Mary Glenn

Aftermarket Partnerships Help Extend Equipment Life and Efficiency

BOTW-50w  Source:  AZO Materials

Total lifecycle cost of running a piece of equipment can be significantly reduced if the right end-user/OEM cooperation can be established. This article helps captive heat- treaters think through the process of establishing a profitable partnership with their equipment’s original manufacturer.

Read More: Directing Thermal Processing Efficiency Alongside OEM Parts Replacement Strategies

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Ellwood Texas Forge Navasota Completes Forgings for Boeing

gI_164487_July2016On July 19, 2016, Ellwood Texas Forge Navasota, LLC (ETFN) made its first production shipment of 15-5PH flap-track forgings for the 737 program to the Boeing Portland (Oregon) fabrication facility. Ellwood and Boeing had concluded negotiations on a new multi-year contract in May of 2015, and shortly thereafter began the qualification processes and testing required, ultimately resulting in the successful production of the flap track forgings. ETFN looks forward to a long term relationship with Boeing, exploring new opportunities across all airplane programs.

About Ellwood Texas Forge Navasota, LLC

ETFN is one of two closed die forging companies owned by Ellwood Group Inc., headquartered in Ellwood City, PA.  Located in southeast Texas, ETFN uses conventional hammers, computer controlled counter blow hammers and computer controlled presses to manufacture near net closed die forgings out of carbon, alloy, stainless and titanium.  ETFN also has in-house die sinking, cutting, heat treatment, testing and machining capabilities.

Ellwood Texas Forge Navasota Completes Forgings for Boeing Read More »

SMS Supplies Heat Treatment Line to Axis Pipe and Tube

SMS group has supplied and successfully commissioned a heat treatment facility and pipe threading line, which includes two 4-axis CNC threading machines, at Axis Pipe and Tube, based in Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

The two new plants for the Bryan, TX, works enable the company to produce OCTG tubes (Oil Country Tubular Goods) used in natural gas and crude oil production. With the new state-of-the-art equipment, Axis Pipe and Tube will extend its product range opening up new customer segments.

SMS group supplied a heat treatment line, including a natural gas-fired walking-beam hardening and tempering furnace, a water quenching unit and a 10-roll hot straightener, to produce tube grades of up to HCP110. The supplied pipe threading line features two 4-axis CNC threading machines, which operate on the principle of stationary tool and rotating tube. A hydrostatic pipe tester with a maximum test pressure of 15,000 psi, a finishing section and all pipe handling equipment for the threading line were also part of SMS group’s scope of supply. The pipe handling equipment is designed to prevent pipe-to-pipe contact after threading. The tubes and pipes processed on the threading machines will conform to manufacturing standards as per API 5CT.

Thanks to this project, Axis Pipe and Tube is now even better prepared to fulfill the ever more exacting quality and productivity demands of the market at present and in the future.

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Nitrex Expands, Adds Three Nitriding Systems

Nitrex Metal supplied three supersized nitriding heat treatment systems to US commercial heat treater Nitrex Inc., which recently completed phase one of a 12,000 square foot (1115 m2) expansion at its facility in Aurora, Illinois, a town on the outskirts of Chicago.  The expansion has increased the plant’s nitriding capacities to accommodate parts up to 177” (4.5 meters) long and loads of up to 25,000 pounds (11,300 kg). All systems are equipped with NITREG® nitriding/nitrocarburizing technology, making it possible to meet AMS 2759/10 specifications for nitriding and AMS 2759/12 for ferritic nitrocarburizing. Additionally ONC® technology is available for in-process post-nitriding and -nitrocarburizing oxidation to enhance the corrosion resistance of an already treated part.

According to Tom Copper, General Manager of Nitrex Inc. – Chicago Operations, the primary motivation for the capital upgrades at his plant was that “Nitriding large diameter parts and gears had been limited to furnaces in captive heat treat shops. The same is true for long parts, tubes or shafts. Our new nitriders provide a solution to this underserved market segment.” Along with the new furnaces, phase one of the expansion involved the addition of a new two-story office building and an upgraded metallurgical laboratory.

In the second phase of expansion, the Illinois facility will add another large nitriding system from Nitrex Metal, with a working envelope of 137” Ø by 98” height (3.5 m Ø x 2.5 m H), and a load capacity of 55,000 pounds (25,000 kg). This furnace will offer the same NITREG® process capabilities and will be equipped to meet aerospace standards. The furnace is expected to commence production by January 2017.

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Age-hardening an Aluminum Underwater Buoy Frame

BOTW-50w  Source:  Metlabheattreat.com

Metlab recently assisted TrimMaster in fabricating an aluminum frame for an underwater buoy that would meet customer specifications. Mike Allard, Sales Manager, explains “We were faced with the prospect of welding the aluminum assembly to put it together, and knew that there would be reduced strength at the weld joint. By changing the welding wire we used, we could take advantage of Metlab’s heat treating process, especially their large furnaces to accommodate these parts, to raise the strength of all weldment components to a T-6 condition, giving us the strength that we needed for the application.”

Read More:  Age-hardening an Aluminum Underwater Buoy Frame

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Heat Treatment of Medical Device Fasteners

BOTW-50w  Source:  Fastener-World.com

Fasteners are used extensively throughout the medical device industry (e.g., dental & orthopedic implants,
instruments), utilizing literally hundreds of different shapes and styles to keep the assemblies intact. Even though the components in the medical devices are small or even tiny, when a fastener fails, the device will almost always fail as well. The correct fastener ensures that the device goes together andstays together for the intended life of the assembly, and that the device performs as desired. The right fastener can reduce the
overall cost of a medical device and improve the quality of the entire assembly. Medical devices fall into two broad categories, surgical/non-implant devices and implantable devices.

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Scunthorpe United’s New Stadium Will be Built Using Homemade Steel

Scunthorpe United’s new state-of-the-art stadium will be built using homemade steel after the Iron forged a new partnership with British Steel.

The agreement will also see British Steel’s new brand appear on the League One club’s kit for the 2016-2017 season.

British Steel’s Commercial Director Peter Hogg said: “We’re delighted steel made in Scunthorpe will be used in The Iron’s new stadium. It promises to be one of the finest grounds in the Football League and it makes perfect sense that we join forces on this project.

“Scunthorpe steel has already been used in many top class sporting venues, including the Olympic Stadium that West Ham United are moving into and Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium. And while we are a global company, support from the communities we operate in is crucial – so this is a huge show of confidence in British Steel and the quality of steel we produce.”

Peter Hogg said: “British Steel’s core values are pride, passion and performance – values I know we share with Scunthorpe United

The agreement between British Steel and Scunthorpe United will also see the two organisations work together on a series of community projects, with a particular focus on schools, education and training.

Scunthorpe United chairman Peter Swann said: “British Steel and Scunthorpe United are both at the heart of the community and we are proud to be working together.

“Everyone in the town was delighted when British Steel was launched on June 1 as we all know how vital the business is to our local economy. Thousands of our supporters either work at British Steel, have done so in the past or have friends and relatives with close links to the industry so it is only right that we should support an organisation that means so much to this area.

“However, our decision to use British Steel from Scunthorpe in our new stadium is not based on sentiment alone. British Steel has a global reputation for producing the highest quality steel and you can find it in some of the most famous buildings and stadiums in the world. We want the best for our club, and that’s what British Steel provides.”

The steel for the new stadium will be made in Scunthorpe and rolled at British Steel’s Teesside Beam Mill.

Scunthorpe Site Multi-Union Chairman Paul McBean said: “Together British Steel and Scunthorpe United will make a great team. I’m sure that the many Scunthorpe United fans who work at British Steel in Scunthorpe will be delighted to know that when they cheer the Iron on in their new stadium, they will do so proud in the knowledge that they helped build it.”

Scunthorpe United’s new 12,000 seat stadium is being built as part of the Lincolnshire Lakes housing development to the west of the town.

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Powder Metal Gear Technology: A Review of the State of the Art

BOTW-50w  Source:  Power Transmission Engineering

“During the past 10 years, the PM industry has put a lot of focus on how to make powder metal gears for automotive transmissions a reality. To reach this goal, several hurdles had to be overcome, such as fatigue data generation on gears, verification of calculation methods, production technology, materials development, heat treatment recipes, design development, and cost studies. All of these advancements will be discussed, and a number of vehicles with powder metal gears in their transmissions will be presented. How the transmissions have been redesigned in order to achieve the required stress levels while minimizing weight and inertia, thus increasing efficiency, will also be discussed.”

Read More:  Powder Metal Gear Technology:  A Review of the State of the Art by Anders Flodin

Powder Metal Gear Technology: A Review of the State of the Art Read More »

Heat Treater Adds Federal Firearms Licenses

The Burton Ave., Waterloo, Iowa and Monroe, Michigan locations of Advanced Heat Treat Corp. applied for and received federal firearms licenses (FFL). The company’s two other locations, Waterloo, Iowa, and Cullman, Alabama, already have FFL. Company officials indicated the driving force behind seeking the additional licenses was based on the fact that the processes conducted at each location vary and that requests were being received for more traditional heat treat methods like carburizing and carbonitriding. All four facilities now have FFL.

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