A global aluminum producer announced the pilot operation of eight new generation RA-550 pots after three years of technology development.
UC Rusal states that high energy efficiency is the key advantage of the new RA-550 pots, which consume 10-15% less electricity versus pots of previous generations.
‘The distinctive feature [of the RA-550 technology] is lower electricity consumption and the best environmental indicators among all companies of the industry,” said Victor Mann, Technical Director of Rusal. “Given the competitiveness of this project and its parameters, this technology can be demanded both during upgrading the existing smelters of the company and when constructing new facilities.”
A Polish heat treatment provider recently announced the startup of vacuum brazing processes at its newest plant in Kalisz for the power generation and aerospace industry. The new facility houses vacuum furnaces as well as borescopes, spectrometer, welding systems, hardness testers, selective plating equipment and a sandblasting cabinet.
In addition, Hauck Heat Treatment has invested in the installation of new heat treatment equipment at their Dzierżoniów location, including new sealed quench furnaces (batch size 910mm x 760mm x 1220mm), one tempering furnace and one endogas generator.
The company also reported that its services to the Eastern European market have expanded with the addition of thermo-chemical treatment, carbonitriding.
Heat treatment plays a vital role in the accurate production of patient-specific joints and prostheses at a Lithuanian manufacturer and provider of 3D-printed patient-specific implants, endoprosthesis, and surgical guides and services in the EU, where researchers have leveraged the metrology scanning solutions of Nikon Metrology.
Baltic Orthoservice, based in Kaunas, combines the Nikon technologies of multi-sensor CCM and laser scanner with a micro-CT system to guarantee internal structural quality and geometric accuracy to achieve improved production of a wide variety of medical services. For manufacturing patient-specific implants, Baltic Orthoservice uses DMLS technology (direct metal laser sintering). The implants then undergo a variety of post-processing steps, including heat treatment, surface polishing and milling for screw holes.
The complete process and treatment solution allows for single-device design with “anatomically adapted surfaces. This eliminates the risk of instability and adapts the implant to the bone rather than the bone to the implant,” explained Milda Jokymaitytè, Clinical Engineer at Baltic Orthoservice. A major benefit of this procedure is that during surgery, there is no need to shape the bone in order to adapt it to the implant or use bone cement, meshes and augments to fill the bone defect. Patient-specific implants are designed using virtual anatomical bone models which are obtained from medical computed tomography (CT) scan of a patient.
Domantas Ozerenskis – Product Quality Manager at Ortho Baltic with the Nikon Metrology XT H 225.
“3D printing is a complicated technology and there is a big variation in processing parameters, so predicting the quality and geometry of printed objects is quite a challenge,” said Paulius Lukševičius, engineer of mechanics at Baltic Orthoservice. “Patient-specific implants are a bespoke treatment solution, which means that the surgery must be ‘pre-planned’ virtually so the implant can simply be put in place. To be able to execute the virtual plan, it is vital to be 100% sure that the implant geometry is exactly the same as the CAD model and that the holes are machined to high accuracy.”
Four vacuum furnaces were recently shipped to a major casting company in Arizona, three with a free work area of 54″ W x 41″ H x 72″ L and one with a free work area of 24″ W x 24″ H x 36″ L.
The supplier, G-M Enterprises, based in Corona, California, announced that all four are 2-bar furnaces with innovative hot zone design and construction. A 1200 gpm water cooling system was included in the installation.
A Michigan-based auto lightweighting supplier with in-house heat treating capabilities expects the company’s acquisition of an aluminum extruder, located in Trenton, Ohio, to be completed during the first week of March after all transaction terms are complete.
Shape president Mark White
Shape Corp. announced in January a purchase agreement had been accepted by Magnode, which will transfer ownership after 70 years of operation under four generations of management. The deal comes after a successful business relationship between the two companies that included collaboration on engineering projects, as well as shared research and development around lightweighting best practices. Going forward Magnode will operate as a division of Shape. The purchase expands Shape’s lightweight product and process portfolio beyond ultra-high strength steel roll forming, thermoplastic injection molding, and composite pultrusion.
“Magnode is the perfect addition to Shape,” said Shape president Mark White. “Our company cultures align extremely well, we both have a passion for innovation, engineering and customer service. Coupling Magnode’s decades of experience in the aluminum extrusion business with Shape’s global footprint and engineering know-how in impact energy management and body structures will mean that Shape is now a fully integrated, one-stop shop for customers seeking aluminum solutions. We can support customers with engineering, development, and manufacturing in both 6000 or 7000 series aluminum applications and our value stream is optimized to provide the most competitive solutions possible.”
Martin Bidwell, Magnode president
A joint integration team, compromised of members from both companies, has been formed and will be managing the transition over the coming year. Magnode’s Trenton, Ohio, facility will continue normal operations under current leadership.
“This acquisition allows Magnode to dream freely again, while imagining what we can become as we integrate into a larger world model,” said Martin Bidwell, Magnode president and chief executive officer. “I am very excited that the Magnode brand will continue for many years after I am gone. This magnificent company will forge on, breaking the boundaries that we personally could only dream about.”
The Industrial Heating Equipment Association recently announced registration, sponsorship and conference details for ITPS — The International ThermProcess Summit — to be held in Atlanta, George, July 30-August 1, 2018. This two-and-a-half day executive-level summit is designed to bring upper management from manufacturing plants and industry suppliers together for networking and information exchange.
ITPS 2018 will be held at Atlanta’s Intercontinental Hotel and be joined by the IFCS 2018 — International Finishing and Coatings Summit. Sponsored in the USA by the Industrial Heating Equipment Association and Chemical Coaters Association International, this event will feature cutting-edge general sessions and breakout sessions for both thermoprocessing and finishing that will address:
Strategies for the future of thermal process and finishing industries
Economic updates from the Americas
Technological advancements, trends, and their impact on our industries
A tabletop exhibition inside the General Session ballroom will complement an outstanding Summit program along with networking activities. Sponsorship and tabletop space is now available. IHEA members will have the first opportunity to reserves sponsorships and tabletops.
A Baker's Dozen Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current
Heat TreatToday offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry.
Personnel and Company Changes and Moves
Super Systems Europe recently announced that Rob Wilcox has joined the sales and engineering team, where he will also operate as a general consultant to help commercial and captive heat treaters improve the quality and efficiency of the entire operation, covering the UK and Ireland.
Brian Robbins, CEO of MidWest Materials, has been named Steel Man of the Year by the Association of Steel Distributors. "I am honored to be chosen for this prestigious award. My family has been associated with the steel industry for more than 65 years, and it is humbling to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather, Joseph Koppelman, founder of MidWest Materials, who was one of the earliest members of the ASD and served as its president 50 years ago," said Robbins, who served as president of ASD from March 2014 to April 2016. He led the association’s effort to rebuild the steel manufacturing sector by encouraging young talent to join the industry.
Ryan Kelly recently rejoined the team at Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) where he will be leading all quality initiatives as a senior quality specialist.
Senior Vice President Douglas Matthews has assumed day-to-day operations of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel’s Tubular division. He replaces David J. Rintoul, who retired to become the president and CEO of GrafTech, a graphite company that supplies technology to the steel industry.
Rob Wilcox, Super Systems
Brian Robbins, Steel Man of the Year
Ryan Kelly, AHT
Douglas Matthews, U.S. Steel
Dana Incorporated announced the election of two more members to its board of directors: Michael J. Mack, who recently retired from Deere & Co., where he had served as chief financial officer; president of the company's Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division; and most recently as group president of John Deere Financial Services, Global Human Resources, and Public Affairs; and Diarmuid B. O'Connell, who spent the last 11 years at Tesla, most recently as vice president of business development.
International Thermal Systems (ITS) recently announced Tom Stricker as the new president. Stricker joined ITS in 2015 as the general manager of the Metal Packaging and Parts Washer product groups and brings more than 20 years of professional experience to his new role.
Herbert J. “Hawk” Carlisle has been elected to the Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) board of directors. General Carlisle is president and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and is a retired four-star general from the United States Air Force (USAF).
Michael J. Mack, Dana
Diarmuid B. O\’Connell, Dana
Tom Stricker, ITS
Herbert J. “Hawk” Carlisle, ATI
Equipment Transactions
A supplier of the battery industry received shipment of a nine tube gas-fired immersion tube lead melting and holding furnace from Lindberg/MPH, to be used in the production of lead plates for automotive batteries. The furnace has over 28,000 square inches of heat transfer area for efficient heating of the metal without super heating and the resulting metal losses. In addition, Lindberg/MPH announced the shipment of a three-zone tube furnace to an American University with a footprint which makes it ideal for research facilities with limited space. The maximum temperature rating for this tube furnace is 2012°F.
Ipsen recently designed and built a vertical, high-pressure quenching furnace, complete with twin cooling systems and a work volume of 350 cubic feet. During the testing phase, the furnace quenched with 1,000 horsepower (.75 megawatts) – a remarkable achievement that began as an idea just months prior.
An aviation engine repair services facility located in the western region of the United States recently received shipment of two vacuum furnaces from Solar Manufacturing. The customer witnessed full testing at Solar Manufacturing and approved shipment in late 2017. Both new furnaces are tailored specifically to fit the needs of aerospace engine component repair processing to the aerospace specification AMS2750E and incorporate the new SolarVac® 5000 supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA). The system provides gas quench rate control utilizing a variable frequency drive and precise temperature control from ambient to 2400° F (1316° C) utilizing digital power trimming technology.
An aluminum manufacturer received shipment of two electrically heated standard horizontal aluminum quench systems from Wisconsin Oven Corp., of East Troy, Wisconsin. The systems guarantee temperature uniformity of ±10°F at 775°F and 1075°F, ensuring that the furnaces meet AMS 2750E, Class 2 furnaces and Instrumentation Type C requirements. Each system is designed to heat 1000 pounds of aluminum to a 950°F operating temperature.
gas-fired immersion tube lead melting and holding furnace from Lindberg/MPH
high-pressure quenching furnace, Ipsen
vacuum furnaces from Solar Manufacturing
horizontal aluminum quench systems from Wisconsin Oven
Accreditations, Certifications, Patents, and More
MedAccred has recognized Solar Atmospheres of Western PA for its commitment to continual improvement in medical device heat treat and brazing quality. In receiving the prestigious MedAccred Heat Treating accreditation, Solar Atmospheres has become only the eighth plant internationally and the fifth plant domestically to receive this certification.
H.C. Starck recently announced that it has received the certification for processing of “conflict-free” tantalum raw materials the seventh year in a row. The audit included the H.C. Starck Tantalum and Niobium GmbH subsidiary and the H.C. Starck Smelting GmbH & Co. KG associated company. This means all subsidiaries that process tantalum at the Goslar, Mito, Tokyo, Map Ta Phut, and Laufenburg locations remain certified. The audit was performed by the independent company SGS, acting on behalf of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA, formerly Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition EICC) and the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP formerly Conflict-Free Smelter Program) as part of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI, formerly CFSI).
Orders for North American steel and aluminum have been on the rise since speculative talk about restrictions on the import of metals began last year, according to Tony Uphoff at Thomasnet.com, and the recent recommendation from U.S. Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross to impose steep tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum seems to support the motivation behind the trend. Alcoa, Arconic, AK Steel, U.S. Steel, and Nucor were among the U.S. steel and aluminum manufacturers which saw increased activity prior to the announcement.
Annika Roos, head of product area powder at Sandvik Materials Technology
A Swedish engineering group in metal-cutting and materials technology recently announced that it will invest about $24.5 million in a new plant for manufacturing of titanium and nickel fine metal powders near its raw material supply and additive manufacturing center in Sandviken, Sweden.
The group’s investment within Sandvik’s Materials Technology will complement its manufacture of broad stainless steel, nickel-based, and cobalt-chromium alloys in the United Kingdom and Sweden. Sandvik powders reach sectors throughout Europe, North America, and Asia through the Osprey™ brand.
The demand for metal powder for additive manufacturing is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. Titanium and nickel-based alloys are key growth areas in the field of additive manufacturing, accounting for a significant portion of the metal powder market.
“This investment is an enabler for future growth and means that we are expanding our metal powder offering to include virtually all alloy groups of relevance today. In addition, it will also support the overall additive manufacturing business at Sandvik,” said Annika Roos, head of product area powder at Sandvik Materials Technology.
The facility is expected to be operational during 2020.
The ASM Heat Treating Society and IFHTSE are joining together to present “Thermal Processing in Motion, including the 4th International Conference on Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering in Automotive Applications” on June 5-7, 2018, in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
With more than 50 technical presentations, the conference will offer attendees many opportunities to learn the latest research and developments in their field during sessions focused on Advances in Thermal Processing, Additive Manufacturing, Phase Transformations, Microstructure/Property Relationships, Quenching and Quenchants, Thermomechanical Thermal Processing, Surface Hardening, and others. In addition, there will be keynote presentations from well-known industry leaders, including Rafael Colas, Joe Epperson, and Richard Sisson.
