The hydraulic forging press CKW is a vertical, two‑column, pull‑down hydraulic forging press with a movable frame, designed for open‑die forging of heavy forgings. The CKW press combines a robust structural design with precise guidance and advanced tooling equipment, making it a universal forging machine for demanding forging operations.

The press is equipped with a traversing table, lower tool magazine, lower tool shifting mechanism, and an upper tool clamping mechanism, which together provide high technological flexibility and allow fast tool handling during the forging process.

Movable frame and press structure

The movable frame of the CKW forging press consists of an upper cross beam, lower cross beam and two columns, which are interanchored by two anchors. The columns have a square cross‑section and are protected in the working space by shields against thermal radiation from the hot forgings being processed.

The anchors pass through the hubs of the cross beams and through the central bores of the columns. They are prestressed by hydraulic nuts, ensuring high structural rigidity and long‑term stability of the entire press frame.

Middle cross head and foundations

The middle cross head is a key supporting member of the press. It is mounted on two foundation beams, which are installed in special foundation bearings running in polymer concrete. This arrangement provides effective damping of dynamic loads and contributes to stable press operation even under high forging forces.

Guiding system and lubrication

The columns of the movable frame are guided by flat guides mounted in guide bodies screwed to the upper and lower parts of the middle cross head. The large distance between the upper and lower guides significantly reduces guide reactions in the event of eccentric press loading.

Increased operating clearances caused by wear of the guide bronze plates can be compensated by inserting shims of the required thickness beneath the plates, which simplifies maintenance and extends service intervals.

The press is equipped with an oil circulation lubrication system, which continuously removes impurities from the guide areas. This system significantly extends the service life of the guide bronze plates and reduces wear of guiding surfaces.

Forging force generation and return system

The working force of the press is generated by one main press cylinder, which is built into the middle cross head. The press plunger is fastened to the lower cross beam of the movable frame, mounted on a spherical lens, and allows limited lateral movement to compensate for slight misalignments during forging.

The reverse movement of the movable frame is ensured by four piston‑type return cylinders. These cylinders are attached to the hubs of the middle cross head, while the piston rods are connected to the hubs of the columns of the lower cross beam. Both cylinders and piston rods are fastened by pins with spherical bearings, allowing reliable operation under variable loading conditions.

Technological versatility

The CKW hydraulic forging press is equipped with a longitudinal feed table, lower tool magazine and lower tool shifting mechanism, which makes the press a highly versatile forging machine suitable for a wide range of open‑die forging operations, including forging of shafts, blocks, rings and other heavy components.

CKV forging presses are push‑down four‑column hydraulic forging presses designed for open‑die forging of heavy forged components. These presses are developed and manufactured by ŽĎAS, a.s., one of the leading European suppliers of equipment for heavy forming, forging and metallurgical applications.

The CKV press series covers a wide range of machine sizes with nominal forming forces from approximately 6.3 MN up to 140 MN, corresponding to about 630 to 14,000 tonnes. CKV presses are intended for open‑die forging of ingots, shafts, blocks, rings, discs and complex shaped forgings made of carbon, alloyed and high‑alloy steels.

Design and operating principle of CKV forging presses

CKV forging presses feature a four‑column frame structure with a hydraulic push‑down forming action. This design ensures high frame rigidity, uniform force distribution and stable machine behaviour even under extreme forming loads. Depending on the configuration, the press can operate in manual, semi‑automatic or fully automatic modes, allowing adaptation to different production requirements.

CKV presses can be supplied as stand‑alone machines or as part of a complete integrated forging unit, including rail‑bound forging manipulators, rotary tables, ingot carriages and auxiliary equipment. Such integrated solutions significantly increase productivity, process safety and repeatability in heavy forging operations.

Automation and process control

CKV forging presses may be equipped with ŽĎAS TechForge automation software, which enables automated control of the forging process based on predefined technological recipes. This system provides:

• automated control of forging cycles,
• reduced overall forging time,
• lower electrical energy consumption,
• minimisation of operator influence on forging quality,
• improved process repeatability and consistency.

This level of automation makes CKV presses suitable for modern forging shops where high productivity and stable quality are essential.

Applications of CKV forging presses

CKV forging presses are typically used in:

• heavy forging shops and metallurgical plants,
• production of large open‑die forgings,
• heavy mechanical engineering,
• energy industry, including power generation and nuclear applications,
• manufacture of shafts, rotors, pressure components, rings and large structural parts.

Forged components produced on CKV presses may weigh from several tonnes up to tens of tonnes, depending on press size and configuration.