Business & Finance: Clean Air for More Pig Iron

No one paid much attention two years ago when Carrier air-conditioned a blast furnace for Woodward Iron Co., subsequently claimed an increased output and a 200-lb.-per-ton saving in coke.* Woodward followed up with two more furnaces, Jones & Laughlin with two. But to most ironmongers air conditioning furnaces at $75,000 looked too expensive so long as 35% of their plant was idle.

Today, with pig iron a potential defense bottleneck, the air-conditioning boys expect a better hearing. Air-conditioning a furnace takes only three to four months.

If air blasted into all 231 U.S. furnaces were cleaned and dehumidified, production might be boosted 10%. Estimated cost: $16,000,000.

To boost pig-iron capacity 10% by building new furnaces would take at least a year, cost an estimated $115,000,000.

* Last week production at Woodward Iron stopped when a mixture of steam and air in a cold blast main exploded.