SinterCast AB reported a 6.3% annual rise in compacted graphite production for licensed operators of its metallurgical control technology during 2023. Sustained over four quarters of record production totals, the increase in CGI output drove a 13% rise in revenue for Stockholm-based SinterCast, which noted that the increased volumes actually extend now to 11 consecutive quarters of growth.
In terms of volume, the developer reported full-year series production totaled 3.7 million “engine equivalents” (each engine equivalent representing 50 kg.)
“The full-year 3.7 million ‘engine equivalents’ equates to 185,000 metric tons of shipped castings,” SinterCast president and CEO Dr. Steve Dawson explained, “probably ~270,000 metric tons of liquid metal treated.”
Compacted graphite iron is a lightweight ferrous material that offers greater tensile strength, stiffness, and fatigue strength than gray iron or aluminum. Series production of CGI mainly involves diesel and gas engine manufacturers seeking to reduce weight, noise, and emissions for their designs.
For SinterCast, commercial vehicle production accounted for 51% of the total volume of CGI series production in 2023. Dawson noted that covers production of a range of engine sizes as well as a mix of engine blocks and head. “But” he conjectured, “the industry probably made about 1.5 million engines with SinterCast-Inside during 2023.”
In addition to the volume production, SinterCast draws revenue from the supply of sampling cups used in refining the ferrous alloy and from the software used in the control of the metallurgical process.
*This report has been updated.