Power Press Innovations Transforming the Automotive Industry
GL Engineering Support — News & Insights
Power Press Innovations Transforming the Automotive Industry
Power press and metal stamping technologies are central to automotive manufacturing and the EV car supply chain. Modern servo presses, IoT-enabled tonnage monitoring and modular automation allow factories to produce stronger, lighter components with lower scrap and faster cycle times. In Malaysia these advances are helping local suppliers meet global OEM standards and respond quickly to EV program ramps.
Machine Maintenance Tips for Power Press Reliability
Unexpected downtime is a top cost driver in stamping plants. This article outlines a practical maintenance program that small and medium shops can implement immediately: daily visual checks, weekly tonnage verification at multiple bolster positions, monthly slide-parallelism inspection, and quarterly tooling condition reports. These low-effort checks reduce catastrophic failures and prolong tooling life.
A Practical Guide to Servo Power Presses
Servo presses are now a mainstream choice for manufacturers forming high-strength steels and aluminium alloys used in EVs. This guide covers selection criteria (peak tonnage vs. forming profile), HMI features to look for, retrofit options for older presses, and energy recovery techniques. Case examples illustrate ROI timelines and common retrofit pitfalls to avoid.
How Malaysia Fits into the EV Supply Chain
Malaysia's strategic location, mature metalworking supply base and rising automation adoption make it attractive to regional EV OEMs. This feature analyses how local press shops, die-makers and Tier-2 suppliers can capture work on battery housings, motor brackets and structural stampings — including export requirements, quality certifications, and collaboration models that shorten qualification time for global programs.
Case Study: Press Upgrade That Cut Scrap by 30%
This case study follows a Malaysian stamping plant that replaced an ageing mechanical press with a hybrid servo press and implemented tonnage monitoring. Over 6 months the plant reduced scrap by 30%, improved first-pass yield and shortened die changeover time. The article includes the upgrade checklist, supplier selection tips, and the plant’s measured energy savings.
5 Signs Your Press Needs Tonnage Calibration
Tonnage drift silently causes poor parts and die damage. This article lists five tell-tale signs — inconsistent part thickness, sudden burrs, tool slippage, abnormal tonnage graphs and operator complaints — and provides step-by-step checks, simple on-site tests and when to call a calibration service.
FAQ
- What is a power press and where is it used?
- A power press is a machine that forms and cuts sheet metal into components. It’s widely used in automotive stamping for body panels, chassis parts and EV battery housings.
- How does a servo press differ from a traditional press?
- Servo presses use a servo motor for slide motion, allowing programmable strokes, better energy efficiency, and improved forming control — ideal for precision EV parts.
- Why is tonnage calibration important?
- Accurate tonnage ensures consistent part quality, prevents tool damage and maintains safety. Regular calibration reduces scrap and unexpected downtime.
- Can small press shops adopt automation affordably?
- Yes — modular automation (coil feeders, simple robotic transfer) and retrofit servo drives make staged automation accessible for many shops.