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Furnaces for Metals

Walking Beam Furnaces

WALKING BEAM FURNACES

Experience unparalleled efficiency with our Walking Beam Furnaces

NUTEC Bickley Walking Beam Furnaces

NUTEC Bickley's walking beam furnaces are essentially state-of-the-art heating furnaces that are extremely efficient for processing large/heavy parts in semi-continuous mode.

The load moving system of this type of furnace (fixed beams and walking beams) can be made with hard refractory material, or with high temperature steel alloys in custom shapes according to the size of the product.

walking beam furnaces

Walking Beam Furnace for Hot Forming Heating

Walking Beam Furnace for Hot Forming Heating

walking furnaces

Heat Treating Walking Beam for automotive parts

walking beam furnaces for metal

Walking Beam Furnace for Hot Forming Heating

beam furnaces for metal

Walking Beam Furnace for Hot Forming Heating

metal industry walking beam

Walking Beam Furnace for Hot Forming Heating

nutec bickley walking beam

Walking Beam Furnace for Hot Forming Heating

nutec bickley walking beam furnaces

Heat Treating Walking Beam for automotive parts

Industrial furnaces manufacturer in USA for the Metal Industry

Our more than 50 years of best technology on thermal engineered equipment, insulation systems, combustion equipment, instrumentation, controls and heat recovery systems.

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General Specifications

Dimensions

30 ft Long to over 60 ft Long (10 m Long - 20 m Long)

Temperature

510°C to 1,200°C (950°F to 2,200°F)

Standards

AMS, CQI-9, ASTM, ASME, API

Power Source

Natural and propane gas. Electrical configurations available

Key Differentiators

Firing: Pulse firing combustion systems available.

Energy Savings: Most advanced heat recovery systems with recuperative burners performing fuel savings, from 10% up to 50% vs cold air system.

Insulation: Fiber lined sections using the patented Jointless® system with special design to compensate the fiber shrinkage reducing the maintenance considerably.

Built to Last: Walking hearth beams using heavy duty precast refractory designs with high resistance.

Versatility: Customized walking beams alloy designs according with size and shape of product.

Efficiency: No cooling water requirement.

Flexibility: Efficient heating cycles of different parts.

Download the resources related to our Walking Beam Furnaces

Walking Beam Furnaces data sheet

Download data sheet

Learn about our solutions for the metals industry

Download catalogue

Technology

SCADA

With our SCADA systems, kilns operators are able to have complete control of their firing process, enhancing efficiency and productivity.

Learn more about SCADA

ECOmbustion™

NUTEC Bickley’s proprietary ECOmbustion™ system is an innovative control methodology designed to achieve fuel savings in gas-fired kilns, bringing operating costs down and reducing carbon footprint.

Learn more about ECOmbustion™

Jointless® Insulation

NUTEC Bickley’s patented ceramic fiber Jointless® modules provides for minimal maintenance, enhanced fuel economy and extended service life.

Learn more about Jointless® Insulation

Mechanism of standard operating process of a walking beam furnace

A Walking Beam Furnace is designed to heat heavy or long products, such as billets, slabs, blooms, or forged components, through a continuous process while preserving surface quality and integrity.

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Loading: Workpieces are placed at the furnace entrance onto stationary and movable beams. Unlike pusher furnaces, the walking beam system lifts and advances the material without sliding it, reducing surface damage and mechanical stress—especially important for high-value steels and alloys.

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Zoned Heating: The material progresses through preheating, heating, and soaking zones. High-efficiency burners and advanced control systems maintain precise temperature profiles. Efficient combustion and heat recovery systems help ensure efficiency and temperature uniformity.

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Reciprocating Movement: The movable beams lift, advance, lower, and return in a synchronized cycle. This stepping motion guarantees uniform heat transfer, stable positioning, and uniform throughput without sliding or deformation.

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Discharge and Cooling: Once the thermal cycle is complete, the material exits the furnace for controlled cooling or direct transfer to rolling or forging operations, maximizing process efficiency.

Reheating in walking beam furnace

In a walking beam furnace, reheating occurs as the steel slabs or billets move through multiple temperature zones (such as preheating, heating, and soaking zones).

Each zone is equipped with burners or heating elements strategically placed to evenly distribute heat. As the material advances step by step on the lifting and moving beams, it remains exposed to controlled high temperatures that gradually bring it up to the desired level.

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Preheating Zone: The material first enters a lower-temperature area, preparing it for the intense heat that follows.

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Lifting and Moving: A second set of beams rises to lift the material, then moves it forward one step.

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Soaking Zone: The final section maintains the target temperature for a set period, allowing internal heat equalization and consistency.

Throughout this process, the furnace’s insulation and design help minimize heat loss, while the walking beam mechanism reduces mechanical friction and ensures uniform exposure.

By carefully regulating temperature in each zone, the furnace delivers a consistent, high-quality reheating for subsequent processes like rolling or forging.

Industries we serve

Steel fabrication

Related Processes

Hot forming

Related Services

Spare Parts

NUTEC Bickley provides the best Spare Parts brands for industrial furnaces, kilns and other equipment, with the highest quality components in the combustion and control areas.

Learn more about our Spare Parts catalog

Maintenance Policies

NUTEC Bickley provides Maintenance Policies for industrial furnaces all over the world. Our commitment is to keep your combustion systems in the best possible operating condition with periodic reviews and a process of continuous improvement.

Learn more about our Maintenance Policies

Related Resources

Metals Industry - Industrial Furnaces

(E-Book)

Date Added:

02/14/2023

Download E-Book

Metals Industry
Walking Beam Furnaces

(PDS)

Date Added:

04/27/2023

Frequently asked questions about our walking beam furnaces

What is a walking beam furnace?

A Walking Beam Furnace is a continuous unit primarily used in hot rolling mills to heat steel slabs, billets, or blooms to a uniform temperature before downstream processing. Unlike pusher-type furnaces, the walking beam system lifts and advances the material in a controlled step-by-step motion, minimizing surface damage, reducing skid marks, and ensuring superior temperature uniformity. From an operational standpoint, this technology represents one of the most efficient and compact solutions available for high-throughput reheating applications.

What is the mechanism of walking a hearth furnace?

A walking hearth furnace uses a moving hearth rather than beams to transfer material—often steel slabs or billets—through the heating zones. Here’s how it works:

Stationary and Moving Hearth Sections: The furnace floor is divided into segments; some remain fixed, while others can be raised or lowered.

Lifting and Sliding: The moving sections lift the material slightly off the stationary sections and slide it forward one step.

Lowering: Once the material is positioned over the next segment, the moving section lowers it onto the stationary hearth.

Repetition: This process repeats at set intervals, creating a “walking” motion that transports the material through different temperature zones for uniform heating.

Because the slabs or billets are moved in incremental steps, the process ensures reduced mechanical friction, uniform heat distribution, and precise temperature control throughout the furnace.

This is Nutec Bickley

Providing Thermal Equipment Solutions that go beyond expectations

We serve multiple industries through the design, building and installation of combustion systems, thermal insulation and highly specialized industrial furnaces, kilns and ovens. We are focused on understanding our customers’ needs and supplying the best equipment at the most competitive price.

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Do you want advice to select the ideal furnace or spare part for your project?

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