VERSABAR® (FUCO®) · TUPY Brazil
VERSABAR® bars are grey and ductile cast iron produced by continuous casting rather than sand casting. The result is a bar with the same microstructure end to end, which machines predictably and holds its dimensions — a proven replacement for steel, aluminium, bronze and sand-cast parts.
The same bars are known in Brazil as FUCO®, TUPY's original name for its continuous cast iron profiles — FUCO and VERSABAR are the same product line.
Molten iron is solidified in a water-cooled graphite die, drawn off continuously and cut to length. Because the cooling rate is controlled and identical along the whole bar, the graphite is fine and evenly distributed instead of varying with section thickness the way it does in a sand mould.
Grey iron for damping, machinability and thermal conductivity; ductile iron where strength and toughness matter.
| Grade | Character |
|---|---|
| FC 200 | Excellent machinability and vibration damping |
| FC 250 | Balanced strength and pressure resistance |
| FC 300 | High strength, wear resistance and sealability |
| GMI | Glass mould iron — refined graphite for glass moulds and high-temperature stability |
| Grade | Character |
|---|---|
| GJS 400-7 / FE 400-15 / FE 450-12 | High ductility and toughness |
| FE 500 to FE 700 | High mechanical strength and wear resistance |
| ADI | Austempered ductile iron — high fatigue and impact resistance |
Engineers still search for the older DIN names GG25, GG20 and GG30. In the TUPY VERSABAR range, GG25 is the comparable designation for FC 250 and EN-GJL-250 grey cast iron; the nearest ASTM reference is A48 Class 35. Use this table to identify the requested family, then confirm the drawing, section size and governing standard before ordering.
| TUPY grade | ASTM A48 | DIN 1691 | EN 1561 | SAE J431 | UNI 5007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC 100 | Class 20 | GG 10 | EN-GJL-100 | G 1800 | G 10 |
| FC 200 | Class 30 | GG 20 | EN-GJL-200 | G 2500 | G 20 |
| FC 250 | Class 35 | GG 25 / GG25 | EN-GJL-250 | G 3000 | G 25 |
| FC 300 | Class 40 | GG 30 | EN-GJL-300 | G 3500 | G 35 |
These designations are a general grade comparison. They describe similar material families, but they are not automatically identical or interchangeable in every design.
For parts that need greater strength, toughness, wear resistance or pressure tightness, TUPY supplies nodular or ductile VERSABAR grades. Common search names include GGG40, GGG50, GGG60 and GGG70, together with EN-GJS and ASTM A536 designations.
| TUPY grade | ASTM A536 | DIN 1693 | EN 1563 | SAE J434 | UNI 4544 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FE 40015 | 60-40-18 | GGG 40 | EN-GJS-400-15 | D-4018 | GS 370-17 |
| FE 45012 | 65-45-12 | — | EN-GJS-450-10 | D-4512 | GS 400-12 |
| FE 50007 | — | GGG 50 | EN-GJS-500-7 | — | GS 500-7 |
| FE 55006 | 80-55-06 | — | — | D-5506 | — |
| FE 60003 | — | GGG 60 | EN-GJS-600-3 | — | GS 600-2 |
| FE 70002 | 100-70-03 | GGG 70 | EN-GJS-700-2 | D-7003 | GS 700-2 |
The figures below are the minimum tensile strength, elongation and Brinell hardness ranges published in TUPY's VERSABAR FAQ for the listed grades.
| Grade | Iron type | Tensile strength (MPa) | Elongation (%) | Hardness (HB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC 200 | Grey | 200 | — | 163–207 |
| FC 300 | Grey | 300 | — | 179–285 |
| FE 40015 | Ductile | 400 | 15 | 131–207 |
| FE 45012 | Ductile | 450 | 12 | 131–217 |
| FE 55006 | Ductile | 550 | 6 | 187–269 |
| FE 70002 | Ductile | 700 | 2 | 235–310 |
GG25 is the older DIN 1691 designation commonly used for the comparable EN 1561 grade EN-GJL-250. TUPY lists FC 250, GG25, EN-GJL-250 and ASTM A48 Class 35 in the same comparison row, while noting that comparable standards describe similar rather than strictly identical materials.
TUPY reports machining-time reductions of up to 65%, density about 10% lower than steel, better thermal conductivity and greater vibration absorption. Graphite acts as a natural lubricant and chip breaker, helping reduce cutting-tool consumption.
Yes. The TUPY guide lists oil quenching and induction hardening for increased hardness and wear resistance, as well as surface treatments including galvanising and chrome plating. The exact process must be selected for the grade and finished part.
Grey iron grades suit parts needing machinability, damping and thermal conductivity. Ductile grades suit parts needing higher mechanical strength, wear resistance and tightness. Send the drawing, current material, finished dimensions and duty conditions for grade confirmation.
Supplied in near-net shapes, so there is less metal to remove and less time on the machine.
| Section | Gray iron (FC / GJL) | Nodular iron (FE / GJS) |
|---|---|---|
| Round | 25 to 635 mm diameter | 25 to 635 mm diameter |
| Square | 30 to 170 mm across flats | 30 to 470 mm across flats |
| Rectangular | 25 × 40 mm to 530 × 570 mm | 25 × 40 mm to 530 × 570 mm |
Gross dimensions, machining allowance included. Not every size is made in every class, and sections outside this range are cast to order. The catalogue lists each size against the classes it is produced in, together with the machined dimension, the allowance and the weight per metre.
The graphite in cast iron acts as a natural lubricant and a chip breaker. Combined with a uniform microstructure, that changes the economics of a machined part rather than just its material cost.
Hydraulic manifolds, pistons, plungers and valve bodies. Gears, shafts, bushings and guide rails. Pump and compressor components, automotive and actuator parts, tooling, dies and industrial moulds — and glass industry moulds in the GMI grade.
Real components, with the material they were made from before and the VERSABAR® grade that replaced it.
Also supplied for pump housings, glassware moulds, WRI moulds and linear guide tables on milling machines.
VERSABAR® is produced under TUPY's quality management system and complies with the major international material standards — ASTM, DIN EN, ISO and ABNT. Each grade is made to a controlled chemistry and microstructure so performance repeats from order to order.
Download the cast bar catalogueNeed a grade, a size or a length quoting?
Tell us the part, the grade and the quantity — or send the drawing and the material it is made from now, and we will suggest the VERSABAR® grade that replaces it.
