Chinese heavy industry company China National Erzhong Group in April completed development of its 800 meganewton (MN) closed-die hydraulic forging machine, which is larger than any other previously built, energy company Shell Lubricants reports.

“Erzhong is working closely with Shell Lubricants to ensure that the hydraulic oil, used in the machine, meets its special high-pressure and high-load requirements,” says Shell.

For lubricants, the giant hydraulic press represents a challenging environment in which to operate, states Shell.

The company says that following intense competition from leading industry lubricant manufacturers, Shell Tellus S2 M 46 hydraulic lubricant was selected to be used in the machine, thanks to its excellent performance and worldwide brand recognition.

Hydraulic oil is one of the most critical components to resist the extreme pressures and severe loads that components in the forging machine face, says Shell.

Featuring 30 high-pressure cylinders and 60 piston pumps, the press has an initial fill of 400 kl and can reach an oil pressure of up to 650 bars.

Shell says that the press machine is designed to be used in the aviation, aerospace, nuclear power, mining and petrochemical industries, among others.

The machine is particularly involved in the processing of ultra-high-strength titanium and aluminium alloys, used in airplane body frames, nuclear power plant piping and wind farm turbines for instance. In the mining industry the press machine can be used to the produce high-quality parts, such as the large tracks for equipment on coal and iron-ore mines.

“We are delighted to be working with China Erzhong on this ground-breaking hydraulic forging machine. Shell Tellus is one of the world’s leading hydraulic oils and we know that it meets the industry specifications of original-equipment manufacturing heavyweights such as Bosch, Rexroth, Denison, Vickers and Eaton. Working alongside Erzhong is an important part of our growth in the Asian market,” says Shell Lubricants Spirax and Tellus brand manager Hans Gerdes.

“Shell is committed to growing its lubricant business in China. A new Shell lubricants technical centre will open in Shanghai in the first quarter of 2014, allowing the company to work more closely with customers in the region. The new research centre will focus mainly on next-generation automotive and industrial lubricants and greases,” he concludes.