Hirotec America's Revolutionary Hemming Press Offers Multiple Closure Production Advantages

Hirotec America is delivering the advantages of its new E3(TM) sheet metal hemming press to a fast-growing roster of automotive companies due to its reduced up-front cost, higher speed, lower maintenance and improved closure production quality.

"Our innovative hemming technology has helped our automotive customers reduce their hemming costs by up to 50 percent, while improving their uptime," said James Toeniskoetter, president and chief operating officer of Hirotec America. "Not only does the E3 electric hemming press provide productivity, cost and other production advantages, it also produces significant savings in energy costs."

Available at a lower capital cost than competitive options, the award- winning E3 hemming press features numerous customer benefits for efficient and reliable operation. These include:

-- Energy efficiency -- The E3's quiet, twin 20-horsepower electric motors economically power the press's dual-crank drive units and can hem automotive closures without using hydraulics or plant air.

-- Eight-second cycle time -- Permits higher closure throughput (jobs per hour) than competitive systems for high-speed component production requirements.

-- 120-ton capacity -- Allows the E3 press to hem larger closure components than competing presses with higher finished hem quality.

-- Improved rigidity -- The electronically coupled dual-crank drive requires no mechanical interlock for improved rigidity. This improves press alignment during hemming, resulting in reduced wear and lower
maintenance costs. As the press strokes, these and other electronic interlocks prevent misalignment and improve quality and uptime.

-- "Plug 'n' play" installation -- The E3 ships as an already-assembled, one-piece unit, making installation simple and less costly.

-- Easy maintenance -- Accommodates uninhibited access for technicians to all serviceable motor and gearbox areas for less downtime, more productivity.

E3 Press Earns Coveted PACE Award

In recognition of its unique capabilities in meeting customer requirements, the E3 hemming press recently won a prestigious PACE Award, which is sponsored by Automotive News, Microsoft, SAP and Transportation Research Center, Inc. Judges cited the press's proficient use of energy efficiency as well as its simple, robust design.

Hirotec America develops and delivers a wide range of high-quality, flexible manufacturing systems and services to the global automotive market. The company leads the industry in incorporating global best-practice methodologies into a variety of manufacturing processes. Hirotec America produces world-class automotive closure manufacturing tooling, including stamping, hemming and automotive closure panel-assembly equipment. The company is unique in its ability to provide complete, vertically integrated closure production systems that promote flexible manufacturing.

For more information about Hirotec America, visit the company's website at http://www.hirotecamerica.com.