The Hidden Cost of Corundum Growth in Aluminum Furnaces
If you have an aluminum furnace, you’re familiar with corundum. When molten aluminum oxidizes with oxygen in the atmosphere, corundum forms. And it’s dangerous, whether it’s forming in a melt furnace or in a holding furnace: When corundum forms inside of the furnace refractory, it expands and destroys the refractory lining and eventually the joints of the furnace. When corundum…Read More ›
How to Avoid Getting Fooled When Evaluating Refractory Contractor Bids
As a refractory contractor focused on installation, maintenance and mechanical work, we’re used to filling out Request for Proposals and cost grids. These are extremely helpful for industrial manufacturing purchasing departments to use to compare unit pricing and select the lowest bid. But sometimes, these end up hurting you. How is that possible? First, let us clarify that we completely…Read More ›
Precasting Special Shapes on the Fly to Prevent 2 Days of Downtime
One of the lesser-known, yet most rewarding, parts of our business results from the opportunities we have to leverage our creativity. That may sound odd coming from an industrial refractory contractor. Not everyone thinks of industrial contractors as being creative. And many of our jobs are very straightforward. But sometimes, the unexpected occurs which gives us a chance to flex…Read More ›
A Maintenance Checklist for an Aluminum Furnace
Keeping your industrial aluminum furnace in peak operating condition and preventing refractory breakdown requires regular maintenance. It’s like your car: if you don’t change the oil, monitor fluids and replace the parts that wear out, you’re headed for a breakdown. Remember, “pay-me-now or pay-me-later.” Today, unlike in previous decades, we’re finding that it’s not uncommon for industrial facilities to lack…Read More ›
Double the Refractory Cost, Triple the Savings
To state the obvious, everyone in industrial manufacturing in the U.S. is searching for cost reductions. The common practice is to attempt to find savings by reducing upfront material and labor costs. However, that provides no guarantee of actual saving over the long term, and there are times when you need a wide-angle lens instead of a fine-tooth comb to…Read More ›