HOT EXTRUSION PROCESS
Siderval’s core manufacturing technique to realize its steel profiles involves a process called hot extrusion.
Hot extrusion is a plastic deformation of steel whereby the material is heated above its recrystallization temperature and then forced through a die to create specific shapes.
Thanks to decades of experience and continuous innovation of both processes and machinery, Siderval has produced thousands of special profiles and truly mastered the art of hot extruding steel and other hard to form materials.
*Content available only with cookie acceptance. Change your consent here
RAW MATERIAL PREPARATION
The production process starts with the selection of the best raw materials, maintaining quality at the highest levels throughout profile processing. The raw material consists of rolled, forged round bars or bars obtained by continuous casting, which are purchased either raw or peeled. Siderval has an automatic steel peeling plant with an annual production capacity of 42,000 t, enough to meet its own production requirements and satisfy any external processing demands. The round billets used as raw material have diameters of: 155, 180, 220, 260 and 270 mm. The raw material purchased complies with European and internationally recognised quality standards and certifications, according to specific customer requirements.
CUTTING – RADIUSING – PIERCING
The production process continues with the cutting and radiusing of the steel bars. This is achieved with an automatic plant equipped with band saws, which guarantees highly accurate cutting without compromising on quality. After cutting, the pieces are engraved with an ID number to ensure they can be traced throughout the production process. The pieces are then placed in special boxes marked with a label showing information about the content. If a customer requests hollow profiles, the billets are pierced automatically using a system for this specific purpose. The advanced technology used guarantees extremely accurate and efficient material traceability and production of solid and hollow profiles.
*Content available only with cookie acceptance. Change your consent here
*Content available only with cookie acceptance. Change your consent here
BILLET HEATING AND EXTRUSION
Hot extrusion is an innovative technology used for the production of special profiles in carbon steel, stainless steel, special alloys and titanium.The extrusion process enables the production of solid or hollow bars with fixed sections and complex geometries, without the need for mechanical machining. Hot extrusion technology is at the core of Siderval’s production process. Siderval has a 2600 t horizontal hydraulic press for the extrusion of billets that are previously heated in four induction furnaces. This process takes place in a hollow cylinder called container. The billet is inserted in the container and, using a shaped die, the pressure applied by the press forces the billet through the die resulting in an extruded special profile. Siderval can produce up to 16,8 meters long extruded bars, with solid or hollow sections and with a circumscribing circle diameter of up to 255 mm . It uses a wide range of steel grades, including carbon steels, alloy steels, stainless steels, nickel-based alloys and titanium alloys.
FINISHING
The finishing department is equipped with stretching and straightening machines to ensure that the bars are straight and within tolerance, asoutlined in the profile drawing.
Similarly to many warm plastic deformation processes, when the bars exit the extrusion press, they are bent and twisted. During this processing stage, the bars are stretched until reaching a first level of straightening, then they are cut to length. Cutting is usually done with a cut-off machine, but if accurate length tolerances are required, then a band saw is used.
Siderval’s priority is to offer high quality extruded bars, drawing on advanced finishing techniques to ensure precision and meet our customer’s requirements.
*Content available only with cookie acceptance. Change your consent here
*Content available only with cookie acceptance. Change your consent here
HEAT TREATMENT
Steel heat treatment can generally be divided into three stages:
- Oven heating
- Maintaining a set temperature for a certain length of time
- Cooling to specific procedures
Siderval’s heat treatment systems perform the most common types of treatment, but we also use highly experienced suppliers for more complex treatments.
Siderval is equipped with two in-house furnaces that offer most common types of treatment, such as annealing, normalising and stress relieving. Whenever needed, we also rely on highly experienced third party suppliers for more complex treatments.
Heat treatment changes the hardness, strength, toughness and other mechanical properties of steel.
LABELLING, PACKAGING & SHIPPING
Siderval offers versatile and secure packaging options tailored to meet specific shipping requirements, including but not limited to:
- Bundle Packaging: Bars are grouped and secured with metal strapping
- PVC-Wrapped Bundles: Bundles are wrapped in protective PVC film for added safe keeping.
- Pallet Packaging: Short bars are placed on pallets, strapped, and optionally covered with protective film for enhanced safety.
- Wooden Crates:Bars are stored in sealed wooden boxes, which is often the ideal packing solution for air and sea shipments. The crates comply with ISPM No. 15 – FAO standards through fumigation and phytosanitary treatment.
Siderval ensures your products are securely packaged, meeting global shipping standards and guaranteeing safe delivery.
*Content available only with cookie acceptance. Change your consent here