H W Schmidt Industrials motors ahead with new contracts

When H W Schmidt Industrials invested in a new Bühler Die Casting Cell in 2005 – with the main star being an Evolution 84 D840 ton high pressure die casting machine – it was a commitment to the local manufacturing ambitions of the company.

H W Schmidt Industrials was established in 1952 by the late Heinz-Werner Schmidt, and has in excess of forty years’ experience in high-pressure aluminium die casting manufacturing. The company has the capacity to produce high-pressure aluminium die cast components for the automotive component industry as well as other industries. More recently it has begun manufacturing blades and hubs for an industrial fan manufacturer.

The company is also well-known for the aluminium die cast toolbox that it manufactures. H W Schmidt Industrials is situated in the industrial are of Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, has an array of CNC machines, cold chamber high pressure die cast machinery and plastic injection moulding machinery at its disposal. Within this facility the company also has a computer controlled automatic blade grinding plant, a sophisticated hardening plant, an epoxy powder coating plant and a computerised laser printer.

“We have been particularly successful with our aluminium toolboxes since we launched them. Casting a toolbox of 2mm wall thickness is as a result of our innovative thinking and design capabilities.”

Components for the toolbox ready to be machined

Components that have been cast for air conditioning systems

The investment in the Bühler Evolution 84 D840 ton high-pressure die-casting machine was primarily to manufacture our aluminium die cast toolboxes but also to open up revenue streams in the automotive and other industries.

“The four existing high-pressure die cast machines, ranging from 280 to 700 tons, including a Bühler 600 ton machine, were able to cater for our needs. However, with the introduction of the new Bühler state-of-the-art casting cell it opened up a 70% spare capacity in our die cast production facility that was housed in a new purpose built 1 100m² production hall. The castings that we now produce have a mass range of between one and 3.5 kilograms,” said a company spokesperson.

“We are happy to be a supplier to first and second tier suppliers who then do final assembly.”

Tool and die design
“We have a fully operational toolroom and offer tool and die design and manufacture. We have been complimented by the international partners of our customer for the innovative mould design for the latest long-term contracts that we have recently won in the automotive industry. More importantly the mould is South African manufactured.”

“For this mould we are required to manufacture wiper arm components for the Toyota Hilux, The components are for right-hand and left-hand drive vehicles. The mould makes eight components per shot, which is two sets of wiper arms per left or right-hand drive.”

H W Schmidt Industrials manufactures their own and also offer tool and die design and manufacture

Components manufactured for clients

H W Schmidt Industrials have been complimented by the international partners of their customer for the innovative mould design for the latest long-term contracts that HW Schmidt Industrials have recently won in the automotive industry

“Once pressure die cast the components are cleared of flashing, shot blast and then machine bored before a nylon bush is pressed into the bore and then we deliver to our client Smiths Manufacturing for final assembly.”

“Another of the long term projects that we have been awarded is the manufacture of connectors for air conditioning systems and we manufacture 10 per die and there are various sizes to be manufactured. We use a special alloy for these components, supplied to us in ingots.”

“Currently we are preparing to start manufacturing a further four different components for air conditioning systems.”

Aluminium toolboxes
“We have been particularly successful with our aluminium toolboxes since we launched them. Casting a toolbox of 2mm wall thickness is as a result of our innovative thinking and design capabilities.”

“The overall result a Toolbox, the only one of it’s kind in the world that is lighter and stronger than any other conventional toolbox.”

Eight automotive related components are pressure die cast in one mould

The Bühler Evolution 84 D840 ton high pressure die casting machine is robotically unloaded

Components manufactured for the automotive industry

“Lately we have had a number of encouraging large orders from international clients and we are now able to brand the boxes with individual company logos or brands. This is also a benefit to many who are looking to use them for promotional aspects. Our capacity for these are 2 000 boxes per month.”

Screwdrivers and garden tools
“We also manufacture the Wera screwdriver and Reli-on garden tool ranges. These are distributed through major industrials distributors and retail chains.”

“Going forward we still have capacity to fill but we are very encouraged by the progress in recent years.”

For further details contact H W Schmidt Industrials on TEL: 031 702 9321 or visit www.reli-on.co.za