OEM Manufacturer STEEL BLOCK to Montpellier Factories

Forging is the process of shaping metal using extreme forces. The standard mode of classification of forged metals is by the heat at which they were manipulated: cold, warm or hot. Hot forging is normally performed at about 1200 degrees, warm forging at 650-700 degrees centigrade and cold forging at room temperature.

Forging dates back to the 12th century, when hammers and anvils were used to shape metals for various purposes. Nowadays, industrial presses or hammers are the main tools, powered by compressed air, electricity, steam or hydraulics. Forging has the ability to create bars that are better than those machined or from cast steel. During the forging process, the grain of the metal is shifted to follow the contours of the shape of the steel. This can lead to improved strength characteristics and reduced brittleness.

Sorel Forge produces forged bars sizes from 10 inches (255 mm) up to 36 inches (915 mm) in diameter in carbon and medium alloy steel grades.

There are many types of forged steel bars. Some of the most common types are Carbon and Alloy Steel Hot Forged Bars, Cold Rolled Bright Bars and Carbon and Alloy Steel Hot Rolled Round Bars. The grade of manufacture is dictated by the cost and the application of the bars. Common grades of steel used include but are not limited to; 1045, 1018, 1020, 1030, 1035, 1070, 4130, 4140, 4145, 4150, 4320, 4330, 4330, 4340, 8620, 8630, 9310, A182F22, A350LF2, H13, SS410 etc . (PER AISI, SAE, ASTM A688, ASTM A322 and ASTM A182 as example).

The quality of forged steel is described in terms of surface quality, internal quality, a uniform and fine austenitic grain size, good response to heat treatment, good toughness on impact and cleanliness. Normally, forged steel products require some finishing and the forging process is the first step in a two or more step process.

Forged steel parts vary in size from less than a kilogram to over 500 metric tonnes. Huge steel bars are used a great deal in the oil and energy exploration sector where they need to be resistant to extreme forces.

Other applications of forged steel bars are for steel plants, dam gates and crane manufacture, cable machine manufacture, hydraulic press manufacture, shafts and axles for drives in diverse industries, and the car manufacture industry. In many sectors, steel bars have become indispensable to standard operational processes.

Sorel Forge adheres to strict quality control processes and we carry out a battery of regular tests on all our forged steel bars.