LANSING – A Lansing manufacturing company has won a $450,000 contract with Michigan State University to build a 250-ton hydraulic press for MSU mechanical engineering research lab.
Metalist International won the contract with the help of the Capital Area Manufacturing Council.
Scheduled for delivery in July, the large press will help the College of Engineering learn about the advantages in the use of a revolutionary “thermo-hydro forming” process for metals and other materials. This process, which adds heat and fluid to the stamping process, produces better-formed parts, meaning fewer imperfections, greater strength and improved reliability.
“I am very enthusiastic about the research at Michigan State University and am pleased to work with the mechanical engineering department,” says Metalist President and CEO Ed Reeser. “Building the 250-ton press is just one step in what I hope will be an ongoing relationship where my company can bring the fruits of cutting-edge research into the manufacturing marketplace.”
The relationship between Metalist and MSU began when the Capital Area Manufacturing Council sponsored tours of the engineering research labs at the university last fall. The tours were designed to build partnerships between the university and local manufacturers.
“Combining the know-how of local companies with the extensive knowledge at the College of Engineering at MSU is such a win-win situation – for the companies, the university and the capital area,” says CAMC Executive Director Bob Sherer.
Metalist is the largest independent press rebuilding and repair company in the U.S. They repair, rebuild and remanufacture all types of presses up to 8,000 tons. Metalist also sells used stamping and forging equipment and spare parts.
Dr. Farhang Pourboghrat, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Michigan State University, is conducting research into the thermo-hydro forming process for metals and polymer composites. According to Pourboghrat, “This new process will revolutionize the way structural materials will be shaped in the near future.”
Pourboghrat leads the Experimental and Computational, Solid and Structural Mechanics for Manufacturing research group. The group conducts experimental research into forming processes for metals and composites to support the designing of pre-forms and dies. Both sheet and tube hydro-forming research is conducted.
For more information, click on Metalist.Com
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