CEJN partners with Tianduan to enhance die change efficiency at Ditong Group

As manufacturers increasingly pursue higher productivity and greater automation, efficient die change processes have become a key factor in modern hot-stamping operations. To address this challenge, Tianjin Tianduan Press Co., Ltd. (Tianduan), a global leader in hydraulic press manufacturing, partnered with CEJN to develop a customised multi-plate solution that simplifies hydraulic, cooling, and pneumatic connections. The result is a faster, safer, and more reliable die change process that supports smarter manufacturing and enhanced production efficiency.

As automotive manufacturers face growing demands for productivity, flexibility, and shorter production cycles, rapid die changes have become increasingly critical. In hot stamping operations, presses require multiple cooling water circuits for sheet quenching as well as hydraulic oil lines for mold actuation. Traditional manual die change processes are often complex, labour-intensive, and prone to human error, making automated solutions an essential step toward smarter manufacturing.

Since 2023, Tianjin Tianduan Press Co., Ltd. (Tianduan), a state-owned enterprise and global leader in hydraulic press manufacturing, has partnered with CEJN to develop a custom multi-plate system for its hot stamping presses. CEJN’s solution consolidates hydraulic oil, cooling water, and compressed air connections into a pair of multi-plates, enabling fast, one-step connection and disconnection during die changes.

The multi-plate system developed by Tianduan and CEJN includes connections for hydraulic oil, cooling water, and compressed air. 

Reducing downtime through automated die changes

CEJN’s customised solution features a floating coupling design that improves alignment accuracy, ensures reliable performance, and supports mistake-proof quality management. The solution has since been successfully implemented across Tianduan’s 1,200-ton and 1,600-ton hot-stamping production lines, as well as its 2,000-ton composite-drive hot-stamping production lines.

The collaboration has delivered significant operational benefits for end users. “The time required to complete a die change and produce the first qualified part has been reduced from approximately 35 minutes using manual die changing to less than 6 minutes, dramatically improving changeover efficiency”, says Zhang Zhenyu, Sales Manager at Tianduan.

These performance gains have been demonstrated on the 2,000-ton composite-drive and 1,600-ton hot stamping lines that Tianduan supplied to Ditong Industrial Holding Group, a leading manufacturer of stamped and welded automotive body and chassis components, at its Taizhou facility. “The advanced die change system significantly reduces production downtime, improves operational efficiency, supports flexible small-batch and multi-variant manufacturing, and minimises risks associated with manual operations”, Cheng Hongwang, Production Supervisor of Ditong’s hot stamping line, points out.

“From Tianduan’s presses to manufacturing facilities around the world, our partnerships are powering industrial progress”, Andrea Alcini, Managing Director of CEJN China, adds. “Looking ahead, we remain committed to creating lasting value for our customers and supporting the continued advancement of global manufacturing”, he continues.

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Tianduan partners with CEJN to develop a multi-plate hot stamping solution