Avalloy is a producer of high performance alloys that are used in a variety of applications. Avalloy operates two types of furnaces, a Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM) furnace and a Vacuum Arc Re-melting (VAR) furnace. The production process consists of two main processes:

Cast Alloys

This is a VIM process, whereby metals are melted in a vacuum to ensure the removal of deleterious gases and metals, to produce cast stick in various sizes ranging from 50 to 175mm and 450mm ingots. The furnace is a four-ton Leybold furnace. It is supported by three smaller VIM furnaces that are suitable for special melts, process research and development programmes.

Wrought Alloys

This is a process whereby an ingot is processed through a VAR. This process ensures the further refinement and homogenisation of the ingot. The VAR is a twin-station, one megawatt furnace, capable of producing 450mm diameter ingots up to 2.0 tonnes each. This VAR is supported by a 50kg VAR, which will be used for research and development.

Capacity

The current installed capacity of the VIM and VAR combination is approximately 4 000 tonnes of product per annum when operated on a three-shift basis. Avalloy has also recently purchased a top hat furnace and gained access to local forging facilities. A top hat furnace is used to homogenise the product. This is a type of heat treatment that affects the grain structure and improves the mechanical properties of the alloy, i.e. stress rupture, creep rupture and ductility.

Accreditation

Avalloy's products fall into the high performance alloy market. The customers of this market require the products to be of an exceptionally high standard and excellent quality control is essential. There is a separate process that a potential supplier has to go through before the customer accepts them as a supplier.