Finland-based stainless steel producer Outokumpu stated that using stainless steel slabs instead of ingots in heavy forging provides significant cost and material savings.
According to Outokumpu, cast slabs up to 300 mm in thickness offer numerous benefits over traditionally used ingots. Forging an ingot requires more heating, work, energy and time than forming a slab, while using slabs saves resources and increases yield by 8 to 15 percent.
Stainless steel slabs are used widely in demanding applications such as flanges, power plant components, shipbuilding, marine parts and petrochemical pipes and parts.