INVESTMENT CASTING

High grade steel components by using investment casting

CIREX is one of the largest steel-casting companies in the world and produces complex castings with extreme precision using the “lost-wax” method. Thanks to this versatile method our engineers have considerable freedom in the product design and choice of materials. This means that in consultation with you we can produce optimum castings that meet your exact wishes and requirements.

INVESTMENT CASTING PROCESS

How does ‘investment casting‘ (lost-wax) work? Click on “read more” for an overview of the steps and phases involved. CIREX is one of the largest lost-wax foundries in the world. Using this method, we produce high-quality investment castings of complex shapes with extreme precision. As this process offers considerable freedom in the casting design and material choice, we can produce the castings according to your specific requirements with maximum efficiency.

PROPERTIES OF INVESTMENT CASTING

CIREX produces precision castings using the lost-wax technique. These castings have low surface roughness values, precise tolerances and are the highest quality steel castings available on the market. They are often used for components that operate in hostile environments, such as large differences in temperature or where the components are required to be especially hard, strong or light. To meet these tough demands, special alloys are often used for these castings.

Properties

Shape tolerance:
Roughness:
Dimensional tolerances:
Materials:
Complexity:
Machining:
Undercuts:
Series:

Description

Freedom in style and design
High surface quality & low roughness values (Ra 1.6 – 6.3 µm)
High dimensional accuracy and precise tolerances (VDG P690 D1)
Virtually any steel alloy can be cast
Complex shapes can be cast as a single component
Little to no machining is required
Products with undercuts can be cast
Suitable for smaller and larger series

OUR LOCATIONS

CIREX’s activities are spread across three locations. Besides the headquarters and knowledge centre in the Netherlands (Almelo), there are two locations in the Czech Republic (Koprivnice). Cirex employs about 280 people.

CIREX FOUNDRY NL

At the knowledge centre and headquarters in Almelo, a team of specialist engineers, product developers, metallurgists …

CIREX Foundry CZ

For the production of smaller series of complex steel components, CIREX has set up a modern lost- wax model foundry in the Czech Republic. Here, CIREX can produce cast pieces of …

CIREX Finishing & Machining

The cast components from the foundries in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic are finished at this location according to the customer-specific product specifications …

FEATURES & BENEFITS

If you select CIREX to have your steel component developed and produced, then you are opting for quality, certainty and reliability. From idea to implementation. Our investment casting process has the following characteristics:

• Significant freedom of shape and design
• Nearly every steel alloy is possible
• High degree of dimensioning precision
• No release angle required
• High surface quality
• Obviates mechanical post-processing
• Non-releasing cores can be cast

DIMENSIONS & TOLERANCES INVESTMENT CASTING

Precise dimensioning characterises the lost-wax method. Extremely precise tolerances often make a design needlessly expensive. With our decades of knowledge and experience we can save you costs by determining the best dimensioning in consultation with you. The final result? Optimal use of our casting process.

SURFACE QUALITY INVESTMENT CASTINGS

Investment casting materials

At CIREX, we always start with the product’s functionality. Once the functionality is clear, the product is developed further. An essential part of this is the choice of material. A good design depends entirely on the proper choice of material. It’s important to know the properties that the steel must possess. Consider, for example:

• Mechanical properties      (hardness, tensile strength, elongation and elasticity)
• Thermal properties            (heat resistance)
• Chemical properties          (acid resistance and the ability to withstand corrosion)

Metallurgical specialists at CIREX will be glad to help you choose the optimum alloy for your application. Also when it comes to choosing the right chemical composition, structure, hardness, tensile strength or heat resistance.