Casting the Largest Steel Casting

The February meeting of the Scottish Branch welcomed Chris Quixall, who presented “Casting the Largest Steel Casting”. Chris is the Technical Manager for the Foundry division of Sheffield Forgemasters Ltd.

Chris started by giving an insight to the history of Sheffield Forgemasters. They commenced operations in Sheffield in 1805. Edward Vickers then purchased it in 1829 and the River Don Works was established in 1864 as Vickers Ltd. It was then amalgamated in 1929 with Cammell Laird, Taylor Bros & Armstrong to form English Steel Corporation. The Company then went through nationalisation into British Steel in 1967 and further privatised to Sheffield Forgemasters in 1982 including Firth Brown. It had different Management buy outs to the now Sheffield Forgemasters as we know it today.

Chris went on to give a presentation into how the 571 tonne gross steel casting was moulded and the programme of melting and holding such a volume of molten steel prior to the final pouring of the 6 ladles simultaneously into the mould. The casting was for a large Screw Press. He then went on to show and explain the machining of this 350 tonne net steel casting at local subcontractors.

Past President Bob Armstrong gave Chris the vote of thanks from the Branch after a lengthy question and answer session. Chris was also thanked for standing in at the last moment as Dr Roger Richardson had been called away on business the previous day.