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Is Tesla looking for a second supplier for Giga Castings?

There should be enough room for providers, regardless of whether they are giga or mega presses.

Pressemitteilung | Reading time: min | Bildquelle: IDRA
Thomas Fritsch, Chief Editor

Maybe it's the journalistic summer slump for the die-casting industry.

A Chinese observer of the e-mobility scene has been circulating on various social media, claiming that Tesla is looking for a new supplier for its Giga presses.

Originally, the renowned Italian manufacturer of die-cast cells IDRA was the only company willing and able to implement Tesla's wish for huge structural parts using the die-casting process.

IDRA built the Giga-Press from 6000 - 9000t clamping force and was able to install and commission several at Tesla in the USA, China and Germany, whereby machines from the company LK, to which IDRA belongs, are probably in use in China.

Unconfirmed rumours now say that the reject rate on the Giga presses is too high, although it is not clear which factories this assessment refers to and what serious basis was applied.

No one at the companies involved wanted to comment on the rumours.


What is the future for the giant presses?

Quite obviously, there is movement on the topic of giga presses. The process seems promising despite all the initial difficulties, so it would only be logical for Tesla to look for a second supplier.

Since last year, the Swiss market leader BÜHLER has also been offering casting cells in a similar size ready for use for casting large structural parts with its Carat series.

Only recently, Volvo in Sweden ordered two of these mega casting cells (Carat 840 and 920) with 92000 kN clamping force from BÜHLER.

A clear indication that OEMs are increasingly embracing the process and the equipment that goes with it and are interested in the future.

It makes sense when there are two or more suppliers on the market. According to the motto "competition stimulates business", this should benefit the whole industry, regardless of whether they are now called Giga or Mega Press.

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