HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES Archives

Coatings Reduce Surface Temps, Firing Times for Kilns and Furnaces Alike

June 8, 2018 / HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES, VACUUM FURNACES TECHNICAL CONTENT

Today’s best of the web features a video demonstration from the Crafts Center of North Carolina State University (NCUS), which recently released the results of the trial application of high-temperature ceramic coatings to the linings of kilns used at the center.

Cone 10 Gas Reduction Car Kiln at North Carolina State University Crafts Center

Jennifer Siegel Clay, studio manager at NCUS Crafts Center, summarizes the process of lining two kilns with coatings from ITC Coatings, which produces high-temperature ceramic coatings for kilns, forges, furnaces, ovens and metal equipment, first developed in 1980 in Alliance, Ohio, by Feriz Delkic, a ceramic engineer who was running his own pottery business at the time. ITC Coatings provides solutions to problems faced by industries with heat treatment processes such as steel, power generation, and petrochemical, as well as ceramic artists and home hobbyists all over the world.

The first kiln, a 50 cubic foot Cone 10 gas reduction car kiln was coated with ITC 100HT. The outside surface temp was reduced by 30+ dF and the firing time was reduced by 1 hour (28 hour firing). The second kiln, a Barrel Raku kiln, was coated with ITC 296A. The outside surface temperature was reduced by 50+ degrees F, firing time was reduced by half, and gas consumption was reduced by greater than one third. Siegel Clay refers to it as “armor for your kilns.”

Watch the video:

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15 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

June 8, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

15 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

D. Scott MacKenzie, PhD., Senior Research Scientist–Metallurgy at Houghton International, was elected by the International Federation of Heat Treating and Surface Engineering (IFHTSE) to serve as president for a two-year term. Dr. MacKenzie has been the ASM representative to IFHTSE Executive Committee since 2015 and was awarded ASM Fellow in 2007; he has also published over 150 publications and books, mainly in the field of heat treating and quenching.
A new generation of leadership takes over at Michigan-based, flat-rolled steel distributor Grand Steel Products Inc. Jim Barnett, retiring as president and COO, announced that his son, Michael Barnett, has assumed those roles, having started with the company in 2006 and overseeing growth through the purchase of an operations building in 2008, purchase and installation of a slitting line in 2011, and office renovations and additions in 2014. Michael also assisted in the formation of Barnett Industrial Properties and Grand Steel Transport, where he is a Partner. This year, Jim and Michael also added a new company within the same property of Grand Steel Products’ by adding Steel Testing Laboratory (STL).
ASM International recently announced that member John Storm, president and CEO of Contour Hardening Inc. (CHI), passed away on May 13, 2018, at the age of 63. "John helped pioneer work with dual frequency induction hardening to strengthen gears and shafts by creating a uniform hardened case pattern. In 1986 . . . he ventured out to co-found CHI with the goal of supplying the industry with innovative induction hardening systems. . . He holds over 200 U.S. and International patents on a variety of processes and applications."
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) announced that R. Scott Kelley, president and CEO of Service Center Metals in Prince George, Virginia, was elected to serve as chairman of the Aluminum Extruders Council. Mr. Kelley has been a member of the AEC Board of Directors since 2013 when he served as an Independent Extruder Director until he was elected to the Executive Committee in 2016 as Vice Chairman of the Council.
Gervais Jacques, Managing Director--Atlantic at Rio Tinto Aluminum, has been appointed Chair of the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). As IAI Chair he succeeds Hilde Merete Aasheim, executive vice president of Hydro's Aluminum Metal business, at the end of her two-year tenure.
Mary Pernacciaro has been named Director of Quality Management Systems at Illinois-baesd ADVANCED Heat Treating Inc, overseeing maintenance and improvements within the company’s quality systems.
Gerdau S.A. recently announced that Chia Yuan Wang, currently the Supply Chain Vice-President in North America, was appointed as the new president for its North American Long Steel Operation, succeeding the CEO of Gerdau, Gustavo Werneck, who was temporarily serving in the position during the last three months. Wang has almost 30 years of experience at Gerdau and held several positions in Brazil, Canada, China, and the United States.
Germany’s leading engine manufacturer, MTU Aero Engines AG, recently announced the formation of a separate department, Additive Manufacturing, to explore conceptual designs of applications and constructions from a bionics viewpoint, push the development of the production technology forward, and industrialize the entire process chain. Dr. Jürgen Kraus has assembled a team of around 30 professionals from various technical disciplines: design engineers, structural mechanics engineers, process specialists, and operations scheduling experts.
GE Additive recently released an update to its Concept Laser M2 cusing and M2 cusing Multilaser machines to provide aerospace, automotive, medical customers with an increased level of productivity and reliability. The upgrades include a new gas flow system and a higher build chamber with a z-axis of 350 mm and newly designed heating.

Jim Barnett, Michael Barnett, Grand Steel Products Inc.

Equipment Chatter

A two-zone walk-in temperature humidity cycling room was recently shipped by Tenney Environmental announced the shipment of a two- zone walk-in temperature humidity cycling room to replicate negative pressure housing conditions to test door locks during the design phase. In addition, Tenney announced shipment of a vacuum temperature space simulation system for the manufacturer of laser guidance modules for satellites and other space equipment that is used to assure precise locations of equipment while they are docking together.
A manufacturer of recreational vehicles recently received shipment of a gas-fired aluminum stack melting and holding furnace from Lindberg/MPH to provide additional melting capacity and efficiency for a new die casting machine installation. Lindbergh/MPH also recently announced shipment of a box furnace with retort to a laboratory in Canada to be used to test parts in a hydrogen atmosphere. The temperature range is 212°F to approximately 2200°F and the customer will run it at a maximum temperature of 1922°F.
A natural gas-fired enhanced duty walk-in furnace was recently manufactured for a transportation technology company by Wisconsin Oven Company to be used for heat treating baskets of aluminum parts. The heat-treating equipment has a maximum temperature rating of 600°F (315°C) and has sufficient capacity to heat 1,312 pounds (5,952 kg) of aluminum from 70°F (21°C) to 482°F (250°C) within 120 minutes when loaded into an ambient oven. Wisconsin Oven Company also manufactured a custom electrically heated enhanced duty walk-in oven for an aerospace parts manufacturer to be used for curing composites. The maximum operating temperature of this composite curing oven is 500°F.
An order for advanced tubes has been received by Sandvik Materials Technology from a company related to the energy segment.

Tenney Environmental, two-zone walk-in temperature humidity cycling room

Tenney Environmental, vacuum temperature space simulation system

Lindberg/MPH, gas-fired aluminum stack melting and holding furnace

Wisconsin Oven Company, natural gas-fired enhanced duty walk-in furnace

Wisconsin Oven Company, electrically heated enhanced duty walk-in oven

Kudos Chatter

The Buehler Wilson® Reference Block Laboratory in Binghamton, New York, has achieved accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 by A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation) for Rockwell, Knoop, Vickers, and Brinell hardness test blocks and indenters. A2LA is in full conformance with the standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC), including ISO/IEC 17025. Buehler markets the reference blocks along with the Wilson hardness testers and DiaMet software globally.
The world’s largest independent Pratt & Whitney Canada authorized PT6A Designated Overhaul Facility (DOF) with distribution rights on certain engine models, StandardAero, is celebrating its second anniversary as a chosen supplier of PT6A engine maintenance to business aircraft manufacturers Textron Aviation.

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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ITPS/IFCS Breakout Sessions to Feature Trends & Innovations Driving the Thermal Processing and Industrial Finishing Markets

June 6, 2018 / HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

With no other event in North America for executives in the thermal processing and industrial finishing and coatings industries, ITPS/IFCS is a can’t miss event for leaders in these manufacturing segments. While the joint general sessions will address topics impacting manufacturing as a whole, two breakout sessions that focus specifically on topics of significance to the thermal processing and the finishing and coatings industries will run concurrently.

Industrial Heating Breakout Session Topics Include:

Opportunities & Threats in the ThermProcess Industry Tim Lee, Honeywell Thermal Solutions
OEM Perspective on the ThermProcess Industry, Chad Spore, John Deere
Risk Management Strategies for Industrial Combustion Systems, Chris Della Mora, HUB International Risk Services
Cutting Edge Trends: A Consultants Panel Looks at the Future, Madhu Chatterjee, AAT Metallurgical Services; Thomas Wingens, Wingens International Industry Consultancy; John Young, Young Metallurgical Consulting

Why I’m Attending:

Mike Stowe, Senior Energy Engineer, Advanced Energy

“ITPS provides a unique opportunity to hear a combination of leadership, business, and technical aspects from the leaders of the process heating industry. Company executives, technology leaders, and operations managers can all benefit from the high-level industry insights at this event. In addition, it is an excellent opportunity for networking with business leaders across the thermal processing industry. I would not miss it.”

Mike Stowe, Senior Energy Engineer, Advanced Energy

Industrial Finishing & Coatings Breakout Session Topics Include:

Opportunities & Threats in the Finishing Industry, Speaker to be Announced
OEM Perspective on the Finishing Industry, Mark Prehar, AGCO; Anteneh Kebbede, GE Global Research; Chris Misorski, Mercury Marine
Finishing Economics, Michael Guckes, Gardner Intelligence
Benchmarking Your Finishing Operation: Steps to Improve efficiencies & Profits, Tim Pennington, Products Finishing

Why I’m Attending:

“IFCS offers attendees exclusive access to some of the leading OEM’s within manufacturing and provides excellent insight to future trends within industries that impact the industrial finishing markets. If you’re an owner or leader within your respective company, this is a must-attend event.”

Todd Luciano, Publisher, Products Finishing

[button link=”www.itps-ifcs.com” size=”default” icon=”Select a Icon” side=”right” target=”blank” color=”b70900″ textcolor=”ffffff”]Register Now[/button] Save 25% with promo code ED25C.

Registration discounts are available for IHEA, CCAI, MTI, CECOF, JIFMA, VDMA, Electrocoat Association and WiM members.

For complete Summit information, including hotel reservations and to register, visit www.itps-ifcs.com; call 941-373-1830 with questions.

ITPS/IFCS Breakout Sessions to Feature Trends & Innovations Driving the Thermal Processing and Industrial Finishing Markets Read More »

2nd Anniversary for “Heat Treat Today” — and the Thanks Goes to You

June 1, 2018 / HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

A Special Message from Doug Glenn, Publisher

We have two years under our belt and what a blast we’re having helping manufacturers with in-house heat treat departments, especially those in the aerospace, automotive, medical, and energy sectors, stay up-to-date on the latest heat treating technology, tips, tricks, and news. As we celebrate this 2nd anniversary, it is appropriate to express our sincere thanks to a number of people.

First, thank you to the following companies for having faith in Heat Treat Today to carry their marketing message to the heat treat marketplace:

There are several industry veterans who have helped us procure content that appeals to and serves our in-house heat treating audience. I’d like to express a special thanks to:

Dr. Valery Rudnev of Inductoheat, Inc., has provided his considerable wealth of knowledge on induction heating.
Jason Schulze of Conrad Kacsik Instrument Systems Inc., for his expert analysis and commentary of AMS standards.
John Young of Young Metallurgical Consulting has also been helpful providing content.
My long-time friend and industry colleague, Alan Charky, of VacAero and now Mainly Sunny Marketing Communications, has been instrumental in a variety of ways when it comes to content curation and has been nothing but generous.
Jeb Blair, from PRAXIS Communications in the Philadelphia area has been a big help with website analytics and SEO.
Jim Oakes of Super Systems Inc. and Peter Sherwin of Eurotherm also lent valuable input and encouragement early in the process. A big “thank you” goes to these two gentlemen as well.

I am also thankful to one other unnamed company who has been very supportive and patient as we’ve built Heat Treat Today. They’ve done so in large part quite sacrificially. I am sincerely indebted to this company and especially to the top management team there for their moral and selfless support.

I’d also like to thank the Heat Treat Today team:

Mary Glenn, also known as the lovely and gracious Mrs. Glenn (my wife), who has served in multiple roles during the last two years — editor and audience development among them. Thank you, Mary, for your invaluable support!
Brandon Glenn, who is not my son even though he looks very much like he could be. Brandon has been responsible for all the website development and e-newsletter designs, and it is he who makes sure all the correct ads are running on the website each month. (For the record, he’s my brother’s son!)
Laura Miller joined our team a year ago as a contributing editor and has very quickly become a cornerstone of our efforts. Laura is the one who provides the daily content. She’s doing a wonderful job. Thank you, Laura.
Jonathan Condon, a very talented young man who attended the same Presbyterian church and does a great job with our Heat Treat Radio podcasts. Jonathan is finishing up college and finds time to produce our podcasts very proficiently.
Jonathan’s mother, Kelly Condon, recently joined the team helping with billing and other administrative work. (not pictured)

Heat Treat Today would not be possible without all of the above advertisers, industry veterans, and team members. A big 2nd anniversary “thank you” to all. And it should not go without saying that all of us at Heat Treat Today are thankful to God for his blessings as we’ve navigated these first two years. Anything good we’ve done is really His fault!! Any mistakes: our fault!

Two years ago there was no Heat Treat Today. Two years ago there was no Heat Treat Radio. Two years ago, there was no Heat Treat Shop. Who knows what the years ahead will bring? Lord willing, we’ll continue to grow in our usefulness to the industry, and more and more in-house heat treaters will find the content and manner of delivery of that content helpful. The fact is, we have a LOT of ideas that we’re currently working on. Keep your eyes on Heat Treat Today. There should be more good stuff coming in the future.

With sincere thanks,

Doug Glenn, Publisher

2nd Anniversary for “Heat Treat Today” — and the Thanks Goes to You Read More »

Auto Supplier Purchase of EBAM System Represents First Asia-Pacific Installation

May 29, 2018 / HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

A leading provider of metal additive manufacturing (AM) solutions announced recently that it delivered an industry-leading Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM®) system to the Global Research & Innovative Technology (GRIT) facility of a major Japanese automotive supplier, making it the first Asia-Pacific installation.

Scott Phillips, president and CEO of Sciaky, Inc

Hitachi Metals, Ltd., based in Kumagaya, Japan, purchased the EBAM 110 system from Sciaky, Inc., a subsidiary of Phillips Service Industries, Inc., (PSI). The dual wirefeed configuration included in the system allows for the combination of two different metal alloys into a single melt pool, managed with independent program control, to create custom alloy parts or ingots. Users also have the option to alternate between different wire gauges for finer deposition features (thin wire) and gross deposition features (thick wire) to meet unique part specifications.

Hitachi Metals supports four business segments: specialty steel products, magnetic materials and applications, functional components and equipment, as well as wires, cables and related products.

“Sciaky is proud to extend our industry-leading technology with Hitachi Metals,” said Scott Phillips, president and CEO of Sciaky, Inc. “This is an important milestone for the industrial metal 3D printing market in Japan, and the forward-thinking leaders at Hitachi Metals are blazing a new trail for the Asia-Pacific region.”

Auto Supplier Purchase of EBAM System Represents First Asia-Pacific Installation Read More »

MTI Partners with Staffing Firm Specializing in Transferring Military Vets into Workplace

May 25, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

From the Editor: May is Military Appreciation Month, and Monday, May 28, 2018, is Memorial Day, on which we are called to remember those who died in active military service. The staff at Heat Treat Today is thankful for those who made that great sacrifice and grateful to be able to honor those who have served. We salute our military heroes past and our veterans with this post about the heat treat industry and military staffing. Heat Treat Today will not publish on Monday, May 28, 2018.

Finding good, qualified workers in today’s labor pool is the critical issue facing any industry.

The workers are just not in the marketplace. To help MTI members win the battle for finding qualified people, MTI signed a partnership with the largest military veteran staffing firm in America, Bradley-Morris, Inc (BMI). Bradley-Morris is a leader in helping transfer military veterans back into the corporate and manufacturing workplace.

A few reasons companies may want to take advantage of this very valuable new service, according to MTI:

Every year over 200,000 military veterans transfer out of the military into the public workspace.
72% are under the age of 30.
Geography is not an obstacle. Relocation assistance costs are covered by the government for many transitioning military persons.
Bradley Morris is the leading military staffing firm for placing veterans into civilian jobs upon separation.
MTI members receive a special, pre-negotiated, below market placement fee.

MTI is the Metal Treating Institute, a non-profit trade association that represents the largest network of commercial heat treaters in the world with members in 40 states and 8 countries. MTI’s network services every major industry and performs every heat treating process required. Heat Treat Today is a proud member of MTI.

For more information on MTI’s partnership with Bradley-Morris, Inc, particularly for links to case studies on the successful hiring of military personnel and other resources related to the process of hiring military veterans, visit here: MTI: Military Staffing

Photo Credit: Stock image

MTI Partners with Staffing Firm Specializing in Transferring Military Vets into Workplace Read More »

Predictive Maintenance Solutions Agreement Advances Service to Steel-Related Industries

May 23, 2018 / HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

Karl Purkarthofer, senior vice president and global head of Metallurgical Services, Primetal Technologies

A predictive maintenance (PdM) service and technology company based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, recently signed an exclusive cooperation agreement with a global engineering, plant-building, and lifecycle services partner for the metals industry covering the application of predictive maintenance solutions in steel-related industries worldwide.

Primetals Technologies, based in London, United Kingdom, and the Pennsylvania-based Industrial Technology Research (ITR) have been working together successfully in the field of condition monitoring for more than 10 years and jointly serve currently more than 50 customers. In the mid-1970’s, ITR, one of the founders of the vibration monitoring and analysis industry, started as a research and development initiative in one of the world’s largest steel producers and quickly became a leading provider of these technologies and services. ITR serves steel-related industries worldwide, including flat and long rolling, iron and steel making as well as casting, with predictive maintenance offerings that include all major predictive maintenance technologies, such as infrared thermography, airborne ultrasound, and fluids analysis.

“With the technology, know-how, and capabilities of ITR, especially in the area of prediction, we will be able to even better serve our customers through leading condition monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions,” stated Karl Purkarthofer, senior vice president and global head of Metallurgical Services.

Photo caption: Primetals Technologies and ITR team up on predictive maintenance solutions: Jonathan Davis, CEO at ITR (center left) and Karl Purkarthofer, Head of Metallurgical Services at Primetals Technologies (center right), shake hands on the occasion of the signing ceremony.

Predictive Maintenance Solutions Agreement Advances Service to Steel-Related Industries Read More »

10 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

May 18, 2018 / 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.