The new servo tandem press in operation (00:08-02:00) and other Warren Stamping operations (02:00-06:25). (Video courtesy of FCA.)

Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has installed a new press at its Warren Stamping Plant to keep up with demand. This is the first new press to be installed at the plant in 15 years.

Servo Tandem Press

The new 180-inch servo tandem press incorporates multiple presses in line, in series. A single die is positioned in each press to perform an incremental function to make the stamped part.

The new high-speed servo tandem press installed at the FCA US Warren Stamping Plant. (Image courtesy of FCA.)

The press is fully programmable and capable of variable ram speed movement, unlike a mechanical press which operates at a fixed speed. It is also capable of faster and more frequent die changes—one every four minutes, compared to one every 20 minutes with older presses.

FCA invested $63 million to install the press at the 65-year-old-plant. Construction of the press line began in the spring of 2014. Production began in December 2015. The press will increase the plant’s capacity by up to 12,000 hits per day, or roughly 3.6 million parts per year.

Warren Stamping

The Michigan-based Warren Stamping Plant has been in operation since 1949, providing parts stamped from sheet metal, such as hoods, roofs, liftgates, side apertures, fenders and floor plans. The plant supplies parts for a variety of FCA vehicles, including:

Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee
Dodge Dart
Jeep Cherokee
Dodge Ram Trucks
Chrysler 200

The facility also operates 12 other major press lines and three large progressive press lines: single presses with multiple progressive stations that produce parts at high speed directly from a single coil of steel. The new press brings the plant’s total capacity up to 84 million parts annually.

Robots at the FCA US Warren Stamping Plant assemble sliding doors for the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan. (Image courtesy of FCA.)

“The good news is that we needed to increase our stamping capacity because FCA keeps selling more cars and trucks,” said Brian Harlow, VP of manufacturing for FCA North America.

“All of this is great for the company, our workers and everyone associated with FCA,” Harlow continued. “From the standpoint of our manufacturing operations, the new servo tandem line will help us meet this upsurge in demand.”

For more information, visit FCA’s website.