Vacuum Furnace Hot Zone Improvement Patent Awarded for Streamlined Manufacture Configuration

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

An innovation in vacuum furnace hot zone design has landed a new U.S. Patent, No. 9,702,627, for a Souderton, Pennsylvania, vacuum heat treating and brazing furnaces supplier. This hot zone improvement centers on the configuration of heating element supports, providing for simpler, streamlined manufacture of the support assembly. The new design further provides for easy assembly and disassembly of heating elements, a significant improvement over prior designs.

Solar Manufacturing, Inc., recognizes inventors Robert Wilson, Solar Manufacturing’s VP of Engineering, and Mark Hughes, Senior Design Engineer.

Copies of U.S. Patent No. 9,702,627 B2 may be obtained by visiting www.uspto.gov or click here for a pdf of the patent.

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“The Bright World of Metals” Will Shine in Dusseldorf June 25-29, 2019

/ HEAT TREAT NEWS

Forming the “The Bright World of Metals”, the four trade fairs GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS, and NEWCAST will take place from June 25–29, 2019 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. The latest advancements in foundry technology, metallurgy, thermo process technology and castings will be on display.

The range presented at GIFA2019 will cover the entire market for foundry plants and equipment, die-casting machinery, and melting operations. METEC 2019 will present plant and equipment for iron and steel making, non-ferrous metal production and for casting and pouring molten steel as well as rolling and steel mills. Industrial furnaces, industrial heat treatment plants, and thermal processes will be showcased at THERMPROCESS 2019, while NEWCAST 2019 will focus on the presentation of castings.

The trade fair quartet will be complemented by an extensive ancillary program. During GIFA 2019, the World Foundrymen Organization (www.thewfo.com) will hold the WFO Technical Forum – the international conference for the process technology industry – and the National Association of the German Foundry Industry (BDG) will organize the GIFA Conference. ESTAD, the “European Steel Technology and Application Days (www.metec-estad2019.com) organized by the VDEh Steel Institute in co-operation with Messe Düsseldorf, will be a major feature at METEC 2019. The five-day ESTAD will begin a day before METEC starts (June 24), addressing “Industry 4.0” issues as well as the latest technologies for steel and iron production, surface treatment, additive manufacturing technologies and energy and environmental topics. Another important event at METEC will be the “European Metallurgical Conference (EMC) organized by the German Society of Metallurgists and Miners/GDMB (www.emc.gdmb.de) from June 23–26, 2019.

At THERMPROCESS 2019, the FOGI Special Show organized by VDMA Forschungsgemeinschaft Industrieofenbau e.V. and the THERMPROCESS Symposium organized by VDMA Metallurgy will complement the exhibits. Special events at NEWCAST 2019 will be the NEWCAST FORUM organized by the Association of German Foundrymen (VDG) and the NEWCAST Award.

When last held in 2015, the four trade fairs attracted 78,000 visitors from more than 120 countries and 2,214 exhibitors. International participation increased again compared to the previous event:  56% of the visitors and 51% of the exhibitors came from outside Germany.

For further information on visiting or exhibiting at GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS or NEWCAST 2019, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit our web site http://www.mdna.com.

For hotel and travel information, contact TTI Travel, Inc. at (866) 674-3476; Fax: (212) 674-3477; E mail: info@ttitravel.net; www.traveltradeint.com

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Voestalpine Expands 3D Metal Printing Activities to Asia and North America

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

In April 2017, a new research center for 3D printing of highly complex metal components launched operations in Singapore, as part of an expansion project that will include two more production plants in Taiwan and Canada in August and the fall. At the same time, voestalpine, a global technology and capital goods group, is expanding metal powder production for additive manufacturing at its subsidiaries Böhler Edelstahl GmbH & Co KG, Austria, and Uddeholms AB, Sweden. These operations follow the successful start of the voestalpine Additive Manufacturing Center in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 2016.

In metal additive manufacturing—also known as 3D printing—digital design data is used to add material layer by layer in order to create highly complex parts with completely new forms and functionalities without any material loss. The base material is different types of processed metal powder. Metal-based additive manufacturing is expanding in sectors such as the aerospace, automotive, tool making, and medical industries that require very sophisticated custom products.

voestalpine Technology Institute Asia, set to open in August 2017 in Taiwan, is the Group’s third research center for metal additive manufacturing. In addition, capacity for high-tech printing for both research and commercial purposes is being built up in Toronto, the first voestalpine site for this manufacturing process in the NAFTA region.

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EJ Americas Begins Construction on New Iron Foundry

/ FEATURED NEWS, FOUNDRY CASTING NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

 

EJ Americas, a global organization producing and distributing iron castings for municipal and infrastructure programs, broke ground in July for a greenfield foundry being built in Elmira, Michigan, 20 miles east of its current and original location in Warner Township. The new foundry is expected to be in operation by Fall 2018.

Founded in 1883 and previously known as East Jordan Iron Works and rebranded as EJ in 2011, the foundry has an operation that includes a cupola melting shop for ductile iron, three molding lines — automated green-sand molding, no-bake molding, and HWS molding for parts up to 76×60 in. EJ provides castings to the agricultural, forestry, marine and railroad industries, with a niche as a supplier of castings for water, sewer, and drainage systems and telecom and utility networks, and is best known for its production of manhole and utility covers, drainage grates, warning plates, tree grates, fire hydrants, grate valves and other specialized castings.

At the current location, the foundry has automated finish machining, coating, and assembly and testing for fire hydrants and valves. The new foundry in Michigan will expand casting capabilities, although specific details about the melting and casting operation have not been released. The company has a second U.S. plant in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and a network of foundries in Australia, Canada, France, and Ireland.  The corporate headquarters, pattern shop, product development group, water products, and regional sales office will remain in East Jordan.

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CHTA Announces Heat Treatment Sessions for October Conference in UK

/ HEAT TREAT NEWS

The UK’s Contract Heat Treatment Association will again be partnering with the Surface Engineering Association and Wolfson Heat Treatment Centre in co-sponsoring the second “Surface Engineering & Heat Treatment Industry Conference/Exhibition” on 13 October 2017. Staged in England’s historic Kenilworth, the event is chaired by CHTA’s Alan J Hick. The emphasis of the international heat treatment sessions is on practical developments aimed at reducing costs and increasing productivity whilst enhancing quality, efficiency and environmental aspects.

 Lightweight Jigs and Fixtures: Process and Quality Improvements with Oxide Fibre Ceramics in Heat Treatment Furnace Applications, Mathias Kunz, WPX Faserkeramik GmbH, Germany

  • Lightweight Jigs and Fixtures: Carbon Composites in Controlled-atmosphere Furnaces with Oil Quenching, Florian Heck, GTD Graphit Technologie GmbH, Germany
  • Efficient Radiant-tube Gas Heating of Industrial Heat Treatment Furnaces with “Flameless Oxidation”, Lee Rabe, WS Wärmeprozesstechnik GmbH, Germany
  • Reducing Operating Costs with EndoInjector™ and ExoInjector™ , Daniel Panny, Atmosphere Engineering Company, Germany
  • Operating Experience with Modular Controlled-atmosphere Heat Treatment Systems, Philippe Warter (Codere, Switzerland)
  • Operating-cost Reduction with ZeroFlow® Nitriding, Leszek Małdziński, Poznań University / Seco/Warwick, Poland 
  • Technology of Vacuum-furnace Cooling-rate Control with Gas (and Oil) Quenching , Philippe Lebigot, BMI, France
  • The Practical Use of Ipsen’s PdMetrics™ Software Platform for Predictive Maintenance, Oliver Obladen, Ipsen, Germany, and Mike Long, Vacuum & Atmosphere Services, UK
  • The Industrial Internet of Things (Industry 4.0) and the Heat Treater, Peter Sherwin, Eurotherm by Schneider Electric, USA

The heat treatment sessions will be staged alongside presentations for metal finishers and an exhibition featuring some 25 of the major suppliers to the heat treatment sector, including industry sponsors Bodycote, Control Energy Costs, Hauck Heat Treatment, Vacuum & Atmosphere Services / Ipsen and Wallwork Heat Treatment.

Full details of the event appear at www.sea.org.uk/industry-conference/ .

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Tracked Vehicle Rollers Get Controlled Heat Treatment Using Movicon SCADA

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Source: Process and Control Today

 

The accuracy and energy efficiency of the heat treatment for rollers used in heavy duty tracked vehicles such as earth moving equipment, construction, and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines have been improved by the use of a control system based on Movicon SCADA.

The automated production line is part of a large factory in Bologna, Italy, and comes complete with a tempering process involving various heat treatment furnaces, one for annealing,  one for austenitizing, one for the tempering process used for the final heat treatment and three baths for the in‐between quenching process of the austenitized pieces. This is followed by the final stage where a programmed controlled robot is used for the palletization stage to unload, and store finished pieces transported through on the conveyor. The first step is the austenitizing process involving an annealing furnace which heats the metal to obtain a uniform solid structure with complete solubilization of the Cementite (iron carbide) to improve and reinforce both steel roller resistance and endurance. This is followed by the quenching process where three banks have been provided to shunt through more pieces quicker into the first available bath to increase the plant’s productive capacity and protect their quality which may diminish if exposed too long in open air. The baths carry out a repeated process of cooling and tempering by reheating the pieces at specific temperature ranges until the metal reaches the perfect hardness suited for the rollers’ purpose. Once this process is completed, the pieces continue on to the tempering furnace for the final process where they are reheated to a temperature lower than the one used in the quenching stage. Once this temperature has been reached the pieces are then slowly cooled down with temperatures gradually lowered until completely cooled to ensure that tension is reduced within the metal without altering its hardness. When finished the pieces are then ready for palletization by being stacked onto pallets and stored appropriately and ready for the next procedures.

Read more: “Tracked Vehicle Rollers Get Controlled Heat Treatment Using Movicon SCADA”

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IQF Furnace Line Expands Services for Oil-Field Industry Client

/ ENERGY HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS

An oil-field related industry company recently ordered a complete (IQF) furnace line from Premier Furnace Specialists/BeaverMatic, consisting of a new internal quench furnace, temper furnace, spray/dunk washer, low-temperature industrial oven, 1,500 CFH endothermic generator, and manual load cart. All new equipment is designed to match existing equipment with 30″ x 48″x 26″ loads weighing 1,500 pounds while using standard “Beaver” baskets.

The control system is configured to allow for automated and manual sequencing, recipe management, and digital data collection. Current design meets AMS 2750 E, NEC, and current NFPA guidelines. This design allows for updates to existing equipment for installation of the future SCADA system. Construction will be complete in August 2017.

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15 Atmosphere and Vacuum Furnaces Shipped to Aerospace, Commercial, MIM Industry Customers

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, ATMOSPHERE AIR FURNACES NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Fifteen atmosphere and vacuum furnaces were shipped to customers in aerospace, commercial heat treating and MIM industries around the world during the second quarter of 2017, including China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

The shipments included:

*   Two large, vertical (bottom-loading) MetalMaster® vacuum furnaces, each with a 120″ (3 m) diameter work zone and 10,000-pound (4,500 kg) load capacity
*   Five standard TITAN® vacuum furnaces complete with PdMetrics®
*   Debind and sinter vacuum furnaces for the MIM industry
*   ATLAS integral quench atmosphere furnace, which was delivered six weeks after order placement

In addition to these transactions, Ipsen USA of Cherry Valley, Illinois, delivered several custom-built vacuum furnaces that will process parts for the aerospace industry.

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Hauck Heat Treatment Dzierżoniów Installs New EMO Washing Machine

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

Hauck Heat Treatment Dzierżoniów recently installed at its facility in Poland a new EMO Oberflächentechnik cleaning and degreasing machine (model VAIOCS S) with a batch size of 1220mm x 910mm x 760mm.

The EMO degreaser can use organic solvents such as hydrocarbons (AIII), modified alcohols and chlorinated hydrocarbons to allow perfectly tailored cleaning, ensuring all surfaces are free of dirt and residues. The parts are fully and efficiently dried due to the integrated vacuum drying system. Thanks to the patented design of the machine, it can clean and dry parts with even the most complex geometry – even those which are difficult for other cleaning and degreasing machines. The technology used in the EMO degreaser is state-of-the-art and allows environmentally friendly processes and a reduced energy consumption.

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TMK IPSCO restarts operations at Tulsa Port of Catoosa

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Source:  Tulsa World

Keith Marquart leads a tour of the control room of the TMK IPSCO facility at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. Photo Credit: Cory Young/Tulsa World

When the price of oil nosedived, one of this area’s casualties was TMK IPSCO, which idled its plant in September 2015.

“There was really no business for us,” said Joel Mastervich, vice president and chief operating officer of the company, which does welding, heat-treating, and threading on pipes used in drilling operations. “We had to make tough decisions back then. So we did.”

TMK IPSCO celebrated the restart of operations—and the creation of 168 jobs by year’s end—at a news conference August 8, 2017, at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa.

Read more: “Manufacturer restarts operations at Tulsa Port of Catoosa”

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