A world record in ring rolling
Since April 2018, Shandong Iraeta Heavy Industry Stock Co., Ltd. (SIHI), China, has been the only company worldwide able to seamlessly roll rings up to a maximum diameter range of 16 meters and up to a maximum ring height range of three meters. To achieve this, rolling forces can be radially applied up to 2,500 tons and axially exerted up to 1,250 tons. For comparison: so far, a maximum ring diameter of ten meters has been possible.
With the radial-axial ring rolling machine of the RAW 2500/1250-16000/3000 type, production takes place in completely new dimensions. The rings produced on this machine are employed among others in towers of wind power plants and they are capable of withstanding extreme stresses to which those large wind power plants are exposed. Another application of rollable rings are large shells necessary for the construction of large pressure vessels e.g. in nuclear reactors.
SIHI is a European-Chinese joint venture, with the Spanish enterprise GRI Renewable Industries holding a 50 percent share in this joint venture and having been significantly involved in the realization of this project. In keeping up with the requirements of customers and markets, GRI is a major global manufacturer of towers for wind turbines operating production facilities worldwide for the manufacture of towers in all required sizes. In the supply chain, SIHI acts as a producer of tower flanges of all required sizes also developing further its production capabilities with the machine now delivered by SMS group.
