Breitenfeld Edelstahl AG is currently building a state-of-the-art forging line with a 40 meganewton (MN) press and two chamber furnaces. The project is complemented by a new factory hall with special foundations, state-of-the-art infrastructure and comprehensive logistics solutions.
Together, they form the basis for a sustainable expansion of production capacities, particularly in the area of large-format and difficult-to-form materials
The current focus is on the concrete and steel construction for the new hall. The aim is to completely close the hall roof by the end of 2025 in order to start assembling the press in the second calendar week of 2026.
Progress is clearly visible: around 2,500 m³ of concrete has been used so far for the floor slabs, press foundations, hydraulic and electrical rooms. A further 250 tons of structural steel and 50 tons of steel components have been used. A special feature: 1,000 m³ of concrete released during the demolition work was recycled and reused directly on site. Up to seven personnel climbers, a large tower girder and two mobile cranes were used simultaneously at times, which underlines the logistical complexity of this construction project.
In addition to the new main hall, two outbuildings were constructed: a hydraulics room with a 50 cm thick concrete ceiling and a separate transformer building. The hall walls were constructed from 10.5 m high hollow concrete walls. The exact positioning of the 50 tons of built-in parts and 10 tons of steel cover plates was carried out using digital 3D surveying technology.
Special preliminary work was carried out for the integration of the new 40MN press:
Construction coordination is carried out in close coordination between internal departments (forge, maintenance) and external partners. The project planning is the responsibility of TBF GmbH (Flucher Technical Office), while Dipl.-Ing. Ralph Jurak (architect and member of the Supervisory Board) is responsible for local construction coordination. Other key partners are
Weekly project meetings, daily coordination on site and comprehensive time and resource management ensure that all trades are coordinated.
The large components of the press are delivered via heavy transport, sometimes with special permits and only possible at certain times of the day. Due to limited storage space, the delivered parts are distributed across several halls on the factory premises and are stored in a coordinated manner.
With the new infrastructure, Breitenfeld is opening up new possibilities in the
These enhancements have a direct impact on delivery times and flexibility. Customers benefit from:
Commissioning is planned for the third quarter of 2026. Following a staggered ramp-up, product diversity, material complexity and production volumes will be successively increased.
At the same time, measures are being taken to qualify personnel, digitize forging protocols and expand the process landscape.
Strategically, Breitenfeld is pursuing the goal of further expanding its own value chain, particularly in the area of remelted materials, and sustainably strengthening its market position in the segment of sophisticated forgings.
The new 40MN forging press, including the new hall, marks a significant step in Breitenfeld's industrial development. Customers benefit from new dimensions, reliable planning and innovative materials expertise. The project is being realized with strong partners, digital expertise and regional responsibility