FEATURED NEWS

10 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

10 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

You don't want to miss out on the latest news from your fellow heat treaters, suppliers, or specialists! That's whereHeat Treat Today's News Chatter feature can come in handy, highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry.

Personnel and Company Chatter

  • Edwards Vacuum, a leading manufacturer of vacuum and abatement solutions which offers heat treating, recently broke ground on a new 75,000 square foot Technology Innovation Center in Hillsboro, Oregon, to serve as the U.K.-based company's North American semiconductor headquarters.
  • A joint project between global steel producer The SMS Group and Arkansas Northeastern College will result in the opening of the Arkansas Steelmaking Academy (ASA), to be housed in the College's Center for Allied Technology, which is slated to open in August 2018 with ASA offerings to begin in 2019.
  • Mariya Trickett, who serves as senior vice president of Human Resources for Dana Corporation was recently honored as one of the Top 15 Business Women by the Ohio Diversity Council, recognizing outstanding women in leadership who are respected, successful leaders within their organization.

Equipment Chatter

  • A Tier 1 automotive supplier recently purchased batch ovens custom engineered for aging aluminum structural components. Epcon Industrial Systems manufactures indirect gas-fired aluminum aging oven systems for the automotive and aerospace parts manufacturers and supplied the units.
  • Lindberg/MPH announced the recent shipment of an electrically heated rod overbend atmosphere box furnace to the aerospace industry. The box furnace has a maximum temperature rating of 2000°F and work chamber dimensions of 24" wide x 36" deep x 24ʺ high and will perform a heat treatment on parts within the work chamber under a reducing atmosphere generated from a nitrogen methanol panel.
  • A Midwest U.S. titanium manufacturer and fabricator recently received shipment of a large horizontal front loading vacuum furnace designed for processing titanium alloys for the aerospace, medical, and other industries. Fully compliant to aerospace specification AMS2750E, the furnace, supplied by Solar Manufacturing, includes a molybdenum shielded hot zone and heating elements, with a work zone size of 54" (1.37m) wide x 54" (1.37m) high x 144" (3.66m) deep and a weight capacity of 7,500 pounds (3,400 kg), and is capable of precise temperature control up to 2400° F (1316° C).
  • A special universal air flow oven from Grieve Corporation, the No. 1043, a 500°F (260°C), has been delivered to a customer to be used to post-cure hose lengths. Workspace dimensions measure 12” W x 30” D x 12” H.

Kudos Chatter

  • Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc. was named the 2018 Powertrain Supplier of the Year at the FCA US LLC Supplier of the Year awards at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit last month. Hitchiner was one of 16 companies recognized by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles at the annual awards for quality and excellence.
  • AK Steel Research and Innovation employees Yu-Wei Wang, Feng Zhu, Wei Wu, Panagiotis Makrygiannis, and Chao Pu were recognized with the Team Award by the Auto/Steel Partnership for their innovation and collaboration in developing pre-competitive solutions enabling steel execution in future vehicles. The award selections were based on project work completed in 2017 and were unanimously chosen by the Auto/Steel Partnership’s Joint Policy Council. Through the Auto/Steel Partnership, automakers and steel companies collaborate to drive improvements through projects focused on new steels, manufacturing processes and design challenges, including steel lightweighting solutions.
  • Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) announce that all four of its facilities (both Waterloo, Iowa locations, Monroe, MI, and Cullman, AL ) have recently gone through the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) 16949 automotive transition audit and have become IATF 16949 certified. IATF 16949 is the automotive Quality Management System developed by the “Big Three” automotive companies. It was recently updated from ISO/TS 16949 due to a change in the ISO 9001 Standard.

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.

 

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UK Heat Treater Joins Trade Mission to Poland to Explore Aerospace Options

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS

 

Source: BQLive.com

 

A group of aerospace firms or suppliers from the UK’s Midlands, including a heat treating company, recently traveled to Rzeszow, Poland, which has the largest aerospace cluster within the country, on a trade mission to tour local factories and explore potential partnerships.

 

Read more: “First Joint Aerospace Sector Trade Mission Visits Poland”

Photo credit: Express.com

UK Heat Treater Joins Trade Mission to Poland to Explore Aerospace Options Read More »

Heat Treatment Integral to New Alum Facility in Kentucky

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

Heat treatment processes are among the operations planned at an automotive aluminum sheet manufacturing facility in Guthrie, Kentucky, where a gathering of business and government officials celebrated a groundbreaking this week.

Steve Fisher, president & CEO, Novelis Inc.

Representatives from Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, were joined by local and state officials to recognize the investment of a 400,000 square foot, $305 million facility that will create approximately 125 jobs and produce annual nameplate capacity of 200,000 metric tons. The facility will include heat treatment and pre-treatment lines for use in vehicle parts such as body-in-white, hoods, doors, lift gates and fenders. Novelis will begin producing automotive aluminum at the site in 2020.

“The increased adoption of aluminum in cars, trucks and SUVs, coupled with more automotive manufacturing plants in the southeast makes Guthrie a strategic location to serve our customers,” said Steve Fisher, president and CEO, Novelis Inc. “With the strong, highly-skilled workforce in Kentucky, we believe our culture and commitment to building a sustainable world together will have a lasting and positive impact on this community.”

The significant positive impact of tax reform in the U.S. reinforces Novelis’ decision to expand at this time. A favorable economic environment has enabled Novelis to recently finalize key contracts totaling approximately $60 million for engineering plans, site preparation and state-of-the-art equipment for the greenfield facility. Senator Rand Paul, Congressman James Comer, Governor Matt Bevin and Senator Mitch McConnell’s staff were present at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Paul Banks, a 25-year veteran of the aluminum rolling industry, will oversee the project as Plant Manager, having previously served as Unit Manager at Logan Aluminum, a Novelis joint venture in nearby Russellville, Kentucky.

Heat Treatment Integral to New Alum Facility in Kentucky Read More »

A Heat Treater’s Primer on Getter Materials

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES TECHNICAL CONTENT

 

Source: VAC AERO International

 

A common dilemma for operators of vacuum systems is to protect the integrity and maintain the life expectancy of components when the presence of unwanted gaseous contaminates threatens to destroy the sensitive materials in the processing environment. Getter materials are the MVPs that step up to the plate to protect work in a low-pressure vacuum environment.

Table 1 [1] Getter Capacity of Common Materials
The folks at VAC AERO International have provided a primer on getter materials which answers the heat treater’s questions, such as:

  • What is a getter?
  • What are the properties of getter materials?
  • What materials are best as getters for most heat-treating applications? What about for more sophisticated applications?
  • What are non-evaporative getters, and what role do they play?

“For heat treaters, getters are often considered a last resort to help keep parts ‘bright and clean’. In point of fact, they play an important role in successful vacuum processing of many highly sophisticated products and materials. As a result, we need to do a better job of understanding their role; how and where they can help.”

 

Photo Credit and caption: Titanium Discs used as a Getter Material in Brazing of Oxidation Sensitive Components – (Photograph Courtesy of California Brazing, Newark, CA)

A Heat Treater’s Primer on Getter Materials Read More »

Heat Treatment Sector to Contribute to Medical Technology Research for Improved Health Care, Medical Devices

/ FEATURED NEWS, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT NEWS

The Heat Treatment Pty Ltd. of Queensland, Australia, will contribute to a new research hub set to drive advances in Australia’s medical technology sector by developing cost-competitive technologies for the rapid production of medical devices.

Researchers from The University of Queensland’s Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology have teamed up with experts from industry, government, and academia to launch the Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub for Advanced Manufacturing of Medical Devices (AMMD Hub).

UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj

With researchers based at Cook Medical Australia, the AMMD Hub will focus on the development of advanced materials, improved manufacturing technologies and flexible processing capabilities.

UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said one of the key goals for this hub was to create better health outcomes for patients in Australia and around the globe.

“One of the intended outcomes is to reduce the time it takes to design, manufacture and supply custom-made medical devices such as endovascular stent grafts for patients with aortic aneurysm – an increasingly common condition that currently has post-rupture survival rates of only 10 to 20 per cent,” said Professor Høj. “It’s an exciting venture with lots of potential, and we look forward to celebrating the results.”

Professor Sue Thomas, Australian Research Council CEO

Researchers have already begun work in the area of lean manufacturing to improve the production times of custom-made devices to surgeons. Projects looking at adaptive automation systems, metallic biomaterials, and collaborative robotics are also underway.

“This Research Hub’s industry-focused research collaboration will develop new, advanced materials and processes that will not only lead to tangible health outcomes for Australians but also drive new technologies and skills that are vital for the competitiveness of Australia’s medical devices industry,” said Professor Sue Thomas, Australian Research Council CEO.

The AMMD Hub brings together researchers from UQ, The University of the Sunshine Coast, The University of Sydney and RMIT with industry partners including Cook Medical Australia Pty Ltd., Robert Bosch (Australia) Pty Ltd., Heat Treatment (Qld) Pty Ltd. and QMI Solutions Ltd.

Heat Treatment Sector to Contribute to Medical Technology Research for Improved Health Care, Medical Devices Read More »

Metals Manufacturer Marks Growth with Second Micro Mill in Oklahoma

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

A steel and metals manufacturer based in Irving, Texas, which processes materials and services through a network of facilities that includes electric arc furnace (EAF) mini-mills and micro mills, recently dedicated a new micro mill in Durant, Oklahoma.

Barbara Smith, chairman, president, and CEO of CMC.

This is Commercial Metal Company’s second micro mill in Durant, supporting CMC’s processing and supply of steel and metals to a wide range of industries, including energy, construction, refractory, and transportation. The new technologically advanced facility will use a continuous manufacturing process which melts, casts, and rolls steel from a single uninterrupted strand, resulting in higher yields and lower energy consumption.

“We look forward to providing our customers with high-quality product combined with CMC’s outstanding service,” said Barbara Smith, chairman, president, and CEO of CMC.

 

Metals Manufacturer Marks Growth with Second Micro Mill in Oklahoma Read More »

Heat Treater Expands Capabilities with Ferritic Nitrocarburizing, Extends Industry Coverage

/ ENERGY HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, NITROCARBURIZING NEWS

 

Source: Trailer-Bodybuilders.com

 

A metal processing company based in Lansing, Michigan, which provides numerous heat treating services such as annealing, quench & tempering, and stress relieving, recently added Ferritic Nitrocarburizing (FNC) to its process offerings.

Atmosphere Annealing, a division of Premier Thermal Solutions (PTS), supports automotive, energy, aerospace, agriculture, heavy equipment, heavy truck, rail and wire rope industries to customers throughout the U.S. Midwest.

An excerpt:

“FNC, a low-temperature process, typically is used on plain carbon steel components.  FNC is known for providing a high level of wear resistance, low distortion, improved fatigue properties and greater corrosion resistance.  Depending on requirements, FNC often is used as an alternative to carburizing and carbonitriding.”

 

Read more: “Atmosphere Annealing Adds FNC to Process Offerings”

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Buffalo-based Heat Treatment Provider Building Multiple Carbon Fiber Production Lines

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

Dr. Bill Stry, senior process technology engineer at Harper International

A global leader in complete thermal processing solutions recently extended the carbon fiber production capabilities of several cutting-edge material industries across multiple sectors by building and installing oxidations ovens.

Harper International, based in Buffalo, New York, offers thermal and velocity uniformity through the design and manufacture of carbonization technology and equipment for carbon fiber production. The company’s 3-meter wide, center-to-end parallel flow production oxidation ovens include integrated tow guidance and energy recovery, integrated roll stands with precision tow tracking, and low energy consumption per kilo of fiber.

Artist drawing of the thermal processing line of oxidation ovens being built by Harper International

“Our technology advancements provide rapid startup and stable oxidation, improved air velocity and thermal uniformity at a variety of flow rates, and optimal control of the reaction ultimately enhancing fiber quality,” said Dr. Bill Stry, senior process technology engineer at Harper International.

 

Buffalo-based Heat Treatment Provider Building Multiple Carbon Fiber Production Lines Read More »

Radiant Tubes Longevity Improves Heat Treating: An Analysis

/ BURNERS & COMBUSTION SYSTEMS TECHNICAL CONTENT, FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

 

Source: heat processing online

 

Photo Credit: heat processing online

Nico Schmitz, Christian Schwotzer, and Herbert Pfeifer with the Department for Industrial Furnaces and Heat Engineering (IOB) in Germany have collaborated on an analysis of metallic recirculating radiant tubes, their purpose in the heat treating process, and their design and installation. In particular, the authors, with access to a furnace-equipped pilot plant operated by IOB, investigate the factors that affect tube productivity and contribute to tube failures. They have reported on these findings in an exclusive paper published at heat processing online, the official publication of the European Committee of Industrial Furnace and Heating Equipment Association (CECOF).

An excerpt:

“It is common to assume a homogeneous temperature distribution for construction calculations. In real operation, inhomogeneous temperature distributions occur. The temperature gradients induce thermal stresses that can substantially influence the lifetime of the tubes. In addition to that, higher furnace temperatures come along with an increasing thermal load.”

 

Read more: “Increasing Lifetime of Metallic Recirculating Radiant Tubes”

Photo credit: heat processing online. Caption: Radiant tube test furnace at IOB

Radiant Tubes Longevity Improves Heat Treating: An Analysis Read More »

Lightweight Vehicle Frame Draws Attention from Car Aficionados and U.S. Defense

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

 

Source: Light Metal Age

 

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray

The classic Corvette makes an appearance again in Heat Treat Today‘s Best of the Web feature, this time as a test model for a project that targets development of alternative lightweight vehicle frames.

A growing market demand for alternative lightweight vehicle frames in the custom car market is driving technology “to design a lightweight frame that could be easily morphed into virtually any wheelbase, vehicle length and width without requiring additional tooling,” reports Light Metal Age, and not only are classic car enthusiasts interested, so is the U.S. Department of Defense.

An excerpt:

“Beyond replica cars, this frame can be adapted for military applications, as a number of companies working with the Department of Defense have identified the need for a lightweight frame to be used in military vehicles to effectively lighten loads and increase fuel economy.”

First to unveil an innovative lightweight vehicle frame for the aftermarket, based on testing that involved the 1963-67 Corvette (C2 second generation design), was the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center.

 

Read more: “Manufacturing Technology Center Unveils Lightweight Vehicle Frame”

Lightweight Vehicle Frame Draws Attention from Car Aficionados and U.S. Defense Read More »