News: Tata Steel to introduce vacuum induction melting in South Yorkshire
Tata Steel, the Indian-owned steelmaker, has announced a new collaboration with technology company SMS Mevac, which will design a new facility for the production of high-purity vacuum induction melted (VIM) steels for the aerospace industry at the speciality steels business in Stocksbridge.
The VIM production route involves melting high-purity recycled steel and alloys in a crucible furnace, extracting trace elements via a degassing process in a low-pressure vacuum, and casting the purified liquid steel into ingot moulds. The entire melting and casting operation is conducted in an oxygen-free atmosphere, resulting in clean steel with very low gas content.
The ingots produced would be refined further by vacuum arc remelting before being rolled or forged into products for the aerospace market.
VIM-derived steels are typically consumed in aircraft engine transmissions and bearings as well as aircraft structural and undercarriage components.
Richard Bell, commercial director, speciality steels, said: "We have been supplying VIM steels for many years using ingot sourced from select third parties. However, our aerospace customers have been eager to see Tata Steel make a solid commitment to them by expanding its capability and integrating VIM into its existing UK asset structure.
"We are delighted to be taking this step and we look forward to working closely with key aerospace supply chains on VIM-derived products."
The VIM products are made in addition to the aerospace steel currently manufactured using an electric arc furnace at the Rotherham site at Aldwarke. Starting as high quality scrap, the steel goes on for further refining at the Stocksbridge plant or the Thrybergh Bar Mill to improve the quality.
The steel, predominantly stainless and low alloy grades, is used in landing gear and aircraft engines including the landing gear of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Tata has made investments in the speciality steels business in South Yorkshire totalling over £23m in the last few years in support of both plant energy efficiency and improved processing capability.
A £6.5m investment project in aerospace completed this year which includes two new vacuum arc remelting (VAR) furnaces and specialist testing equipment, as well as a new ultrasonic immersion testing facility.
Tata Steel website
Images: SMS Mevac
The VIM production route involves melting high-purity recycled steel and alloys in a crucible furnace, extracting trace elements via a degassing process in a low-pressure vacuum, and casting the purified liquid steel into ingot moulds. The entire melting and casting operation is conducted in an oxygen-free atmosphere, resulting in clean steel with very low gas content.
The ingots produced would be refined further by vacuum arc remelting before being rolled or forged into products for the aerospace market.
VIM-derived steels are typically consumed in aircraft engine transmissions and bearings as well as aircraft structural and undercarriage components.
Richard Bell, commercial director, speciality steels, said: "We have been supplying VIM steels for many years using ingot sourced from select third parties. However, our aerospace customers have been eager to see Tata Steel make a solid commitment to them by expanding its capability and integrating VIM into its existing UK asset structure.
"We are delighted to be taking this step and we look forward to working closely with key aerospace supply chains on VIM-derived products."
The VIM products are made in addition to the aerospace steel currently manufactured using an electric arc furnace at the Rotherham site at Aldwarke. Starting as high quality scrap, the steel goes on for further refining at the Stocksbridge plant or the Thrybergh Bar Mill to improve the quality.
The steel, predominantly stainless and low alloy grades, is used in landing gear and aircraft engines including the landing gear of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Tata has made investments in the speciality steels business in South Yorkshire totalling over £23m in the last few years in support of both plant energy efficiency and improved processing capability.
A £6.5m investment project in aerospace completed this year which includes two new vacuum arc remelting (VAR) furnaces and specialist testing equipment, as well as a new ultrasonic immersion testing facility.
Tata Steel website
Images: SMS Mevac
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