Leading Industrial Process Fluids Suppliers Combine to Form New Company

/ HEAT TREAT ECONOMIC NEWS
New logo for Quaker Houghton
New logo for Quaker Houghton

Two leading industrial process fluids suppliers have merged to create a new company which will continue to service the aerospace, aluminum, automotive, machinery, industrial parts manufacturing, offshore, steel, and tube and pipe industries.

Quaker Chemical Corporation and Houghton International have combined to create Quaker Houghton (NYSE: KWR), positioning the new company to be a global leader in industrial process fluids to the primary metals and metalworking markets. Along with the new name, the company revealed a new logo and brand representing the combined companies. The company will continue to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trade under the “KWR” ticker symbol.

Michael F. Barry, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, Quaker Houghton
Michael F. Barry, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, Quaker Houghton

Quaker was founded in 1918 and Houghton in 1865. The combined $1.6 billion revenue company employs 4,000 associates serving 15,000 customers worldwide.

“We are rooted in companies commonly acknowledged as authorities in industrial fluids and valued experts in customer processes,” said Michael F. Barry, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of the new company, previously serving Quaker Chemical in similar capacities. “Our similar cultures and values, combined with the talent and resources we bring to Quaker Houghton, create exciting opportunities to deliver innovative solutions that will help our customers’ operations run even more efficiently and effectively.”

Specific products the company offers include metal cutting and forming fluids, corrosion protection fluids, specialty hydraulic fluids, and steel and aluminum rolling oils. In addition, legacy-Houghton customers will benefit from Quaker’s strength in specialty greases, high-pressure die casting, mining specialties, surface treatment and bio-based lubricants, while legacy-Quaker customers will now have access to Houghton’s heat treatment quenchants, offshore hydraulic fluids, metal finishing products, and a broader metal removal fluids portfolio.

 

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A Dozen Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

A Dozen 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

  • Patrick J. DeCourcy, who has served as Allegheny Technologies Incorporated’s Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer since 2013, recently announced plans to retire. To ensure a smooth leadership transition, he will remain in his current role until his successor is appointed and will retire from ATI on March 31, 2020.
  • A leading manufacturer of products used in the transmission, distribution, and measurement of water in North America, Mueller Water Products, recently announced plans to build a new, state-of-the-art foundry in Decatur, Illinois. According to Mueller, this facility is expected to be one of the largest finished goods brass foundries in the world.
  • Jerry Bunch has recently joined Pelican Wire as a Design Engineer II, and Larry Brindise has been hired as IT Development Leader. Bunch will be reviewing production processes, ensuring technical oversight to manufacturing steps and working to support the company-wide ‘continuous improvement’ program. Brindise comes to Pelican Wire with some knowledge of the company, as he has previously served Pelican Wire as a professional software consultant. He comes on-board full-time to lead an ongoing ERP project and will continue to develop and implement software solutions to improve the entire customer lifecycle process.
  • It has been announced that Opti-Tech Scientific, a leading Canadian supplier of scientific equipment, will represent Buehler, an ITW Company, in Canada. Opti-Tech Scientific specializes in optical/digital microscopy, metallography, and hardness testing.
  • Allegheny Technologies Incorporated announced it completed the sale of its Cast Products business unit to Consolidated Precision Products Corp. (CPP) of Cleveland, OH.
  • A partnership has been launched between leading Enterprise Artificial Intelligence® provider Noodle.ai and SMS group, which digitalizes plant and equipment used in steel and nonferrous-metals production and processing, to jointly further optimize the world’s first learning steel mill for Arkansas-based Big River Steel. To help Big River Steel conserve resources and control energy output, the joint solution was created by implementing Noodle.ai’s learning algorithms into SMS group’s X-Pact® MES 4.0. Noodle.ai was able to seamlessly leverage the fact that SMS group’s X-Pact® MES 4.0 was engrained into the steel mill’s IT environment and into their SaaS (Software as a Service) applications. The new end solutions digitize applications throughout every stage of the steelmaking process – starting at the liquid phase all the way to strip finishing.

Equipment Chatter

  • Centorr Vacuum Industries announced it has shipped its new Sintervac AM™ furnace for the debind and sintering of additively manufactured parts for a leading 3D/Additive Manufacturing company.
  • A customer needed the lower sidewalls of its forge furnace shotcreted with 90,000 lbs of material. Onex Inc posted a video of the job on Twitter.
  • The Slovakian company U.S. Steel Košice – one of the largest integrated steel producers in Central Europe – placed a major order for the supply of an annealing and coating line (ACL) for dynamo steel strips to Tenova LOI Thermprocess, a worldwide leader in heat treatment lines and furnaces located in Essen, Germany.

Kudos Chatter

  • The Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI) recently announced the second annual Women in Finishing FORUM will be held at the Embassy Suites South Bend at Notre Dame from May 6-8, 2020.
  • Metal heat treater Exactatherm, based in Mississaugua, Ontario, has been awarded Nadcap Merit status for heat treatment.
  • The International Titanium Association (ITA), Denver, Colo., announces that metallurgist George L. Durfee has been named the recipient of the ITA’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award. A member of ASM International, Mr. Durfee is a metallurgist who built his career around pioneering applied research projects for the titanium industry at forging company Wyman-Gordon Co.

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

A Dozen Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current Read More »

IHEA Fall Seminar Series 2019: Combustion, Safety Standards & Codes, Process Heating

/ UNCATEGORIZED

Registration is open for the annual Fall Seminar Series presented by the Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA), to be held from September 24-25, 2019, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Attendees receive valuable technical information at IHEA’s Fall Seminar Series.
Attendees receive valuable technical information at IHEA’s Fall Seminar Series.

The Combustion Seminar, the Safety Standards and Codes Seminar, and the new Process Heating Seminar comprise this annual series, and attendees from all three seminars also gain access to IHEA’s Tabletop Exhibition & Reception on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 24, for additional one-on-one interaction with suppliers from across the thermprocessing industry.

Sessions for the Combustion and the Safety Standards and Codes Seminars will be held at the InterContinental Hotel Cleveland, while attendees for the Process Heating Seminar will be transported from the InterContinental Hotel Cleveland to the seminar at Selas Heat Technology where they will receive classroom training and demonstrations of the different technologies.

IHEA’s 50th Combustion Seminar is two full days, featuring 16 sessions designed to give complete exposure to combustion technology, led by industry professionals in a non-commercial environment. Attendees appreciate the practical knowledge and interaction with the speakers throughout the classroom and tabletop exhibition. The Safety Standards and Codes Seminar also follows the two-day format and includes a comprehensive review of the NFPA 86 standard. This class consists of several instructors who are heavily involved with the NEW 2019 revision of NFPA 86 – Standards for Ovens & Furnaces and will include discussion of the recent updates. The agenda also addresses several critical safety topics.

IHEA Fall Seminar attendee takes advantage of visiting with tabletop exhibitors during the networking reception.
IHEA Fall Seminar attendee takes advantage of visiting with tabletop exhibitors during the networking reception.

New this year, IHEA will conduct a one-day Process Heating Seminar that will be held at IHEA member company Selas Heat Technology. There will be classroom instruction as well as live demonstrations and a facility tour. Attendees will receive basic knowledge of infrared and induction technologies and exposure to the many industrial applications that use these heating processes. There will also be a tour of Selas Heat Technology with demonstrations of various process heating equipment in operation. This unique format allows great interaction among the instructors and the students. Transportation to/from the InterContinental to Selas will be provided.

Attendees of each seminar are invited to a joint Tabletop Exhibition & Reception on Tuesday, September 24, at the InterContinental Hotel Cleveland. In addition to the tabletop exhibition featuring a variety of products and services for the heat processing industry, a networking reception with hors d’oeuvres and drinks will allow attendees to meet with speakers, exhibitors, and other attendees to further discuss the concepts learned during the seminars. For information on the hotel group room rate and other registration details can be found at www.ihea.org/page/Fall19. The hotel cut-off date is September 2, 2019.

 

 

 

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Biotech Company Acquires Orthopedic “All-In-One” Kit Manufacturer

/ MEDICAL HEAT TREAT, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT NEWS

A biotech integrated healthcare holding company focusing on patient care acquired a manufacturer of specialty orthopedic surgery products and tools.

Generex Biotechnology Corporation has completed the acquisition of multi-million dollar Pantheon Medical – Foot & Ankle, a manufacturer of an  “all-in-one”, orthopedic integrated kit that includes plates, screws, and tools required for surgeons and podiatrists conducting foot and ankle surgeries.

Travis H. Bird, CEO of Pantheon Medical said, “We have built Pantheon Medical with a commitment to providing our surgeon customers with the highest quality surgical implants and tools in an integrated surgical kit for foot and ankle surgeries. Our standard “All-in-One” kits provide surgeons with an integrated kit of the implants, plates, screws and clips to perform 80% of their surgeries, and the kits can be customized for physician preference, offering convenience and performance at an economic price. We expect that Generex and the NuGenerex MSO will benefit greatly from our partnership and we look forward to bringing our FDA-cleared line of surgical products to the network.”

“We are happy to close the acquisition of Pantheon as we expand our surgical product portfolio that is focused on providing our MSO network with the surgical implants and kits that they routinely utilize in their orthopedic and podiatric practices. Pantheon not only adds immediate revenues and profits to the NuGenerex family of companies, but also brings significant upside opportunities for new FDA-approved product introductions over the next several years,” stated Joe Moscato, CEO of Generex.

Pantheon Medical – Foot & Ankle began operations in 2014 and has manufactured a line of FDA cleared orthopedic products. Over the next three years, the company will be developing and submitting several new product lines to the FDA, which will include cannulated surgical screws, surgical staples, and a proprietary Hammertoe System.

Photo Credit: medicaldevice-network.com

Biotech Company Acquires Orthopedic “All-In-One” Kit Manufacturer Read More »

Aero Service Provider Receives Upgrades for Furnace Controls

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

A US provider of fuel and control systems for aircraft engines recently had its furnace control improved by a company who services the thermal processing industry, helping both furnace OEMs and equipment end users.

Woodward Inc., which develops and delivers motion control and integrated propulsion systems, recently had its vacuum furnace controls and automation platform upgraded by United Process Controls (UPC). The new generation controls provide streamlined reporting for NADCAP compliance as well as seamless integration with the company’s enterprise planning (ERP) system.

In addition to complying with NADCAP, the enhanced controls also meet AMS 2750E specification for thermocouple tracking. Now, the Protherm 710 controller tracks the thermocouple, its serial number, and usage history; identifies when a thermocouple needs to be replaced based on running hours, days in service, and temperatures reached; and alerts the operator when it’s time to change the thermocouple.

“The workplace at Woodward is top notch. Their commitment to ongoing improvements is an excellent example of a manufacturer understanding the potential of new technology to drive better overall equipment effectiveness, to maximize furnace availability, and to deliver well-engineered, quality products. UPC process controls and control systems add more automation and real-time visibility of production, which will ensure that furnaces continue to operate at maximum efficiency for years to come and at the same time uphold Woodward’s high quality standards of its operations and products,” said Jason Walls, UPC engineer responsible for the Woodward project preparations and start up.

Future upgrades of furnace controls and automation are planned at Woodward, and UPC will participate by supplying Protherm series and Atmosphere Engineering series process controllers and connecting them into the SCADA platform.

 

 

 

 

 

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Fundamentals for Industrial Process Heating: IHEA’s October Online Learning Course

/ UNCATEGORIZED
Industry expert Jack Marino
Industry expert Jack Marino

Registration is now open for IHEA’s Fundamentals of Industrial Process Heating Online Learning Course.

This overview is a vital tool to industrial process heating operators and users of all types of industrial heating equipment. Students learn safe, efficient operation of industrial heating equipment, how to reduce energy consumption, and ways to improve a company’s bottom-line, including the basics of heat transfer, fuels and combustion, energy use, furnace design, refractories, automatic control, and atmospheres as applied to industrial process heating. For a complete listing of the topics covered visit www.ihea.org and click the Training and Events tab then scroll to Online Course.

The course, which begins October 7, 2019, uses a flexible web-based distance-learning format, making it an affordable alternative to campus-based classes and allows students to go at their own pace.

Industry expert Jack Marino will lead students in this 6-week online course. Jack is a registered Professional Engineer with over 40 years’ experience in the heat processing business. He is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering and has a master’s degree in Engineering Science from Penn State. Mr. Marino’s knowledge and experience offer invaluable resources that online students can access throughout the course.

Students will become familiar with a variety of oven, furnace, and kiln types used in the industry.

IHEA’s online courses are a value for IHEA members and non-members alike considering no travel expenses are involved and there is no time out of the office. Take advantage of the online tools provided and benefit from the ability to learn almost anywhere.

A former online student remarks, “Because of balancing an extremely busy workload and family life, I am not able to be on a regular schedule or take time in the evening to travel to a class. The advantage for me is that I can check in when time permits and still stay up to date on all activities. The course information is directly related to my work and I found it to be very beneficial.”

Registration for the Fundamentals course is open now through October 4, at www.ihea.org.

Click the Training and Events tab on the top menu bar then scroll down to Online Course. Cost for IHEA members is $700 or one member voucher, and the cost for non-members is $875. The cost includes electronic course handbook, course instruction, quizzes and projects, class forums and the opportunity to contact the instructor throughout the course. Printed materials are available for an additional fee.

Fundamentals for Industrial Process Heating: IHEA’s October Online Learning Course Read More »

Tackling Failure Due to Stress Corrosion Cracking by Breaking “a Few Cardinal Rules”

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, TEMPERING TECHNICAL CONTENT

 

Source: Paulo

 

The heat treating of constant tension bands used by automakers is a complex process, and the challenge posed to a leading heat treating company by a supplier of these bands was to determine how to reduce the risk of failure due to stress corrosion cracking.

“Improving the physical characteristics of metal components often requires fine-tuned treatments that bring them to the brink of destruction. It’s a quirk of metallurgy heat treaters contend with constantly.”

Solving the problem involved, as noted in this case study from Paulo, breaking “a few cardinal rules en route.”

 

Read more: “Case study: Unconventional Treatment Improves Quality of Constant Tension Bands”

Tackling Failure Due to Stress Corrosion Cracking by Breaking “a Few Cardinal Rules” Read More »

Boeing’s Structural Applications Supplier Tests Additive Titanium Alloy for Performance

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, TITANIUM PROCESSING NEWS

Building upon their collaboration begun last year, two aerospace titanium and alloy component suppliers recently concluded successful testing for optimizing alloy for performance.

Norsk Titanium (Norsk), which supplies aerospace-grade, additive manufactured, structural titanium components to Tier 1 client such as Boeing, partnered with QuesTek Innovations LLC and printed the additive manufacturer’s custom titanium wire in support of initial material properties testing.

Norsk’s patented Rapid Plasma Deposition™ (RPD™ ) process, which transforms titanium wire into complex components suitable for structural and safety-critical applications, is used in the aerospace industry.  QuesTek, utilizing Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), has been involved in projects to resolve materials issues across various alloy systems in additive manufacturing (Al, Mg, Cu, Fe, Co, Ni and Ti) to improve component performance by modifying chemical compositions and optimizing the heat treatments, or designing entirely new alloys.

Carl Johnson, Norsk Titanium, Chief Technology Officer

“QuesTek’s high-performance titanium alloy provides an opportunity for Norsk’s customers to optimize components printed with Norsk Titanium’s RPD™ process and opens doors for new applications,” said Norsk Chief Technology Officer Carl Johnson.

Norsk and QuesTek plan to perform additional testing, while working with aircraft and propulsion manufacturers on the improved business case the new alloy affords.

 

 

 

 

(Photo Credit: Handout/Rueters)

Boeing’s Structural Applications Supplier Tests Additive Titanium Alloy for Performance Read More »

Heat Treat Today’s Meet the Consultant: John Clarke

/ UNCATEGORIZED

Heat Treat Consultants is a comprehensive listing of heat treat industry consultants offered as part of Heat Treat Today’s efforts to help minimize the effects of heat treat “brain drain.” In this occasional feature, “Meet the Consultants”, we will introduce you to the experts listed in this growing directory. Today, learn more about John Clarke of Combustion Innovations, and then click through to the page to read more details about each consultant. We are adding more regularly. Contact them directly, or call us and we’ll introduce you to them. Whether it’s a technical process question, a safety concern, a compliance issue, or a business-related question, one of our heat treat consultants will be able to help. If you are a consultant and would like to be listed, please contact Doug Glenn. 

Name: John Clarke
Company Name: Combustion Innovations
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Years In Industry: 30+
Consulting Specialties:

  • Energy Manufacturing
  • New Business Development & Product Development
  • Engineering
  • Strategic Planning

 

 

Send an email | Website | Phone: (260)478-1000

Briefly:

John has served the heat treating community for several years in various roles with the Industrial Heating Equipment Association (including president in 2007). After a few years with Maxon Corporation, where he was Vice President of Business Development, primarily responsible for strategic alliance development, planning, and marketing, John began a career with Diamond Engineering Company in 2004, eventually leading the company as president. As a consultant for Diamond, he has worked with a range of corporate and organizational clients, including the Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Lab, Purdue University Technical Assistance Program, and Union Gas. In addition, John has been the director of Sales and Technology at Combustion Innovations, Inc. in Fort Wayne, Indiana, since its founding in 2016, where he oversees product development, engineering, and sales and marketing of the company, seeking new techniques to maximize efficiency and minimize time for repair. John shares his expertise and knowledge in various roles as a trainer, a speaker/presenter at heat treating and other industry conferences and workshops, a researcher and author. He holds 3 U.S. patents for heat processing equipment.

Publications or Significant Accomplishments:

  1. Workshop Participant, “Roadmap for Process Heating Technology Priority Research & Development Goals and Near-Term NonResearch Goals To Improve Industrial Process  Heating”, Industrial Heating Equipment Association/Office of Industrial Technologies (Department of Energy), 1999
  2. Chair, Process Heating Steering Committee, assisting the Department of Energy in giving voice to end users’s needs (2002-2004)
  3. Member, IHEA (2004 to present)
  4. President of the IHEA (2007), following serving as Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President and Treasurer
  5. Presenter, “Convert a Compliance Energy Audit from an Impediment to Opportunity”, International ThermProcess Summit, Chicago, Illinois (2016)
  6. Certified Trainer for the Department of Energy, listed as a Process Heating Assessment and Survey Tool (PHAST) Qualified Specialist (current, June 2018)
  7. Holds 3 U.S. Patents for heat processing equipment.
  8. Worked with IHEA and U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the International Standard Organization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) to consider, develop and recommend formal proposals for changes on ISO documents regarding method of energy balance and efficiency.
  9. Author of articles published on LinkedIn and Process-Heating.

Links to Online Resources

References (partial list):

Linkedin| Industrial Heating Equipment Association

 

Heat Treat Today’s Meet the Consultant: John Clarke Read More »

Reader Feedback: On SATs, Correction Factors, & Possible Findings

/ FEATURED NEWS, INSTRUMENTATION, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, READER FEEDBACK

Here is what readers are saying about recent posts on Heat Treat Today. Submit your comments to editor@heattreattoday.com.

On Jason Schulze’s article, “Understanding AMS2750E—Standard SAT Description” (click here to see original article):

READER QUESTION: Just read your article in regards to system accuracy test. I just had a question that maybe you can help me understand. When applying the correction factor of the test instrument and test sensor, is the correction factor to be used based on the furnace set point (operating temperature) at the time of the test or the recording instrument reading during the test? Any insight is appreciated!

Jason Schulze (Conrad Kacsik) for HTT:

Jason Schulze
Jason Schulze, Conrad Kacsik
This is a question that comes up often in the pyrometry courses I teach.

The Nadcap Pyrometry Reference Guide, question #6, addresses this question, although from a TUS standpoint. The premise is the same for the SAT process though.

Correction factors applied to any test results (TUS & SAT) should be determined based on the setpoint temperature during testing.

One thing to remember is that you may be testing at a temperature which does not fall directly at a temperature indicated on the test wire/test instrument calibration certificate. In this case, you would have two options;
1) Linear Interpolation
2) Pick the adjacent calibration temperature closest to your setpoint during test.

Either way, you would need to establish if you execute #1 or #2 above and document that in an internal procedure.

READER QUESTION: Thanks for the feedback, I have another concern. I perform an SAT on a refrigeration unit that operates at -20 degrees. My test instrument and test sensor are both calibrated at a low temperature of -20, but sometimes the recording instrument indicates a temp of -21 degrees or so. My operating temperature is -20 (setpoint), but as I stated it might indicate a lower temperature. Is there a possible finding here? Although setpoint is -20, recorder shows -21, which the test instrument/sensor does not cover (calibration point).

Jason Schulze for HTT:

You should be in no danger of a finding. The pyrometry guide states the correction factors are based on setpoint.

 

We welcome your inquiries to and feedback on Heat Treat Today articles. Submit your questions/comments to editor@heattreattoday.com.

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