Forging hand-tools using metal waste

A UK maker of traditional hand-tools - Footprint Tools - is part of a research project in recycling metals for industrial forging.

The other partners in the project are the Henry Royce Institute and the University of Strathclyde's Advanced Forming Research Centre, part of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland Group.

They hope that this could be a step-change in the production of safety-critical components for the aerospace, defence and energy sectors using machine waste and linear hammer technology.

Beginning in 1760, Sheffield-based Footprint Tools has unveiled a precision linear forge that is the only one in the UK, and one of two Europe.

Partner Lead, Professor Martin Jackson at the University of Sheffield, says, 'Sheffield has more titanium waste than anywhere in the UK, yet we put it into the ferro-titanium as an alloy addition. It is too good of a material to do that. That’s why Sheffield is leading the way in a forging revolution around recycling, putting us at the forefront of rapid near-net shaping from recycled materials. We are well ahead of China and the United States, and this should enable us to extend that lead.'