Steel casting foundry
CIREX is one of the largest lost wax foundries in the world. Through our decades of experience with investment casting, we can assure efficiently produced high quality castings. With foundries in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, CIREX is well represented in Europe when it comes to metal casting.
Your partner in casting steel
Process investment casting
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.
Dimensions & tolerances investment casting products
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.
Steel casting foundry in different alloys
CIREX develops and produces high quality investment castings which can be cast in virtually any steel alloy. Steel is an alloy consisting of iron (Fe) and carbon (C), where the term ‘steel’ is used for iron alloys with a limited amount of carbon (less than 1,9%). When the iron contains more than 2% carbon, we talk about ‘cast iron’ instead of steel.
Next to the basic elements of iron (Fe) and carbon (C), steel often contains multiple alloy elements such as: chromium, nickel, manganese, silicon or molybdenum. Depending on the different alloy elements and the quantity of these elements (%) within the steel, a unique steel alloy can be created. By varying with different alloy elements and quantities, almost any steel alloy can be created and cast.
Steel can be divided into three different groups based on the amount of added alloy elements:
- Unalloyed steel (maximum 1,5% alloy elements)
- Low-alloyed steel (from 1,5% to 5% alloy elements)
- High-alloyed steel (more than 5% alloy elements)
Stainless steel (INOX) is one of the steel types that CIREX is specialised in. Stainless steel is cast in large quantities. This steel type is known for its corrosion resistance after contact with aggressive substances and water. Next to the elements iron(Fe) and carbon (C), stainless steel also contains chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). For more information about stainless steel investment casting, click here!
Properties of the lost wax process
Typical characteristics of lost wax investment castings are the low roughness values and precise tolerances that can be achieved. Additionally, great freedom exists in both product design and material choice. Precision investment castings are often applied in environments where the quality demands are high. For instance, aggressive (hostile) environments, large temperature differences or castings that are required to be especially hard, strong or light. Due to the specific and high demands, special alloys are often applied for these castings.
Features & benefits
| Properties | Description |
| Shape tolerance: | Freedom in style and design |
| Roughness: | High surface quality & low roughness values (Ra 1.6 – 6.3 µm) |
| Dimensional tolerances: | High dimensional accuracy and precise tolerances (VDG P690 D1) |
| Materials: | Virtually any steel alloy can be cast |
| Complexity: | Complex shapes can be cast as a single component |
| Machining: | Little to no machining is required |
| Undercuts: | Products with undercuts can be cast |
| Series: | Suitable for smaller and larger series |
Metallurgic support
A proper design starts with the right choice of material and knowledge of steel. The metallurgists of CIREX will be glad to assist you in choosing the most appropriate alloy for your application. Depending on the application, the necessary hardness, tensile strength or elongation of the steel, an alloy will be determined and the most appropriate steel will then be chosen. Our metallurgists have extensive practical knowledge of steel alloys, heat & surface treatments and casting structures. Do you have any specific questions? Then feel free to contact CIREX.
