Overview
BIA offers a complete foundry service, including simulation, pattern making, trialling, moulding, hardness and mechanical testing and certification. We have a close working relationship with a number of NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) certified test laboratories. Our expert metallurgist works with you to understand your needs and can offer advice on the best materials for your project.
Whether your iron or steel casting is as small as 0.2 kg or larger than 1000 kg, contact BIA. We quote on each job individually and have a system in place to keep you informed on progress.
BIA has a state-of-the-art spectrograph and a fully equipped testing centre, to ensure that your specifications for metal quality, metal characteristics and foundry moulding sand are all met.
Our foundry is specially equipped to produce castings that have differing shapes and dimensions, have a significant degree of complexity or require a higher than average quality finish. All our work meets the industry standards required by AS/NZS ISO 9001:2000, so you can be sure that every item that leaves our casting foundry is of the highest quality. With our competitive lead times and guaranteed on-time delivery of your orders, BIA is your ideal industry supplier.
Melting
Moulding processes
The BIA casting foundry uses two types of moulding sand in the production of iron and steel castings:
- Greensand moulds are made up of sand, clay, coal dust and water, used in an undried state. The mould is set by a combination of additives and pressure and is suitable for medium to high volume runs of parts. It is not suitable for steel castings. The moulding materials can be continually recycled and greensand moulds are one quarter the cost of those made by the hardsand method. For information about our greensand moulding capabilities, click here.
- Hardsand moulding, which is also known as the cold setting process, is most often used for large moulds or jobbing work. It is suitable for both iron and steel castings. Sand is mixed with a binder and a catalyst, which react, hardening the sand. The sand can be reclaimed. For information about our hardsand moulding capabilities, click here.
Simulation
Computer-aided design and state-of-the-art solidification software allows BIA to test run or 'rapid prototype' your product, to predict the casting outcome prior to commencing full production.
We perform cast trials on all new parts, then dimensionally check and inspect for cast integrity, through either non-destructive or destructive testing.
Pattern making
We have alliances with a number of quality pattern makers. This gives us the capability to provide patterns for your castings in a variety of materials and ensures that all tooling supplied conforms to your requirements. This also gives us the flexibility to choose the pattern maker who will provide you with the most timely delivery.
Heat treatment
The BIA casting foundry has a heat treatment facility on site. Because this means that BIA has full control of the process, it is cost effective and we guarantee shorter lead times. The plant has a 'top hat' configuration and can accommodate castings of maximum dimensions 2.1m x 1.8m x 1.1m.
We offer you access to the following treatments for your products:
- annealing
- normalising
- tempering
- stress relieve
