TZCO Chain Manufacturing in China has issued the final acceptance certificate (FAC) to SMS group following the successful commissioning of a fully automatic MP 3150 eccentric closed-die forging press. The new press is now producing track links at TZCO’s new forging shop in TZCO Industrial Park, Yuci District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, China. 

“SMS has delivered an excellent complete package: a highly automated press with sophisticated technology. The press enables TZCO to expand its excavator business by producing track links in a new forging shop. Thanks to the high accuracy and minimal flash of the forging process, we achieve material savings and lower production costs,” says the leader of TZCO Chain company.

The scope of supply includes the MP 3150 closed-die forging press with a nominal press force of 3,150 tons (31.5 meganewtons), full line engineering, and a customized digitalization package. The press is engineered to deliver high throughput and precision and is capable of achieving up to 30 strokes per minute. The fully automatic line boasts a cycle time target of up to four seconds per piece, producing track links for excavators. 

To support superior-quality manufacturing, SMS supplies specialized forging tools, implements comprehensive process enhancements, and incorporates forging simulation, analysis, and optimization solutions. The resulting forging process utilizes high-precision, flash-minimizing punching, which reduces downstream machining and saves material and energy. 

The range of automation equipment includes an automatic walking beam transfer system, with each axis powered by a dedicated servo drive. Optimized startup and deceleration ramps combined with integrated sensor technology guarantee smooth movements, reduce mechanical wear, and help maintain short cycle times. Automatic die lubrication and spray units, a quick-change die holder, and a duplex bolster changing car are also part of the press automation. 

SMS has integrated components of its basic digitalization package into the existing process control system. This enables continuous production monitoring and machine data evaluation aimed at guaranteeing consistently high quality and operational performance. To help TZCO drive productivity and manage energy costs, all relevant production and energy KPIs are streamed to a dedicated large-scale dashboard, providing the customer with immediate, valuable process data.

“Over years of projects around the globe we have built a track record that speaks for itself,” says Bernhard Kaminski, Sales Manager, SMS group. "Those proven references gave TZCO the confidence to choose our MP 3150 — not just for its performance on paper, but for the real, measurable uptime, cost savings, and part quality it delivers in day-to-day production.”