Against a backdrop of rising demands for industrial manufacturing capacities in the defence sector, ANDRITZ Schuler and WF Maschinenbau are bundling their expertise in a strategic partnership. Both companies have many years of experience in the development and manufacture of systems for demanding metal forming processes

ANDRITZ Schuler Pressen GmbH and WF Maschinenbau und Blechformtechnik GmbH & Co. KG have entered into a cooperative agreement for the manufacturing of high-strength, closed-base precision tubes. The objective of the partnership is to combine specialised forming processes to manufacture technically demanding hollow-body components for mission-critical applications more efficiently.

The scope of the cooperation covers system concepts for the production of large-format metal cases or metal shells, as used across various industries including the defence sector. The core technologies of both companies

The strategic partnership signature meeting.

are combined: forging with hydraulic presses( ANDRITZ Schuler) with flow forming and necking-in( WF Maschinenbau), jointly meeting requirements for ballistic precision and material strength.

Starting from forged preforms from ANDRITZ Schuler, further shaping is carried out using WF Maschinenbau‘ s flow forming and hot spinning processes. This combination enables targeted improvements in material efficiency and manufacturing flexibility for the production of thin-walled, yet extremely pressure-resistant, tube components.

“ The cooperation with ANDRITZ Schuler allows us to integrate our technologies into higher-level system concepts. Together, we create the foundation for coordinated process chains in the manufacturing of large-format metal cases,” said Christian Malkemper, Managing Director, WF Maschinenbau.

ANDRITZ Schuler and WF

Maschinenbau were due to present their joint system and process concepts at the international trade show, Eurosatory, from 15-19 June 2026 in Paris, France. n

www. andritz. com

https:// wf-maschinenbau. com

The centre is available to direct customers and trading partners of the DAIHEN subsidiaries, including Lorch Schweißtechnik. It is a direct point of contact for companies from the greater Munich area, South-East Germany and the adjacent Austrian market. This makes it a significant addition to the existing Lorch application and competence centres in Auenwald, Bottrop, Suhl, Bremervörde and Enns in Austria.

“ Many medium-sized companies are facing the question of whether welding automation makes economic sense for their components, batch sizes and investment budgets. The aim is to boost productivity, stabilise processes and ensure that quality can be consistently reproduced,” explained Alexander Abeln, Head of Sales Europe, Lorch Schweißtechnik GmbH.“ Whether it pays off is not determined solely by key figures, but by real-world requirements. It is precisely this practical evaluation that we are now offering to companies in the Munich area and beyond.”

The application centre focuses on the Lorch cobot system: an overall package

Lorch welding systems and automation solutions.

comprising the cobot, welding unit, torch, welding and tilt-turn tables, the Move linear axis and Lorch Cobotronic control software. The set-up is supplemented by further welding units from the Lorch portfolio such as the latest iQS inverter system. The same site also offers robot systems and modular systems from automation specialist OTC, one of Lorch’ s affiliates under the DAIHEN umbrella. n

www. lorch. eu / en

Image: Lorch.

10 | ismr. net | ISMR June 2026