Manufacturer of vacuum cast high-performance copper alloys (HOVADUR®) and manufactured components for demanding industrial applications
SCHMELZMETALL AG
Gurtnellen (CH) · Germany (SMDE)New on Amplifa
About Schmelzmetall
Established in 1959, SCHMELZMETALL AG, headquartered in Gurtnellen (Switzerland), is the parent company of the SCHMELZMETALL Group and a manufacturer of copper-based high-performance alloys under the HOVADUR® brand. The alloys are produced via vacuum casting from pure metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, chromium, beryllium, and zirconium, possessing high strength, corrosion resistance, and electrical and thermal conductivity. The group processes these materials into semi-finished products and finished components; mechanical processing, including CNC turning, 5-axis milling, sawing, and special machining of round bars (Ø 15–80 mm, up to 1000 kg), takes place at the German location SMDE (SCHMELZMETALL Germany GmbH). Further offerings include additive manufacturing, consulting on alloy selection, as well as degassing systems for die casting (OptiVent®, MiniVent®, CVent®, TopVac®) and the HOVADUR® plunger adapter system (KAS). Application fields include resistance welding, injection molding, foundry technology, electrical and mechanical engineering, plain bearings, and aerospace.
- Site
- Gurtnellen, Switzerland
- Processes
- Vacuum Casting (Vacuum casting of copper alloys), Additive Manufacturing, Manufacturing of semi-finished and finished components from copper alloys, Special machining of round bars (Special machine), CNC turning (Horizontal bed lathe, finished parts), CNC turning (Horizontal bed lathe, disks & finished parts), CNC turning (Horizontal bed lathe with bar loader 1200mm), 5-axis milling (CNC machining center, 3-axis)
- Materials
- Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium, Beryllium, Zirconium, HOVADUR® High-Performance Alloys (copper-based), Vacuum casting of copper alloys
- Certificates
- ISO 9001
- Founded
- 1959
- Industries
- Resistance welding, Injection molding, Foundry technology / Die casting, Electrical engineering, Mechanical engineering, Plain bearings
- 01
Vacuum casting of HOVADUR® copper alloys
- 02
Forming into semi-finished products and finished parts
- 03
Sawing
- 04
CNC turning
- 05
5-axis milling
- 06
Special machining
- 07
Additive manufacturing
- 08
Development/Consulting on alloy selection
Materials & Processes
HOVADUR® High-Performance Alloys (copper-based)
Vacuum cast alloys with high strength, corrosion resistance, and electrical and thermal conductivity for demanding industrial applications.
Copper
Base material of the alloys with high electrical and thermal conductivity.
Nickel
Alloying element for improving the properties of HOVADUR® materials.
Cobalt
Alloying element of HOVADUR® high-performance alloys.
Chromium
Alloying element for precipitation-hardenable copper alloys.
Beryllium
Alloying element for high strength at good conductivity.
Zirconium
Alloying element of HOVADUR® materials.
Vacuum casting of copper alloys
Core process for producing high vacuum copper alloys with uniform, consistent quality.
Additive Manufacturing
Additive processing of copper alloys supplements the conventional manufacturing portfolio.
Locations
Gurtnellen
CHHeadquarters / SCHMELZMETALL AG parent company, vacuum casting
- Materials
- HOVADUR® copper alloys
SMDE (SCHMELZMETALL Germany GmbH)
DESales and processing company, mechanical machining
- Part weight / size
- up to 2.5 t (milling), up to 350 kg (turning), up to 1000 kg
- Materials
- copper alloys
- Emco Maxxturn 110 (horizontal bed lathe, L 1500 mm, Ø 620 mm, max. 350 kg)
- Emco Maxxturn 95 (L 900 mm, Ø 420 mm, max. 200 kg)
- Emco Maxxturn 65 (L 600 mm, Ø 260 mm, max. 150 kg)
- Emco Maxxturn 65 with bar loader 1200 mm
- Hedelius Tiltenta 7 (5-axis machining center, 3-axis: 2500 × 700 × 500 mm)
- Hedelius RS 80 (5-axis, 3-axis: 1600 × 700 × 400 mm)
- Hedelius RS 60 (5-axis, 3-axis: 650 × 550 × 300 mm)
- Special machine for round bars (3500 × 85 × 85 mm, Ø 15–80 mm)
Components & Applications
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vacuum Casting (Vacuum casting of copper alloys)Casting | – | – | – | – | HOVADUR® copper alloys, Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium, Beryllium, Zirconium |
| Additive ManufacturingAdditive | – | – | – | – | copper alloys |
| Manufacturing of semi-finished and finished components from copper alloysEngineering | – | – | – | – | HOVADUR® copper alloys |
| Special machining of round bars (Special machine)Machining | – | 3500 mm × 85 mm × 85 mm | 1000kg | – | copper alloys |
| CNC turning (Horizontal bed lathe, finished parts)Machining | – | 1500 mm | 350kg | – | copper alloys |
| CNC turning (Horizontal bed lathe, disks & finished parts)Machining | – | 900 mm | 200kg | – | copper alloys |
| CNC turning (Horizontal bed lathe with bar loader 1200mm)Machining | – | 600 mm | 150kg | – | copper alloys |
| 5-axis milling (CNC machining center, 3-axis)Machining | – | 2500 mm × 700 mm × 500 mm | 2.5 t | – | copper alloys |
| 5-axis milling (5-axis)Machining | – | 700 mm × 500 mm × 300 mm | 2.5 t | – | copper alloys |
| 5-axis milling Hedelius RS 80 (3-axis)Machining | – | 1600 mm × 700 mm × 400 mm | 2 t | – | copper alloys |
| 5-axis milling Hedelius RS 80 (5-axis)Machining | – | 700 mm × 500 mm × 250 mm | 600 kg | – | copper alloys |
| 5-axis milling Hedelius RS 60 (3-axis)Machining | – | 650 mm × 550 mm × 300 mm | – | – | copper alloys |
| 5-axis milling Hedelius RS 60 (5-axis)Machining | – | 500 mm × 500 mm × 250 mm | – | – | copper alloys |
| SawingMachining | – | – | – | – | copper alloys |
| Conventional machiningMachining | – | – | – | – | copper alloys |
8 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special machine for round bar production | – | – | 3500 x 85 x 85 mm, Diameter 15-80 mm | – | SMDE (Schmelzmetall Germany) |
| CNC Horizontal Bed Lathe | Emco Maxxturn 110 | – | Length 1500 mm, Diameter 620 mm, Max weight 350 kg | – | SMDE |
| CNC Horizontal Bed Lathe | Emco Maxxturn 95 | – | Length 900 mm, Diameter 420 mm, Max weight 200 kg | – | SMDE |
| CNC Horizontal Bed Lathe | Emco Maxxturn 65 | – | Length 600 mm, Diameter 260 mm, Max weight 150 kg | – | SMDE |
| CNC Horizontal Bed Lathe with bar loader (1200 mm) | Emco Maxxturn 65 | – | Length 600 mm, Diameter 260 mm, Max weight 150 kg | – | SMDE |
| CNC Machining Center (5-axis) | Hedelius Tiltenta 7 | – | 3-axis: 2.500 x 700 x 500 mm; 5-axis: 700 x 500 x 300 mm; Ø 700 mm each; 2.5 t / 2.5 t | – | SMDE |
| CNC Machining Center (5-axis) | Hedelius RS 80 | – | 3-axis: 1.600 x 700 x 400 mm; 5-axis: 700 x 500 x 250 mm; Ø 700 mm each; 2 t / 600 kg | – | SMDE |
| CNC Machining Center (5-axis) | Hedelius RS 60 | – | 3-axis: 650 x 550 x 300 mm; 5-axis: 500 x 500 x 250 mm; Ø 500 mm each | – | SMDE |
Additional services
Quality
The group guarantees, according to its own statement, uniform, consistent quality for all products, based on nearly 60 years of experience in manufacturing high vacuum copper alloys. Individual certificates have not been published.
| Evidence | Gurtnellen | SMDE |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 1959
Founding of SCHMELZMETALL AG in Gurtnellen (Switzerland); parent company of the SCHMELZMETALL Group