Manufacturing Process
What is forging?

Shaping metal by the forging process involves heating metal to a plastic state and then hammering it into the required shape. Modern forging is done with cavity tooling or dies which are like hard steel "molds". These dies are placed between the hammer and table of a forge hammer. Red hot metal is placed on the die and struck with a blow of many thousands of pounds forcing the material into a desired shape.

Raw Material:

Wichard uses only certified alloys to guarantee conformance with the customer’s specifications. We do a random spark analysis on all deliveries before the material leaves the truck to be sure of our guarantee of quality.

There are hundreds of different alloys available today in steel, stainless steel and titanium. Each is engineered for a particular hardness, ductility, weldability, resistance to corrosion or a combination of conditions to best suit the end use.

Pre-heating Metals:

We heat raw material to a plastic state in electric gas ovens. The pre-heat process is critical to quality forging. Time in the furnace, temperature control, as well as type of heat (electric), gas or oil fired) is very important to controlling the molecular structure of an alloy.

Forge Hammering:

Hold the red hot metal over a die made in the desired shape of a product. Strike the metal a powerful blow with the forge hammer and the material instantly forms into the desired shape.


Trim:

Excess material is then cut away and a rough copy of the desired product is revealed.

Heat Treat:

Re-heating the product on a strict schedule of time and temperature will harden the material and stabilize it for long term use.

Tumble and Polish:

This process is what delivers a smooth shiny surface to the products.


Passivate:

Products are bathed in a heated acid to form a protective film over the surface. This film will protect the metal from corrosion.

 

We are not just involved in manufacturing for the marine industry.  Because of our precision forgings, companies from many segments of industry seek us out to build their products.

Medical

Wichard has been making drop forged blanks for implants since 1974.
Originally concentrated on titanium, the activity evolved towards more varied bio-compatible materials including:

       

 

Titanium TA6V Eli
                  TIAL8 NB7
 Stainless steels

Cobalt-Chromium

 ISO 5832-3
ASTM F1295
ISO 5832-9
ISO 5832-1D
ISO 5832-12


The main applications are:

Hip items
Tibial items
Shoulder plates
Osteosynthesis plates
Spinal systems

Wichard is developing according to the internal and external procedures included in AQAP 120 - ISO 9002 certification.

Automotive

Wichard has partnered the Automotive Industry for more than thirty years.
The activity mainly concerns small parts made in steel or stainless steel automatically drop forged from wire 17mm maximum diameter.
Wichard develops its own dies internally using CAD/CAM (PRO ENGINEER PTC), as well as for forging and stamping.
Finishing activities, i.e. machining, heat treatment and coatings are subcontracted to specialists.

In addition Wichard is certified AQAP 120 – ISO 9002, and uses of SPC – FMECA methods, etc.

Aeronautic

Wichard is partners of subcontractors to major manufacturers for engine and cabin equipment as well as high security parachute buckles.

This activity covers all the small highly stressed parts made in titanium (TA6V), stainless and alloyed steels.

Weights of aeronautic parts vary from 5 to 350 grams.


Wichard is developing according to the internal and external procedures included in AQAP 120 - ISO 9002 certification.



Small forged parts

Since it began back in 1919, Wichard has specialized in forging small precision parts (scissors, surgical instruments, etc.)
Today Wichard develops its dies internally using powerful CAD/CAM resources (PRO ENGINEER PTC).
The precision obtained combined with stamping experience enables products from 1 to 400 grams to be made to very strict tolerances.
Wichard is certified AQAP 120 – ISO 9002, which ensures the application of internal and external procedures (customer's specifications).

The metals worked are very varied and include alloyed or stainless steels, titanium, aluminum, etc.
Wichard also makes use of specialized subcontractors for machining, heat treatment and coating operations in order to provide a complete service.