Plate stretchers

Hot rolling

Reliable production of
reliable products

Almost all civilian passenger aircraft contain parts manufactured from aluminum plates that have been stress-relieved on SMS group plate stretchers. Many of these components are safety-critical structural parts of wings or fuselages. This is where SMS group stretching control technology ensures you can rely on and fully trust the technological properties of the material.

Equally crucial is the reliability of the stretcher equipment itself. Why? Because particularly high-strength alloy plates tend to crack under the stress of thousands of tons of stretching force. You can see for yourself that SMS group stretchers use exceptional technology. Wherever possible, they prevent plate cracks, or manage them if they are unavoidable. The experience gained from thousands of plate cracks during production forms the basis for the development of SMS group safety systems. That ensures the shortest possible downtimes if problems arise.

Concept

It’s only at first glance that the basic layout of a new SMS group stretcher looks similar to machines that have been in operation for more than 50 years. However, the invention of stronger aluminum alloys and the demand for thick plates made from these challenging materials require continuous equipment improvement.

Included among the advances in our mechanical systems are cutting-edge clamping, shock absorption, and stress distribution in the loaded parts of the stretcher. SMS group is the only company that has been continuously developing aluminum plate stretchers for more than 50 years. That means the engineering level of our stretchers is geared to the growing challenges of the market.

Your Benefits

Stretching forces from 12 MN up to the technologically required value.
Safe, reliable stretching process thanks to patented, wedge-shaped clamping systems
Shock absorption systems for gentle force reduction in the event of a plate rupture. This ensures quick restarts

Technology

Perfect grip

The task of plate stretchers is straightforward: gripping both ends of a long plate and pulling it to a specified length.

Stretch technology

Crucial factors in today’s and tomorrow’s stretch technology are uniform elongation, precise and variable speed control, and verification of key stretch parameters during the process.