Foundry

Sheffield Forgemasters operates one of the world’s largest steel foundries, built for the production of heavy, high-integrity castings where performance cannot be compromised. We manufacture components up to 350 tonnes from initial steel volumes exceeding 600 tonnes, using bottom-pour ladles to minimise slag and ensure consistently clean results.

Casting capability at our foundry

We produce castings up to 350 tonnes using up to 600 tonnes of liquid steel, poured via bottom-pour ladles to reduce slag and ensure clean results. In-house sand moulds support complex geometries up to 15m long and 8.5m in diameter, built for critical performance.

150 Years

Experience in steel castings

10,000t

Annual capacity of delivered product

Steel castings from
1-350t

Sand mould making

We produce all sand moulds in-house, starting with bespoke wooden patterns crafted by our own pattern shop.

These are used to form hardened sand moulds shaped to precise specifications, supporting repeatability, dimensional accuracy and the complex geometries required for large-scale, high-integrity steel castings.

Quality & Testing

All castings undergo rigorous inspection using our in-house NDT team and full suite of surface and volumetric testing methods.

Our ASME and EN coded welders carry out any required repairs or fabrication, ensuring each casting meets the critical safety and performance standards expected in sectors like Nuclear and Defence.

Expertise & Materials

With over 250 years of steel casting experience, Sheffield Forgemasters specialises in complex, high-integrity components made from advanced steel grades.

Our expertise spans every stage from design to delivery, including the production of HY80, HY100 and NQ1 grade castings at sizes and thicknesses few foundries can match.

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 facility can produce finished machined steel castings up to 350 tonnes, with maximum dimensions of up to 15 metres in length and 8.5 metres in diameter.
Castings begin with a wooden pattern made in the in-house pattern shop. The pattern forms a hardened sand mould, which becomes the cavity for the liquid steel before being removed and reused.
In-house inspection includes surface and volumetric NDT, supported by coded welders who can carry out repair work, fabrication and cladding when required.
The foundry offers carbon steels, low-alloy grades, stainless options and advanced steels such as HY80, HY100 and NQ1, produced in thicknesses suitable for critical applications.
The foundry produces components for extremely demanding environments, including civil nuclear and defence, where material integrity and performance are essential.

Get in touch with our team