Castings and Forgings

Most steel components start as castings: metal that has been melted, poured into a mold and solidified. In the casting process at the foundry, because the mold has the shape of the desired component, all that remains to be done after casting are the various finishing operations.

With forgings, the first shape is an ingot or continuously cast billet. Ingots are large, usually rectangular in form and weigh up to several tons. Ingots or continuously cast billets are forged into shapes by hammers or presses. Extensive machining to final configuration usually is required, and welding also may be necessary before finishing operations can begin.

• Ferrous - Forgings and Castings that use iron
• Non-Ferrous - Castings and Forgings that do not require iron.
• Cast Iron
• Brass Castings - Castings that use brass instead of iron