Almost all passenger aircraft contain safety-critical structural parts manufactured from high-quality aluminum alloy plates that have been stress-relieved on SMS group plate stretcher. The SMS group plate stretcher prevents plate cracks, improves flatness and minimizes residual mechanical stresses in the plate. The experience gained from thousands of plate cracks during production forms the basis for the development of SMS group safety systems.
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Plate stretcher
Proven technology for high-strength aluminum alloys
SMS group sheet and plate stretcher are used for straightening and cold working of rolled and milled sheet and plate made from aluminum alloys. To compensate for the mechanical stresses in the plate, it is stretched to a degree of several percent, thereby reducing any strain.
The development of stronger aluminum alloys and the demand for thick plates made from these challenging materials require continuous equipment improvement. SMS group is the only company that has been continuously developing aluminum plate stretchers since the first of its kind in mid 1920s. That results to an engineering level of our stretchers always corresponding with the growing challenges of the aluminum plate market.
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Benefits
- Our experience with the design and operations of a very thick plate stretcher for high strength aluminum
- Safe, repeatable and reliable stretching process for all alloys and demands
- Machine operation safety and quick restart mode developed on the basis of the operational feedback of thousands of plate cracks
- Data logging and stretch analysis based on advanced sensor systems and digital solutions
