Zheijang VIE Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
Zhejiang VIE Science & Technology Co, Ltd. is a leading supplier of automotive parts for research & development and manufacturer of automotive chassis control systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. VIE´s products include front and rear suspension systems, vehicle electronic control systems, pneumatic and hydraulic brake systems, clutch control systems and the production of plastic parts for well-known Chinese car manufacturers. Already recognized as the best supplier several times, VIE has also been rated as China´s most influential brand in the mechanical industry.
Sophisticated aluminum castings for the automotive industry
VIE recently expanded into the areas of wireless charging, driver assistance systems and electric motor brakes, where it is continuing to expand its development activities. Kurtz had been in talks with VIE for some time, and the contract and joint project were signed at Metal & Metallurgy China 2016. As a company with future prospects, VIE has decided to produce sophisticated aluminum castings for the automotive industry. VIE went straight in with "Frames coreless" - and was therefore able to generate an order for the local market for these sophisticated chassis parts. VIE's goals and requirements were challenging, as the frames were to be cast directly with two layers - not standard for such large parts. Due to the requirements, only the FSC casting line came into question, albeit directly with innovations. Previously, size 18-16 was standard at Kurtz, which was borderline for the large double mold used to produce the frames.
For this reason, the decision was made in favor of the new size 22-17 with a larger clamping surface for large moulds. In addition to the large clamping unit of the casting machine with a large clamping surface, the large low-pressure furnace with occupancy and use of multiple riser tubes was also a key to success. A 2,800 kg furnace is used as standard, currently with up to ten riser pipes. Furnaces are changed with the tried-and-tested furnace shuttle almost during the idle time of the casting machine in order to design the entire line effectively and keep the production factor high. Cooling also plays a decisive role in meeting the high quality requirements - the system has 64 mixed cooling circuits for this purpose.
In cooperation with the customer, Kurtz has designed a high-performance and expandable casting line that will enable the customer to expand further and thus continue to invest in the future. Strong together - this was and is the motto for this project. Kurtz Germany and Kurtz China worked together with the customer on this project - as a team across borders!
Main features, equipment of the Kurtz AL22-17 FSC casting line:
- Oven logistics with Kurtz oven shuttle
- Holding and degassing station
- Low-pressure casting machine AL22-17 FSC, low-pressure furnace 2,800 kg, 64 mixing/cooling circuits
