MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS Archives - Page 27 of 38

Presidents’ Day Quiz: What Do Honest Abe and Heat Treating Have in Common?

In honor of Presidents' Day, Heat Treat Today takes a cue from the U.S. penny, where we find embossed on the copper coin the image of one of the two U.S. presidents celebrated on this day, President Abraham Lincoln (16th). The link below will lead you to an article on the basics of heat treating copper and copper alloys; their end products, including wire and cable, sheet, strip, plate, rod, bars, tubing, forgings, castings, and powder metallurgy shapes; and the purposes for heat treating these metals, such as homogenizing, annealing, stress relieving, and precipitation hardening.

Presidents’ Day Quiz: What Do Honest Abe and Heat Treating Have in Common? Read More »

Heat Treating Services Show Upward Trend in Activity

February 14, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Source: Thomasnet.com

Aluminum sheets and heat treating services are among the categories of upwardly trending activity that Tony Uphoff recently reported on at Thomasnet.com. In addition to how well each area is doing above historical averages, the analysis includes this tidbit: “according to U.S. census data, 96 percent of heat treatment companies employ fewer than 100 workers; 68 percent employ fewer than 20.”

Heat Treating Services Show Upward Trend in Activity Read More »

IHEA Report Shows Industrial Capacity Utilization at Peak Levels

February 8, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

The monthly heat treat industry report released by the Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA) showed year-high industrial capacity utilization coming in with a 77.1% figure, the highest number seen in recent history.

Industrial Capacity Utilization is at a 12-month high.

The report covers roughly a dozen other key indicators important to many in the heat treating industry. The January report also showed increases in auto production, new home starts, and a handful of other regularly-reported indices. There were some falling numbers: steel consumption and capital expenditures both dipped in December.

Other indices in the report include: metal prices (aluminum, copper, steel, nickel), the purchasing managers index, durable goods shipments, and factory orders to mention a few.

The report does not only report on indices, it also includes commentary from IHEA’s economic consultant who is keenly involved in the heat treating industry.

To receive these monthly reports, contact Anne Goyer, Executive Director at IHEA.

IHEA Report Shows Industrial Capacity Utilization at Peak Levels Read More »

Advanced Heat Treating SP-700 Techniques Result in Better Hit Performance

February 7, 2018 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Source: Golf Digest

David Llewellyn, Mizuno’s director of research and development for golf

In the quest for more opportunities for off-center hit performance, the research and development team at Japanese sports equipment and sportswear company utilized advanced forging and heat treating techniques in the design of the recently debuted Mizuno GT180 lineup of woods, “with an obvious emphasis on precision adjustability . . . [and] a fresh commitment to speed.”

Club designers have been using high-strength titanium alloy SP-700 for a while, but precision processing increases design possibilities, says David Llewellyn, Mizuno’s director of research and development for golf. The new driver boasts multiple weights and three tracks to control flight and spin.

Advanced Heat Treating SP-700 Techniques Result in Better Hit Performance Read More »

Tubing Manufacturer Purchases Annealing Line for Stainless Steel, Nickel Alloy Tubes

February 7, 2018 / ANNEALING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Source: ExpoMetals.net

A supplier of plasma-based heat and surface treatment solutions to the metals industry has delivered a high-speed annealing line for precision stainless steel and nickel alloy tubes for a producer of small size precision tubing.

Tubing Manufacturer Purchases Annealing Line for Stainless Steel, Nickel Alloy Tubes Read More »

Matching Gases with Vacuum Heat Treatment Operations

February 6, 2018 / BULK GASES & SYSTEMS TECHNICAL CONTENT, FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES TECHNICAL CONTENT, VACUUM PUMPS GAUGES VALVES TECHNICAL CONTENT

Source: VAC AERO International

Relative Gas Supply Cost Notes: [a] Based on a minimum usage of 2830 cubic meters (100,000 cubic feet) per month. [b] All gases compared to nitrogen whose relative cost is unity. [c] Based on liquid supply.

Heat treaters use a variety of gases with vacuum furnaces during the processing cycle in partial pressure operation, for backfilling to atmospheric pressure at the end of the processing cycle, and for cooling/quenching. In this article, VAC AERO describes the most common of these gases — (in order of frequency of use) nitrogen, argon, hydrogen and helium — as well as other common gases such as various hydrocarbons and ammonia (for vacuum carburizing/carbonitriding) and specialty gases such as neon (for certain electronics applications), and analyzes their uses and value in various vacuum heat treating processes. In addition, their relative cost per 100,000 cubic feet, the liquid properties and physical properties of common backfill gases, and the conversion between common pressure and vacuum units are explored.

Matching Gases with Vacuum Heat Treatment Operations Read More »

PA, Wash to See Increased Titanium Heat Treat Activity

January 30, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, TITANIUM PROCESSING NEWS

Rich Harshman, ATI’s chairman, president, and CEO

A Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of specialty materials and complex components predominantly for aerospace & defense industries recently signed two new long-term pricing agreements (LTPAs) with General Dynamics (GD) Land Systems, a supply chain network provider for the U.S. military and its allies, based in Richland, Washington, to be the preferred supplier of titanium plate for the Abrams tank (United States) and the AJAX specialist vehicle (United Kingdom).

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) will begin production of titanium products at its melt facility in Richland and will complete it at ATI’s specialty plate facility in Washington, Pennsylvania.

“We are pleased to enter into these agreements with GD Land Systems, marking the beginning of a new relationship with this strategic global customer,” said Rich Harshman, ATI’s chairman, president, and CEO. “ATI is forging a strong technology connection with GD and together we are developing specialty materials and components for improved protection and light-weighting of next-generation military vehicles.”

“Revenue from these LTPAs will total approximately $75 million combined over the contract periods. This marks a significant increase in the Flat-Rolled Products segment’s strategic aerospace and defense market sales, which are an integral part of our ongoing portfolio transformation toward more high-value products,” said Bob Wetherbee, executive vice president, Flat-Rolled Products Group.

Bob Wetherbee, executive vice president, Flat Rolled Products Group

The Abrams LTPA runs through 2019 while the AJAX LTPA runs through 2021.

PA, Wash to See Increased Titanium Heat Treat Activity Read More »

Ellwood Forge Heat Treat Location to Expand Office Facilities

January 26, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, FORGING NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Source: EllwoodCity.org

Ellwood City Forge (ECF), a steel and heavy metals manufacturing group in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, with heat treating facilities in multiple locations, recently launched construction on the renovation and expansion of its office facilities at the same location on Second Street where the company broke ground and has been in operation since 1910.

The project will include renovation of ECF’s existing building and construction of a new, adjoining building and continue to house the offices of parent company Ellwood Group, adjacent to manufacturing operations, including bloom processing. Heat treating, forging, and machining operations are located at two of ECF’s other six plants — New Castle, Pennsylvania, and Corry, Pennsylvania.

Ellwood City Forge supplies open-die forgings for a broad range of applications, including oil & gas, power generation, mining, industrial machinery, metal processing, power transmission and gearing, aerospace, infrastructure and construction, defense, and shipbuilding.

Left to Right: Evan Fennell, Engineer and Project Manager, ECF; Ray Santillo, Executive Director, EC Chamber of Commerce; Steve Paxton, Architect, Franus Architectural Associates; Denny Boariu, Product Specialist, Ellwood City Forge/Chamber of Commerce Representative; Tony Court, Mayor, Ellwood City; Anna Barensfeld, Shareholder, Ellwood Group; Bill Nardone, VP of Operations, Ellwood City Forge; Dan Franus, Architect, Franus Architectural Associates; Phil DiMarco, Principal, DiMarco Construction

Ellwood Forge Heat Treat Location to Expand Office Facilities Read More »

Scissors Maker Goes for the Gold with Titanium Coating

January 23, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, TITANIUM PROCESSING NEWS

William Whiteley & Sons, the oldest scissor-makers in the western world, has chosen a UK-based company that specializes in hard coatings, heat treatment, and vacuum brazing, among other services, to provide the Titanium Nitride PVD coating on their new EXO Gold scissor.

The EXO range has been developed with assistance from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield, using state of the art 3D tooling, surgical grade stainless steel and advanced coating materials, including TiN from Wallwork Cambridge. The scissors can cut through the toughest materials encountered by tailors and haberdashers, crafters and DIYers, boaters and interior designers.

Scissors Maker Goes for the Gold with Titanium Coating Read More »

PA-Based Heat Treater Expands with New Vacuum Bay

January 22, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Johnathan Rex, General Manager of Rex Heat Treat

A heat treater with facilities in Pennsylvania and Alabama was recently given the green light by township officials in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, to expand operations at its plant outside Philadelphia, including the construction of a new vacuum bay and the acquisition of vacuum furnaces needed for a new product line.

Rex Heat Treat provides thermal processing in Lansdale and Bedford, Pennsylvania, and in Aniston, Alabama, for customers from a broad range of industries.

“This facility improvement will provide the proper climate-controlled environment to enable Rex Heat Treat to offer lower cost vacuum heat treating solutions to the Philadelphia heat treating market and be a platform for further vacuum processing expansions,” stated Johnathan Rex, General Manager.

PA-Based Heat Treater Expands with New Vacuum Bay Read More »

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