The decision by several major foundries in Britain to employ FTL/Wrib long-campaign cupolas for their primary melting, reflects the growing realisation that a coke-fired cupola is the most flexible and cost-effective solution to obtaining large throughputs of molten iron. Previous environmental concerns have now been satisfied by incorporating bag-house filters within FTL’s cupola plants thus reducing particulate emissions to well below 20 mg per cu.m.

FTL/Wrib cupolas offer many advantages over large electric furnaces, not least their ability to melt at any time of the day or night without incurring the maximum demand charges associated with electrical power. Cupolas can be stopped and started as required without temperature loss or variations in metal composition. Low cost charge materials can be used including dirty or oily scrap or coated steel with no environmental penalty.

FTL/Wrib cupola installations are designed to meet the client’s requirements with outputs from 5-50 tonnes per hr, providing new cupolas or modifying existing cupolas.

FTL/Wrib cupolas are equipped with externally water-cooled shells and Wrib’s unique internally- protruding, water-cooled, copper coil tuyeres, designed to direct the blast to the centre of the furnace, creating an intense superheated melting zone. The melting zones may be lined or liningless, operating up to 24 hr per day continuously for 4-8 week campaigns.

Improved metallurgy, reduced refractory consumption and extended operating hours, cut melting costs whilst maintaining the flexibility to meet varying production requirements.