Two of Europe's largest forge furnaces at Sheffield Forgemasters International have been fitted with coating systems to help improve thermal efficiency and performance, saving around GBP 300,000 a year on energy bills.

The two furnaces, based in the heavy forge at Forgemasters' Brightside Lane base, have been treated with Lloyd RIS Group's Emi coat high emissivity coating systems. The application, undertaken on two of the 20 furnaces at the site, is just one of SFIL's recognitions of its ongoing need to reduce its own carbon footprint and improve efficiency.

By applying Emi coat high emissivity coating to the hot face of the refractory in its forge fire number seven, SFIL, a leading global force in large scale engineering, has significantly reduced its monthly gas consumption by 7% on the furnace, equating to a saving of GBP 6,000 per week or GBP 300,000 per year.

Mr Gareth Barker operations director within the heavy forge at SFIL said that "Forgemasters is continually striving to improve efficiency, reduce costs and recognizes the need to invest in technologically advanced materials to surpass the exacting standards we demand within this environment."

Mr Steve Lloyd MD at Emi coat said that "This is a proven energy saving system with the ability to dramatically transform the substrate to absorb and reradiate energy improving thermal efficiency and performance of the kiln or furnace. This thereby reduces energy consumption and helps to improve your carbon footprint."

Mr Neil Clare sales director at Emi coat said that "We are delighted that a world leader like Sheffield Forgemasters has chosen to benefit from our system and hope to work with them on future projects at their Brightside Lane base to improve energy efficiency even further."