Continental Furnaces’ Normalising Furnace provides controlled heating and air cooling to refine grain structure, improve machinability, and enhance mechanical properties of steel components. This furnace ensures uniform temperature distribution for consistent normalizing results across batch loads.
Key Features
Uniform Temperature Distribution: Multiple heating zones for consistency
Air Cooling Capability: Natural or forced air cooling options
Flexible Design: Batch or continuous processing configurations
Energy Efficient Heating: High-efficiency burner or electric systems
Robust Construction: Durable design for continuous operation
Advanced Controls: PLC-based temperature and time management
Technical Specifications
Design Type: Box, bogie hearth, or continuous roller hearth
Heating Method: Gas burners, oil burners, or electric elements
Temperature Range: 850°C to 950°C (normalizing temperature)
Cooling Method: Still air, forced air, or fan-assisted
Load Capacity: 100 kg to 50+ tons depending on configuration
Temperature Uniformity: ±10°C throughout working zone
Control System: PLC with multi-zone control
Fuel Options: Natural gas, LPG, furnace oil, electricity
Advantages
Improved Machinability: Refined grain structure eases cutting
Enhanced Strength: Better mechanical properties than as-rolled
Stress Relief: Removes residual stresses from forming/welding
Uniform Properties: Consistent results throughout component
Cost-Effective: Simple air cooling process
Versatile Applications: Wide range of steel grades and components
Normalizing Process
Loading: Component placement in furnace
Heating: Ramp to austenitizing temperature (above A3)
Soaking: Hold time for complete transformation
Air Cooling: Removal from furnace for cooling in still/moving air
Inspection: Verification of properties
Applications
Structural Steel Components: Beams, plates, sections
Forged Parts: Crankshafts, connecting rods, forgings
Castings: Steel castings requiring grain refinement
Weldments: Post-weld stress relief and property improvement
Bar and Plate Stock: Preparation for machining
Rolled Sections: Property enhancement after hot rolling
Industries Served
Structural steel fabrication
Heavy forging operations
Steel casting foundries
Machinery manufacturing
Automotive component production
Railway equipment manufacturing
Construction equipment
Process Benefits
Grain Refinement: Produces fine, uniform grain structure
Improved Ductility: Better toughness and impact resistance
Reduced Hardness: Easier machining compared to as-rolled condition
Stress Relief: Eliminates internal stresses
Property Uniformity: Consistent mechanical properties throughout
Material Types Processed
Carbon Steels: Low, medium, and high carbon grades
Alloy Steels: Various low and medium alloy compositions
Structural Steels: ASTM A36, A572, A992, etc.
Forging Grades: 4140, 4340, 8620, etc.
Furnace Design Variants
Box Type Normalizing Furnace: Batch processing of multiple parts
Bogie Hearth Normalizing Furnace: Heavy, large components
Continuous Roller Hearth Furnace: High-volume production
Car Bottom Furnace: Large structural components
Temperature Control Features
Multi-zone independent control
Programmable heating ramps
Soaking time automation
Over-temperature protection
Temperature recording and logging
Thermocouple redundancy
Cooling Methods
Still Air Cooling: Natural convection in ambient air
Fan-Assisted Cooling: Accelerated cooling with fans
Conveyor Cooling: Continuous movement through cooling zone
Cooling Chamber: Controlled cooling environment
Energy Efficiency Features
High-efficiency insulation materials
Recuperative heat recovery systems
Optimized burner design
Zoned heating for partial loads
Quick heat-up capability
Insulated doors and seals
Safety Features
Emergency shutdown systems
Over-temperature alarms
Door interlocks
Exhaust systems for combustion products
Operator safety barriers
Fire detection and suppression
Quality Control
Temperature uniformity surveys
Thermocouple calibration
Hardness testing verification
Microstructure examination
Mechanical property testing
Process documentation
Automation Options
Automatic loading/unloading systems
Recipe management for different steel grades
Data acquisition and trending
Remote monitoring capability
Integration with plant systems
Comparison: Normalizing vs. Annealing
Normalizing:
Air cooling (faster than annealing)
Produces finer grain structure
Higher strength than annealed condition
More cost-effective (no controlled cooling required)
Annealing:
Furnace cooling (slower)
Softer material
Better machinability
More expensive process
Why Choose Continental Furnaces?
Our Normalising Furnaces are engineered for reliable, consistent performance with energy-efficient designs and robust construction. With 35+ years of heat treatment expertise and ISO certifications, Continental Furnaces delivers solutions that meet international metallurgical standards.