Nakamura Iron Works Commissions 12.5-MN High-Speed Open-Die Forging Press from SMS Group in Japan!
Nakamura Iron Works has completed the commissioning of a 12.5-meganewton ultra-high-speed open-die forging press at its Komaki City facility in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, following the signing of the final acceptance certificate (FAC) with SMS group. The new installation marks the second open-die forging press supplied by SMS group to Nakamura, complementing the 80-MN press that has been in successful operation at the site since 2006.
The Komaki City plant is dedicated to forging temperature-sensitive and high-grade materials, including non-ferrous alloys such as nickel, copper, aluminium, and titanium, as well as tool steels, stainless steels, and other high-alloy materials. The newly commissioned 12.5-MN press significantly expands Nakamura’s production capability by enabling higher throughput, improved process consistency, and reduced operating and maintenance costs.
Designed to operate at speeds of up to 205 strokes per minute, the press is particularly suited for demanding materials such as Inconel, titanium, and copper. Its high forming speed reduces the need for repeated reheating during forging, improving material yield and lowering overall production costs—an important advantage when processing high-value alloys and precision components.
The press is equipped with SMS group’s hydraulic compact drive technology, which cuts energy consumption while reducing the installation footprint by approximately 50 percent compared with conventional hydraulic drive systems. It also integrates SMS ForgeBase technology, allowing Nakamura to predefine pass schedules and apply material-specific forging strategies using a database covering more than 200 materials. ForgeBase supports fully automatic operation, with the option to switch to semi-automatic or manual modes as needed, ensuring stable quality and controlled production.
To enhance process transparency and equipment availability, SMS group supplied a customised digital package delivered as a software-as-a-service solution. This includes SMS-Metrics for real-time process data acquisition and Smart Alarm for fault monitoring, supporting predictive maintenance and faster troubleshooting while reducing maintenance effort.
According to Alexander Schander, Head of Sales Forging Presses at SMS group, the combination of ultra-high-speed forging capability, compact and energy-efficient drive systems, and integrated digital tools strengthens Nakamura’s ability to efficiently process temperature-sensitive materials with higher output and reliability.
The successful signing of the FAC confirms that all contractual performance requirements have been met, marking the completion of the project and reinforcing SMS group’s position as a supplier of application-specific forging technologies for advanced metals manufacturing.
