From the Furnace to the Road: How Steel is Melted Down and Manufactured

Did you know the melting point of steel is a whopping 1,370 degrees Celsius (or 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit)?

It takes a lot more than a simple furnace to melt and shape this strong metal. Steel is so strong that we’ve relied on this metal as a resource to create our vehicles since the 1800s. Steel forging and car manufacturing are quite lengthy and interesting processes. If you wish to learn more about how steel is melted down to car parts that keep us safe on the road, keep reading.

Which vehicle parts require steel?

Steel is used for gears, engine parts, and the body of the car itself. It’s a substance that’s incredibly strong, yet it’s malleable if exposed to the right elements. It’s also easy to bond the metal parts to others while welding, making it ideal for trains, airplanes, and cars.

Using an steel melting induction furnace

First, the model is sketched out. Every design is configured down to the last detail before the steel is melted down. Then, the melting process can begin. Since the melting point of steel is so high, it requires a unique furnace to melt it down to the point at which it’s workable.

This is where an induction forging furnace comes into play. The melting furnace is able to turn this hard metal into molten iron. The end product is then rolled up and shipped to the manufacturer. Working with an induction forging furnace is more efficient than traditional gas furnaces. Not only do they distribute heat more evenly, but they are also significantly better for the environment by emitting less waste and gas into the air.

Stamping, assembly, and painting

The car is then assembled through robotics. Finishing touches are added — and before you know it, the final product rolls beautifully off the assembly line. Once the final coats of paint and shine are added, it’s off to the dealership.

Some final thoughts on steel

Steel is a valuable and useful resource when it comes to creating our cars, planes, and trains. We literally could not get around without it. However, the tools we use to melt and shape this metal are just as significant. Forging, a process that melts down the metal, could not be possible without an induction forging furnace. Metal travels a long way from the furnace to the freeway, but without this process, we would not live in the convenient and advanced world in which we do.