Sand castings up to 35 tonnes
Large castings in small quantities — without expensive permanent moulds, with pattern equipment owned by you.
Sand casting is the most flexible casting process: the mould is made fresh from bonded moulding sand for every pour, so no permanent tooling is needed. That makes components well into the double-digit tonne range economical, even in quantity one. Pattern equipment is far cheaper than a permanent mould or an injection die and can be modified when the design changes.
We supply sand castings from 10 kg to 35 tonnes in grey iron, ductile iron, cast steel and stainless steel. Hand moulding for large one-off components, mechanised moulding lines for series with reproducible mould quality. Machining, coating and pressure testing on request.
Technical data
| Piece weight | 10 kg – 35 t |
|---|---|
| Processes | Hand moulding, mechanised moulding line, furan resin moulding |
| Tolerances | CT9 – CT12 to ISO 8062 |
| Wall thickness | from 8 mm, depending on process and alloy |
| Patterns | Wood, plastic or metal; customer property |
| Machining | As-cast, pre-machined or ready to install |
| Testing | UT, MT, X-ray, hardness and tensile testing as agreed |
These are typical manufacturing ranges within our supplier network. Larger dimensions and special materials on request — send us your drawing.
Materials
- EN-GJL-250 / EN-GJL-300 (grey iron)
- EN-GJS-400-15 / EN-GJS-500-7 (ductile iron)
- GS-52 / GE240 (cast steel)
- GX5CrNiMo19-11-2 (1.4408)
- GX40CrNiSi25-20 (heat resistant)
- Wear-resistant grades on request
Manufacturing and quality assurance
- Pattern making from your drawing or 3D model, with machining allowances and shrinkage for the target alloy.
- Feeder and gating design, with solidification simulation on critical components.
- Pouring and controlled cooling, followed by heat treatment according to alloy.
- Fettling, blasting and dimensional inspection; first article with a full dimensional report.
- Non-destructive testing as agreed, plus machining and coating on request.
Typical applications
- Machine beds and frames
- Pump and valve housings
- Gearbox and bearing housings
- Wear parts for crushers and mills
- Base plates and columns in plant engineering
- Components for hydropower and turbines
Frequently asked questions
What sizes are possible in sand casting?
From roughly 10 kg to 35 tonnes per piece. In practice the limit is set less by the moulding process than by the foundry's available melting capacity and crane and bay dimensions.
What tolerances does sand casting achieve?
Typically CT9 to CT12 to ISO 8062, depending on moulding process, part size and alloy. Functional surfaces are finish-machined; the machining allowances are defined when the pattern is laid out.
What does the pattern equipment cost?
It depends on size, complexity and pattern material: a wooden pattern for a one-off is far cheaper than a metal pattern plate for series production. We quote pattern cost separately so you can keep piece price and one-off cost apart.
Are single pieces economical?
Yes — that is the classic strength of hand moulding. For spare parts for large installed plant, sand casting is often the only sensible option, sometimes working only from the failed original part as a template.
What is the lead time?
Including pattern making, typically 10 to 18 weeks to first article, with shorter repeat deliveries afterwards. Where a pattern exists, 6 to 12 weeks is realistic depending on size and testing scope.
Request a quote for Sand castings
Send us your drawing or specification. You get feedback on feasibility, material selection and an indicative price — from engineers, not from a call centre.
Send enquiry