Independent Forgings and Alloys is a Sheffield based supplier of a range of open-forged products in special alloy, super-alloy and titanium materials.

 

When they needed to increase furnace capacity for their Radial Forge machine, Attic Rose was chosen to meet that need.

 

The new furnace was to have a nominal capacity of 12 to 15 tonnes of bars to 302 mm diameter, and operate at temperatures between 850oC and 1250oC. As with all of IFA's furnaces, this one had to achieve Rolls Royce approval for temperature distribution and control.

Before work could start on the new furnace, an existing lifting hood furnace had to be moved from the forge shop and re-sited in another part of the factory - a job which was also entrusted to Attic rose.

 

The new furnace, (pictured left), has a hard firebrick hearth with low thermal mass ceramic fibre to the walls and roof. Heating is provided by four High-velocity natural gas burners, each with a nominal capacity of 450 kW, giving a heat-up time from cold of approx. 3 hrs when fully loaded.

Burners are located on both sides of the furnace, firing above the load setting; this, and the rear mounted downdraught exhaust offtake, promotes efficient circulation of gases and good, even heating throughout the furnace setting.

 

Control of the furnace is taken care of by a modern, micro-processor based instrument that incorporates a controlled ramp rate facility when changing from one temperature setpoint to another.