Induction for extruded special steel tubes

Description

Small batch sizes, high-alloy materials
IAS has developed induction plant concepts for high-alloy seamless steel tubes manufactured using extrusion technology. Key market requirements are fulfilled as a result: Small batch sizes with varying geometries and from special alloys can also be manufactured cost-effectively.
What impresses customers about these IAS concepts are their high cost efficiency, flexibility, energy efficiency, fast changeovers and reliable process control.
Induction plus gas heating
For complex special steels the press temperature must be maintained within a very close range. To ensure this is achieved, IAS has developed clever combinations of high-efficiency gas heating and induction furnace systems, such that customers benefit from the advantages of both types of heating, tailored to both the product mix and press technology. The following combinations have proved effective in practical applications:
Horizontal, inductive basic heating with vertical, inductive final heating
Gas-fired rotary-hearth furnaces with reduced atmosphere and vertical inductive re-heating
Horizontal, inductive pre-heating systems for smaller billet dimensions of up to 180 mm and when operating without a piercing press
Gas pre-heating up to around 700 °C, as well as inductive intermediate heating and re-heating
Efficiency levels of up to 83%
Thanks to the use of a multi-zone induction heating coil in the re-heating process as well as the options for frequency adjustments and infinitely variable power control using IGBT converters, the temperature profile can be reliably influenced and narrow temperature limits maintained. Depending on the configuration, electrical efficiency levels of up to 81% can be achieved – and even up to 83% for titanium alloys.