Zwick supplies robotic testing system to Bao Steel, Shanghai

As Zwick continues to strengthen its leading position in the field of robotic testing systems, another major Chinese steel producer, Bao Steel of Shanghai, has placed its trust in a Zwick automated testing system.

The customer was won over on all counts by the flexibility of the solution offered. To stay ahead of its growing testing requirement, China’s second-biggest steel producer, Bao Steel, uses a Zwick roboTest P (Portal) robotic testing system for fully automatic tensile tests on metal specimens in its plant in Shanghai.

The system is equipped with a Z1600E testing machine, enabling tensile tests on heavy plate, coils and hot-rolled steels with a maximum force of 1,600 kN. Specimens are removed from the magazine (maximum capacity 400 specimens) completely automatically and fed into the testing machine; the specimen grips close - and the tensile test is carried out. After the test has finished the specimen remains are automatically removed ready for the next specimen to be tested.

The advantages of these fully automatic systems lie primarily in the error-free performance of standard-compliant tests, as the elimination of operator influence delivers highly reproducible test results. The entire test sequence is reported via the software and the test results are stored error-free.
It was also of prime importance for Bao Steel to be able to test short specimens. Zwick’s hydraulic grips guarantee secure gripping of specimens with lengths such as 450mm and LO 200mm. Easy operation of the system and reliable test results were additional decisive factors in Zwick’s favor.