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Beckwood Press to manufacture presses for Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has awarded Beckwood Press Co., St. Louis, a contract to manufacture a custom hydraulic press for the compression molding of various composite materials. The R&D efforts made on the press will ultimately contribute to automotive and aerospace industry lightweighting efforts, intended to produce higher-performance products with improved fuel efficiency.

Scheduled for completion in September 2015, the 100-ton custom press will feature a 36- by 36-in. work area and integrated multiple-zone heated platens for precision temperature control.

ORNL also will install a Triform model 16-5BD fluid cell sheet hydroforming system from Beckwood. It will feature 5,000-PSI maximum forming pressure and a 16-in.-dia. forming area.