Foundry

Vhm FONDERIE is an iron foundry specialized in the production of cast iron parts in gray iron (GL), ductile iron (GS), and alloyed cast irons, ranging from a few grams up to one ton, using sand casting. The flexibility of the manufacturing process makes it possible to produce prototypes, small and medium series, or to reproduce parts from:

existing tooling
of the part to be replaced by overmolding
of a pattern to be created or recreated from drawings, CAD files, or parts.

Fusion électrique

Sand Casting Principle

Sand casting is a foundry process that uses a mold cavity formed in sand from a pattern shaped like the part. It allows the casting of materials with high melting points such as cast iron. This technique is particularly well suited for producing large parts as well as small and medium production runs.
Discover the manufacturing process in video.

Pattern Making

Vhm FONDERIE has an in-house pattern making workshop for the adaptation and maintenance of its customers’ tooling. The creation of new tooling (patterns and core boxes) is carried out by the company Vhm RÉALISATIONS 3D using additive manufacturing or by partner pattern makers.

Model for VHM hydrant

VHM collar model made using 3D printing

Legs model

Core Making

The core making workshop is equipped with three automatic Laempe machines with capacities of 1.5, 10, and 36 liters, using the cold-box process. For core boxes that fall outside standard dimensions, a mixer is used for manual filling.

Molding

Flask Molding

Vhm FONDERIE operates a semi-automatic sand molding line to produce molds ranging from 600 x 600 x (2x300) to 940 x 1130 x (2x300). The molds are made of chemically bonded self-hardening sand. A key feature of this line is the quick changeover of references within a mold, allowing the production of single units as well as small and medium series.

Hand molding

In addition, our manual sand casting line with chemically bonded, self-hardening material allows us to produce larger parts. It has a range of molds to accommodate most part shapes. If needed, the Vhm Group's Mechanical Engineering Department can manufacture custom molds.

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Electric Melting

Vhm FONDERIE is equipped with two electric induction furnaces, each with a capacity of one ton. Replacing the coke-fired cupola furnace with electric induction melting has been one of our most significant actions to reduce the environmental impact of our plant.

Each stage of liquid metal production is monitored by our qualified operators using a mass spectrometer and thermal analysis of the phase change from liquid to solid. Variability in the cast iron production process is controlled through statistical analysis of parameters (SPC – Statistical Process Control), enabling us to guarantee repeatability and consistent cast iron quality.

Cast Iron Grades Produced

Lamellar Graphite cast iron: EN-GJL 200, 250 and 300
Spheroidal Graphite ("ductile") cast iron: EN-GJS 350-22, 400-15, 400-18 and 400-18LT, 450-10, 500-7 and 600-3
High-silicon Spheroidal Graphite cast iron: EN-GJS500-14 and 600-10
Simo cast iron (high temperature resistant): EN GJSF-XSiMo4-0.6, XSiMo4-1 and XSiMo4.8-0.6
Niresist cast iron (corrosion resistant): EN GJSA-XNiCr20-2
Nihard cast iron (abrasion wear resistant): EN GJN-HV520, HV550, HV600

Other grades are available on request.