Forge Reheating Furnaces

Client

Major UK forging company

Product

Fixed hearth reheating furnaces

Services / Products

• Furnace design, installation and commissioning
• PLC based process automation system with touchscreen HMI.

Scope of Service

The customer had a number of requirements for the new furnaces to comply with, in order to increase output and reduce operating costs.

Firstly, a close temperature tolerance of +/-10°C within the working envelope was required throughout the operating temperature range of 700°C to 1250°C, to allow processing of ferrous and other grades of material for aerospace applications.

Secondly, the furnaces had to have minimal fuel usage, which, because the intermittent nature of their operation necessitated the use low thermal mass linings, together with tight control of air/ fuel ratio across the burner operating range.

Finally, the geometry of the furnaces had to allow an existing manipulator rapid access to heated stock, to minimise uncontrolled heat loss during forming.

Working to the above brief, four fixed hearth furnaces were designed, supplied, installed and commissioned. These were constructed to the standard required for the heavy industrial environment in which they are sited, whilst incorporating such features as low thermal mass ceramic fibre linings, high velocity burners, and sectional doors.

Additionally, each furnace was controlled by a PLC based process automation system, incorporating advanced algorithms, with a touchscreen HMI.

Benefits of our work

• Work completed without disturbing production operations
• Enhanced operating ability to meet aerospace customer product requirements