Beverage can manufacturer Beihai Jinmeng penetrates
Chinese market with aid of Schuler cupping press

Guangxi/Göppingen, May 5, 2014 –One name is to be found on many of China’s best-known beverage brands, such as Qingdao beer or the popular herbal tea Wanglaoji: Guangxi Beihai Jinmeng Zhiguan AG (short form: Beihai Jinmeng). Recently founded, the company has quickly penetrated the Chinese market. This success is due in no small part to a cupping press for the production of beverage cans supplied by Schuler.

Last year, Beihai Jinmeng launched production of beverage cans at its new facility in which it had invested around € 80 million. At the heart of the productionline is Schuler’s DA 140 cupping press. “The Schuler press displays a high degree of stability in continuous operation, with relativelylow operating costs and maintenance investments,” explains Project Manager Tan Jintuof Beihai Jinmeng’s Production Technology division.

“Because of the comparatively higher wear, similar machines with sliding jib systems require regular adjustment and maintenance – or even the replacement of the sliding jibs – to ensure stable operation,” adds Tan Jintu.By contrast, Schuler’s cupping presses are completely wear-free and do not require maintenanceof any kind.

Due to the immense dynamic loads involved, cupping presses operating at high speedsand with heavy weights always run the risk of unevenly distributing the press force across the two sides – with negative consequences for the quality of the dies and products. Schuler’s DA 140 cupping press is therefore equipped with a dynamic counterbalance system which balances out the machine vibrations caused by high press forces during operation.

Play-freepretensionedslide guidance

The machine needsneither a solid concrete foundation nor for its base to be screwed to the floor – only the line’s own weight has to be taken into consideration. The play-freepretensionedslide guidanceguarantees precise slide motions with only minimal tilting, thus significantly prolonging die service life. Moreover, the maintenance-free direct drive and very fast clutch/brake combination ensure the cupping press operates with a high degree of efficiency.

“Apart from regular minor servicing, our production line can operate continuously around the clock,” says Tan Jintu.“So far, our cupping press from Schuler has shown no defects or malfunctions of any kind. This has led to considerable savings in staff and maintenance costs.”

Beihai Jinmeng is currently producing beverage cans for Wanglaoji, China’s oldest herbal tea manufacturer. “With regard to Wanglaoji’s quality standards and its positioning in the beverage market, we can safely say that their requirements with regard to beverage cans are among the highest in China,” says Tan Jintu. “The cupping press supplied by Schuler meets all our manufacturing needs with a consistently high level of quality.”

Up to 300 strokes per minute

Most of the beverage cans produced by Beihai Jinmeng have a dimension of 330, 355 or 500milliliters. With a press force of 140 metric tons and up to 300 strokes per minute,the DA 140 guarantees the flexibleand economic production of high-quality beverage cans. At the same time, it is also suitable for particularly thin cans and complex production processes.

The hook-in die change brackets,hydraulic roller bars, and motorized slide adjustment all ensure fast die change times. “If there are fluctuations in the thickness of the aluminum used, for example, this can lead to problems with the pressed can bodies,” explains Tan Jintu. “The Schuler press enables us to react to this within just a few minutes – we simply have to adapt the parameters by changing the inner and outer slide height.”

Complete turnkey delivery

With regard to the cooperation with Schuler, Tan Jintu says: “Schuler’s engineers are top-class experts. They found the right solution for all of our wishes, such as linking the individual processes, supplying software to control the productionline, providing basic technical support or designing the system’s wiring.” Schuler’s turnkey delivery of the production line included a coil line, feed device, coil lubrication unit and dies, so that production could be launched immediately on site.

Schuler’s experts not only travelled from Germany to install and set up the line, however, but also to train Beihai Jinmeng’s employees with regard to production, operation and maintenance. A joint venture company German Machine Tool Service Co., Ltd (GMS), is responsible for providing the complete technical customer service, including spare parts and advice on accessories and technical solutions. “The service provided is extremely professional and well structured,” concludes Tan Jintu:“We are highly satisfied.”