Advanced Heat Treat Corp.

Heat Treater Expands Nitriding, Induction Hardening Capacity

/ FEATURED NEWS, INDUCTION HEATING EQUIPMENT NEWS, INDUCTION HEATING NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, NITRIDING NEWS

A heat treat and metallurgical services company recently unveiled plans to expand two of their four facilities this summer to better process applications in the aerospace, gears, and firearms industries, among others.

AHT Burton
AHT Burton

Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) announced building expansions for their Monroe, Michigan, and Waterloo, Iowa locations. Michigan AHT plans to increase the size of their pit to accommodate two larger nitriding units, while AHT Burton intends to add square footage for new equipment and related services, such as two recently acquired induction units.

AHT has not expanded the Michigan and Burton facilities since 2006 and 2007, respectively, and hopes to complete the projects by mid-summer. The company also recently increased the shop floor at a third facility which serves as company headquarters in Waterloo, Iowa.

Mike Woods, President, AHT
Mike Woods, President, AHT

“We’re very excited about the growth AHT has seen

AHT Michigan
AHT Michigan

over the past few years,” said AHT President Mike Woods. “Because of this, we felt it was necessary to expand our facilities and invest in additional equipment to better serve our customers and capture more of the market.”

Heat Treater Expands Nitriding, Induction Hardening Capacity Read More »

15 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry.

Personnel and Company Chatter

  • Roger Smith has recently been appointed Technical Manager at Plibrico Company, LLC.  Smith will be responsible for development of innovative refractory formulas, oversee product quality, and assist in identifying the best materials for refractory construction projects.
  • William “Bill” Cowell has been promoted to the position of Vice President of Operations at Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT). Cowell, who has been at AHT since 1999, will oversee operations for all AHT  facilities.
  • Wirco has announced the promotion of Aaron Fisher to Vice President of our Fabrication Division. Aaron has been with Wirco for 19 years. In addition, Wirco welcomes Marco Möser as the Vice President of our Foundry Division.
  • Thomas G. Gasbarre has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Gasbarre Products, Inc, a position he has held since his father George Gasbarre, the founder of the company, retired in 1990. Gasbarre also announced that Tom’s son, Alex Gasbarre, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and is now leading the development and execution of the company’s short- and long-term strategies. Heath Jenkins has been promoted and will succeed Alex as President, Press & Automation, and Manufacturing Technologies.
  • John C Plant has been appointed to serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Arconic Inc. The Board has also appointed Elmer L. Doty, a current Director, to serve as Chief Operating Officer, and Arthur D. Collins, Jr., a current Director, to serve as Lead Director. These appointments are effective immediately.
  • Xerox, based in Norwalk, Connecticut, has acquired metal additive manufacturing company Vader Systems, which will enable it to offer its customers access to low-cost metal additive manufacturing with a greater variety of metals. Based in Buffalo, New York, Vader Systems is a developer of liquid metal additive manufacturing technology.

Equipment Chatter

  • Several convection ovens were supplied to a manufacturer of small medical parts in the southern U.S. by Lucifer Furnaces. Model 42-B18 has a working chamber size of 9”H x 9”W x 18”L and heats to 1200°F.
  • A floor-standing furnace has been shipped by L&L Special Furnace Co., Inc. to a worldwide leader of high tech ceramics and associated components located in the Northeastern United States. The furnace will be used for glass components along with fiber optics and research and development. It will also be used to fill in on various thermal projects and development.
  • A Treet-All™ Box Furnace has been shipped to a Japan-based global battery manufacturing company by Lindberg/MPH.  The maximum temperature rating of this light industrial box furnace is 2050°F and has work chamber dimensions of 18” wide x 36” deep x 18” high. The Treet-All™ Light Industrial Box Furnace is suited for multiple applications, including annealing, ashing, austempering, brazing, preheating, solution treating, stress relieving, and normalizing.
  • A supplier of the aerospace industry received shipment of a Electrically Heated Horizontal Quench Solution Treat System from Wisconsin Oven Corporation. The Horizontal Quench Solution Treat System has a maximum oven operating temperature of 1,200° F and work zone dimensions of 5’4″ wide x 5’6″ long x 5’4″ high (above the rollers).
  • Chromalox, a thermal technology provider, recently contracted with Sierra Monitor Corporation  to enable cloud system connectivity on their Heat Trace solution.
  • A cabinet oven is being used to finish batch loads of metal parts at a customer’s facility. The No. 828 is a 500°F (260°C) cabinet oven from Grieve Corporation.
  • A recycling and melting group has ordered for installation a Twin-Chamber Melting Furnace TCF® from Tenova LOI Thermprocess. Italy-based Fonderie Pandolfo specializes in processing of aluminum, mainly for extrusions. The casted billets are mainly extruded in the extrusion shops of the main European extruders.

Kudos Chatter

  • Buehler, an ITW Company, and ASM International are celebrating 75 of continuous partnership in 2019. Buehler has continuously supported of the ASM World Training Center in Novelty, Ohio, through its innovations for metallography and hardness testing, solutions for the newest materials and participation in ASM International activities.
  • Pennsylvania-based Onex Inc recently completed a forge furnace refractory reline in one week.

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.

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

A Baker’s Dozen Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

A Baker’s 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

  • Peters’ Heat Treating, Inc. recently announces that Andrew S. Wilkosz has been named president of the company. Wilkosz, who has been with Peters’ Heat Treating, Inc. for nearly four years, was previously acting as the Vice President of Operations, overseeing the day to day operations of the company across all three facilities. Wilkosz is also a principal in Laser Hard, Inc., specializing in robotic laser heat treating and cladding. He is also a Heat Treat Today 2018 40 Under 40 recipient.
  • Geoffrey Somary has been appointed to CEO of Ipsen Group worldwide, taking over the position after former CEO Thorsten Kruger moved to the Advisory Board of the company.
  • Jake Verdoux has recently been promoted to the position of Manufacturing Manager for Plymouth, Michigan-based, Gasbarre Industrial Furnace Systems (IFS) (formerly known as J.L. Becker).
  • A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to mark the completion and opening of a 15,000-square foot building expansion at the corporate headquarters of Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT), located in Waterloo, Iowa.
  • Braidy Industries has alerted potential investors that the aluminum mill it plans to build in northeast Kentucky will open in 2021, not in 2020 as previously projected, a change due to a “minor adjustment to the construction schedule.”
  • Multiple industries have recently purchased and installed equipment in SECO/WARWICK’s Vector® vacuum furnace line, including an international electric motor producer, an emissions control device manufacturer, a forging company, a defense contractor, an automotive manufacturer, and an aircraft components manufacturer.
  • Kandil Steel, headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, recently commissioned bell annealer technology from EBNER. Kandil, which is celebrating its 150 anniversary, is expanding the EBNER HICON/H2® bell annealer located at Galva Metal by four work bases to a total of fourteen. The facility is scheduled to start production in 2020.
  • A 2000°F (1093°C), inert atmosphere, heavy-duty furnace, No. 1039, was recently purchased for heat treating turbine components at a customer’s facility. The workspace dimensions of the Grieve Corporation furnace measure 36” W x 60” D x 36” H. 73.
  • A medical device company recently acquired the assets of Options Medical LLC, a Florida-based medical device distributor. Orthofix Medical Inc., which manufactures musculoskeletal products and therapies, is purchasing the distributor of bone growth therapies devices.
  • A U.S.-based orthopedic and spinal medical device manufacturer and developer recently agreed to sell major assets related to its artificial joint, trauma and spinal product businesses to Kyocera International Inc., based in San Diego, Calif.  The assets of Renovis Surgical Technologies Inc. will be transferred into a new California-based company, wholly owned by Kyocera International Inc., to be named Kyocera Medical Technologies Inc.

  • Buehler, an ITW Company, and ASM International are celebrating 75 of continuous partnership in 2019. The pinnacle of this relationship is Buehler’s continuous support of the ASM World Training Center in Novelty, Ohio, through its innovations for metallography and hardness testing, solutions for the newest materials and participation in ASM International activities.
  • APMI International has named Joseph Tunick Strauss and John L. Johnson. as the organization’s 2019 Fellows. APMI International’s most prestigious award recognizes APMI members for their significant contributions to the goals, purpose, and mission of the organization as well as for a high level of expertise in the technology, practice, or business of the industry.
  • Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI) recently announced its first Women in Finishing FORUM which will be held at the Embassy Suites South Bend at Notre Dame from May 9-11, 2019. CCAI began its Women in Finishing initiative with a networking reception at FABTECH 2017 in Chicago. The response exceeded expectations, leading to the official establishment of Women in Finishing (WiF) under CCAI. 2019 will feature the expansion of WiF programming, including the Women in Finishing FORUM.

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 Baker’s Dozen Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current Read More »

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

  • Todd McDonald was recently hired as president and chief executive officer of Thermal Process Holdings, Inc., which was formed by Calvert Street Capital Partners and John Hubbard, former CEO of Bodycote, PLC, to pursue a buy-and-build strategy in the thermal processing industry.
  • Gasbarre Products, Inc. launched its new website, www.gasbarre.com. As part of the rebranding initiative, Gasbarre has categorized its diverse product offering into three business units: Powder Compaction Solutions, Thermal Processing Systems, and Manufacturing Technologies.
  • Bentraum D. Huffman has been named president and chief executive officer of the Ellwood Group, Inc. Huffman previously had served as chief operating officer since 2015.
  • Chemcoaters, a coil coater and manufacturer of proprietary coating chemistries, has acquired Eco Green Coatings, making it a wholly owned subsidiary. Both companies are located in Gary, Indiana.
  • Connie Mackey, Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) Corporate Quality Systems Manager, was recently selected to be a voting member of the Nadcap Heat Treating Task Group. Nadcap is a global accreditation program designed to ensure standardized and cost-effective approaches and to provide continual improvement among the aerospace and defense industry.
  • A large retort box furnace used for de-bindering ceramic composite pre-peg materials along with powder metals processing and hot isostatic processing was recently purchased from L&L Special Furnace Co., Inc.
  • A cabinet oven from Grieve, No. 934, is currently being used by the customer for heat treating. Workspace dimensions of this 850°F oven measure 38” W x 20” D x 26” H.
  • A LP gas-fired heavy duty car bottom oven with fume incinerator was recently delivered to a leader in the oil and gas industry by Wisconsin Oven Corporation. This car bottom oven will be used for prebaking drill pipe joints. The thermal clean oven has a maximum operating temperature of 800° F and work chamber dimensions of 8’6″ wide x 50’0″ long x 8’6″ high.

Kudos Chatter

  • Solar Atmospheres, Inc. has filed a Patent Application with the US Patent Office, application number 15/999,873 for a high-pressure, rapid gas quenching vacuum furnace utilizing an isolation transformer in the blower motor power system. The gas quench with a 600 HP motor operates at 460 volts in Argon gas, utilizing a double wound, Magnetic Specialties, Inc. electrical isolation transformer, primary winding 1:1 to the secondary winding, with a Variable Speed Drive and solid state electrical spike protection for motor arc suppression.
  • Thermal-Vac Technology, Inc., located in Orange, CA has received merit status for NADCAP AC7102 Heat Treating accreditation. Thermal-Vac Technology Inc. City Steel Heat Treating, located in Santa Fe Springs, CA has been awarded NADCAP accreditation in AC7102 Heat Treating. This is the initial accreditation award after our 2016 acquisition of this location.
  • Cornwell Quality Tools, which produces fine quality tools with high-grade alloy steel, combined with modern heat-treating methods, celebrates 100 years in business this year.
  • Tekscan’s Gait Analysis System Wins R&D 100 Award. Tekscan is thrilled to announce that StridewayTM has won an R&D 100 Award. The R&D 100 Awards honor the latest and best innovations, identifying the top technology products of the past year. Since 1963, the R&D 100 Awards have identified revolutionary technologies introduced to the market.

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 »

Gas Nitriding Capacity Doubles for Range of Applications, Including Auto, Aerospace, Energy

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

A heat treating services and metallurgical solutions company recently announced the arrival of three new gas nitride units at its corporate headquarters, doubling the gas nitriding capacity at this location and allowing the company to expand its UltraGlow® gas nitriding and UltraOx® surface treatment solutions.

The three new gas nitride units at Advanced Heat Treat Corp’s Waterloo, Iowa, corporate facility vary in size, allowing for the accommodation of various industries and applications including, but not limited to: aerospace, automotive, oil and energy, agriculture, construction, and firearms.

AHT President Mikel Woods with new gas nitriding unit.

One nitride unit will be operational this month, and the additional two units will be running in February. AHT also has plans to design and build an additional unit later in 2019.

“I’m excited on many accounts,” said AHT President, Mikel Woods. “One, we’re adding capacity/back-up to an already growing agriculture/construction market. Two, we have plans to add a new Nadcap process in order to expand further into the aerospace market and meet our customer requirements/requests. And three, we’re gearing up to go even bigger in 2019 with additional equipment.”

The new units will house AHT’s UltraGlow Gas Nitriding and UltraOx services, commonly used in manufacturing to prevent corrosion and improve wear resistance.

“UltraOx is rapidly replacing processes like QPQ/salt bath, chrome plating, and nickel plating; therefore, it was pivotal for us to invest in more equipment so that we can accommodate the growing demand and continue to provide our customers with the quality and service they have come to expect from AHT,” said Woods.

AHT is currently Nadcap accredited for ion nitriding at their corporate location, but with the additional capacity, AHT plans to gain accreditation in gas nitriding by this summer as well. The additional Nadcap accreditation will help AHT to accommodate additional aerospace needs and grow their UltraGlow gas nitriding service.

 

Photo caption (main): John Ludeman, AHT Quality and Continuous Improvement Manager; Dan Sager, Assistant Operations Manager; Jill Manning, AHT accountant; Carlos Urzagaste, AHT maintenance supervisor

Gas Nitriding Capacity Doubles for Range of Applications, Including Auto, Aerospace, Energy Read More »

15 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

15 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

  • Tracy Dougherty has been named Vice President of Sales at AFC-Holcroft. Dougherty has been with AFC-Holcroft since 2008 and served in several sales-related roles, most recently as the company’s Sales Manager. As Vice President of Sales, Dougherty will now have a number of added responsibilities, including overseeing the company’s activities in Europe.
  • Retech Systems, which has been manufacturing vacuum melting systems in Northern California, will transition much of the manufacturing and assembly to facilities in Świebodzin, Poland. All of the future work done at the SECO/Warwick facilities in Poland will be per the established Retech standards with the focus on maintaining all expectations associated with the Retech brand. The Ukiah office will be downsized and will retain engineers, technical directors, technologists, and service staff. Retech’s unique R&D Center will continue to be built up, maintaining a west coast office along with the recently opened east coast office in Buffalo, NY.
  • Philip Wrisley, Project Manager at Plibrico‘s Salem, Ohio, office, is the recipient of an API STD 936 Refractory Personnel Certification from the American Petroleum Institute (API). This internationally recognized certification verifies Wrisley’s knowledge of API Refractory Installation Quality Control Guidelines for field-testing of monolithic refractory materials, as well as best practices in the installation and repair of refractory linings.
  • A new 57,500 square foot building dedicated to vacuum furnace manufacturing is under construction at Solar Manufacturing‘s campus in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. As can be seen in the photo below, the four bridge cranes are in place, the full plant and office roof is complete, and much of the concrete floor poured.
  • A thermal technology company recently announced the opening of its new sales and operations office in Norway. Chromalox, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, manufactures process heating and heat tracing products.
  • A global leader in aluminum rolling and recycling recently announced an expansion at the company’s Pindamonhangaba, Brazil, plant. This $175 million investment of its flagship facility in South America will bolster Novelis‘s capacity with 100 kilotonnes of additional rolling production and 60 kilotonnes of increased recycling and bring total capacity of the Pindamonhangaba facility to approximately 680 kilotonnes per year of aluminum sheet and 450 kilotonnes annually of recycled metal.
  • Nucor Corporation has announced that it is acquiring Corporacion POK, S.A. de C.V. (POK), a fully integrated precision castings company with a facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. POK produces complex castings and precision machined products used by the oil and gas, mining and sugar processing industries.
  • A new automotive structures facility opened in Zilina, Slovakia, dedicated to the production of aluminum crash management systems and body structure components. Constellium‘s 5,200 square meter facility in Zilina features advanced technologies for forming, machining, welding, and heat-treating aluminum automotive components, along with a state-of-the-art quality lab to ensure products meet customer specifications. Constellium plans to expand its facility to 15,000 square meters by mid-2019.

Equipment Chatter

  • A Japanese manufacturer of precision tool steels components recently commissioned a precision vacuum furnace system from SECO/WARWICK. This specialized system reduces energy consumption through power optimization and cycle time reduction, customized to work within the tight physical space limitations.
  • In addition, an American manufacturer which produces transportation components recently ordered a new precision gas nitriding furnace with ZeroFlow® from SECO/VACUUM (SVT), a SECO/WARWICK Group company.
  • L&L Special Furnace Co., Inc., has supplied a custom designed and manufactured oil quench tank to a metal stamping manufacturer in the Midwest. The quench tank is specifically used to quench metal stamping dies that are heated to 1,550°F.
  • Advanced Heat Treat Corp recently posted to Facebook a video of the installation of one of three new nitriding vessels delivered to the company’s MidPort Blvd location as part of an ongoing building expansion.
  • An international heat treating equipment manufacturer with a location in California, JGEF Furnace, recently sold 6 furnaces to a Japanese heat treating company. Four nitriding horizontal furnaces are front-loading and designed specifically for precision gas nitriding in a retort style with vacuum purge, and two tempering horizontal furnaces are designed to temper workloads after hardening.

Kudos Chatter

  • Hydro Extruded Solutions Hoogezand B.V. (Netherlands), which produces aluminum profiles as well as anodized and painted components, has become the first aluminum extrusion company to be certified with ASI’s Performance Standard for environmental, social and governance performance.
  • SECO/WARWICK was recently awarded the Honorary Badge for Meritorious Performance in the area of innovation in a badge award ceremony held at the Royal Castle as part of the celebrations of the 100-year anniversary of the Patent Office and industrial property protection system in Poland. The badge, given to entities and organizations having outstanding achievements in their pro-development activities, was received by Bartosz Klinowski, Managing Director (Europe), Member of the Management Board of SECO/WARWICK.
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.

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

15 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

15 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

  • Advanced Heat Treat Corp (AHT), which provides heat treat services and metallurgical solutions, announced today the addition of three new sales and marketing employees: Vasko Popovski, Jason Taylor, and Lindsey Newcomb. Popovski will focus on heat treat needs in the Great Lakes area. Taylor will cover sales in the southeast region of the country. Newcomb, Marketing Manager in the corporate office located in Iowa
  • Dr. Guido Kleinschmidt, who is a member of the Managing Board of SMS group GmbH, is the new President of METEC, the International Metallurgical Trade Fair and Congresses from 25 to 29 June 2019. He was elected unanimously at the recent meeting of the steering committee of the four trade fairs GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS, NEWCAST. The election was necessary because the former METEC President Marcel Fasswald had left SMS group to join Thyssengroup Industrial Solutions AG as Chief Operating Officer.
  • Giantonio Toldo, Operations Manager for Element Materials Technology (Element) Padova laboratory in Limena, Italy, has been appointed as the Vice President of the Italian Association for Metallurgy’s (AIM) Technical Committee for the Control and Characterization of Materials.
  • OMG Inc. recently announced four promotions in supply-chain management and operations: Wayne Ringenbach was promoted to director of Manufacturing, which includes heat treating; Brad Bedard was promoted to director of Supply Chain Management;  Chris Mowatt was promoted to director of Manufacturing Engineering; and Geri McCarthy was promoted to director of Operations.
  • Samuel, Son & Co., Mississauga, Ontario, has acquired Sierra Aluminum, Riverside, California. Sierra is a supplier of aluminum extrusions and related products to a number of end markets, including construction and transportation. Sachin Shivaram has been named president of Sierra Aluminum Group, following Ed Harris’s decision to retire from the company.

Equipment Chatter

  • A heat treating equipment supplier based in Plymouth, Michigan, recently shipped a pair of 36” x 48” x 36” electrically heated temper furnaces to a major drive supplier in the Southeast. Gasbarre Furnace Group/J. L. Becker designed the furnaces, which operate from 300°F to 850°F with a temperature uniformity of ±5°F, to preheat workloads prior to hardening and temper workloads after hardening.
  • An India-based conglomerate recently contracted Can-Eng Furnaces International Limited to design, manufacture, install, and commission an aluminum automotive casting heat treatment system for its new greenfield North American expansion in South Carolina. The new system will service three distinct aluminum product groups with unique treatment cycles.
  • A global manufacturer of thermal-processing equipment recently shipped a custom Gruenberg bench oven to the movable machinery industry. The bench oven is rated for Class B operation per the NFPA 86 specifications. Thermal Product Solutions (TPS) designed this bench oven to be used in the customer’s testing and product development department to process various mechanical apparatuses affixed to a Ling Dynamic Electronic Shaker. The maximum temperature rating of this Class B oven is 1022°F (550°C) and the work chamber dimensions are 36” W x 36” D x 36” H. In addition, TPS delivered a Gruenberg cabinet oven to the research and development industry. This Class B oven will process up to 5 gallons of water per batch from 1500 lbs of metal powder. The maximum temperature rating of this Class B cabinet oven is 250° F and the work chamber dimensions are 48” W x 48” D x 48” H. Both Gruenberg ovens are constructed from a structural steel frame that supports the fully welded 304 stainless steel chamber liner and the exterior sheet metal.
  • Grieve has built a 1,250°F, horizontal airflow cabinet oven used for heat treating at the customer’s facility. With workspace dimensions of 38" by 38" by 38", it has 12"-thick insulated walls comprising 2" of 2,300°F ceramic blanket and 10" of 10 lb./cu. ft. density Rockwool.
  • A vacuum space simulation system was recently shipped to a company that manufactures equipment for space. Tenney Environmental designed this system to test ionic thruster chips for space vehicle systems. The simulator will allow the customer to test their products in-house, while replicating outer space conditions. The dual cryopump vacuum system is sized specifically to maintain the high vacuum while the thrusters are firing inside the vessel.
  • An industrial manufacturer recently purchased a custom car bottom furnace from LEWCO, based in Sandusky, Ohio. The electrically heated oven, which is rated for a maximum temperature of 1,300°F., is used for annealing steel parts, featuring a workspace of 72”W x 140”D x 90”H, and manufactured and designed to NFPA 86 “Class B” standards.

Kudos Chatter

  • Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS, center of excellence for aerospace air management systems within the Liebherr Group, has obtained accreditation from NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) for its Materials Testing Laboratory.
  • A leading provider of vacuum impregnation technology, Godfrey & Wing, passed its transition audit for ISO 9001:2015/IATF 16949 certification from Smithers Quality Assessments (SQA), an accredited third-party registrar. The IATF 16949:2016 certification is the recently published revision to ISO/TS 16949: 2009, one of the most widely used international standards in the automotive industry. The standard acts as a supplement to ISO 9001: 2015 for automotive quality management systems.
  • Bonnell Aluminum, a subsidiary of Tredegar Corporation also recently announced that its aluminum extrusion manufacturing facility in Newnan, Georgia, has achieved certification under IATF 16949:2016.
  • In January of 2018, Logik Precision Inc. (LPI), a CNC machining, water jet, EDM and welding/fabrication service provider primarily operating in the oil & gas industry, selected QMSC, which provides quality management consulting services and is the developer of QMS, to provide professional consulting services to transition the organization from ISO 9001:2008 to the current revision of 2015. QMSC performed gap audit, completed revisions to the quality management system, performed employee training, and represented LPI during the registrar audit which was conducted on July 11th and 12th. Logik Precision successfully demonstrated compliance and commitment to its quality program. The audit was closed with zero findings and no observations. QMSC will provide ongoing fractional Quality Director services to assist LPI with continuous improvement.

 

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.

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

Growth for Iowa Heat Treater Means New Addition, New Equipment

/ ENERGY HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS

An Iowa-based heat treat company providing thermal processing and metallurgical solutions for multiple industries, including aerospace, energy, and automotive, recently announced breaking ground on a 15,000 sq ft new addition, which will include two new heat treating equipment installations.

This is the first expansion at the corporate headquarters at Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) since 1998. The new addition will allow AHT to segregate its trademark processes, UltraGlow® (ion nitriding/nitrocarburizing) and UltraOx® (gaseous ferritic nitriding/nitrocarburizing and oxidation treatments) and maintain its state of the art manufacturing feel and presence.

The new expansion will bring with it two new gaseous ferritic nitriding/nitrocarburzing units w/sizes up to 13’ tall and 5’ wide. The new additions will be twofold:

  • the larger unit (13’ x 5’) will allow AHT to grow its longer-like product line, for processing long plastic injection screws for the plastics industry, hydraulic cylinder rods for the agriculture and/or construction industry lines and various pump, motor, shaft components for the oil and energy industries, and
  • the smaller unit (4’ x 5’) will be designed to capture more of the aerospace product line market; this unit will be targeted to be Nadcap approved by late 2018 to early 2019. By doing so, AHT will then have two Nadcap-approved processes inside its walls: Ion Nitriding and Gaseous Nitriding.

“This expansion will allow us better control of product flow, inventory control and process capacity,” said William Cowell, vice president of Ion Nitriding and plant manager. “We’ll be nearly doubling our gaseous nitriding capacity  with these additional units, and with the floor space, we’ll be able to better accommodate our customer demands.”

Mikel Woods, president of AHT

AHT currently has 55 ion/gaseous nitriding units across its four locations in Waterloo, Iowa; Monroe, Michigan; and Cullman, Alabama.

“I’m excited on many counts. One, we’re adding capacity/backup to an already growing agriculture/construction market. Two, we’re targeting to add a new Nadcap process in order to expand further into the aerospace market and meet more of our aerospace customer demands and requests. And three, we’re gearing up to go even bigger in 2019: with the expansion, we’ve planned to build/design a gaseous unit that will process parts up to twenty feet. This unit will allow us to enter various markets for growth,” said Mikel Woods, president of AHT.

Growth for Iowa Heat Treater Means New Addition, New Equipment Read More »

The Pros and Cons of Gas and Ion (Plasma) Nitriding

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, NITRIDING TECHNICAL CONTENT

 

Source: AHTcorp.com

 

The compound zone acts as a ceramic skin protecting the metal underneath from corrosion. (Photo credit: Advanced Heat Treat Corp)

Engineers considering the advantages and disadvantages of surface treatments typically have a usable lifespan, surface hardness, and fatigue strength in mind. As a process, both gas and ion (plasma) nitriding avoid the issues involved with coatings and achieve similar metallurgical properties, and the compound zone increases corrosion resistance. But what are other areas in which the two processes can be compared, and what are their differences? It’s good to know, particularly since the latter could significantly make a direct impact on the end product.

Jacob McCann, a process metallurgist with AHT Corp., provides a specific list of pros and cons of gas nitriding and ion (plasma) nitriding in our Technical Tuesday feature for today.

 

Read more: “Gas and Ion (Plasma) Nitriding: What’s the Difference?”

Photo credit: Advanced Heat Treat Corp

 

 

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10 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

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10 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

You don't want to miss out on the latest news from your fellow heat treaters, suppliers, or specialists! That's whereHeat Treat Today's News Chatter feature can come in handy, highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry.

Personnel and Company Chatter

  • Edwards Vacuum, a leading manufacturer of vacuum and abatement solutions which offers heat treating, recently broke ground on a new 75,000 square foot Technology Innovation Center in Hillsboro, Oregon, to serve as the U.K.-based company's North American semiconductor headquarters.
  • A joint project between global steel producer The SMS Group and Arkansas Northeastern College will result in the opening of the Arkansas Steelmaking Academy (ASA), to be housed in the College's Center for Allied Technology, which is slated to open in August 2018 with ASA offerings to begin in 2019.
  • Mariya Trickett, who serves as senior vice president of Human Resources for Dana Corporation was recently honored as one of the Top 15 Business Women by the Ohio Diversity Council, recognizing outstanding women in leadership who are respected, successful leaders within their organization.

Equipment Chatter

  • A Tier 1 automotive supplier recently purchased batch ovens custom engineered for aging aluminum structural components. Epcon Industrial Systems manufactures indirect gas-fired aluminum aging oven systems for the automotive and aerospace parts manufacturers and supplied the units.
  • Lindberg/MPH announced the recent shipment of an electrically heated rod overbend atmosphere box furnace to the aerospace industry. The box furnace has a maximum temperature rating of 2000°F and work chamber dimensions of 24" wide x 36" deep x 24ʺ high and will perform a heat treatment on parts within the work chamber under a reducing atmosphere generated from a nitrogen methanol panel.
  • A Midwest U.S. titanium manufacturer and fabricator recently received shipment of a large horizontal front loading vacuum furnace designed for processing titanium alloys for the aerospace, medical, and other industries. Fully compliant to aerospace specification AMS2750E, the furnace, supplied by Solar Manufacturing, includes a molybdenum shielded hot zone and heating elements, with a work zone size of 54" (1.37m) wide x 54" (1.37m) high x 144" (3.66m) deep and a weight capacity of 7,500 pounds (3,400 kg), and is capable of precise temperature control up to 2400° F (1316° C).
  • A special universal air flow oven from Grieve Corporation, the No. 1043, a 500°F (260°C), has been delivered to a customer to be used to post-cure hose lengths. Workspace dimensions measure 12” W x 30” D x 12” H.

Kudos Chatter

  • Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc. was named the 2018 Powertrain Supplier of the Year at the FCA US LLC Supplier of the Year awards at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit last month. Hitchiner was one of 16 companies recognized by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles at the annual awards for quality and excellence.
  • AK Steel Research and Innovation employees Yu-Wei Wang, Feng Zhu, Wei Wu, Panagiotis Makrygiannis, and Chao Pu were recognized with the Team Award by the Auto/Steel Partnership for their innovation and collaboration in developing pre-competitive solutions enabling steel execution in future vehicles. The award selections were based on project work completed in 2017 and were unanimously chosen by the Auto/Steel Partnership’s Joint Policy Council. Through the Auto/Steel Partnership, automakers and steel companies collaborate to drive improvements through projects focused on new steels, manufacturing processes and design challenges, including steel lightweighting solutions.
  • Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) announce that all four of its facilities (both Waterloo, Iowa locations, Monroe, MI, and Cullman, AL ) have recently gone through the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) 16949 automotive transition audit and have become IATF 16949 certified. IATF 16949 is the automotive Quality Management System developed by the “Big Three” automotive companies. It was recently updated from ISO/TS 16949 due to a change in the ISO 9001 Standard.

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.

 

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