DC casting tools

PAE Technologies designs, manufactures and commissions complete proprietary casting tools for its own and other vertical DC casting machines.  We also inform customers of any major technological advances that can further enhance the accuracy, flexibility and quality of their casting.

For most ingot formats, PAE Technologies expertise covers every family of aluminium alloy (soft, hard, with high magnesium content, etc…) and all applications, including those for the aerospace industry. Additionally, PAE Technologies offers associated services such as technical expertise, design, calculation of the mold bore profile with its specialized software, supply of spare parts and consumables.

Premium metallurgical quality with water-hole molds

PAE Technologies water-hole molds ensure accurate cooling control of the cast ingot, resulting in premium metallurgical quality products. The following parameters are determined to match the application:

  • hole diameters
  • angle of hole axis from vertical line
  • distribution of holes around the perimeter of the mold.

Note: feeding of water jets may be pulsed, depending on requirements of alloy type.

Water-hole molds for each alloy type

Starting heads of the following types can be provided by PAE Technologies:

  • flat type (typically for soft alloys, with the advantage of optimizing recovery): fixed or variable width type
  • raised center type (typically for intermediate alloys, where it contributes to butt curl reduction)
  • double elliptic curvature (typically for hard alloys, with the advantage of better butt curl control)

Tools for hard alloys

PAE Technologies has delivered hard alloy tooling and other relevant specific provisions to many aluminum casthouses, especially for aerospace applications. Further information on this may be provided at a later step, given that this is part of the company’s proprietary and sensitive technology.

Open molds

Considerable economic benefits can be obtained through the use of open molds, as PAE Technologies still ensures the continuity of supply and services for this earlier technology. 

Mold lubrication

PAE Technologies molds can also be equipped with a continuous and automatic lubrication circuit, especially for long cast lengths.

Accurate cast geometry

This is ensured by tool stacking, using a smart gravity-based self-alignment system designed by PAE Technologies, and involves the following items (listed from top to bottom):

  • molds
  • casting table
  • starting heads
  • starting heads support.

Flexible production with quick change system and variable-width tools

The following technological aspects minimize downtimes and enable flexible production possibilities, using varied formats and alloys:

Quick change: the complete above-mentioned tool-stack can be removed in a single manoeuvre and replaced in less than 30 minutes.

Variable-width molds: both end sides of the molds can be positioned according to the ingot width to be cast.

Variable-width starting heads (only for the flat type) which can be configured according to the ingot width to be cast.

What you get
when you choose
the PAE Technologies
​DC casting tools:

  • The product of a wealth of experience and technological leadership
  • PAE Technologies’s ability to design and supply the whole casting line (located downstream of the holding furnace): degasser, filtering unit, launder system, casting machine
  • 60 years of experience serving aluminum casthouses
  • Unique engineering know-how to match your specific needs and requirements
  • Technological advantages, resulting from our first class innovation policy
  • Extensive operational experience and a real understanding of the needs of users, helped by the fact that our own group is among them
  • First-class customer support and service worldwide