FEATURED NEWS Archives

SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH and TSINGSHAN to Form Joint Venture

Clemens Iller – CEO SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH

SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH, a global leader in special long steel, and TSINGSHAN GROUP, a world leader in stainless steel, announced the formation of a Joint Venture in China. The JV company is 60 percent owned by SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH and 40 percent by TSINGSHAN and will operate under the name Shanghai Xinzhen Precision Bar Co. Ltd. out of Shanghai (China).

By creating the JV, SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH and TSINGSHAN share the common ambition of further growth in the Chinese stainless long steel market. The combination of SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH’s technical know-how with TSINGSHAN’s strong market position in China creates a world-class supplier of special bright bars that is able to meet the growing demand in the region.

The JV focuses on the production of a wide range of drawn bright bars with a reliable and flexible supply chain, leveraging technical expertise, operational excellence and deep customer and market knowledge of both parties.

Key feedstock will comprise stainless steel wire rods from TSINGSHAN as well as from SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH’s Business Units Ugitech and Deutsche Edelstahlwerke which are recognized as a global benchmark in quality and performance. Deep understanding of end-use applications coupled with a local manufacturing capability in China will allow to comprehensively delivering industry-specific
value proposition to customers through this partnership. To further strengthen its leading position, Shanghai Xinzhen Precision Bar will invest in additional equipment that allows expanding the offering to higher performance steel grades.

“By partnering in drawn bar activity with highly respected TSINGSHAN we will establish local downstream production capability in China,” SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH CEO Clemens Iller commented. “This marks a milestone in our efforts to better serve global customers located in China and consolidates our leading position in technical products, mainly for the Automotive and Electronics industries. Beyond that, we can address several market segments such as Industrial Equipment or Food & Beverage that offer niches with excellent growth potential.”

Mr Huang Weifeng, Vice Chairman of TSINGSHAN GROUP, said: “TSINGSHAN is one of the worldwide major players in the stainless steel industry and Shanghai Decent Group, the JV partner, is a member company of TSINGSHAN. The joint venture is an excellent example of win-win cooperation in the stainless steel industry.”

TSINGSHAN is a global leader endeavor to the excellence operation of complete stainless steel production chain with more than 26’000 employees. It currently operates a bar drawing facility in Shanghai under the name Shanghai Xinzhen Special Steel Co. Ltd. SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH is a leading global producer, processor and distributor of special long steel products, operating with a global sales and services network in an attractive niche market. It enjoys strong customer relationships globally in various application industries and an extensive international footprint. This partnership will help to further consolidate its existing strong presence in Chinese markets.

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Solar Atmospheres Greenville, SC Facility Is Now Boeing Approved

February 10, 2017 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

Steve Prout – President of Solar Atmospheres Southeast

After completing an intensive three day audit, Solar Atmospheres Southeast is pleased to announce its addition to the Boeing approved processor listing. The Greenville facility joins a group of suppliers in the thermal processing industry and will have an approved scope of processing that will include the following specifications:

BAC 5613 – Heat Treatment of Titanium and Titanium Alloys
BAC 5616 – Heat Treatment of Nickel-Base and Cobalt-Base Alloys
BAC 5619 – Heat Treatment of Corrosion Resistant Steel

Steve Prout, President of Solar Atmospheres Southeast states: “We are proud to be a part of the Boeing supplier network and look forward to working with suppliers in the Southeast region in support of Boeing. We are excited that once again we are able to offer the Southeast US another regional option for aerospace processing that did not exist previously.”

With thermal processing in furnaces ranging from those suited for small lots and development cycles to a 6-1/2 foot diameter by 24 foot long vacuum chamber capable of processing up to 50,000 lb loads with a maximum temperature of 2400°F, Solar Atmospheres is backed by AS9100 and Nadcap quality systems to provide aerospace customers confidence that their product is being processed appropriately.

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Bodycote Earns Highest Aerospace Accreditation

February 9, 2017 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, HIPING NEWS

Bodycote is pleased to announce that its Chesterfield, UK hot isostatic pressing (HIP) location earned, for the second time, the highest level of Nadcap accreditation following the most recent Nadcap audit. The official approval was awarded on 2 February 2017.

As one of the original HIP facilities to achieve this standard, the site is now targeting to further extend its Merit status. This is building on a long history of supplying Hot Isostatic Pressing to the world’s aerospace prime manufacturers and their first tier suppliers.

Moving forward, the Chesterfield site continues to play a strategic, long term role for new aerospace high technology programs, and Bodycote continues to invest in resources and capital for development and operations to meet the demands required for this future growth.

Post updated Thursday 4/29/2021 at 3:33pm.

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Titanium Used on Medical Implants

February 8, 2017 / FEATURED NEWS, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT NEWS, TITANIUM PROCESSING TECHNICAL CONTENT

Source: Engineering 360

Blood, plasma and water droplets beading on a liquid-repellent surface.

Source: Colorado State University

A titanium surface that’s extremely repellent to blood could form the basis for surgical implants which reduce the risk of rejection by the body.

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Combustion Systems Focus of Bloom Engineering Expansion

February 7, 2017 / FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

Michael Binni, Vice President of the Project Management Department, Bloom Engineering

Responding to a growing number of complete combustion system package orders, Bloom Engineering recently announced the expansion of their Project Management Department. The newly expanded department will be lead by former Vice President of Sales, Mr. Michael Binni.

Binni explains his vision for the Project Management Department: “When fully implemented, I expect the Project Management Department will be able to manage significant numbers of complex projects through the project life cycle, including planning, execution, monitoring and closure.” Bloom anticipates improved customer relations as projects will be completed smoothly for both Bloom and for its customers.

Mr. Binni has spent his entire career at Bloom Engineering and has ably filled roles in the Research and Development, Applications, Engineering, and Direct Sales departments before becoming Vice President of Sales. Under his leadership, Bloom’s sales team has shown significant quarter by quarter growth over the past year. Michael holds an engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University, as well as a Pennsylvania PE (professional Engineer) license.

Michael Black - Bloom Engineering — Michael Black, Newly Appointed VP of Sales & Marketing, Bloom Engineering

To fill the Vice President of Sales & Marketing position, Bloom Engineering announced the appointment of Mr. Michael Black. Mr. Black has worked for several divisions of Instron (domestically and internationally) over the last 20-plus years. He brings a wealth of experience in sales, marketing, and management to his new role. Michael holds a business degree from Grove City College and an MBA from Open University Business School.

Bloom Engineering designs quality industrial burners and combustion systems supporting many markets worldwide. With extensive experience in many industries, on-site research and development facilities, and customizable product lines, Bloom Engineering has provided solutions tailored to a customer’s specific needs for over eighty years. Bloom’s products can be used for a variety of applications and can be operated with a wide array of fuels and capacity ranges.

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Global Heat Treat Topics On Agenda at ITPS 2017 – International Thermprocess Summit

February 6, 2017 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS

ITPS 2017, International Thermprocess Summit, will be the meeting point for the worldwide heat treating sector on June 27 and 28, 2017 at the InterContinental Hotel in Düsseldorf, Germany. Thermo process technology plays a crucial role in determining the properties of individual products and all industrial manufacturing operations. This is true primarily of the automotive and aviation industries, the glass, ceramics and cement industries, metal production and processing as well as the chemical and petrochemical sector. A number of global challenges need to be dealt with at the same time: the general economic and political conditions around the world, climate protection, carbon footprint, energy and resource efficiency. Friedrich-Georg Kehrer, Global Portfolio Director, Metals and Flow Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf, noted: “This is precisely what the two-day ITPS focuses on, offering the thermo process industry and its stakeholders a customized program. As was already the case at the premiere in 2013 and the subsequent events in India in 2014 and in the U.S. last year, we are again expecting high-level decision-makers to participate.”

The impressive program will start on the morning of the first day with high-profile speakers such as Professor Dr. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker (President of the Club of Rome), Dr. Paul Rübig (Member of the EUParliament), Dr. Christian Kastrop (Director of the Policy Studies Branch in the Economics Department of the OECD) and Eugen Weinberg (Commerzbank). The motto in the afternoon will be “Innovation, digitization, new business models” with the keynote address by Professor Dr. Aldo Ofenheimer (Director Business Development Virtual Vehicle) entitled “Disruptive developments in the mobility industry and their implications for production”. Virtual Vehicle is an international research institute that is based in Graz, Austria, and aims to develop safe, environmentally sound and affordable cars and trains. The other presenters will be Dr.-Ing. Gunther Kegel (CEO Pepperl+ Fuchs) and Dr. Richard Mark Soley (Industrial Internet Consortium). Both of their presentations will focus on the Internet and the impact and opportunities of digitization on industry. “The Internet has not changed everything – the industrial community continues to refuse to apply Internet technologies,” stated Dr. Richard Mark Soley.

“I am delighted that we have succeeded in creating another highly interesting program that will deal not only with scientific and practical aspects but also with the general global, economic and industry policy conditions,” noted Dr. Timo Würz, VDMA Metallurgy Director and member of the program advisory board. The second day will be devoted to “best cases” in the key automotive, aviation and machine manufacturing sectors. The complete program is expected to be published in March 2017 when tickets for the ITPS 2017 will also be available (cost: Euro 950). For the latest information visit www.itps-online.com.

The second feature of the Thermprocess Summit will be the exhibition in the foyer of the InterContinental Hotel, where conference participants can get information on state-of-the-art technologies during the breaks. Companies can book 6 or 12 square meter stands or book sponsor packages. Contact Jennifer Dübelt (e-mail: DuebeltJe@messe-duesseldorf.de; (Tel.: +49211-4560520) for application forms.

ITPS & The Bright World of Metals
Three years ago, Messe Düsseldorf, the VDMA foundry machines association (Germany), the European thermo process association CECOF (European Committee of Industrial Furnace, the Heating Equipment Association (Germany) and the trade magazine “Heat Processing” published by Vulkan-Verlag in Germany launched the ITPS conference and exhibition with great success. In 2013, the conference participants came from 16 different countries from all over the world. Every two years, Düsseldorf becomes the hotspot for the global thermo process industry and the industries that use its products – with ITPS and THERMPROCESS taking place alternately. The four international technology trade fairs GIFA (International Foundry Trade Fair), METEC (International Metallurgical Trade Fair), THERMPROCESS (International Trade Fair for Thermo Process Technology) and NEWCAST (International Trade Fair for Castings) will be held in 14 halls from June 25 – 29, 2019 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. More than 2,000 exhibitors and about 78,000 are expected to attend. International stakeholders in the castings, foundry technology, metallurgy and thermo process technology sectors will meet in Düsseldorf, Germany for five days. A first-rate program will complement the trade fairs consisting of seminars, international congresses and a lecture series. Further information is available at www.gifa.com, www.metec-tradefair.com, www.thermprocess-online.com, www.newcast.com, and www.tbwom.com.

For further information about ITPS 2017, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit our web sites www.itps-online.com , www.tbwom.com and http://www.mdna.com;
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tbwom Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheBrightWorldofMetals
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/7442674

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Solar Atmospheres Invests with Confidence In America

February 3, 2017 / FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

In order to honor newly inaugurated, President Trump, Solar Atmospheres, Souderton, Pennsylvania, placed an order on January 20, 2017, Inauguration Day, for a large horizontal loading 10 bar vacuum furnace with advanced cooling technology, to be built by sister company, Solar Manufacturing, Inc. The furnace will have a 6-foot diameter, 6-foot deep graphite and CFC hot-zone and will be utilized for the heat treatment of gas turbine blades for the power generation industry at the company’s flagship plant just north of Philadelphia in Souderton, Pennsylvania. “This shows the confidence we have in improved business conditions going forward and not looking backward. This investment and installation will approach $2,000,000,” stated William R. Jones, CEO, FASM.

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Aerospace, Automotive, Commercial Heat Treating, Medical and MIM Industries Purchase Equipment

February 2, 2017 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT NEWS

Leading companies in the aerospace, automotive, commercial heat treating, medical, and metal injection molding industries received shipment of 25 furnaces during the last three months of 2016 from Ipsen, one of North America’s leading suppliers of industrial heat treating furnaces. Furnaces were received at heat treat facilities in six counties and 13 U.S. states and ranged in design from custom-built debinding and sintering furnace to a horizontal vacuum furnace (MetalMaster^®) with 20,000-pound (9,072 kg) load capacity.

Newly received units also included an atmosphere washer and loader and several TITAN^® vacuum furnaces equipped with PdMetrics^® predictive maintenance software designed to optimize equipment performance and minimize downtime. Other vacuum furnaces received included horizontal and vertical MetalMaster furnaces, TITAN DS (debinding and sintering) furnaces, a VerticalTurbo, a TITAN LT (low-temperature), a horizontal TurboTreater^® and an HEQ (horizontal external quench) from the VFS^® product line.

The company’s global ICS (Ipsen Customer Service) Team facilitated system installations, as well as provided expert training, startup assistance and 360° support throughout the entire life span of the equipment for any brand.

Aerospace, Automotive, Commercial Heat Treating, Medical and MIM Industries Purchase Equipment Read More »

Advanced Aluminum Armor Alloys

February 1, 2017 / ALUMINUM PROCESSING TECHNICAL CONTENT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS

Source: Light Metal Age

Aluminum armor solutions have been in existence for the past 60 years, almost since the start of the Aluminum Association circa 1954. These plate products were developed for armored personnel carriers, either wheeled or tracked. Armored vehicles serve an important function as reconnaissance, ambulance, scout, or infantry delivery vehicles. One of the first armored vehicles, which used aluminum armor, was the M113 armored personnel vehicle (Figure 1). The M113 introduced new aluminum armor that made the vehicle much lighter than earlier vehicles; it was thick enough to protect the crew and passengers against small arms fire, but light enough that the vehicle was air transportable.

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GM to Spend an Additional $1 Billion on US Plants

January 31, 2017 / AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS

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.

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