Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders

Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders work in foundries and metal production facilities, where they control massive furnaces that melt and purify raw metals or scrap metal into usable materials for manufacturing. They spend their shifts monitoring temperature gauges, adjusting fuel and oxygen flow rates, and carefully timing each stage of the melting and refining process. These workers add precise amounts of chemicals and alloys to achieve the desired metal composition, then take samples to test for quality and purity. They operate controls for electric-arc, induction, open-hearth, or oxygen furnaces, each requiring specific knowledge and techniques.