2/6/2024
Technology & Processes
Report
Bühler to deliver four Carat 920s to Duoli in China
As the preferred stage for the international die casting industry, EUROGUSS was the scene of a spectacular contract signing in January: Chinese automotive supplier Duoli Technology and Swiss technology company Bühler Group agreed on the delivery of four Carat 920 systems. This is one of the largest single orders for Bühler's megacasting business.
For years, the Duoli Group's main business has been the development, production and sale of stamped and welded parts for the automotive industry and the associated molds. The Chuzhou-based company's customers include vehicle manufacturers such as SAIC Volkswagen and SAIC General Motors as well as Chinese producers of electric vehicles. Duoli only entered the die casting business in December 2020 and began its collaboration with Bühler in 2021 with the installation of a Carat 610 megacasting solution. The purchase of a first Carat 920 and two further Carat 610s followed.
Casting of rear underbodies
The rapid growth of electric vehicles in China is leading to increased demand for large structural components, which convinced Duoli to expand its portfolio with four more Carat 920s. Jianqiang Jiang, General Manager and Director of Duoli: " This order for four Carat 920 underlines our ambition to be a driving force in the megacasting business. With these new capacities, we can reliably produce rear underbodies in one shot for our customers." The latest acquisitions will make Duoli one of the largest suppliers of megacasting parts in the world.The Carat series is Bühler's answer to the accelerating global trend towards larger structural castings in modern vehicle architectures. The two-platen technology with locking forces of 10,500 to 92,000 kilonewtons is specially designed for the production of large and complex parts such as front and rear underbodies in one piece. Robin Lu, Director Die Casting Bühler Greater China Region, explains: " We’re working closely with our customers to deliver the technologies they need to be successful in a fast-moving and competitive market. We’re honored that Duoli puts their faith in our Carat die-casting solutions."
The latest order is evidence of our innovation power and proofs that we anticipated the trend towards large structural parts for EVs correctly years ago. This trend continues to gain pace as we witness the transition from traditional cars with internal combustion engines to electric vehicles – not only in China, but in North America and Europe as well.
Cornel Mendler, Managing Director Die Casting at Bühler
With over 900 machines in operation, the Carat series is the most successful megacasting solution on the market, according to the company. Production facilities have been set up in Europe, the USA and China. The machines for Duoli will be produced in China and delivered between the second and third quarter of 2024.