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SP Bars from Ovako Deliver Increased Added Value for Component Producers

12/25/2012 - Utilizing advanced hot rolling technology across its steel grades Ovako can supply Special Properties (SP) bars that deliver increased added value and significant cost savings when used in subsequent manufacturing operations.

Utilizing advanced hot rolling technology across its steel grades Ovako can supply Special Properties (SP) bars that deliver increased added value and significant cost savings when used in subsequent manufacturing operations.
SP bars are produced from high quality steel grades, hot rolled with enhanced properties developed to maximize final component manufacture. Tight tolerances, superior mechanical properties and improved surface quality help to reduce subsequent manufacturing costs. Close to the properties achieved by peeled or cold drawn bars, they can eliminate the necessity of such an additional process.
Excellent straightness and roundness are the result of a highly refined production process for these hot rolled bars with residual surface stress levels of the material much lower than in the cold drawing process.
The round bars are supplied as near net shape material for component production allows manufacturers to produce more component parts per tonne as a direct result of the tight tolerances achieved. This can allow customers the opportunity to decrease the nominal size of the bar they specify close to the near net shape of the finished components. This increased yield is particularly prevalent in cutting blanks for forging operations. As the weight variation of the blank is reduced there is less burr produced during forging making for a more efficient operation.
Where component manufacture involves machining Ovako can offer a suitable SP bar material grade to improve machinability with finished product uniformity greatly increased when compared to the use of conventional hot rolled bar material.
Accurate control of reheating of billets, prior to hot rolling to finished size ensures low levels of decarburization, important for enhanced mechanical properties. Improved tensile strength and toughness make it possible to replace more expensive alloyed steel grades with SP bars, while also improving weldability.
Weight can also be reduced by decreasing the diameter of the bars used on an installation due to the superior characteristics of the material.
In applications where cyclic loads are a consideration, such as springs, fatigue life of the material is of prime importance. The excellent fatigue strength of SP bars, in both quenched and tempered and as rolled conditions, results in longer fatigue life. It also allows downsizing of dimensions.
Where impact strength is a requirement, as in fixing bolts for wind power mills, SP bars provide superior levels combined with high tensile strength after quench and tempering.
Ovako SP bars are used across a range of manufacturing industries including automotive, marine, offshore, rail, energy, agricultural machinery and construction. Their use can enhance the mechanical properties of a component, while helping to reduce the overall manufacturing costs.
Because of the enhanced specification and tight tolerances of the material, repeatability within manufacturing processes are significantly improved. Uniformity in finished products is greatly increased when compared to the use of conventional hot rolled bars.
Ovako SP bars are supplied in diameters from 14 mm up to 47.5 mm and in lengths up to 12 meters. Each order is optimized to best meet individual requirements of subsequent component manufacturing operations.  
Ovako is a leading European producer of engineering steel for customers in the bearing, transportation and engineering industries. Our production covers low-alloy steels and carbon steels in the form of bars, tubes, rings and pre-components. The company has production plants in 11 locations and several sales companies in Europe and the USA. Net sales in 2011 were € 1,121 million and the number of employees was 3,239. Total steel production capacity is 1.3 million tonnes per year.