What is Disc Forging?

The disc forging process is used to create large steel discs for use in industrial equipment, valves and other high-pressure components for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries.

The Steel Disc Forging Process

The first step is to cut a slab of steel billet from the grade of steel you want to use. Steel disc forging can be made of carbon steel, stainless steel or some other steel alloy–depending on what the final use of the finished product will be.

Once a suitable slab has been cut, that slab then has the corners “broken off” and is “rounded” to prepare it for the next step of the process.

The next step, the roughly rounded slab of steel is “upset” or stood on end in order to work it between the upper and lower dies to provide the disc with directional grain flow which creates additional strength, impact resistance and ductility in the disc. This also makes sure that the center of the disc has been worked as well as the edges, assuring that the steel grains at the center of the disc are worked smooth and as strong as the rest of the disc.

The disc is then shaped further through the forming process to meet the size requirements for the job.

What is Steel Disc Forging Used for?

Steel forged discs, also known as pancake forgings, create blind flanges for oil, gas and petrochemical pipeline applications. They are also used in the industrial equipment used in industries such as steel production, power generation and power transmission.

FCI is One of the Leading Forging Manufacturers in North America

Forged Components Inc. (FCI) manufactures custom disc forgings up to 110” OD from any material grade specified by the customer. The most common industry applications for FCI’s disc forgings are blind flanges and forged tubesheets. For more information, please call us at (281) 441-4088 or contact us online to get a quote from our sales staff.