When it was established in 1981, concentrated on producing grey iron and, basically unchanged, would probably have continued to trade fairly profitably in this sector. But that was simply not good enough for the young and dynamic management of this 78 employee company as, over the years, has been added high and low alloy steels, high alloy cast irons and, more recently, duplex stainless steels. Output is around 1,000 tonnes per year of which 80% is exported.
The company has deliberately set out to process small to medium quantity orders. Steel castings can be supplied in weights up to 600kg and nodular iron to 250kg. By accepting relatively small orders that perhaps other foundries would decline, Ferespe has accumulated an unusually broad customer base in sectors including pumps and valves, food, and petrochemical. The recent introduction of duplex stainless steels has further expanded Ferespe??s ability to serve the petrochemical industry.
The aspirations for the company by its senior management are far thinking. Ferespe has regularly been involved with European research programmes, in the past these involving design and simulation software, mould paints, and modelling using LOM. Current projects include the use of austenitic ductile iron for gears and rapid prototyping. The latter programme involves Portuguese universities and foundry institutes. Close connections with Porto University??s Materials Department means that many students enjoy a one year work experience at Ferespe as part of their course.
Advanced systems for manufacturing moulds and cores are employed using the latest chemically bonded sand technology, metal being dispensed from electric induction furnaces. To ensure that production is accurately maintained and monitored, a bar code system is used throughout the works. The unique code tag for any particular job triggers the correct chemically bonded sand ??recipe?? and feeds back information to the production control computer on a minute by minute basis.
Because of the type of alloy grades produced by Ferespe, heat treatment forms an important part of the production process, gas fired furnaces being available on site. The company is always pleased to offer its customers additional post casting operations. The fact that many take advantage of this opportunity results in some 40% of castings being despatched in the machined condition.
Ferespe management has, however, taken the decision to sub-contract this type of work as many of the parts it casts are often highly complex. It recognises that its skills are in foundry work, preferring to turn to companies whose expertise is in machining to carry out these complex operations.
FERESPE - FUNDICAO DE FERRO E ACO, LDA manufactures following products