Metal industry - Foundry - extractor tongs - Stationary equipment - France- +4400% lifetime

Objective

Replace case-hardened steel with Creusabro^® 8000 in extractor tongs used for removing hot cast parts from molds, with the goal of drastically improving wear resistance, thermal shock resistance, and tool longevity.

Test Conditions

• Location: Foundry operation in western France

• Environment: High-temperature handling of cast parts, subjecting the tool edges to repeated contact with hot, abrasive surfaces and thermal shocks.

• Function: Extractor tongs used to grip and remove heavy, freshly cast components — requiring both mechanical strength and wear resistance at elevated temperatures.

• Original material: Case-hardening steel (cemented surface), replaced every 10 days

• Replacement material: Creusabro® 8000, processed by plasma cutting and bending

Results

• The original cemented steel tools lasted only 10 days in production.

• The Creusabro® 8000 extractor tongs have reached 2 years of service life under identical conditions — a +4,400% improvement.

• The new solution eliminated the need for case hardening, simplifying manufacturing and reducing lead time.

Value Delivered

• Massive Lifetime Increase: From 10 days to 2 years — drastically reducing downtime and tool change frequency.

• Thermal & Mechanical Reliability: Maintains wear resistance even under repeated thermal shocks and contact with hot cast parts.

• Simplified Fabrication: No heat treatment required; plasma cutting and bending enabled easy, repeatable production.

• Cost & Time Savings: Fewer tool replacements, reduced inventory turnover, and improved operator efficiency.

Expert Insight

This case illustrates how Creusabro® 8000’s microstructure — combining high wear resistance and toughness — can outperform traditional case-hardened steels even in harsh thermal environments. By switching to a homogeneous, through-hardened solution, the foundry eliminated the weaknesses of surface-only treatment and unlocked long-term durability.

Conclusion

By replacing case-hardened steel with Creusabro® 8000, Fonderies du Poitou and Abraservice achieved an exceptional +4,400% increase in service life, reducing tool changes from every 10 days to every 2 years — with easier processing and better in-service reliability.

Creusabro® proves to be a game-changer in foundry tooling, where heat, abrasion, and impact push materials to their limits.

Comparative test