315-Ton High-Temperature Hot Press for Aerospace Materials Processing in Canada

Aerospace material processing requires hot press equipment that can combine high forming pressure, stable high-temperature control, and controlled cooling. For advanced thermoplastic composites and high-temperature resins such as PEEK-based materials, the press must maintain a controlled process window throughout heating, pressing, curing, and cooling. Continuous operation also places high demands on hydraulic stability, thermal insulation, cooling control, and automation compatibility.

For Canadian aerospace material processing applications, equipment selection therefore needs to focus on measurable process parameters rather than machine tonnage alone. Pressure accuracy, heating uniformity, cooling rate, platen size, and mold handling are all important considerations.

The Canadian customer required one aerospace special-material hot press for high-temperature composite material processing. The application involved high-temperature resin systems and thermoplastic composite substrates, with a requirement for continuous operation and controllable curing conditions.

The customer specifically needed the equipment to maintain a stable high-temperature working range, provide sufficient forming pressure for large aerospace molds, and support controlled cooling to reduce the risk of delamination and bubbles during composite processing.

We supplied a 315-ton hydraulic hot press with an independent hydraulic station and a high-temperature heating and cooling system.

The core hydraulic system provides a maximum pressure of 315 tons and a maximum system pressure of 25 MPa. The press uses one Ø510 mm parent-and-child cylinder, with a forged cylinder body and a high-frequency hardened 45# steel piston rod. Four Ø140 mm chrome-plated precision guide columns support the heavy-duty four-column, three-beam frame.

For process control, the slider operates at three selectable speed stages: 30–50 mm/s for rapid approach, 1–3.5 mm/s for pressing, and 4–10 mm/s for demolding. The lower heating plate is equipped with a push-pull hydraulic cylinder for automatic mold loading and unloading, allowing connection with automated production lines.

The heating system uses two 1200 × 1200 mm hot platens, each 120 mm thick, together with two 60 mm insulation plates. Each platen contains 18 Φ19.8 mm Type 310 heating tubes with zoned temperature control. The operating temperature is continuously adjustable from room temperature to 500°C, with a total system power of 180.9 kW.

The cooling system includes a 10 HP (7.5 kW) industrial chiller and two double-layer 60 mm cooling water plates. Cooling is divided into two stages: rapid cooling above 200°C and precision temperature control below 200°C. The specified average cooling rate is 1–3°C/min, with compressed-air assistance.

After installation, the customer reported that the equipment could stably maintain the required high-temperature operating range. The combination of layered thermal insulation and an independent cooling structure allowed the material curing process to remain controllable throughout the cycle.

The customer also confirmed that the press met the processing requirements for special high-temperature resins and thermoplastic composite substrates, supporting stable long-term continuous operation.

This Canadian project demonstrates that aerospace hot press selection should be based on coordinated control of pressure, temperature, cooling rate, and mold handling. With 315-ton hydraulic pressure, 500°C continuous temperature adjustment, 1200 × 1200 mm heating platens, and 1–3°C/min controlled cooling, the system provides a measurable equipment configuration for demanding aerospace composite processing applications.