Euradwaste '08 - EU Bookshop - Europa

limitations of the selected press. The fabrication of the various pieces of the mould involved some
very demanding casting and machining.
Figure 3.1.3 the mould during factory commissioning operations at Creusot-Loire facilities
Fabrication of the rings and discs
The fabrication took place in 3 steps (3 pressing campaigns) between June and December 2006.
Stripping of the rings / discs turned out to be a serious technical challenge, but in the end the 10
discs and 2 rings were produced during the last pressing campaign, in less than 16 hours (including
mobilization and demobilization of personnel and equipment). The Figure 3.1.4 below shows the
mould under the press arcade in the Aubert & Duval factory in Issoire, just before the start-up of the
compaction process.
Figure 3.1.4 the 60 000 t press in Issoire
Figure 3.1.5 the 4 ton / 2.25 m cold compacted
buffer ring
The final product turned out to be of very good quality (samples were taken from one of several
extra rings fabricated during the 2 first campaigns in order to check the homogeneity of the
compacted material) with a smooth surface finish. Figure 3.1.5 shows one ring just after stripping
and before conditioning.
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