Efficient component manufacturing with the CTMT process

Ecological and economic aspects are forcing the steel processing industry to critically review the efficiency of its component manufacturing processes and put them to the test. The developed CTMT process (casting + thermomechanical treatment) is a technology that meets the demands for resource efficiency as well as increasing productivity and, above all, product quality. It is based on the combination of the production stages of casting, thermomechanical treatment and tempering.

Molded parts are often subjected to stresses with high load gradients during use. Such complex and differentiated stress profiles are particularly relevant in the powertrain of commercial vehicles and large engines. In Germany, over 1.8 million tons of steel are produced annually by hot forging to molded parts weighing between a few grams and a ton. The conventional process chain is as follows: hot forming of rolled semi-finished products – mass pre-distribution – die forging for final shaping. Up to 25 GJ of energy are used per ton of finished component. Heating accounts for 80 % of the total energy requirement. The potential for saving energy lies in using the process heat remaining in the material for the subsequent production stages.