MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS Archives

Family-owned Pittsburgh Metals Manufacturer Acquired by Global Metals Supplier

August 24, 2018 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

An international technology group recently signed a contract to acquire a Pittsburgh-area family-owned company that manufactures a wide range of shear knives, blades, liners, wear plates, and accessories for the metals producing, processing, and recycling industries.

Bill Rackoff, president of ASKO (Photo credit: Pittsburgh Magazine)

ANDRITZ, headquartered in Graz, Austria, views the acquisition of ASKO as a complement to its ongoing service offerings for the metals industry.

“The combination of ASKO’s broad line of industrial knives and wear parts, and Andritz’s global position and engineering leadership, reinforces the partners’ strategies to provide advanced technology services and maintenance products to the global metals industry,” said Bill Rackoff, president of ASKO. “Both companies’ business strategies are based on delivering technical solutions that enhance customer value. The result of coordinating with Andritz’s global resources and talented metals team creates expanded opportunities for ASKO’s customers and associates.”

ASKO, headquartered in Homestead, Pennsylvania, and founded in 1933, serves practically all renowned international metals production companies and delivers its products from four locations: Homestead, PA; Rock Hill, SC; South Holland, IL, and Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company’s announcement states that ASKO will continue to operate as a separate legal entity and the present ASKO management team all remain. Bill Rackoff will continue to serve as President of ASKO and Peter Rackoff as Chief Operating Officer. There are no changes to ASKO operations, channels of sale and distribution, or the employment status of ASKO associates.

Among other offerings, ANDRITZ is a globally leading supplier of services to the metalworking and steel industries.

Family-owned Pittsburgh Metals Manufacturer Acquired by Global Metals Supplier Read More »

Lightweight Rocket Launchers Contracted by U.S. Army

August 22, 2018 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

With a recent contract to produce its lightweight High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers and associated hardware, a global security and aerospace company headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, now has the equipment in the inventories of four international partners.

The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $218 million contract to deliver 18 HIMARS launchers to an unnamed international customer by December 2020. The HIMARS vehicles will be produced from the ground up at Lockheed Martin’s award-winning Camden, Arkansas, Precision Fires Center of Excellence.

HIMARS is a lightweight mobile launcher, transportable via C-130 and larger aircraft for rapid deployment, that fires Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles. HIMARS consists of a launcher loader module and fire control system mounted on a five-ton truck chassis. A specialized armored cab provides additional protection to the three crew members that operate the system.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

Lightweight Rocket Launchers Contracted by U.S. Army Read More »

Steel Fabricator Plans Light Gauge Plant for Construction Industry

August 21, 2018 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Source: Area Development

A steel fabricator based in Lansing, Illinois, recently announced plans to launch a new manufacturing plant in Lancaster County, South Carolina, to provide light gauge steel products to the construction industry in the area.

Synergy Steel Structures will manufacture steel studs, engineered floor and roof trusses and wall panels at the 32,000 sq ft facility.

Steel Fabricator Plans Light Gauge Plant for Construction Industry Read More »

Irish Mfg Group Purchases 2 Heat Treatment Lines for Mining, Drilling

August 20, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

An Irish engineering group specializing in the design, manufacture, and servicing of hard-rock drilling consumables has added two separate state-of-the-art heat-treatment lines as part of the group’s global expansion, both from a Michigan-based manufacturer of industrial furnace equipment for ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Mike Jones, Benton Plant Manager, Mincon USA

Mincon Group plc purchased a complete batch style integral quench heat treatment line for its U.S. plant in Benton, Illinois, from AFC-Holcraft. The furnace, with an effective load size of 36″ x 72″ x 56″, tempering furnaces, washing and conveying equipment, controls system and accessory equipment, will be utilized for the heat treatment of components such as those used in heavy industries like mining and drilling.

In-house heat treatment processes were pioneered and have been perfected at Mincon’s headquarters in Shannon, Ireland, and now this new facility at the Benton plant will ensure consistency in the quality of drill bits it produces. The $2.5-million project was completed in April 2018 after 18 months, and Mincon Group expects it to help the company double its production volumes.

“We are excited by the possibilities presented by the addition of this key piece of equipment,” said Mike Jones, Benton Plant Manager, Mincon USA. “In addition to ensuring our USA plant produces superior quality drill bits, running our own facilities also shortens manufacturing cycle times and introduces flexibility when compared to using an outsourced heat-treatment solution.”

Tracy Dougherty, Sales Manager at AFC-Holcroft

Another smaller size line with an effective load size of 36″ x 48″ x 36″ will be delivered to Perth, Australia. Both batch furnace lines have features designed to reduce distortion of the products being processed.

“We’ve seen tremendous demand for on the part of manufacturers to continually improve control, quality, consistency and reduce distortion,” stated Tracy Dougherty, Sales Manager at AFC-Holcroft. “The addition of these batch furnace lines will allow Mincon to increase production using brand-new equipment that meets their need for high quality and productivity. We’re excited to be a part of their continued growth in the market.”

Irish Mfg Group Purchases 2 Heat Treatment Lines for Mining, Drilling Read More »

Alum Supplier Breaks Ground for New Press Line

August 16, 2018 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Source: FDL Reporter

A supplier for aluminum extrusions based in Fond-du-Lac, Wisconsin, recently broke ground on an expansion which will include the installation of a new press line at its extrusion and fabrication facility.

At the new plant, Mid-States Aluminum Corp. will provide services in aluminum extrusion, and include machining, fabrication, anodizing, tooling and assembly capabilities to medical manufacturing, construction, and transportation industries.

Alum Supplier Breaks Ground for New Press Line Read More »

Leading Construction Steel Provider Restarts Illinois Blast Furnace

August 15, 2018 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

The leading supplier of steel sheet products to the diverse construction industry announced recently that it will restart the second of two blast furnaces (“A” blast furnace) at its Granite City Works, an integrated steelmaking plant in Granite City, Illinois.

U. S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt

The restart of the United States Steel Corporation’s “A” blast furnace will support increased demand for steel manufactured in the United States while allowing the company to continue to support customers during planned asset revitalization efforts.

“We are excited to announce that after the restart of the ‘A’ blast furnace on or around October 1, all of the steelmaking operations at Granite City will be back online, helping us meet an increased demand for American-made steel that has only grown since our March announcement,” said U. S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt. “After careful consideration of market conditions and customer demand, including the impact of Section 232, the restart of the two blast furnaces at Granite City Works will allow us to serve our customers’ growing demand for high-quality products melted and poured in the United States.”

U.S. Steel will hire around 300 new employees for the restart of blast furnace “A” that will support increased shipments beginning in the fourth quarter. In March, U. S. Steel announced the restart of Granite City Works’ blast furnace “B” and steelmaking operations that brought back 500 positions, filled by new and returning employees. The restart of blast furnace “B” is in progress.

Leading Construction Steel Provider Restarts Illinois Blast Furnace Read More »

Demanding Loads on Joints Call for Heat Treating Bolts & Fasteners

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

Source: IEEE GlobalSpec

When tensile, shear or combination loads place a demand on bolted joints, heat treatment is a crucial step in the manufacturing of the high-strength fasteners often required to withstand the pressure.

“About 90 percent of fasteners are steel based and the required strength level is usually developed in steel fasteners using quenching and tempering processes.” ~ IEEE GlobalSpec

The authors of this week’s Technical Tuesday describe the standard industrial applications that call for heat-treated bolts or fasteners, environmental considerations that factor into determining heat treatment processes, the types of heat treatment according to the grade of steel, and more.

Figure 3. Comparison of minimum tensile strengths of heat treated and unhardened SAE J429 grade fasteners. Source: Bayou City Bolts — Comparison of minimum tensile strengths of heat treated and unhardened SAE J429 grade fasteners. Source: Bayou City Bolts

Demanding Loads on Joints Call for Heat Treating Bolts & Fasteners Read More »

Ship Builder Acquires Tech Developer of Aluminum Probe Device

August 13, 2018 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

An advanced ship manufacturer recently announced today it has acquired a technology leader in developing and deploying non-destructive, portable probe devices that measure aluminum sensitization.

Craig Perciavalle, president of Austal USA

ElectraWatch, Inc., a privately-held company headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, was purchased by Mobile, Alabama-based Austal USA. The acquisition extends Austal USA’s ability to support the U.S. Navy fleet where nearly every ship includes aluminum structures.

“The combination of ElectraWatch patented technology along with Austal USA’s advanced ship manufacturing and sustainment expertise reinforces the company’s position as an industry leader to efficiently support the aggressive shipbuilding and sustainment requirements from our U.S. Navy customer,” said Craig Perciavalle, president of Austal USA. “As innovative technology reaches deeper into shipbuilding construction and sustainment, we remain laser focused at providing cost-effective solutions to our customers.”

Utilizing an electrochemical methodology, ElectraWatch engineers replicated laboratory testing measurements within a portable DoS Probe that yields a fast, accurate, measured result without removing test samples from a ship and sending to a laboratory. The company supports multiple shipbuilders, maintenance providers and the U.S. Navy across a broad range of military ships currently deployed in the U.S. fleet.

As both the designer and prime contractor, Austal USA manufactures the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) for the U.S. Navy. The company delivers two LCS and two EPF per year with the capacity to increase its manufacturing rate at its 166-acre facility and headquarters in Mobile. Eight LCS (even numbered LCS 2 through 16) and nine EPFs (T-EPF 1-9) have been delivered to date. Austal USA was also one of five prime contractors awarded a concept design contract for the U.S. Navy’s future guided missile Frigate (FFG(X)) while its EPF is also being considered to support permanent medical ship operations.

Ship Builder Acquires Tech Developer of Aluminum Probe Device Read More »

Special Steel Plant in Kapfenberg, Austria, to Boast Fully Automated Melting System

August 10, 2018 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Franz Rotter, head of the High Performance Metals Division

Since the official groundbreaking ceremony in April 2018, preparations for the construction of the world’s most advanced special steel plant in Kapfenberg, Austria, have been progressing rapidly. By awarding the contract for the electric arc furnace, the converter, and the secondary metallurgical systems—which represent the technological core of the plant—voestalpine has taken another important step in realizing the project.

The SMS group, based in Düsseldorf, Germany, will be responsible for the engineering, process technology, and start-up of the fully automated melting system, which will begin production in 2021.

“Awarding the contract for the supply of the main melting units, which represent around one-third of the total investment volume, lays the technological basis for the new special steel plant,” said Franz Rotter, member of the management board of voestalpine AG and head of the High Performance Metals Division. “The SMS group will contribute its comprehensive know-how to this project, both in the metallurgical systems and in the areas of digitalization and automation.”

In addition to the electric arc furnace, in which ultra-pure scrap and alloys are melted into liquid special steels at temperatures of up to 16232°F (9,000°C), the SMS group will also supply various after treatment systems that give the material its special properties. The units are operated with electricity from 100 percent renewable energy.”

The plant technology will set new standards worldwide in terms of digitalization. An ultra-modern sensor and electronic system enables the entire production process to be controlled from a central control station.

Special Steel Plant in Kapfenberg, Austria, to Boast Fully Automated Melting System Read More »

Selecting the Right Vacuum Pump Oil Starts with Knowing Your Pump

August 7, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM PUMPS GAUGES VALVES, VACUUM PUMPS GAUGES VALVES TECHNICAL CONTENT

Source: VAC AERO International

Vacuum furnace heat treaters know that one of the most critical parts of their system is the pump oil, but it may be a bit overwhelming trying to determine which is the right kind of oil is needed. Selecting the correct vacuum pump oil starts with knowing your pump.

“‘Oil’ is a bit of a misnomer because modern pump oil technology has evolved well beyond the original distilled petroleum products. There are now double- and triple-distilled oils available, as well as hydro-treated oils, low sulfur oils, silicone-based synthetic oils, and flushing oils used to clean the pump. Due to the wide variety of formulations available, these are often now referred to as pump ‘fluids’ rather than pump ‘oils’.” — VAC AERO International

“Different pump oil formulations are specifically designed for different pumps and different vacuum applications,” notes VAC AERO, and a key factor in learning how to select the correct pump oil is the understanding of vapor pressure, viscosity, and distillation methods, as well as solvent refining, hydrotreating, synthetic oil (Perfluoropolyether), flushing oil for vacuum pumps, and diffusion pump oils.

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