When unwanted distortions in metal structures appear, their correction becomes necessary in many industrial processes.
The traditional method used for this application is flame straightening. For this, a skilled operator provides heat in specific areas, following a heating pattern, which determines the reduction of distortion in the metal structure. A solution in order to reduce the mentioned distortions is to apply heat on certain areas in these structures creating mechanical stresses in the material. Currently this straightening process has high costs because it requires a large amount of skilled labour, high workplace hazards, contamination of work area and high energy consumption.
Induction straightening uses a coil to generate localized heat in pre-defined heating zones. Induction straightening is extremely fast compared to conventional straightening processes. Induction heating is widely used to straighten ship decks and bulkheads. When straightening ship decks and bulkheads, the reports say that there is minimum 50% time saving compared to traditional methods. In the construction industry it is used to straighten beams. Induction straightening is increasingly used in the manufacture and repair of locomotives, rolling stock and heavy goods vehicles.