Piston Rings Manufacturer Bolsters Production with 3rd Nitriding System
Asimco Shuanghuan Piston Ring Co., Ltd. has added a third nitriding system to its heat treating operations, enhancing piston ring production capabilities to serve a range of applications, including the automotive, commercial vehicle, construction machinery, and marine sectors. The compact furnace system was installed in line with two identical systems acquired in 2018 and 2021.
Nitrex installed the latest nitriding system in June, 2024, and Asimco began production in July with a goal to increase its annual production capacity of 180 million pieces and over 4,800 different varieties and specifications. Nitrex’s NITREG®-S stainless steel nitriding technology improves wear resistance, corrosion resistance, fatigue strength, surface hardness, and dimensional stability of piston rings, while reducing friction. These improvements result in better sealing, lower oil consumption, and overall enhanced engine efficiency and durability.
Nitrex Regional Manager – Asia
Source: NITREX
“The addition of the NXK-812 furnace aligns with Asimco Shuanghuan’s objectives to boost production volume and ensure precision and reliability in high-volume manufacturing,” said Tao Liu, sales manager at Nitrex China.
“By incorporating an additional Nitrex system into their operations, Asimco enhances its ability to produce stainless-steel piston rings with superior performance, durability, and reliability. This advanced treatment makes their products exceptionally suited for high-demand engine applications,” said Nikola Dzepina, account executive at Nitrex.
The press release is available in its original form here.
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Heat Treater Launches Expanded HIP Capacity Production at South Carolina Facility
A U.K.-based thermal processing service provider announced it has begun production at its facility in Greenville, SC, where it recently expanded its hot isostatic pressing (HIP) services. The site houses heat treating operations, EDM, and other capabilities to serve the aerospace, defense, power generation, medical, and general industries.
Source: Bodycote
The additional HIP capacity at Bodycote‘s Greenville location was commissioned to service the development and processing of advanced materials for industries situated within the Southeastern U.S. as well as other Bodycote facilities in the supply chain. With HIP capacity now in full production, Bodycote is able to meet the rising demand for highly reliable additive manufacturing post-processing. The company has more than HIP vessels of varying sizes in multiple locations. Processing capability can accommodate components nominally up to 6.5ft in diameter by 12ft high, and weighing over 30,000kg.
The press release is available in its original form here.
Featured photo: HIP furnace being lowered into place
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Heat Treat Economic Indicators: August 2024 Results
The four heat treat industry-specific economic indicators have been gathered by Heat Treat Today each month since June 2023. In previous months, the economic indicators have mostly fallen in the growth column, with a midsummer “calm” in July when most suppliers to the heat treat industry expected contraction in all four categories. However, this month, suppliers are reporting that they anticipate most indicators to grow in August.
The numbers, which were compiled in the first week of August, show that responding parties expect the economy to experience rebounding growth in three of the four indices, settling in each at their highest point since May. The expectation for growth in number of inquiries reveals the most significant jump over July’s responses. Anticipation for growth is also positive for value of bookings and health of the manufacturing economy, the latter with positive expectations falling just above the “neutral” x-axis, indicated by the number “50.” The size of backlog indicator, though improved over July, remains the indicator suppliers anticipate contraction.
The results from this month’s survey (August) are as follows; numbers above 50 indicate growth, numbers below 50 indicate contraction, and the number 50 indicates no change:
- Anticipated change in the Number of Inquiries from July to August: 57.8
- Anticipated change in Value of Bookings from July to August: 56.1
- Anticipated change in Backlog Size from July to August: 49.3
- Anticipated change in the Health of the Manufacturing Economy from July to August: 50.6
Data for August 2024
The four index numbers are reported monthly by Heat Treat Today and made available on the website.
Heat Treat Today’s Economic Indicators measure and report on four heat treat industry indices. Each month, approximately 800 individuals who classify themselves as suppliers to the North American heat treat industry receive the survey. Above are the results. Data started being collected in June 2023. If you would like to participate in the monthly survey, please click here to subscribe.
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Aluminum Parts Manufacturer Increases Capacity with Melting Furnace
A melting and holding furnace with a preheat hearth and a maximum temperature rating of 1,450°F (788°C) has been shipped to a manufacturer to increase capacity for processing aluminum parts.
Lindberg/MPH announced the shipment of a gas-fired reverberatory aluminum melting and holding furnace with a total holding capacity of 85,000 lbs based on 155 lbs per cubic ft. of molten aluminum and a melt rate of 10,000 pounds per hour. A full width vertically rising air operated door provides access to load the preheat hearth and a full width cleanout door at the rear allows for unloading.
General Manager
Lindberg/MPH
Source: Lindberg/MPH
This melting furnace is designed with an elevated base and bottom mounted magnetic stirring mechanism. An air pressure pump well for dispensing molten aluminum provides the operator with greater ease of use and allows the unit to stand idle over long periods of time such as weekends without having a large temperature differential between the pumper and the furnace.
“This aluminum melting furnace design provides maximum melting efficiency and large capacity. The customer supplied magnetic stirring mechanism helps reduce damaging oxide growth,” said Kelley Shreve, general manager at Lindberg/MPH.
The press release is available in its original form here.
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Humidity Got You (and Your Furnace) Down?
Source: Ipsen
Here in the northern hemisphere, the dog days of summer are upon us. This folksy phrase has come to signify the months when humidity weighs heavily in the air, but it’s got a lot more history to it than that. According to the ancients of Rome and Greece, the dog days not only brought drought and heat but also caused man and his best friend to go mad. Madness may not be the result of seasonal humidity, but manufacturing disruptions could be.
Humidity affects nearly all processing environments, but some, like heat treating, are more prone to humidity-related disruptions This question was submitted to the Ask the Expert team at Ipsen: Operating a furnace in an environment that has been dealing with high heat and humidity has posed more challenges than we’ve experienced in the past. What are some things that we should be watching out for when operating our furnaces to make sure they’re running efficiently despite the temperature and humidity?
In this best of the web article, consider the damage humidity can do to your vacuum furnace and gather some tips to maintain your vacuum furnaces during hot, muggy weather.
An excerpt:
“High temperatures cause changes in electricity flows, which increase resistance. Additionally, excessive humidity reduces transformer insulation and resistance, while oxidizing electrical conductors. And the difference between cooling water temperature and ambient temperature with high humidity can cause the vacuum vessel to “sweat,” affecting the entire furnace’s electrical system and transformers’ performance.
Here are nine key things you can do to maintain vacuum furnaces during hot, muggy weather:
- Clean the hot zone, check insulation and ceramics, and repair if necessary. Run periodic burnout cycles.
- Check, secure, and mark all electrical connections. Apply conductive copper grease to improve electrical contact between surfaces.
- Clean all vents in the control cabinet without the air-conditioning. Use silica gel to reduce moisture.”
Read the rest of the list and the entire article from Ipsen by clicking here: “Ask the Expert: Protecting Your Vacuum Furnace from Humidity (Part 2)”
Read Part 1 (about air curtains that protect equipment from humidity just like the air curtains you encounter when walking from a hot parking lot into a cold grocery store) here and Part 3 (about vacuum cool events) here.
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Green Wind Power for Steel Plant
A German industrial plant will be the first to receive locally generated wind power through a direct connection.
With the green energy from the four new wind turbines installed by project partner SL NaturEnergie, thyssenkrupp Hohenlimburg, a subsidiary of thyssenkrupp Steel, can now cover 40% of its average annual electricity requirements.
The four wind turbines, each up to 160 meters in height and with a rotor diameter of 138 meters, are connected to the thyssenkrupp Hohenlimburg plant network via a direct line a good 3 kilometers in length. The wind farm generates over 55 million kilowatt hours annually, allowing the majority of this energy to be used directly without relying on the public grid. Surplus quantities are only supplied to other Group sites via the public grid in the event of high wind speeds or lower demand at the plant.
To learn more about this innovative project, visit Green wind power for steel production: Pioneering project by thyssenkrupp Steel and SL NaturEnergie supplies Hagen steel location with renewable energy from nearby wind farm.
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Furnace Manufacturer Consolidates Operations With $4M Facility, Creates 25 new jobs
A Missouri-based furnace manufacturer for the foundry, die casting and metal forming industries recently announced plans to expand its footprint in the St. Louis area with a new facility. The $4M investment in O’Fallon, Missouri, will create 25 new jobs and result in the consolidation of operations located in two Missouri counties with room to grow.
“We’ve seen explosive growth over the past few years, which initiated an extensive search for a new location,” said Joe Slattery, president and COO of SINC Thermal. “Our new, consolidated facility in O’Fallon will allow us to successfully address the current needs of our customers and position us for future growth.”
Governor of Missouri
Source: flickr
“It’s exciting to see yet another Missouri-made business like SINC Thermal thriving in the St. Louis region. We look forward to the company’s continued success in O’Fallon as it expands and strengthens the area’s vibrant manufacturing sector,” said Missouri Governor Mike Parson.
Mayor
O’Fallon, Missouri
Source: www.ofallon.mo.us
For this expansion, SINC Thermal will benefit from the Missouri Works program, a tool that helps companies expand and retain workers by providing access to capital through withholdings or tax credits for job creation.
“We are thrilled that SINC Thermal has joined O’Fallon’s vast number of advanced manufacturers, and proud of the Select O’Fallon team’s work in making it happen,” said O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy. “I also wish to thank our county, regional, and state partners for their support of SINC Thermal and help in reaffirming O’Fallon as a place where businesses can succeed.”
SINC Thermal president and COO Joe Slatterly is a member of Heat Treat Today‘s 40 Under 40 Class of 2020. Click here to learn more.
The press release is available in its original form here.
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$2.5B Acquisition Expands Steelmaker’s North American Reach
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc, a major supplier of steel to the automotive industry with heat treat capabilities, has announced its acquisition of Stelco Holdings Inc, an integrated steelmaker with two operational sites in the province of Ontario. The $2.5B (USD) transaction will bring 1,800 workers into the Cleveland-based steelmaker’s current workforce of 18,000 employed across its facilities in the United States and Canada.
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (Cliffs) recently released its definitive agreement to acquire Stelco Holdings Inc, increasing its steelmaking footprint and doubling the company’s exposure to the flat-rolled spot market, which includes raw materials, energy, and healthcare. Stelco adds capabilities that complement Cliffs’ existing operations, confirming the Cleveland-based steelmaker’s commitment and leadership in integrated steel production in North America.
Chairman, President and CEO
Cleveland Cliffs
Stelco’s facilities consist of Lake Erie Works, a new integrated steelmaking facility in North America, and Hamilton Works, a downstream finishing and cokemaking facility, adding capabilities that complement Cliffs’ existing operations and product portfolio, while diversifying its market industries. Upon completion of the transaction, Cliffs shareholders will own approximately 95% and Stelco shareholders will own approximately 5% of the combined company, on a fully diluted basis.
“We did this deal the way it should be done, reaching a respectful agreement between the two parties that keeps national interests at the forefront and recognizes the importance of the workforce,” said Lourenco Goncalves, chairman, president and CEO of Cliffs. “The enterprise value of this transaction is significantly lower than the cost of building an equivalent replacement mill in the United States, and the cost structure is lower than what a new U.S. mill would provide us. Stelco is a company that respects the Union, treats their employees well, and leans into their cost advantages. With that, they are a perfect fit for Cleveland-Cliffs and our culture. We look forward to proving that our ownership of Stelco will be a net benefit for Canada, the province of Ontario, and the cities of Nanticoke and Hamilton.”
Executive Chairman & CEO
Stelco Holdings
“I am proud of what we have accomplished over the past seven years, and the value we have generated,” said Alan Kestenbaum, executive chairman and CEO of Stelco. “Most importantly, we have revitalized Stelco and restored it to its iconic status in Canada. I know thac Cliffs will continue to build upon the excellent work and life environment we have created for all of our employees and continue to be a reliable supplier to our valued customers, while maintaining Stelco’s stature and reputation in Canada and maintaining our Canadian national interests. One of the important drivers for this transaction was receiving a meaningful portion of the consideration in Cliffs shares. I have strong belief and optimism in the North American steel market. I believe that Lourenco and his team have created a winning platform, and I intend to remain an investor in Cliffs for a long time to come as he and his team continue to build out their platform and business.”
Pictured in featured image: Lourenco Goncalves
The press release is available in its original form here.
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US DOE Strategy: Why the Heat Treating Industry?
The heat treating industry is under pressure to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), and the response has been a noble effort to attain sustainability. In two previous articles in this continuing series, guest columnist Michael Mouilleseaux, general manager at Erie Steel, Ltd., discussed the U.S. Department of Energy’s initiative related to the decarbonization of industry and its potential impact on the heat treating industry.
The first installment, “US DOE Strategy Affects Heat Treaters“, appeared on April 10, 2024, in Heat Treat Today, as well as in Heat Treat Today’s March 2024 Aerospace print edition. The second in the series, “U.S. DOE Strategy: Ramifications for Heat Treaters“, appeared on June 18, 2024, and in the May 2024 Sustainability print edition. This informative conclusion to the series was first released in Heat Treat Today’s June 2024 Buyer’s Guide print edition.
The endeavor to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), albeit noble in intent, begs the question: Why is the heat treating industry being asked to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions?
Some background:
- The United States’ GHGE account for approximately 14% of the total worldwide emissions.
- According to the U.S. DOE, U.S. industry accounts for approximately 23% of the total U.S. GHGE.
- According to the U.S. DOE, “process heating” accounts for approximately 43% of the total GHGE generated by U.S. industry.
- According to the U.S. DOE, heat treating accounts for approximately 2.8% of the GHGE they have attributed to process heating.
- In sum, heat treating accounts for 0.3% of the total U.S. GHGE (23% x 43% x 2.8%), and 0.04% of the worldwide GHGE (14% x 23% x 43% x 2.8%).
Why is the Department of Energy imposing natural gas restrictions on an industry that they have calculated to be responsible for 0.3% of the country’s total emissions?
The answer has two parts. First, natural gas has been deemed “unacceptable” due to its generation of CO2 as byproducts of combustion, and our industry has been swept up in an uninformed effort to stem global warming (or as it is now known, climate change). Remember: Heat treating accounts for just 0.04% of global GHGE!
Second, this administration has spent something between several hundred billion and a trillion U.S. dollars to incentivize power, transportation, and industrial sectors in their effort to stem global warming. Years from now, we will look back at this as one of the greatest capital reallocations in our history. If we can accept that the “past is a prologue,” we have a storied history of government failures to determine the future of the agricultural, aircraft, and financial sectors. This is already happening in Western Europe: Power is substantially more expensive, and industrial output has dropped nearly 6% for the past two years — the European Investment bank attributes the reduction in industrial output to “elevated energy costs.”
Perhaps it’s time for us to take notice and slow down this effort until such a time that we have the technology in place to accomplish decarbonization without eviscerating our industrial, transportation, and power industries. A greatly overused term today is “existential threat” — but our livelihood, our national security, and our way of life are, in fact, on the line.
On www.heattreattoday.com/factsheetDOE, you can utilize the one-page resource to let governmental officials know what our industry is, who we are, who we employ, and the effect this effort has in regulating us out of business.
I want to thank Surface Combustion, Gasbarre, and Super Systems Inc. for the guidance they provided me with in navigating the technology of this subject matter.
Any errors contained herein are mine and mine alone.
About the Author:
General Manager at Erie Steel, Ltd.
Sourced from the author
Michael Mouilleseaux is general manager at Erie Steel, Ltd. He has been at Erie Steel in Toledo, OH since 2006 with previous metallurgical experience at New Process Gear in Syracuse, NY, and as the director of Technology in Marketing at FPM Heat Treating LLC in Elk Grove, IL. Michael attended the stakeholder meetings at the May 2023 symposium hosted by the U.S. DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.
For more information: Contact Michael at mmouilleseaux@erie.com.
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