The hallmark "Made by S+C" is a worldwide guarantee for outstanding components and solutions in high-grade steel: corrosion-resistant, heat-resistant and wear-resistant, from semi-finished products to ready-to-install components and systems.

Whether steam cracker, steam reformer, or DRI plant – S+C’s Advanced Engineering Services combine profound material expertise with industry-specific know-how. Every service is as individual as our customers’ requirements – ensuring maximum efficiency, safety, and performance in operation.

Superior quality – this is the constant challenge that S+C sets itself. Direct contact with our customers, and collaboration with respected research institutes and universities worldwide, help our experts develop market-oriented innovations.

S+C Competence

S+C Services

Metallurgical Investigations

Metallurgy is our core competence and tradition

Part of our success as a manufacturer and supplier is rooted in the excellent support we offer our customers. Providing further services is only a natural development!

We have the capability to test components for condition and/or cause of failure. We provide a variety of sample tests for different industries and offer customized service packages.

Investigations by Experts

We know our materials better than anyone

We know our materials better than anyone – because we develop and improve them ourselves. That’s why our metallurgical investigations are conducted by the material experts within our Research & Development Services department, ensuring in depth expertise and state-of-the-art methodology.

From common damage mechanisms like brittle fracture and creep to complex high-temperature corrosion attacks, we apply the right techniques with scientific precision. Our investigations have precision in detail – sometimes down to the nanometer scale – using advanced tools such as scanning electron microscopes to uncover the mechanisms behind material behavior.

This detailed insight helps our customers optimize their processes, extend component life, and use materials more efficiently and sustainably.

Steam Cracker

We usually investigate:

Brittle fractures
Creep
Overheating
Carburization/Nitridation
Coke analysis
Thermal shock

Steam Reformer

We typically investigate:

Creep
Overheating
Thermal shock
Brittle fractures

Direct Reduction

Our unique DRI reformer testrig can investigate:

Creep
Thermal shock
Overheating
Metal dusting

Heat Resistant Applications

We also investigate:

Furnace rollers
Rotary kilns
Retort furnaces
Pusher tubes
Gas inlet nozzles
Lances
and much more

Critical Situations

Fast, reliable help when your process needs it most

When components fail or processes deviate from expectations, it’s critical to identify the root cause quickly and accurately. With decades of experience in high-temperature applications, our skilled team and state-of-the-art equipment are here to help you uncover – and prevent – potential furnace incidents.

We deliver clear, concise, and customer-focused reports, with rapid response times for urgent situations. Our support goes beyond material analysis: we take a holistic approach, combining metallurgical expertise with in-depth process data analysis to ensure we identify the true root cause and help you implement effective solutions.

Remaining Lifetime Assessment

Accurate evaluation of material degradation and service life

Understanding how long components will remain operational is essential – not just for safety, but also for cost efficiency. Every process places unique demands on materials, and evaluating those stresses accurately is key to optimizing performance.

Our extensive testing capabilities allow us to determine the remaining service life of your components with precision. In addition to visual inspections, we conduct detailed macro- and microstructural examinations. Chemical analysis, including elemental composition, helps us assess corrosion levels, while mechanical tests such as tensile and creep testing reveal how much of the material’s life has already been consumed.

With this comprehensive approach, we help our customers make informed decisions and use their materials to their fullest potential.

Ex-Service Investigations

Data-driven decisions for smart material selection

Understanding how materials behave after long-term exposure to demanding conditions is essential for improving performance, safety, and service life. Our ex-service investigations provide exactly that insight.

We analyze components that have already been in service – often for multiple years – under real process conditions. This allows us to assess how temperature, load, corrosion, and time have impacted the material. Whether identifying early signs of degradation or confirming long-term stability, our investigations deliver data you can rely on.

Using a combination of metallographic examination, chemical analysis, and mechanical testing, we evaluate changes in microstructure, detect damage mechanisms, and determine the remaining life potential. We also incorporate process data – such as temperature profiles, load cycles, and atmosphere conditions – into our analysis to ensure that material behavior is fully understood in its operational context.

This holistic approach strengthens the basis for informed maintenance planning and material replacement decisions. It also helps guide the selection of optimized materials for future use – ensuring your processes run more reliably, efficiently, and sustainably.

With decades of experience in high-temperature and corrosive environments, we help you understand what your materials have endured – and how they’ll perform in the future.

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