AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS

GM to Spend an Additional $1 Billion on US Plants

  Source:  Advancedmanufacturing.org

General Motors Co. said it will spend an additional $1 billion on US manufacturing plants, a move the automaker estimated would add or retain 1500 factory jobs.

GM (Detroit) didn’t specify the factories affected, saying in a statement that such details “will be announced throughout the year.” The investment will involve “multiple new vehicle, advanced technology and component projects,” GM said.

Read More:  GM to Spend an Additional $1 Billion on US Plants by Bill Koenig

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Superalloy for High-Temperature Turbines

  Source:  Engineering 360

Researchers at Ohio State University have found a way to deactivate “nano twins” to improve the high-temperature properties of superalloys that are used in jet engines.

The advance could speed the development of turbine engines of all sorts, including those used for transportation and power generation.

Read More:  Superalloy for High-Temperature Turbines by the Engineering 360 News Desk

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Dana Technologies Help Power Award-winning Vehicles, Engines

James Kamsickas, Dana Inc., Automotive Heat Treating

James Kamsickas, President and CEO of Dana Inc.

 

Dana Incorporated announced that several of its advanced technologies are incorporated into vehicles and engines that have recently received significant industry accolades.  Specifically, its technologies are utilized on the 2017 North American Truck and Utility Vehicles of the Year, the Motor Trend Truck of the Year, and six of the 2017 Wards 10 Best Engines.

The 2017 Honda Ridgeline and 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, named the North American Truck and Utility Vehicles of the Year at this year’s North American International Auto Show, incorporate Dana’s high-performing technologies into their powertrain assemblies.  The Honda Ridgeline features Dana’s Victor Reinz® cam cover module on its 3.5L V-6 engine, and Victor Reinz® heat shields are incorporated on the Chrysler Pacifica.

Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year, the 2017 Ford Super Duty, boasts a variety of Dana’s leading driveline, sealing, and thermal-management technologies.  Specifically, Dana supplied its Spicer® front and rear axles, as well as Spicer® propshafts, for the 2017 F-250 through F-550 models.

In addition, Dana supplies exhaust manifold, exhaust gas recirculation, and turbo gaskets; thermal-acoustical protective shielding (TAPS); and charge air, transmission oil, engine oil, and diesel fuel coolers for the Ford Super Duty 6.7-liter diesel engine.  Dana’s valve stem seals, transmission oil cooler, and plastic cam covers also are incorporated into the 6.2-liter gas engine.  Together, these technologies help the automaker meet industry demands by improving fuel economy and engine durability, and by reducing oil consumption, weight, and emissions.

Multiple Dana solutions were also integrated onto this year’s Wards 10 Best Engines.  Included among these are Dana’s Victor Reinz® exhaust manifold gaskets, which deliver peak performance and withstand temperatures up to 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Also, Dana’s Long-brand engine oil cooler helps to properly utilize energy and improve fuel economy while reducing emissions.

Dana technologies on the 2017 Wards 10 Best Engines include:

  • Chevrolet Volt 1.5L DOHC 4-cyl./Dual Motor EREV – Equipped with Victor Reinz TAPS and valve stem seals.
  • Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 3.6L DOHC V-6/Dual Motor PHEV – Features Victor Reinz heat shields.
  • Ford Focus RS 2.3L Turbocharged DOHC 4-cyl. – Equipped with Long engine oil cooler and Victor Reinz cylinder head, exhaust manifold, and secondary gaskets.
  • Honda Accord Hybrid 2.0L DOHC 4-cyl./Dual Motor HEV – Includes a Victor Reinz cam cover.
  • Infiniti Q50 3.0L Turbocharged DOHC V-6 – Equipped with Long engine oil cooler.
  • Mercedes-Benz C300 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC 4-cyl. – Utilizes Victor Reinz secondary gaskets and TAPS.

“Having the honor of being a part of these industry-leading vehicles and engines speaks to the culture of innovation and customer service at Dana,” said James Kamsickas, president and chief executive officer of Dana.  “Every day we strive to develop technologies that will help our customers meet their performance and efficiency goals.  It is a privilege to have had the opportunity to help power these well-deserving award recipients.”

 

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GKN Driveline Starting Five-Year CapEx Program

  Source:  Forge

GKN Driveline has committed to a five-year, $179-million capital-investment program at five manufacturing operations in North Carolina, taking advantage of several state and local subsidies in four counties. The manufacturer indicates the investments will add 302 new positions to its payroll in the state, where it already employs an estimated 2,700 workers.

GKN Driveline designs and manufactures a variety of automotive driveline components and systems, including constant-velocity joint (CVJ) systems, all-wheel drive systems, trans-axle systems, and eDrive systems. It is one of four business units of the British engineering group GKN plc.

Read More:  GKN Driveline Starting Five-Year CapEx Program by Robert Brooks

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Bharat Forge Expands in U.S. with Tennessee Acquisition

  Source:  Forging

Directors of Bharat Forge Ltd., in Pune, India, approved the company’s acquisition of 100% of the shares of Walker Forge Tennessee LLC (WFT), in Surgoinsville, TN, making it a subsidiary of its Bharat Forge America holding.

Read More:  Bharat Forge Expands in U.S. with Tennessee Acquisition

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Dana to Supply Axles, Driveshafts for 2018 Isuzu Trucks

Dana Incorporated announced that it will begin supplying axles and driveshafts for the 2018 Isuzu FTR from Isuzu Commercial Truck of America.  Production of this new Class 6 medium-duty truck will begin mid-2017.

The 2018 Isuzu FTR will be assembled with a Spicer® single-reduction drive axle, Spicer® E-Series steer axles, and a Spicer Life® Series driveshaft.

“We chose Spicer axles and driveshafts for the 2018 Isuzu FTR due to Dana’s dedication to quality and innovation,” said Shaun Skinner, president of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America.  “This truck represents our vision of the future for the medium-duty industry.  The truck of tomorrow needs to be fuel efficient, maneuverable, environmentally friendly, and offer a low cost of ownership.  Dana’s driveline components will help achieve all of those objectives.”

The 2018 Isuzu FTR is designed for city delivery applications, such as beverage, box, and refrigerated box trucks.  Like all Isuzu trucks, the 2018 Isuzu FTR will feature a low cab forward design for increased visibility and maneuverability, features that are crucial to these types of applications.  These trucks will be powered by a segment-first Isuzu 4HK1-TC 5.2 liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine, and will also include an Allison 2000 Series automatic transmission.

Dana’s driveline components help to optimize the 2018 Isuzu FTR for durability and efficiency.  Spicer single-reduction drive axles have been engineered with stronger wheel differentials to absorb shock, providing maximum robustness for city delivery applications.  Spicer E-Series steer axles with a new lightweight beam design are the lightest weight solution on the market, weighing up to 69 pounds less than competitive offerings.  Spicer Life Series medium-duty driveshafts are the premier drivetrain offering for this market.  Precision balanced for reduced noise, vibration, and harshness and permanently lubricated with a sealed spline, these driveshafts have been designed for reduced maintenance and extended product life.

Dana has previously supplied driveline components and thermal technologies for Isuzu trucks in Japan and Thailand.

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Sapa Showcases Revolutionary Aluminium Brake Line for Cars

Sapa has developed the first-ever automotive aluminium brake line using a high-strength aluminium alloy.

“The entire industry is on a mission to reduce weight in cars as a key to lowering emissions. In Sapa, we are using our knowledge to identify new parts where we can use aluminium to make cars lighter, safer and more efficient. The brake line development is one such innovation that can reduce the weight with over 50 percent compared to steel,” says innovation and technology manager Jens Sandahl Sørensen. 

Fourteen meters of weight savings
The normal volume of a brake line in a light vehicle is around 12-14 meters. By replacing steel with aluminium in this component, car manufacturers can shed around 600 grams of the approximately 1 kilogram of weight.

“Aluminium is a material that gives enormous flexibility in both design and workability, and this opens up for new developments. The automotive market is one of Sapa’s main markets, and we are dedicated to investing in research and development to help car manufacturers develop lighter and safer cars,” says business development manager Klaus J. Sandfeld.

The full potential of extruded aluminium in cars and trucks is far from realized. Aluminium is often viewed only as an alternative material, but aluminium is not lightweight steel. “You can design components that simply cannot be manufactured in steel, with different properties and added functionality,” says Sandfeld.

Sapa supplies the automotive industry with a broad range of solutions based on aluminium profiles, from semi-finished to fully fabricated and value-adding components.

Facts about the brake line

– The high-strength alloy in combination with a proprietary designed production process and line-connection design brings optimized mechanical properties toward brake lines requirements.

– The new solution has passed tests toward OEM specifications, including vibration, burst, torque, leak, coating adhesion and corrosion.

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Prayon Purchases Gas-Fired Harper Rotary Kiln

Brian Fuller - Harper International, Heat Treat Industry Supplier News, Rotary Kiln Furnace
Brian Fuller – Sales Manager Harper International
Harper International, world leader in custom thermal processing solutions for advanced materials, has been awarded a contract for a high volume Rotary furnace system by Prayon, headquartered in Belgium.
The innovative reactor will be used for drying and calcining of Prayon’s advanced iron phosphate powder, a key component of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cathode materials used in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, and is a part of their recently announced new plant investment to supply the lithium ion battery market. The gas-fired Harper Rotary kiln will support their high volume operations with features to maximize Prayon’s production, including advanced tube features to provide enhanced reaction kinetics, gas-tight and dust-tight design, and internal heat recovery within the furnace chamber to improve energy efficiency. Prayon collaborated with Harper through their Ignite™ process during the development phase by supporting scale up planning and analysis. The Ignite™ program offers scale-up expertise and testing resources to help minimize risk and maximize efficiency for pilot and production level outputs. “Harper is focused on supporting the next generation of materials in advanced markets, and this project for the lithium iron phosphate market is a great representation of that”, commented Brian Fuller, Sales Manager for Harper International. “The material is an ideal solution for many of today’s most progressive technologies for electric power and storage battery systems, and we are proud to be a part of Prayon’s solution to supply this market.”

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Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Make Titanium Fuel Tank for Honda CRF450R Motocrosser

BOTW-50w  Source:  Webike Moto News

This is the first time in the world that titanium sheet has been used as fuel tank material for a mass produced motorcycle.  Read more to find out the other features of the CRF450R.

Read More: Titanium Sheet Developed by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal is Now Adopted to Fuel Tank on Honda DRF450R Motocrosser

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Make Titanium Fuel Tank for Honda CRF450R Motocrosser Read More »

Sapa’s New R&D Lab to Focus on Auto Extrusions

BOTW-50w  Source:  Light Metal Age

Sapa Extrusions opened a new R&D lab in Troy, MI, dedicated to the development of extruded aluminum solutions for the automotive industry. Read more to find out what key disciplines will be available at Sapa Technology Americas.

Click here to read more: Sapa’s New R&D Lab to Focus on Auto Extrusions:  Interview with Dave Lukasak, Sapa

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