Five decades at the furnace have taught us how each metal fills a mould, feeds and cools. What each one is good for, and some of the parts we cast in it:
Grey iron
It machines cleanly, damps vibration and keeps its shape under load, which makes it the natural choice for machine bases, housings and pump bodies, and the most economical of the cast irons.
Parts we cast in it- Pump impellers
- Pump casings
- Bearing housings
- Gears and pulleys
- Machine bases
Ductile iron
Round (SG) graphite gives it much of the strength and toughness of steel while it still casts like iron, so it takes pressure and shock: valve bodies, pipe fittings and brackets.
Parts we cast in it- Gears
- Couplings and hubs
- Rolling-mill guides
- Pump wear plates
- Valve bodies
Steel
Carbon and low-alloy cast steels carry the heaviest loads, and can be welded and heat-treated, for parts that must not fail under impact.
Parts we cast in it- Sprocket wheels
- Bogie wheels
- Chain links
- Bearing housings
- Guide rollers
Stainless steel
Chromium-nickel grades resist corrosion in water, chemicals and food service, for pump, valve and marine parts that must stay clean and sound.
Parts we cast in it- Pump impellers
- Pump casings
- Pump body rings
- Screw conveyor spirals
Aluminium
About a third of the weight of iron, it resists corrosion and machines quickly, and cast in permanent steel dies it holds sharp detail and a repeatable size.
Parts we cast in it- Housings and covers
- Fan blades and hubs
- Power-line grading rings
- Brackets and clamps
- Ship’s portholes
Brass & bronze
Copper alloys resist seawater and wear, and run smoothly against steel, which is why propellers, bushes, bearings and marine fittings are made in them.
Parts we cast in it- Pump impellers
- Bushes
- Stern tubes
- Casing rings
- Marine propellers
In our machine shop
3 × Pinnacle LV117 CNC vertical machining centres
Travel 1140 × 710 × 610 mm · table 1300 × 700 mm, for parts up to 1,000 kg · 24-tool automatic changer