ANDRITZ Selected as Furnace Supplier for Sheffield Forgemasters’ Ambitious Forge Expansion

The ANDRITZ furnaces for Sheffield Forgemasters will have a capacity of up to 1,000 tonnes and will feature rail-mounted ‘car-bottoms’ which can roll in and out for the loading of ultra-large components. © ANDRITZ

(IN BRIEF) ANDRITZ has secured a contract from Sheffield Forgemasters to supply seven car bottom furnaces for the UK’s largest open die forge. The order includes three forging and four heat treatment furnaces, which will be part of Sheffield Forgemasters’ new 13,000-tonne forging line. The furnaces, equipped with state-of-the-art burner technology, will offer efficient operations and the ability to handle ultra-large components. The new furnaces will replace Sheffield Forgemasters’ existing 10,000-tonne forging press and complement its smaller 4,000-tonne press.

(PRESS RELEASE) GRAZ, 27-Jun-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — ANDRITZ (VIE: ANDR), an international technology group based in Austria, announces that it has been awarded a contract by Sheffield Forgemasters, England, to deliver seven new car bottom furnaces for the UK’s largest open die forge. The supply includes three forging and four heat treatment furnaces, which will be part of Sheffield Forgemasters’ planned 13,000-tonne forging line.

Steve Marshall, Manufacturing Transformation Director at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “The challenge of finding a company with the capability of delivering such large furnaces in the timeframe that we are working to has been substantial. ANDRITZ demonstrated an ability to work with us on the scope and delivery of the seven major furnaces, crucial to bringing our new forging line into operation.”

Designed with capacities of up to 1,000 tonnes, these furnaces will feature rail-mounted “car-bottoms” that enable seamless loading and unloading of ultra-large components. Equipped with state-of-the-art burner technology, the furnaces will ensure optimal efficiency during operations.

The forging furnaces will utilize regenerative flat flame burners, enabling high burner power without overheating the materials. With a flexible burner arrangement and advanced burner control, these furnaces will deliver uniform heating and significant gas consumption savings.

“The furnaces will be the mainstay of our new heavy forging line, using the latest burner technologies for optimum efficiency and heat control. They can also switch to hydrogen if the technology to move away from natural gas becomes viable,” Marshall added.

Covering a temperature range of 250 to 1200°C with a high accuracy of +/- 10°C, the heat treatment furnaces will be equipped with high-quality recuperative burners, enhancing energy efficiency.

Sheffield Forgemasters, a heavy engineering company based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, specializes in the production of large bespoke steel castings and forgings for various industries. Owned by the UK’s Ministry of Defence, the company has chosen to replace its existing 10,000-tonne forging press with the new forging line, complementing its smaller 4,000-tonne press.

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ANDRITZ GROUP
International technology group ANDRITZ offers a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems, services and digital solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets. Sustainability is an integral part of the company’s business strategy and corporate culture. With its extensive portfolio of sustainable products and solutions, ANDRITZ aims to make the greatest possible contribution to a sustainable future and help its customers achieve their sustainability goals. ANDRITZ is a global market leader in all four of its business areas – Pulp & Paper, Metals, Hydro and Separation. Technological leadership and global presence are cornerstones of the group’s strategy, which is focused on long-term profitable growth. The publicly listed group has around 29,700 employees and over 280 locations in more than 40 countries.

ANDRITZ METALS
ANDRITZ Metals is – via the Schuler Group – one of the world’s leading suppliers of technologies, plants and digital solutions in metal forming. The product portfolio also includes automation and software solutions, process know-how and service. In the metals processing segment, the business area offers innovative, sustainable and market-leading solutions for the production and processing of flat products, for welding systems and furnaces with its own burner solutions, as well as services for the metals processing industry.

Media contact:

Susan Trast
HEAD OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
susan.trast@andritz.com

SOURCE: ANDRITZ