Here you will find a general overview of foundry furnace technology most commonly used in the metal casting industry. Energy is a major cost in all foundries. The majority of energy used is in the melting and metal holding processes.

Five types of foundry furnaces are commonly used to melt metal: cupola, electric arc, reverberatory, induction and crucible. Some foundries operate more than one type of furnace and may even transfer molten metal between furnace types in order to make use of the best features of each. The choice of which furnace or furnaces to use, or the decision to change from one type of foundry furnace to another, is not simple but depends on a number of factors. These include: the scale of the operation, the type of process (e.g. repetition or jobbing), the types of metals required, the raw materials available, the relative cost of fuels (e.g. coal, natural gas, electricity), capital, maintenance and operational costs, and environmental requirements and costs.

Cupola Furnaces Electric Induction Furnaces Electric Arc Furnaces Rotating Furnaces Crucible Furnaces