Standard
Standard holding
The temperature-stable buffer. Fed by the melt shop, it keeps molten metal at exact pouring temperature so the casting line never waits and the melter never stops.
15–60 t · induction holdingHolding furnaces · Coreless
Coreless
Holding
Furnace.
Holds the bath at controlled temperature, always ready to pour. From 15 to 60 t, up to 2 MW.
15 to 60 tCapacity
Up to 2 MWPower
CoilBathLid
CIMEMAN · DWG 03Scale 1:20Turin
Capacity15–60 tStandard range · holding
Holding power2 MWup to
EfficiencyUHELow-energy holding · IGBT
Metals0+Iron · steel · non-ferrous
01 · The principle · holding
Metal stays molten.
Always ready to pour.
The coreless holding furnace receives molten metal and keeps it at the exact pouring temperature on low power; when needed, the magnetic field stirs the bath so corrections and fast temperature increases can be made. It tilts hydraulically to pour on demand, never letting the metal cool.
15–60 tCapacity
up to 2 MWHolding power
Since 1952CIME coreless
02 / 06
With a holding furnace vs. without
Why a holding furnace pays off.
The holding furnace is the buffer between the melting furnace and the pouring furnace: it frees the melter to keep melting, holds metal at exact temperature, and feeds the line on demand.
Property
CIME holding furnace
Ladle holding
Cast direct from melter
Frees the melter to keep melting
Yes, full buffer
Partly, for minutes
No, melter tied to line
Temperature control
Precise, metered induction heating
Drops over time
Tied to the melt cycle
Electromagnetic stirring
When needed, inherent, homogeneous bath
None
In the melter only
Hold duration
Unlimited
Minutes
None
Energy to hold
Low, induction top-up
None, metal just cools
Higher, melter runs
03 / 06
Power & control · low-energy holding
The key points.
Precise temperature control
A closed loop with pyrometer feedback holds the bath at the exact pouring temperature, from 0 to 2 MW of holding power, whatever the casting line demands.
UHE · low-energy holding
A holding furnace runs continuously, so efficiency compounds. The UHE coil and IGBT power keep the bath hot on the lowest possible energy, cutting kWh and CO₂.
IGBT converters
Modern IGBT converters deliver a high power factor and clean power quality.
Computerized holding control
Temperature curves, energy logging, lining diagnostics and recipe memory, ready to interface with the melt shop, the casting line and the foundry MES.
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Technical specifications
Engineered to your requirements.
Coreless holding · technical data
Furnace typeCoreless induction holding furnace
FunctionHold molten metal at pouring temperature
Capacity15 – 60 t
Holding powerUp to 2 MW
Power supplyIGBT converter
CoilWater-cooled copper induction coil
StirringElectromagnetic · set by frequency: low frequency, maximum stirring; high frequency, no stirring
TiltingHydraulic tilting · 100% emptying
Max temperature1650 °C
MetalsGrey & ductile iron, steel, copper/bronze, aluminium
ComplianceCE · ISO 9001
Standard capacities · tonnes
15 t
20 t
25 t
30 t
60 t
From 15 t to 60 t holding stations. Each furnace is sized to the casting line demand and metallurgy. Custom capacities and tandem-fed layouts available on the 700+ install base.
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Configurations
One furnace, many roles.
UHE
UHE · low-energy holding
A holding furnace runs all shift, so every kWh counts. The UHE coil and IGBT power keep the bath at temperature on minimal energy, cutting both cost and CO₂.
Lowest holding kWh · IGBTBackup
Spare melting unit
CIME can supply the coreless body as a ready spare unit. Installed fast on a failure or stoppage, it removes the foundry most expensive risk: unplanned downtime.
Ready backup · zero downtime?
FAQ · operational
Operational questions, straight answers.
What is an induction holding furnace?
A coreless crucible furnace that keeps molten metal at exact temperature as a buffer between the melting furnace and the casting line. A water-cooled coil tops up the heat on low power, the magnetic field stirs the bath when required, and the furnace tilts hydraulically to pour on demand.
Which metals can it hold?
Grey and ductile (nodular) iron, carbon and alloy steel, copper and bronze, and aluminium, up to 1650 °C. Electromagnetic stirring, when required, keeps temperature and chemistry homogeneous across the bath.
What capacity and holding power are available?
Capacities run from 15 up to 60 tonnes, with holding power up to 2 MW. Each furnace is sized to the casting line demand.
Why use a holding furnace instead of casting from the melter?
It frees the melting furnace to keep melting, holds metal at precise temperature, and feeds the casting line on demand, so the line never waits for metal and the melter is never tied to the casting rhythm.
How much energy does holding use?
Little. Induction only tops up the heat lost to the surroundings. The UHE coil and IGBT power keep the energy required to a minimum.
Can the holding furnace be supplied with a backup unit?
Yes. CIME can supply the holding furnace with a ready-to-use spare coreless body, installed quickly on a failure or stoppage so the foundry avoids its most expensive risk: unplanned downtime.
Built around your foundry.
Whether you need a holding furnace engineered to your process from the ground up, or want to bring an existing installation up to date with our components and controls, talk to CIME. We engineer to your operation, not to a catalogue.