Braidy Industries

16 Quick Heat Treat News Chatter Items to Keep You Current

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

Personnel & Company Chatter

  • Global aluminum producer Constellium SE recently announced that its casting and rolling operations in Singen, Germany, will offer ASI-certified aluminum rolled solutions, having been granted the chain of custody certification by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI).
  • An insulated metal panel manufacturing company was recently acquired by Nucor Corporation. TrueCore LLC, with a facility in Laurens, South Carolina, produces insulated metal panels serving the cold storage market, with future plans for additional commercial and industrial applications.
  • Michael K. Smith has joined Magnetic Specialties, Inc., as the company’s business development manager.
  • Leon J. Topalian and John H. Walker have been elected by the board of directors of Nucor Corporation as a director and non-executive chairman, respectively. Topalian is the president and COO of Nucor and will become the CEO on January 1, 2020. Walker, who has more than 35 years of experience in metal-related manufacturing and fabricating industries, has served as a member of Nucor’s Board of Directors since 2008 and as lead director since 2017.
  • Don P. Newman will join Allegheny Technologies Incorporated as senior vice president, finance and chief financial officer, effective January 6, 2020. Newman succeeds Pat DeCourcy, who will remain as senior vice president and special advisor to the CEO until his retirement on March 31, 2020, after a 31-year career with the company.
  • Mike Otero has been appointed chief operating officer of Braidy Industries, effective January 6, 2020.
  • GFG Alliance, owned by British commodities tycoon Sanjeev Gupta, recently reached an agreement to purchase the Duffel aluminum plant in Belgium from Novelis.
  • James K. Kamsickas has recently been elected president and CEO of Dana Incorporated. The board of directors elected Kamsickas to the additional post of chairman of the board. In addition, Keith E. Wandell, who has served on Dana’s board since July 2008 and as non-executive chairman since September 2016, will continue on the board as lead independent director.
  • The acquisition of Essar Steel India Ltd (ESIL) has reached completion. ArcelorMittal in a joint venture with Nippon Steel Corp. completed the acquisition. The venture, hereby called ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Ltd. (AM/NS India) will own and operate ESIL.
  • To support rapid growth within their mechanical testing department, Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania has recently invested in a new Haas ST-10 CNC lathe.
  • A new special walk-in oven, No. 942, from Grieve Corporation, is currently being used for curing epoxy at the customer’s facility.
  • An Ecomelt-PS150 melting furnace and two tiltable holding and casting furnaces have been supplied to Otto Fuchs KG and installed in the company’s Meinerzhagen casthouse by Hertwich Engineering, a company of SMS group.
  • A new rotary furnace for recycling aluminum scrap was recently started at the Villadangos, Spain, facility of Latem Aluminium. The new 30-ton furnace was designed by GHI Smart Furnaces.
  • Process Cooling Systems Inc was recently chosen along with 15 other companies to receive the Sixteenth Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Award. MassEcon, the state’s private sector partner in promoting business growth in Massachusetts, recognized the sixteen companies for their outstanding contributions to the Massachusetts economy. The companies were selected on the basis of job growth, facility expansion, investment, and community involvement since January 1, 2018. The winners were honored at a luncheon on November 26, 2019.

    Paulo announces that three of its facilities have been awarded Gulfstream approval
  • Paulo announces that three of its facilities have been awarded Gulfstream approval following on-site audits in St. Louis, Cleveland, and Kansas City. The scope of the approval encompasses several Gulfstream specifications for various materials and processes. Paulo is approved for GAMPS 5101, 5102, 5103, 5104, 5105. Paulo’s Cleveland facility was also approved for hot isostatic pressing and furnace brazing.
  • LAI International marks its 40-year anniversary as a global leader in advanced manufacturing technologies for the aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial sectors. Founded in 1979 as a regional contract manufacturer specializing in laser welding and laser heat-treating processes, the company expanded its capabilities with proprietary waterjet machining, laser drilling, and additive manufacturing capabilities. Over the years, LAI has manufactured highly engineered components for some of the world’s leading innovators, including Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, and GE.

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 editor@heattreattoday.com

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

Aluminum Producer Announces $200M Investment in Rolling Plant

A large aluminum producer recently announced a large investment in a new rolling plant in Ashland, Kentucky.

Braidy Industries, Inc. (Braidy) and Rusal jointly announced the approval by their respective Boards of Directors for Rusal to invest $200 million in Braidy Atlas mill. The companies estimate that it has been more than three decades since a greenfield aluminum rolling mill like Braidy was built in the U.S. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019.

Craig Bouchard, Braidy Industries Chairman and CEO

“This is a sustainability match made in heaven for the global aluminum industry,” said Craig Bouchard, Braidy Industries Chairman and CEO.

Rusal intends to supply 200,000 tons of certified low-carbon prime aluminum ingot and slabs each year for a 10-year period, allowing Braidy to target lower carbon emissions.

Braidy is dependent on long-term supplies of high-quality, low-carbon aluminum, which is rarely supplied in the high quantity required for their production. If met, this order would be one of the world’s largest for one mill of high-quality, pre-alloyed and low-carbon primary aluminum slabs.

Aluminum Producer Announces $200M Investment in Rolling Plant Read More »

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

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 »

15 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

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

  • AFC-Holcroft has announced the addition of Daniel Hill as the newest member of their sales team. Hill will be based out of the company’s headquarters in Wixom, Michigan, focusing on key account management as well as new lead generation. Hill will report to Tracy Dougherty, Sales Manager at AFC-Holcroft.
  • Solar Atmospheres’ CEO, Roger A. Jones, was awarded the distinguished honor of ASM Fellow (FASM) at the ASM Awards Dinner on Tuesday, October 16, 2018. According to ASM, “The honor of Fellow represents recognition of distinguished contributions in the field of materials science and engineering, and develops a broadly based forum for technical and professional leaders to serve as advisors to the Society.” Roger’s citation reads: “For advancing production vacuum thermal processes and procedures for large and heavy assemblies utilizing state of the art vacuum furnaces, for the enhancement of the overall heat treating industry.”
  • A company that specializes in automated manufacturing solutions for automotive manufacturers among other industries, Innovative Automation, has acquired Tridan International, which supplies machinery for the production of heat exchangers, evaporators and condensers commonly used in manufacturing. This acquisition includes all ongoing operations of the company from their 88,000 square foot facility in Danville, IL.
  • StandardAero, the world’s largest independent Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A Designated Overhaul Facility (DOF) with Distribution rights, has recently inducted the first five PT6A-68 engines at its Summerside facility on Prince Edward Island, Canada.  StandardAero has provided full-service support for the PT6A-68 since 2013 but is now in the process of transferring its support of the engine model to its Summerside facility, as part of the company’s Center of Excellence (COE) activity, announced in May 2018.
  • Caterpillar, Inc, has announced that a closed South Carolina casting facility will house its new $13.5 million, 103,000-square-foot building in Hodges where it will produce specialty castings for various engines and transmissions in Caterpillar’s line of products.
  • Schenck Process, which engages in the design, manufacture, and supply of applied measuring and process technology, announced the acquisition of Process Components Ltd, a UK based designer and manufacturer of powder processing and handling equipment, components and spare parts, and its subsidiaries.
  • Braidy Industries and its subsidiary Veloxint recently announced five new executive appointments. Julio Ramirez will take on the position of Chief Financial Officer at Braidy. At Veloxint, Major General Kevin McNeely (Ret.) joins as Chief Operations Officer; Dr. Phoebe Kwan will take on the role of Chief Commercial Officer; Dr. Judson “Jud” Marte will be Vice President of Product Development; and John Gaspervich joins Veloxint as Executive Vice President of Manufacturing.

Equipment Chatter

  • A forced air recirculating oven was supplied by Lucifer Furnaces to a manufacturer of medical & aerospace parts and will be used to heat treat 17-4 stainless steel.
  • A tool and die manufacturer recently expanded its in-house heat treat capabilities with a Vector® furnace, one of the SECO/VACUUM (a SECO/WARWICK Group company) flagship vacuum furnaces. The purchase process included validation tests of tooling dies in a similar nearby furnace with positive results. The furnace being delivered is a  horizontal, front-loading Vector furnace with a capacity of 2,650 lbs.
  • A leading provider of metal additive manufacturing (AM) solutions recently announced that a prominent Southeast Asian aerospace parts manufacturer has purchased a dual-purpose Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM®) and EB Welding System. Sciaky, Inc., a subsidiary of Phillips Service Industries, Inc. (PSI), provided the one-of-a-kind hybrid machine to be customized with special controls to switch from 3D printing to welding in a quick and easy process. The manufacturer will utilize the system to 3D print metal structures, as well as weld dissimilar materials and refractory alloys for these structures and other aerospace parts.
  • Four Gruenberg explosion resistant Class “A” truck-in-ovens were shipped to the pharmaceutical industry by Thermal Product Solutions. The pharmaceutical ovens are rated for Class A operation to handle processing solvents per the NFPA 86 specifications.
  • A continuous mesh belt conveyor furnace was shipped by Lindberg/MPH to the computer market. This conveyor furnace is configured for soldering process applications, provides a heating and cooling process environment under a nitrogen/hydrogen blended atmosphere, and will be heated to the customer’s specified temperature (maximum of 1000°C).
  • A leading supplier of the automobile industry received shipment of a natural gas-fired two zone conveyor oven from Wisconsin Oven Corporation. The conveyor oven will be used for stress relieving automotive springs and has the design capacity to heat approximately 11,000 pounds of springs per hour. The overall work chamber dimensions of this stress relieving oven are 11’3” wide x 24’3” long x 14’0” high. The maximum operating temperature is 650°C (1202° F) with guaranteed temperature uniformity of ±5°C at set points of 520°C (968° F) and 570° C (1058° F) to ensure the conveyor oven meets the CQI-9, 3rd edition process Table E for stress relieving/annealing.

Kudos Chatter

 

  • In 2019, AGMA will expand upon the legacy and success of Gear Expo, launching the Motion + Power Technology Expo (MPT Expo). The new show will continue its focus on gears and mechanical power transmission while adding fluid power and electric drive exhibitors to provide all power transmission options to our attendees
  • eldec LLC recently unveiled a new website for manufacturing professionals who use induction heating, brazing, shrink fitting, pre-heating for laser welding, or annealing in their manufacturing processes. The new site provides updates on company and product information, trade shows, and manufacturing and equipment maintenance tips. It can be accessed at www.inductionheatingexperts.com.

 

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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