Solar Atmospheres, Inc. announced their most recent acquisition, Certified Metal Craft (CMC) located in El Cajon (an East County suburb of San Diego). With nearly 55 years of serving the Southern California region, CMC and the Wiederkehr Family have established themselves as a source for heat treating and brazing services. With the addition of CMC to the Solar Family of Companies, CMC establishes Solar’s 6th nationwide location and bolsters their West Coast presence.
Derek Dennis President Solar Atmospheres California
CMC has extensive capabilities to include vacuum, aluminum, atmospheric, endothermic, salt bath and cryogenic processing and currently employs 25 dedicated employees. Servicing the aerospace, medical, and commercial markets, CMC is Nadcap-accredited and holds a long list of customer and prime approvals. Tim Wiederkehr will immediately assume the role of V.P. of Operations and report to Derek Dennis, president of Solar Atmospheres of California, Inc.
Derek Dennis states “Solar is excited to welcome the dedicated CMC team into the growing nation of Solar companies.” He adds, “Together, we will continue to grow our west coast footprint while solidifying our industry leading approach of being the ‘go-to’ choice for all heat treating & brazing needs with an unwavering commitment to honesty and integrity in all relationships.”
This press release is available in its original form here.
An international manufacturer of heat exchangers is expecting a new EV/CAB line to support their production of components, subsystems, and system solutions for thermal management in cars. The company provides energy-saving and high-performance products for regular petroleum and diesel fueled cars, as well as solutions for new electric vehicles.
Piotr Skarbiński Vice President of Aluminum and CAB Products Segment SECOWARWICK Source: LinkedIn
“The EV/CAB line on order is designed specifically for the production of “Snake” type battery coolers,” said Piotr Skarbiński, VP of the Aluminum Process and CAB Business Segment in SECO/WARWICK. He further commented that the heating and cooling design “contributes to the final product’s exceptional quality using our unique technology that achieves excellent temperature uniformity across the width of the belt, which is the key to successful production.”
The company will execute their first “Snake” battery coolers in SECO/WARWICK furnaces. This is the eighth CAB line which will operate in this automotive industry manufacturer’s plants and the second one with a width of 2,300 mm.
The controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) line on order will include a convection preheating chamber, a radiation furnace and two cooling chambers. The entire system will be equipped with a dedicated control system.
“This cooperation opens new perspectives for the SECO/WARWICK Group development in our region. The excellent heating and cooling design contributes to perfect temperature uniformity across the 2300 mm belt width, which is the key to successful production. We have already sold over 20 such solutions in China, and the demand for them is constantly growing,” commented Liu Yedong, Managing Director of SECO/WARWICK China.
Around the world, the demand for battery coolers is increasing due to the increasing production of electric vehicles.
This press release is available in its original form here.
Today’s News from Abroad installment highlights more carbon-cutting trends from the steel industry, ranging from robots in the cast house to recycling best practices.
Heat Treat Today partners with two international publications to deliver the latest news, tech tips, and cutting-edge articles that will serve our audience — manufacturers with in-house heat treat. heat processing, a Vulkan-Verlag GmbHpublication, serves mostly the European and Asian heat treat markets, andFurnaces International, a Quartz Business Media publication, primarily serves the English-speaking globe.
Robots Bring Safety to Casting
Primetals Technologies’ new customized LiquiRob robotics system in operation at Siam Yamato Steel’s Map Ta Phut plant
Source: Primetals Technologies
“Thai steel producer Siam Yamato Steel has implemented a new robot concept from Primetals Technologies, including LiquiRob, at its steelworks in Map Ta Phut . . .. Thanks to the robotics solution, safety and occupational health in the steelworks have significantly improved. Previously, workers who manually operated the shadow tube had to stand directly next to the distributor and the stream of steel flowing out of the ladle. In the case of a so-called ‘frozen pan.’”
CELES EcoTransFlux™ brings green high heating abilities to the induction heating technology.
Source: Furnaces International
“Nippon Steel Stainless Steel Corporation and Sojitz Group met with our induction team at Fives headquarters in Paris for a detailed design review of the transverse flux induction heating system. CELES EcoTransFlux™ is an induction heating technology with very high heating rates at extremely high temperatures, and a compact footprint. It also has a minimal environmental footprint, making it beneficial for steelmakers to improve their carbon, stainless or electrical steel production.”
EAGP members signed an agreement to engage in a standardisation project for beverage cans.
Source: Anrita1705/Pixabay
“Four leading flat-rolled aluminium manufacturers and members of the European Aluminium Packaging Group (EAPG), Constellium, Elval, Novelis and Speira, have signed an agreement to engage in a standardisation project to maximise the recycled content levels of the beverage can and thus substantially lower carbon emissions, focused on increased recyclability of the can end.”
Mini-Mill Investment Transforms Future for Swedish Metal Manufacturer
Fossil-free mini-mill
Source: Furnaces International
“SSAB’s Board of Directors have taken the decision to proceed with the next step in SSABs transition, building a state-of-the-art fossil-free mini-mill in Luleå, Sweden. When completed SSAB will close the current blast furnace-based production system. This will reduce Sweden’s CO2 emissions with 7% in addition to the 3% from the Oxelösund mill conversion.”
A custom-built vacuum induction melting (VIM) equipment is set to expand thermal processing for a manufacturer, whose operations already has two VIM solutions.
The furnace will be fabricated at the Buffalo headquarters of Retech, a SECO/WARWICK Group subsidiary, to capitalize on available schedule improvements. As custom equipment, the subsidiary’s furnaces are not dependent on assembly-line style construction, so they can be fabricated and assembled just in either location.
While this client prefers not to divulge this VIM’s application, Retech’s solution can handle casting a wide range of materials used in applications from automotive and consumer products to critical, high-value equiaxed, directionally solidified, or single-crystal aerospace parts. Almost every furnace Retech makes is modified to meet the specifications and associated applications of its clients.
VIM from the Retech Buffalo, NY location.
Source: SECO/WARWICK
What is the most common scenario for a eutectic reaction? And (for that matter) what constitutes a eutectic reaction?
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If your heat treat operations involves vacuum heat treatments, you may already be familiar with this term. With the ability to truly make a bad day worse, this paper uncovers several examples of eutectic reactions, the costs that this “metallurgical experiment” can have on your load and furnace, and what steps you should take to prevent two mating metals from melting together. In this best of the web article, read about the eight examples of how barriers are used in real-world applications.
An excerpt: “To many people, the term ‘eutectic’ is not well understood. The best way to think of a eutectic is a metallurgical meltdown. A eutectic reaction occurs when two components with different melting points and surfaces free of oxides come in contact with each other in the vacuum furnace. This can create an atomic diffusion. For some materials, when a specific atomic composition is reached, they will melt at a temperature much lower than the melting point of the individual metals. If that temperature is reached or exceeded during the heat treating cycle, melting will occur at the contact points. This is referred to as a eutectic melt.”
A hot isostatic press will add a new capability to the research infrastructure already in place at the Sydney Manufacturing Hub (SMH), the advanced manufacturing research facility at the University of Sydney, Australia.
Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) has become a critically important technology for the densification of unconventional microstructures associated with additive manufacturing (AM) across a broad spectrum of industries. It has proven of particular value in developing high-performance materials and building advanced metallic structures for mission-critical applications, for example within the aerospace, hypersonics, defense, biomedicine, energy, mining & minerals, and oil & gas sectors.
According to Professor Simon Ringer, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure) at University of Sydney, the SMH (as a research facility) is focused on offering the broadest possible range of advanced manufacturing capabilities, aiming to support the entire AM workflow from design right through to final part conformity in one facility.
“This [Quintus Technologies] hot isostatic press delivers enormous uplift in our university’s contribution to the national advanced manufacturing capability,” states Prof. Ringer. “It aligns critically with our own initiatives such as at the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator and our Net Zero Initiative. Moreover, this is a nationally significant capability that will allow our researchers to partner with industry to blaze new trails in manufacturing-related R&D.”
The Quintus Hot Isostatic Press going to the Sydney Manufacturing Hub is equipped with URQ® and URC® technology. Source: Quintus Technologies
The SMH selected the press model QIH 15L M URQ® + URC®, equipped with several proprietary features that streamline the HIP process and produce finished 3D printed parts with maximized theoretical density, ductility, and fatigue resistance. Uniform Rapid Quenching® (URQ) delivers an impressive cooling rate of 103K/minute while minimizing thermal distortion and nonuniform grain growth. HPHT™ (High Pressure Heat Treatment) combines stress-relief annealing, HIP, high-temperature solution-annealing (SA), high pressure gas quenching (HPGQ), and subsequent aging or precipitation hardening (PH) in one integrated furnace cycle.
Quintus’s strong focus on materials science and materials processing research, exemplified by the URQ functionality, was of special interest to the Sydney hub, Prof. Ringer relates. He also cites the intrinsic safety of the vessel and yoke design, along with the rapid cycle time for processing AM parts, as major benefits for the facility, which is geared to enable concept-to-production demonstration capabilities.
“Our new HIP capability will address a significant gap in the AM community in the Australian region and further offer the potential for SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and start-up companies to access this critical process,” Prof. Ringer adds.
SMH’s broad user base extends from its own researchers to those from other local universities and research organizations to private industry and collaborations with international institutions.
Jan Söderström CEO Quintus Technologies
“As the industry leader in advanced hot isostatic pressing technology for over 70 years, we have noted exceptional interest in new manufacturing approaches that improve quality, lower cost, and reduce environmental impacts,” says Jan Söderström, CEO of Quintus Technologies. “We are excited to work with the talented researchers at the Sydney Manufacturing Hub to deepen their expertise and refine processes for pressure-supported heat treatment, laying the foundation to advance both productivity and sustainability for operations in Australia and its neighbors.”
The hot zone of the model QIH 15L M URC® measures 7.32 inches (186 mm) in diameter and 19.7 inches (500 mm) high. The press operates at a maximum pressure of 207 MPa (30,000 psi) and a maximum temperature of 2,552°F (1,400°C). It will be installed in the Hub’s purpose-built facility on the University of Sydney’s Darlington campus in January 2025.
This press release is available in its original form here.
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Robert (Bob) Hill, FASM President Solar Atmospheres of Western PA Source: Solar Atmospheres
Solar Atmospheres of Michigan has successfully relocated from the old Fraser and Warren facilities to a new location in Chesterfield, Michigan. All ten furnaces (both new and existing) are fully operational at the Chesterfield plant, heralding a new era of efficiency and productivity.
This spring, construction will begin on a 15,000 square foot expansion on an adjacent lot. The expansion will allow for the investment in cutting-edge vacuum furnaces from Solar Manufacturing.
Bob Hill, president of Solar Atmospheres of Michigan, states, “Our future is very bright in Michigan. The consolidation and expansion will allow us to elevate our service standards and meet the evolving demands of our clientele across Michigan and the surrounding states. Solar of Michigan remains steadfast in its dedication to innovation, service excellence, and customer satisfaction as it ventures into this new chapter of growth and expansion.”
This press release is available in its original form here.
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2024 is a big year for heat treaters who work for the DoD.AsJoe Coleman, cybersecurity officer at Bluestreak Consulting, explains, Controlled Unclassified Information is a key topic you need to understand if you want to maintain or grow contracts with the DoD this year.
This Cybersecurity Corner installment was released in part inHeat Treat Today’s March 2024 Aerospace print edition.
If you are a prime contractor for the Department of Defense (DoD) or a subcontractor, then you have CUI in one form or another whether it is in paper or digital format. Learn what is, and is not, considered Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
What Exactly Is Considered CUI?
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The DoD handles CUI in many forms across its operations. CUI includes sensitive information that requires safeguarding but does not meet the criteria for classification as classified information. Examples of DoD CUI include:
Click image to download a list of cybersecurity acronyms and definitions.
Export Controlled Information (ECI): Information that is subject to export control laws and regulations, such as technical data related to defense goods and services.
For Official Use Only (FOUO): Information that is not classified but still requires protection from unauthorized disclosure for official government use.
Critical Infrastructure Information (CII): Details about critical infrastructure elements like facilities, systems, networks, and assets that are essential for national security, economy, or public health.
Privacy information: Personal information of individuals (e.g., Social Security numbers, medical records) that needs to be protected under privacy laws and regulations.
Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) Information: Information that, although unclassified, is sensitive and requires protection due to its potential impact if disclosed.
Contract-related information: Non-public details within contracts, such as proprietary information, financial data, or technical specifications.
Proprietary information: Data owned by an entity and protected by intellectual property rights or confidentiality agreements.
In the heat treating industry, DoD CUI might include various sensitive details related to heat treatment processes, materials, or specifications used in defense-related applications. Here are some potential examples of DoD CUI within the heat treating industry:
Material specifications: Specifications for heat treated materials used in defense equipment, weapons systems, or components. This could include details about specific alloys, heat treatment methods, tempering, or hardening processes required for certain applications.
Process documentation: Detailed procedures and technical information regarding heat treatment processes employed in the production of defense-related materials or components. This might involve specific temperature ranges, cooling rates, or other proprietary methods used in heat treating.
Quality control data: Information related to quality control measures specific to heat treating in defense-related manufacturing. This could involve data on testing methodologies, inspection techniques, or standards compliance for heat treated materials used in critical defense systems.
Research and development (R&D) information: Research findings, experimental data, or proprietary knowledge related to advancements in heat treatment technologies tailored for defense applications. This may include innovative heat treatment methods for enhancing material properties, durability, or performance in defense systems.
Supplier information: Details about suppliers providing heat treatment services or materials to the defense industry, including contractual agreements, proprietary processes, or specifications specific to DoD projects.
Cybersecurity measures: Information about cybersecurity measures employed within heat treatment facilities that handle DoD contracts or projects to safeguard sensitive data from cyber threats.
Facility security protocols: Details regarding security protocols, access controls, and clearance requirements within heat treating facilities handling defense-related projects to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Other items that may be identified as CUI provided by the DoD or generated in support of fulfilling a DoD contract or order include, but are not limited to (in both paper and digital formats):
Research and engineering data
Engineering drawings and lists
Technical reports
Technical data packages
Design analysis
Specifications
Test reports
Technical orders
Cybersecurity plans/controls
IP addresses, nodes, links
Standards
Process sheets
Manuals
Data sets
Studies and analyses and related information
Computer software executable code and source code
Contract deliverable requirements lists (CDRL)
Financial records
Contract information
Conformance reports
What Is Not Normally Considered CUI?
Here are several examples of items that may not typically fall under DoD CUI for the heat treating industry:
General industry standards: Information related to commonly accepted industry standards, processes, or procedures that are widely available and not specific to defense-related applications.
Non-proprietary heat treatment techniques: Basic information about standard heat treatment methods or techniques that are publicly known and not proprietary to a particular organization or application within the defense sector.
Publicly available research: Scientific or technical research findings, publications, or data that are publicly accessible, not subject to proprietary rights, and not specifically tied to defense-related advancements.
Commonly shared best practices: Information regarding widely accepted best practices in heat treating that do not involve proprietary or classified techniques applicable solely to defense-related materials or components.
Non-sensitive business operations: Routine business operations, administrative documents, or general non-sensitive communications within the heat treating industry that do not pertain to defense contracts or projects.
Information approved for public release: Data that has been officially approved for public release by the DoD or other relevant authorities, ensuring it does not contain sensitive or classified details.
Basic material specifications: Information about materials, alloys, or heat treatment processes widely used in commercial applications and not specifically tailored or modified for defense-related purposes.
I hope this information has been helpful to you. Please contact me with any questions and for a free consultation, with a complimentary detailed compliance ebook.
For more information: Contact Joe Coleman at joe.coleman@go-throughput.com.
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There are four heat treat industry-specific economic indicators gathered by Heat Treat Today each month since June 2023, and this month, we are seeing a marked downturn in expectations across all indicators.
The numbers, compiled in the second week of April, show that responding parties strongly anticipate all four indices — number of inquiry, value of bookings, size of backlogs, and health of manufacturing economy — to grow. However, all projections are significantly down, which would seem to indicate that industry suppliers are approaching April with far more conservative expectations as compared to Q1 2024.
The results from this month’s survey (April) are as follows; numbers above 50 indicate growth, numbers below 50 indicate contraction, and the number 50 indicates no change:
Anticipated change in the Number of Inquiries from March to April: 51.9
Anticipated change in Value of Bookings from March to April: 56.5
Anticipated change in Backlog Size from March to April: 51.9
Anticipated change in the Health of the Manufacturing Economy from March to April: 51.3
Data for April 2024
The four index numbers are reported monthly by Heat Treat Today and made available on the website.
Heat TreatToday'sEconomic Indicatorsmeasure and report on four, heat treat industry indices. Each month, approximately 800 individuals who classify themselves as suppliers to the North American heat treat industry receive the survey. Above are the results. Data started being collected in June 2023. If you would like to participate in the monthly survey, please click here to subscribe.
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As heat treaters strive for a sustainable future, pressure mounts to make the right choices while running commercially viable operations. This guest column by Michael Mouilleseaux, general manager at Erie Steel, Ltd., explores how and why heat treat operations are now coming under the focus of the U.S. Department of Energy.
This informative piece was first released inHeat Treat Today’s March 2024 Aerospace print edition.
The iron and steel industry contributes approximately 2.1% of energy-related CO2 emissions from primary sectors in the U.S. These statistics may seem insignificant or far removed, but the federal government has now determined that heat treating is a significant contributor and has set in motion critical changes for U.S. heat treaters.
Background
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On December 8, 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that committed the federal government to “lead by example” in U.S. efforts towards carbon-free and net zero emissions solutions. Since then, the executive has delegated the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to spearhead these initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and promoting energy efficiency across various sectors of the U.S. economy. To support these efforts, $10,000,000,000 in incentives are being allocated for the DOE and EPA to investigate and promulgate regulations.
Specifically, the government sees the “industrial sector” as responsible for close to a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE); the five industries named within this sector are chemical processing, petroleum processing, iron & steel production, cement production, and food & beverage manufacturing. The DOE is leading the efforts of “supercharging industrial decarbonization innovation” and leveraging the potential of “clean hydrogen.”
Following these directives, the DOE unveiled the “Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap” in September 2022. This strategic plan will guide decarbonization efforts of the five key industrial sectors to mitigate GHGE. The four pillars are:
Energy efficiency
Industrial electrification (using green electricity)
Adoption of low-carbon fuels, feedstocks, and energy sources (LCFFES)
Carbon capture, utilization, and storage at the generated source (CCUS)
The DOE determined that process heating — accounting for 63% of energy usage within the iron and steel industry — would be the best opportunity to apply these four pillars. However, until May 2023, heat treating had not been explicitly mentioned as a target for decarbonization efforts.
Why Should Heat Treaters Care?
In May 2023, the Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office — an office within the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy — held a symposium to refine its commitment to the decarbonization of the industrial sector. It was then that heat treating was specifically defined as a process targeted for the reduction of GHGE in the steel, aluminum, and glass manufacturing industries.
The DOE’s refined commitment focuses on two things: reduce GHGE attributable to “process heating” by 85% by 2035 and achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. To reach these ambitious goals, the DOE emphasized the importance of adopting LCFFES, green electrification, and implementing strategies that promote industrial flexibility, advanced heat management, smart manufacturing, and alternative technologies.
The potential ramifications of the DOE’s efforts on the heat treating industry are momentous. With the development of regulations to support these efforts, businesses within this sector must prepare for significant changes. The focus on green hydrogen, biofuels, and electrification, coupled with advanced technological solutions like ultra-efficient heat exchangers, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and alternative no-heat technologies, are strategies being considered for potential regulation.
Conclusion
The heat treating industry stands at a crossroads, with the DOE’s decarbonization initiatives signaling a shift to adopt cleaner energy practices. As these regulations take shape, businesses will need to adapt, investing in new technologies and processes that align with the nation’s clean energy goals. In the next column, we’ll address potential ramifications of the DOE effort for industrial decarbonization in the heat treating industry to help you be better informed and prepared.
About the Author:
Michael Mouilleseaux General Manager at Erie Steel, Ltd.
Michael Mouilleseaux is general manager at Erie Steel, Ltd. He has been at Erie Steel in Toledo, OH since 2006 with previous metallurgical experience at New Process Gear in Syracuse, NY, and as the director of Technology in Marketing at FPM Heat Treating LLC in Elk Grove, IL. Michael attended the stakeholder meetings at the May 2023 symposium hosted by the U.S. DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. He will be speaking on the MTI podcast about this subject on March 5, 2024, 2:30 EST, and will present on this topic at the April 3, 2024, MTI Mid-West chapter meeting.
For more information: Contact Michael at mmouilleseaux@erie.com.
Attend the SUMMIT to find out more about the DOE’s actions for the heat treat industry.
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