KNOW-HOW IN STEEL Italy-based Siderval is one of the clear market leaders in special hot extruded steel bars produced through hot extrusion. Industry Europe looks at its activities and some of the more recent projects in which it has been involved.
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ounded in 1971, Siderval is now recognised as a leading player in its field. From its headquarters in Talamona, Italy, Siderval operates using the latest, state-of-the-art equipment. It runs an automated peeling system with an annual production capacity of some 42,000 tonnes. Its special automated saws cut round steel bars into ingots of different lengths according to their specific weights and to the length of the profile to be produced. A modern horizontal hydraulic press with a capacity of 2400 tonnes extrudes bars of up to 16m in length with complex sections, solid or hollow, designed with a maximum diameter of 200mm. “Nowadays the company makes use of cutting-edge technology which offers technically innovative and economical solutions,” 152 Industry IndustryEurope Europe
begins Ernesto Riva, member of board of Siderval. “We make complex and unusual profile shapes in tubular and solid sections which cannot be produced using either traditional hot or cold working techniques. We are able to transform high alloy steels which, owing to their fast cooling properties and sequential hardening of the material, require short deformation time. Also, we are able to produce small quantities at competitive prices thanks to limited tooling costs; as such the production of a number of sample bars at no added cost has become possible. This is a great advantage that we share with clients.” As a result, extruded steel bars have become fundamental in many different industries, including: the energy industry (where they can be used to manufacture
thermo-nuclear and hydraulic power stations), aeronautics, marine, construction, automotive, automation & tooling, chemicals and so on.
Road to Panama The extension of the Panama Canal is one of the most high-profile projects in which Siderval is currently involved. The Canal is considered to be one of the most important works of engineering in the world as well as being of strategic importance for global commerce and security. In order to accommodate the next generation of over-sized vessels, the Panama Canal is getting its most ambitious upgrade in 93 years: a third channel hemmed in by its enormous flood gates. Due for completion by the end of
