FEATURED NEWS

ThermProcess Summit Starts Tomorrow in Atlanta — You Should Be There

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES
Doug Glenn, Publisher, Heat Treat Today
Doug Glenn, Publisher, Heat Treat Today

A Special Message from Heat Treat Today publisher, Doug Glenn.

 

 

There are heat treat trade shows; then there is ITPS — the International ThermProcess Summit — being held this year, for only the second time in the USA, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead. This event is the premiere event for forward-thinking heat treat executives whether they be from manufacturers with in-house heat treat, from a contract heat treat shop, or from a supplier to the heat treat industry. This event is not so much an equipment and process event as it is a strategic planning event for high-level heat treat department heads or C-suite dwellers.

It would be good to register today and get to Atlanta ASAP if you have not done so already. Click here to register or go to www.itps-ifcs.com. Or you can just show up on-site. I’m sure they’ll let you in!

High-level, strategic planning is what this mostly-conference-with-some-table-top-exhibit event is all about.

Covey talks about taking time to “sharpen the saw” — this event is a saw-sharpening moment. You might run into some other like-minded people in organizations that would be advantageous for you to know — customers, competitors, vendors.

The event is organized by the Industrial Heating Equipment Association (www.ihea.org), and they are responsible for the high-level talks. Take a look at some of the excellent presentations.

These are just six of the more than 20 speakers who will be presenting at this event — ALL worth hearing.

To see the entire event brochure, click here, or visit the event’s website at www.itps-ifcs.com.

Both Industrial Heating magazine and Heat Treat Today are media sponsors.

It’s time to invest in some strategic planning time with your top executives. If you haven’t done so already, consider taking time to make a visit to Buckhead.

Hope to see you there.

 

 

ThermProcess Summit Starts Tomorrow in Atlanta — You Should Be There Read More »

IHEA Monthly Economic Report — Stability or Confusion?

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT ECONOMIC NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT

We begins this month’s economic report with a special request: Please register and attend the International ThermProcess Summit (ITPS) in Atlanta next week, July 30-August 1. This event, sponsored by IHEA, is meant for high-level executives in the heat treating industry including manufacturers with in-house heat treat as well as industry suppliers and contract heat treaters. Click here for more information. Thank you. Now on to our report…

IHEA Transportation Index June 2018
Transportation was up strongly in June. Source: IHEA Monthly Economic Report

This month’s Industrial Heating Equipment Association (www.ihea.org) economic summary report shows sustained growth in nearly all sectors. The report, issued monthly to key executives whose companies are members of IHEA, summarizes approximately 12 indicators determined to be important to the thermal processing market. These indices include metal prices, housing starts, durable goods orders, purchasing managers index, credit managers index, a transportation index, new car & light truck sales, as well as others. The 12-13 page report, provided to IHEA by The Armada Group, IHEA’s exclusive economic advisor, provides not just a summary of the index movements, but an in depth explanation of the factors affecting each index. The report has been a valuable tool for key executives in IHEA member companies.

IHEA Steel Consumption Index
Steel consumption was up significantly in June. Source: IHEA Economic Survey

This month’s report showed an increase in the transportation index, steel consumption, and housing starts. Flat this month were factory orders, durable goods, and capital expenditures, as well as the PMI and industrial capacity utilization. Tariffs, or the threat of tariffs, continue to loom large over the direction of the economy. It is speculated that steel consumption is up strongly due to preemptive purchases, purchases made by many manufactures in advance of what they consider will be significant tariff price hikes.

For a complete copy of the monthly report, please email Anne Goyer.

Ann Goyer, Executive Director of IHEA
Ann Goyer, Executive Director of IHEA

IHEA Monthly Economic Report — Stability or Confusion? Read More »

HIP Complements High-Performance Auto, Aerospace, and Energy Applications in Austria, Mexico

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS

 

A leader in high pressure technology headquartered in Västerås, Sweden, recently commissioned hot isostatic presses for development and production of high-performance AM components in high-performance car and aviation applications as well as demanding applications within the aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors.

Stefan Seidel, CTO of Pankl Racing Systems

Quintus Technologies, which specializes in the design, manufacture, installation, and support of high pressure systems for sheet metal forming and densification of advanced materials and critical industrial components, supplied a Quintus HIP to Pankl Racing Systems in their new Pankl Additive Manufacturing Competence Center (PAMCC) in Kapfenberg, Austria.

The QIH48 will complement Pankl’s heat treatment facilities for HIP post-treatment. The PAMCC is an initiative of Pankl Racing Systems in collaboration with Voestalpine/Böhler Edelstahl, EOS and Quintus Technologies.

“As market leaders in our industry, we need the best equipment and best partners for our advanced AM production,” said Stefan Seidel, CTO of Pankl Racing Systems.

Jan Söderström, CEO of Quintus Technologies

“High-speed, high-tech, high-quality–we are impressed with this commitment of Pankl to their customers and their own objectives and happy to become part of their effort to broaden the application fields for AM in the racing car industry,” said Jan Söderström, CEO of Quintus Technologies.

“Quintus’ capability to deliver an easy-to-install, compact HIP system in a very fast time is very important for rolling out our AM strategy and business plan. We are looking forward to adding the Quintus HIP to our production portfolio,” said Wolfgang Plasser, CEO of Pankl Racing Systems.

Wolfgang Plasser, CEO of Pankl Racing Systems

Pankl Racing Systems specializes in developing and manufacturing engine and drivetrain components for racing cars, high-performance vehicles, and the aerospace industry.

In addition, the Center for Engineering and Industrial Development (CIDESI) in Querétaro, Mexico, has purchased and installed a HIP system from Quintus Technologies®, the QIH-15L. CIDESI is one of Mexico’s top research and innovation organizations, playing a key role in helping the country’s industry generate technological breakthroughs as well as educate the next generation of engineers for future challenges. The Quintus HIP system installed at CIDESI features a work zone of 7.32 inches (186 mm) in diameter and 19.69 inches (500 mm) in height; an operating temperature of 2552° F (1400° C); and pressure of 207 MPa (30,000 psi).

“Quintus Technologies has for several years worked with universities and research institutes in the development of education in many research areas, in North America and globally. We are honored to have been selected by CIDESI to deliver this HIP system. It proves our commitment to deliver reliable HIP systems to this educational and specialized technological sector,” said Söderström.

 

HIP Complements High-Performance Auto, Aerospace, and Energy Applications in Austria, Mexico Read More »

High-tech Heat Treatment Facility Launched in Russia

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

A leading global iron ore and HBI producer and supplier, as well as a producer of high-quality steel, recently launched heat treatment systems with advanced technology for a Russian steelmaking and metal rolling company.

Andrey Varichev, CEO, Management Company Metalloinvest

Metalloinvest, based in Moscow, installed the Roller Hearth Heat Treatment Furnace #1 and Rolling Quenching Machine #1 at Ural Steel. Mosgipromez provided the design and engineering work for the new facility, while Tenova LOI Thermprocess was responsible for equipment delivery.

The installation of Roller Hearth Heat Treatment Furnace #1 and Rolling Quenching Machine #1 at Sheet Rolling Facility #1 enables Ural Steel to increase the production capacity of the heat treatment furnace from 28.6 to 30.7 tonnes per hour. Over the next 10 years, between 2019-2028, Ural Steel will be able to increase the production of heat-treated heavy plate by three times, and the output of steel for bridge construction by 39%. Production volumes will increase due to the introduction of a new product variety, which will be developed at the heat treatment facility.

Roller Hearth Heat Treatment Furnace #1 and Rolling Quenching Machine #1 will also help to improve the characteristics of the heavy plate, ensuring the physical uniformity of the rolled steel products following heat treatment, by improving heating and cooling conditions.

“The project has been completed as part of Metalloinvest’s comprehensive investment programme to reorganize production processes at Ural Steel, which will boost the operational and management efficiency of the enterprise,” said Andrey Varichev, CEO, Management Company Metalloinvest. “This new high-tech facility will strengthen the Company’s position in the market for heat-treated rolled products.”

Andrea Lovato, CEO, Tenova

“Metalloinvest is a special client for Tenova, to whom we supply our full range of products and technological solutions,” said Andrea Lovato, CEO, Tenova. “Taking part in the reorganization and modernization of Ural Steel’s production processes is a great opportunity for us, and we are confident that our partnership with Metalloinvest will help the enterprise to progress its development even further.”

This project follows Metalloinvest’s recent agreement to build a heat treatment facility for hot-rolled steel at the OEMK’s finishing plant #2, which will include the construction of a building for the heat-treatment facility and two thermal furnaces, and the creation of heavy-lifting and transmission equipment, as well as associated infrastructure. The first furnace is planned to be launched in 2019, and the second will begin operations in 2020.

The new facility will enable OEMK to carry out various kinds of heat treatment from 750-1800°F (400-980°C), a wide range of temperatures, in order to produce high-quality rolled steel products with a specific microstructure. Heat treatment is required in the production of various kinds of steel for springs, ball and roller bearings and construction, as well as for high-strength metal.

Varichev said: “We are seeing a high level of demand among customers for high-quality bars, which require heat treatment. Creating this new production facility will enable Metalloinvest to increase sales volume of this premium product and reinforce its position on the SBQ market.”

 

Metalloinvest expands steel heat treatment capacity as part of SBQ client-orientation and quality development.

High-tech Heat Treatment Facility Launched in Russia Read More »

Troubleshooting Thermocouples: Detecting Small Issues Before They Become Big Problems

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, THERMOCOUPLES TECHNICAL CONTENT

 

 

Source: GeoCorp, Inc.

 

Heat treating thermocouples are thermal processing sensors that allow equipment operators to accurately measure and maintain the right temperatures for softening, hardening, and material modification. A faulty thermocouple can result in inaccurate measurements, so it’s critical for quality management personnel to determine when and why thermocouple failure has occurred. GeoCorp, Inc., has provided a series of short articles that walk operators through assessment and troubleshooting of thermocouples that go bad.

Sometimes the smallest issues can lead to big problems. When your business relies on crucial temperature readings from your thermocouples, it can pay to pay identify individual factors that may have cause part failure. ~ James LaFollette, GeoCorp, Inc.

When troubleshooting thermocouple failure, the authors, James LaFollette and John Ochenas, recommend reviewing three key issues: system wiring, probes, and wire and junction. In addition, the following could cause misreadings:

  • metal fatigue
  • oxidation
  • contamination
  • poor installation
Read more:

Troubleshooting Thermocouples: Detecting Small Issues Before They Become Big Problems Read More »

PA Stainless Steel Pipe and Galvanized Tube Operation Changes Hands

/ ENERGY HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS
Craig C. Bram, president and CEO of Synalloy Corporation

A metal pipe manufacturer recently completed the acquisition of the U.S. stainless steel pipe and galvanized tube operations of an Italian steel processing group, making the combined business the largest domestic producer of welded stainless steel pipe and mechanical tube in North America.

Bristol Metals, LLC, a subsidiary of Synalloy Corporation, purchased the galvanized tube manufacturing equipment and inventory assets of Marcegaglia USA, which includes the company’s facility in Munhall, Pennsylvania. The new business will operate under the name of Bristol Metals.

“We expect the addition of this business to be as incrementally positive to Bristol Metals’ financial results as was our initial transaction with Marcegaglia,” said Craig C. Bram, president and CEO of Synalloy Corporation.

Kyle Pennington, President of Synalloy Metals

“Our sales team is very familiar with the end markets and customers for these product lines and they look forward to taking this business to the next level,” said Kyle Pennington, President of Synalloy Metals. “This is a natural product line extension for Bristol Metals.”

PA Stainless Steel Pipe and Galvanized Tube Operation Changes Hands Read More »

Controls, Software Upgrade at Bearings Plant to Improve Efficiency

/ FEATURED NEWS, INSTRUMENTATION NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

 

Bob Fincken, Super Systems National Sales Manager

A Cincinnati-based heat treat technology solutions provider recently completed a controls and software upgrade for the bearings brand of an engineering and manufacturing group at the latter’s facility in Dahlonega, Georgia, including instrumentation and software for hardening furnaces, quench, washer/rinse, and temper equipment.

Super Systems Inc. and JTEKT Corporation’s Koyo Bearings brand announced that the scope of the upgrade includes all engineering, installation, controls, and software for Koyo’s gas-fired hardening furnace line. The new automation included a turnkey retrofit of new control cabinets as well as software necessary for furnace control and historical process data review. The controls and software provide JTEKT with the confidence to heat treat parts to meet the highest standards with complete traceability for its Koyo brand bearings.

Michael Rebula, Heat Treat Supervisor at JTEKT

“We have been fortunate to work with JTEKT on a number of automation projects over the years and we are looking forward to participating in more innovative heat treating opportunities in the Dahlonega facility,” says Bob Fincken, Super Systems National Sales Manager.

“SSi’s ability to understand our needs and provide customized solutions has been a tremendous benefit to us,” says Michael Rebula, Heat Treat Supervisor at JTEKT.

 

Controls, Software Upgrade at Bearings Plant to Improve Efficiency Read More »

A Dozen Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

A Dozen Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry.

Personnel and Company Chatter

  • Richard Cammarano has been selected as president and CEO of Plymouth, Massachusetts-based Tech-Etch Inc., which produces precision components and parts.
  • With KKR’s recent acquisition of Hyperion from Sandvik, Ron Voigt will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of Hyperion, responsible for the strategic direction and operating performance of the company. Mr. Voigt succeeds Johan Israelsson, who is transitioning into a newly created role as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Alliances.
  • Boeing and Embraer recently announced a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a strategic partnership which proposes the formation of a joint venture comprising the commercial aircraft and services business of Embraer that would strategically align with Boeing’s commercial development, production, marketing and lifecycle services operations. Under the terms of the agreement, Boeing will hold an 80 percent ownership stake in the joint venture and Embraer will own the remaining 20 percent stake.
  • With the construction of an 85,000-square-foot facility, Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc., which produces investment castings for the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries, is expanding its New Hampshire operations .

Equipment Chatter

  • Four electrically heated enhanced duty walk-in ovens have been shipped to an automotive parts manufacturer by Wisconsin Oven Corporation, to be used for aging aluminum parts. In addition, Wisconsin Oven shipped an electrically heated three drawer oven to a supplier of the oil and gas industry. The custom drawer oven will be used for preheating tubes and cores.
  • Eighteen furnaces have been shipped to companies in six states in the U.S. and two companies overseas by Ipsen USA during the second quarter. These shipments included multiple atmosphere furnaces, plus the shipment of one of the largest vacuum furnaces Ipsen has ever built, featuring a 210,000-pound (95,254 kg) load capacity. Ten atmosphere box furnaces were shipped to a company in the aerospace industry, while one temper furnace went to a U.S.-based commercial heat treater. Other shipments included three TITAN H2 2-bar furnaces and three TITAN H6 2-bar furnaces.
  • A major US manufacturer of electronic components has placed an order for Despatch PND inert atmosphere ovens with FLW Southeast.
  • Two electric box furnaces have been supplied by L&L Special Furnace Company to a Midwestern machine manufacturer that builds high-speed cutting equipment, tools, and supplies for various industries, including industrial manufacturing, automotive, metal materials, and aerospace.
  • A 950°F (510°C) belt conveyor oven from Grieve, No. 831, has been supplied to a company to be used for heat treating springs.

Kudos Chatter

  • ThermoFusion is the only heat treater in Northern California to maintain Supplier Procedure Approval Requests (SPAR) for carbonitriding, nitriding, malcomizing, and general quench and temper work for Northrop Grumman.
  • Fluxtrol Inc. presented two awards during TPiM 2018. The Student Research Award was presented to Virginia Judge from the Colorado School of Mines, whose research was deemed by judges to be of extraordinary quality and impact to the field of thermal processing. The Academic Research Award/Scholarship was awarded to Professor Bob Cryderman and the Colorado School of Mines for excellence in academic research in the field of thermal processing.
  • Sciaky, Inc., a leading provider of metal additive manufacturing (AM) solutions, recently announced that it achieved qualification with its Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM®) process, stemming from the completion of qualification testing performed by Lockheed Martin Space on a multi-year development program to create giant, high-pressure tanks, which carry fuel for satellites.

 

Heat Treat Today is pleased to join in the announcements of growth and achievement throughout the industry by highlighting them here on our News Chatter page. Please send any information you feel may be of interest to manufacturers with in-house heat treat departments especially in the aerospace, automotive, medical, and energy sectors to the editor at editor@heattreattoday.com.

A Dozen Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current Read More »

Energy, Aerospace Supported by New Heat Treatment Plant in UK

/ ENERGY HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS
Bodycote Rotherham

 

The leading provider of heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services recently announced the opening of its newest facility to support the power generation and aerospace industries in the UK and Europe.

Located in the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, Yorkshire, the state-of-the-art plant will be fully operational in 2018 and offer a number of heat treatment processes. Additionally, Bodycote reports that major OEM approvals will be secured along with Nadcap accreditation.

“This investment demonstrates Bodycote’s continuing commitment to align resources to serve both the aerospace and power generation markets,” said Simon Blantern, vice president of Sales Europe for Bodycote’s Aerospace, Defence & Energy heat treatment division.

 

Photo credits: Bodycote

Energy, Aerospace Supported by New Heat Treatment Plant in UK Read More »

Pittsburgh Metals Company Acquires Aerospace & Defense Additive Manufacturer

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS
Rich Harshman, ATI’s chairman, president and CEO

A Pittsburgh-based specialty metals company recently announced that it has acquired a leading pro metal alloy-based additive manufacturer for the aerospace and defense industries, located in New Britain, CT.

Allegheny Technology Incorporated (ATI) purchased Addaero Manufacturing, combining “ATI’s deep knowledge and experience in commercial aerospace and our industry-leading powder metal manufacturing capabilities, including our new aerospace-qualified Bakers Powder Operations, and Addaero’s technical expertise to produce aerospace quality parts using various additive manufacturing technologies,” said Rich Harshman, ATI’s chairman, president and CEO.

Rich Merlino, president, Addaero Manufacturing

“Addaero’s competencies are a natural extension of ATI’s metallic powder expertise and will expand our capabilities to provide comprehensive customer solutions ranging from the design of parts for additive manufacturing to the production of ready-to-install components. The acquisition of Addaero is another building block in our strategy to enhance ATI’s full specialty materials capabilities to provide end customers with finished products,” Harshman added.

“The Addaero team is excited to be a part of ATI. The combination of ATI and Addaero will increase the speed to market of new and innovative additively manufactured powder metal solutions for our aerospace and defense customers and beyond,” said Rich Merlino, president, Addaero Manufacturing.

 

Photo credit: Addaero Manufacturing; photo caption: 1) The Addaero Manufacturing team; 2) The above rocket nozzle was fabricated in Inconel 718 with internal cooling channels to reduce wall temperature.  The engine was hot fired 10 times for up to 30 seconds in duration.

Pittsburgh Metals Company Acquires Aerospace & Defense Additive Manufacturer Read More »