Following a formal process, Sheffield Forgemasters have placed an order of over $25 million for seven new furnaces — 3 forging and 4 heat treat — for the company’s proposed 14,000+ ton forging line. The large, open die forge will replace the company’s existing forging press and will complement its smaller press to serve defense and commercial markets.
Andritz, a company with North American locations, will supply the furnaces which will have up to 1,102 tons of capacity and will have rail-mounted car-bottoms which can roll in and out for the loading of ultra-large components.
“The furnaces will be the mainstay of our new heavy forging line, delivering both heat-treatment and main forging heating cycles, using the latest burner technologies for optimum efficiency and heat control," commented Steve Marshall, manufacturing transformation director at Sheffield Forgemasters. “New innovation in furnace technologies includes dual-fuel burners which can switch to hydrogen if the technology to move away from natural gas becomes viable."
