Roth Hydraulics doubles honing capacity

With the extension of the honing machine to a workpiece length of ten metres, Roth Hydraulics offers significant added value for large cylinder production. (Photo: Roth Hydraulics)

Roth Hydraulics GmbH has significantly increased its in-house machining capabilities with a major upgrade to its honing equipment, a move the company said will benefit manufacturers of large gas compression systems and other special hydraulic applications.

By doubling the maximum workpiece length its honing machine can accommodate—from 5 meters to 10 meters—Roth can now internally machine cylinder tubes up to 560 millimeters in diameter. The investment represents a key advance in the company’s vertical integration strategy, giving it tighter control over a critical quality factor in piston accumulator production, Roth Hydraulics said in a statement.

“Honing the inner surfaces is one of the decisive quality features in the manufacture of piston accumulators,” said Managing Director Frank Fuchs. “It has a significant influence on the functionality, service life and tightness of the accumulator. With this investment, we are offering our customers significant added value and also making an important contribution to greater sustainability in our processes.”

Piston accumulators are widely used in natural gas systems to maintain pressure, absorb shocks, and store energy. The integrity of their inner surfaces plays a critical role in system reliability and longevity.

Keeping core quality processes in-house

By bringing the honing of long cylinder tubes entirely in-house, Germany’s Roth has eliminated a key dependency on outside suppliers. The company said that outsourcing this work in the past led to long cycle times and higher transport costs. The internalization of the honing process not only reduces lead times and logistics costs but also aligns with Roth’s broader environmental goals by reducing transportation-related emissions.

The upgraded honing machine includes advanced control technology that can automatically detect and adjust for deviations such as bottlenecks in the material, ensuring consistently smooth and accurate internal surfaces. A second honing machine remains in operation at the company’s Biedenkopf-Eckelshausen site, allowing parallel processing and enhanced throughput.

Final inspection of honed cylinders is conducted by Roth’s trained specialists using precision instruments and temperature-adjusted measurements, maintaining the company’s high quality standards through the last step of production.