Development and manufacture of large-bore pistons (130–640 mm) in steel, aluminium and NCI for large industrial engines.
KS Large Bore Pistons Germany GmbH
Neckarsulm (DE) · Marinette (US) · Kunshan (CN)New on Amplifa
About KS Large Bore Pistons
For more than 100 years, the KS Large Bore Pistons Group has been a developer and manufacturer of large-bore pistons for large industrial engines. At its headquarters in Neckarsulm as well as at the production sites in Marinette (USA) and Kunshan (China), pistons with diameters of 130 to 640 mm are manufactured from steel, aluminium and NCI 70. The product portfolio comprises steel monoblock pistons, whose cooling channel is closed by friction or laser welding, as well as composite pistons with bolted steel, NCI or forged aluminium skirts (KS 1275). NCI monoblock pistons with diameters of 170 to 350 mm are made from NCI 70. The pistons are used in marine applications, power generation, locomotives, oil and gas extraction, mining and construction. In addition to solutions for conventional fuels, the company already offers pistons for alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia and methanol.
- Site
- Neckarsulm
- Processes
- Friction welding (cooling channel closure of 2-piece steel piston), Laser welding (cooling channel closure of 2-piece steel piston), Forging (forged skirt of composite pistons, steel and aluminium), Manufacture of steel monoblock pistons, Manufacture of composite pistons with steel skirt (bolted), Manufacture of composite pistons with NCI skirt, Manufacture of NCI monoblock pistons (diameter 170 to 350 mm), Manufacture of composite pistons with aluminium skirt
- Materials
- Steel, 42 CrMo 4, NCI 70, KS 1275 (aluminium), Aluminium, Nodular cast iron, Nodular cast iron (NCI)
- Employees
- over 400 (Group,
- Industries
- Marine, Power generation, Locomotives, Oil and gas extraction, Mining, Construction
- 01
Engineering
- 02
Forging
- 03
Casting
- 04
Machining
- 05
Friction or laser welding
- 06
Assembly
Materials and Processes
Steel
Material for steel monoblock pistons and bolted skirts of composite pistons with high strength.
Aluminium
Forged aluminium skirt for composite pistons since 1960, fully suitable for heavy fuel oil operation and repairable.
Nodular cast iron (NCI)
Used for NCI monoblock pistons since 1973; low thermal expansion enables thin-walled pistons with small running clearances.
Locations
Neckarsulm
DEHeadquarters, development and production
- Materials
- Steel, aluminium, NCI 70
Marinette
USProduction site
Kunshan
CNProduction site
Components
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friction welding (cooling channel closure of 2-piece steel piston)Joining | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Laser welding (cooling channel closure of 2-piece steel piston)Joining | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Forging (forged skirt of composite pistons, steel and aluminium)Forming | – | – | – | – | 42 CrMo 4, KS 1275 (aluminium) |
| Manufacture of steel monoblock pistonsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Manufacture of composite pistons with steel skirt (bolted)Assembly | – | – | – | – | 42 CrMo 4 |
| Manufacture of composite pistons with NCI skirtAssembly | – | – | – | – | Steel, NCI 70 |
| Manufacture of NCI monoblock pistons (diameter 170 to 350 mm)Casting | – | 350 mm | – | – | NCI 70 |
| Manufacture of composite pistons with aluminium skirtAssembly | – | – | – | – | Steel, KS 1275 (aluminium) |
| Development and manufacture of large-bore pistons (diameter 130 to 640 mm)Engineering | – | 640 mm | – | – | Steel, Aluminium, Nodular cast iron (NCI) |
Additional services
History
- 1912
Year of founding not documented; the company has been a developer and manufacturer of large-bore pistons for more than 100 years.
- 1960
Introduction of composite pistons with aluminium skirt (KS 1275).
- 1973
Introduction of the NCI monoblock piston made from NCI 70.