Forge

Sheffield Forgemasters’ forging heritage dates back over 250 years and now has the capability to produce high-integrity steel forgings.

Our current facilities support the manufacture of hollow, solid and near-net shaped components up to 300 tonnes through advanced open-die press operations.

forging capabilities

Our forge includes two open-die hydraulic presses rated at 4,500 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes, giving us the scale to handle ingots up to 300 tonnes. These presses support complex shapes, long-length forgings and large-diameter sections, combining to create one of the most capable large-scale forging operations in the UK.

UK’s Largest Open-Die Press

Shafts Forged
Up To

19.8m

Forging
Ingots Up to

300t

Forge furnaces

Heating steel to forging temperature is achieved through large gas-fuelled re-heat furnaces operating at around 1,250°C. Overhead cranes transfer ingots straight from furnace to press to maintain temperature consistency, and large forgings move through multiple forming and re-heating cycles to reach their final size and integrity.

Quench facilities

Our forge includes vertical oil and water quench tanks up to 20 metres deep, allowing hot components to move straight from forging or heat treatment into controlled quenching. This supports consistent hardening across large and heavy-section steelwork.

Manipulator & Cranes

Fully integrated manipulators and turning gear give operators steady, controlled movement over large steel components, allowing each piece to be rotated and positioned with accuracy as it progresses through the forging stages. This level of control is essential when working with heavy-section ingots and complex shapes. Supporting this is a high-capacity crane system capable of lifting components up to 330 tonnes, accompanied by a 120-tonne service crane for additional handling.

Discover Our Full Capabilities

Need detailed specifications? View and download our latest brochures, certification documents, and technical guides to see how we deliver the world’s most critical components.

FAQs

The forge can handle ingots up to 300 tonnes on the 10,000-tonne press, with maximum sizes including discs up to 5080 mm, rings up to 5560 mm OD, tubes up to 3050 mm OD × 1900 mm ID and shafts up to 2100 mm in diameter. Lengths of up to 19.8 metres are also achievable.
Forgings are produced using 4,500-tonne and 10,000-tonne open-die presses. Fully integrated manipulators and turning gear control rotation and positioning, while high-capacity cranes including units rated up to 330 tonnes move material between each stage.
Steel is brought to forging temperature in large gas-fuelled re-heat furnaces, typically around 1,250°C. Overhead cranes transfer ingots straight from the furnace to the press to minimise temperature loss and maintain uniformity.
Large ingots cannot be shaped to final dimensions in a single pass. They require a controlled sequence of deformation and intermediate re-heating to achieve the correct geometry and mechanical properties across the full cross-section.
Vertical oil and water quench tanks up to 20 metres deep allow components to be cooled directly after forging or heat treatment. This supports controlled hardening and helps deliver consistent properties in large, heavy-section steelwork.

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