The new center with the core components peeling machine and straightener is designed for a diameter range from 10 mm to 54 mm.

Mr Thomas W Schaumann technical director of Ziehwerk Plettenberg GmbH said that "We have been producing for many years predominantly on Schumag machines, which today belong to SMS Meer's portfolio. Our experience with these machines has been very good. Our high precision demands are satisfied, in particular with respect to close shape tolerances."

SMS Meer developed for the bright steel center a concept for reducing the stresses in the bar. The guide elements were optimized. The process leads to a significant stress in the bar cross section. This was validated in advance by means of Finite Elements Method simulations.

The installation combines the process steps peeling, straightening, non destructive eddy current testing, geometrical testing and end machining. The center consists of a loading device, a fully automated device for separation of the starting material, an FP3 chamfering machine to reduce peeling blade wear, the PM1 series peeling machine, a WRP 100 B two roll straightener with optional up line bar feeder, a down line three point laser straightness measuring unit, a non destructive surface testing unit, an FP3 chamfering machine for end machining and noise optimized bar collecting cradles.

Commissioning is scheduled for the beginning of 2012.