Novelis

13 News Chatter to Keep You Current

/ HEAT TREAT NEWS

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 13 news items, featuring Solar Atmosphere‘s all-metal hot zone furnace expansion, Ipsen USA‘s successful reaccreditation of its calibrations lab, Ryerson Holding Corporation and Olympic Steel Inc.’s merger, and more!

Equipment

1. Three aluminum melting furnaces at a Novelis site in Voerde, Germany, were updated to achieve a more than 40% reduction in carbon footprint and significantly lower gas consumption. This project marks an important step forward in the decarbonization of industrial processes. The upgrade includes Fives’ North American® regenerative technology.

2. Two SECO/WARWICK EV/CAB lines will be installed for a major manufacturer of heat exchangers for trucks, passenger cars, and new energy technologies. The furnaces are designed to meet the stringent requirements of the automotive industry for the production of commercial vehicle components. The installation will occur at two in-house heat treat locations for the Chinese manufacturer: one in Mexico and the other in China. 

3. Solar Atmospheres expanded its operational capacity with an additional all-metal hot zone furnace. The new system significantly expands the company’s capacity to heat treat highly sensitive materials such as precipitation-hardened stainless steels, nickel-chrome-based superalloys, titanium, and niobium. The new unit is installed at their Hermitage, Pennsylvania facility and will meet the stringent demands of the aerospace and medical industries. 

4. Alleima, a manufacturer of steel components and special alloys, will receive a new tube annealing furnace from SECO/WARWICK. The electric atmospheric furnace line is intended for bright annealing of high-alloy tubes and will be used in the production of nuclear applications components. This sale marks the heat treat solutions manufacturer’s 5,000th furnace sale. 

5. Tenova HYL, a Tenova company leader in direct reduction, has successfully started up its ENERGIRON Zero-Reformer DR Micro-Module at Empresa Siderúrgica del Mutún, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, producing the first direct reduced iron (DRI) on October 7. This milestone of the contract signed with Sinosteel Equipment and Engineering (a global Chinese EPC contractor specializing in industrial engineering, equipment supply, and turnkey project delivery across the mining, metals, and infrastructure sectors) is a significant step in the companies’ long-standing cooperation. 

Aluminum melting furnaces updated for environmental impact
2 EV/CAB lines for heat exchanger production
All-metal hot zone furnace for Solar Atmospheres
Tube annealing system for Alleima
Successful start up of ENERGIRON Zero-Reformer DR Micro-Module at Empresa Siderúrgica del Mutún, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Company & Personnel

6. The Atmosphere Group will carry out business for the Region Americas under a new name: Aichelin Americas. Marty Poljan will continue to lead the region as president and CEO of Aichelin Americas. Tracy Dougherty has been promoted to president of Sales & Service and Paul Oleszkiewicz has been promoted to president of Operations. Subsidiaries of the group include AFC-Holcroft, Atmosphere Heat Treating, Inc., Austemper Inc., and Nitrex NTS (Nitrex, G-M Enterprises, and UPC-Marathon).

7. Ryerson Holding Corporation, a value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, and Olympic Steel, Inc., a U.S. metals service center, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge. The merger will enhance the combined company’s presence as the second-largest North American metals service center and will bring Olympic Steel’s complementary footprint, tempering capabilities, and heat treated product offerings into Ryerson’s network of value-added service centers.

8. Hiperbaric presented on advanced HIP at Formnext.

9. Aalberts surface technologies announced the official opening of a brand-new 12,000 m² surface treatment production hall in Tatabánya. The event was honored by Levente Magyar, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Economic Relations, along with local parliamentarians, partners, and clients.

10. Wirco recognized Chad Haines, projects manager at the company, for 18 years with the company.

Marty Poljan, President & CEO, Aichelin Americas
Tracy Dougherty, President of Sales and Service, Aichelin Americas
Paul Oleszkiewicz, President of Operations, Aichelin Americas
Hiperbaric’s HIP 38 press for thermal post processing
Oliver Jäger, Executive Director, Aalberts surface technologies 
Chad Haines, Project Manager, Wirco

Kudos

11. Ipsen USA announces the successful ISO/IEC 17025:2017 reaccreditation of its calibrations lab, ensuring continued certification of inspection equipment used by their field service engineers to calibrate heat treating systems across the U.S. and worldwide. The reaccreditation directly supports industries such as aerospace and medical, where calibrated instruments are critical in producing high-precision parts. 

12. Global Metal Finishing has successfully passed its Nadcap audit and officially received its Nadcap re-accreditation. In addition, they’ve also obtained their AC7004 Nadcap Aerospace Quality System certification. 

13. PhD candidate Noah Kantor and undergraduate research assistant Richard Chen, both from Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Center for Heat Treating Excellence (CHTE), took first place in the annual ASM Strong Bar Competition. Participants were challenged to design a heat treatment for SAE-9254 spring steel aimed at maximizing bend strength. 

Ipsen USA’s temperature control calibration lab now accredited
Noah Kantor and Richard Chen representing Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s CHTE

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13 News Chatter to Keep You Current Read More »

3 Furnace Upgrades for Environmental Impact

/ ALUMINUM PROCESSING NEWS, BURNERS COMBUSTION SYSTEM NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Three aluminum melting furnaces at a Novelis site have been updated to achieve a more than 40% reduction in carbon footprint and significantly lower gas consumption. This project marks an important step forward in the decarbonization of industrial processes.

The upgrade includes Fives’ North American® regenerative technology. The North American TwinBed® II burners, manufactured by the supplier, are recognized for their energy efficiency and low emissions. From engineering and design to commissioning, the project was fully managed by Fives’ North American Combustion’s teams based in Bilbao, Spain.

Aluminum melting furnaces updated for environmental impact (Source: Novelis)
Novelis and Fives upgrade three furnaces (Source: Novelis)
Emilio Braghi, Executive Vice President and President Novelis Europe Source: Novelis

This joint initiative in Voerde, Germany, by Novelis and Fives highlights the shared commitment to sustainability and innovation. The 40% reduction in carbon footprint is based on gas consumption compared to pre-upgrade levels measured in mid-2023 at the Voerde casthouse.

“Sustainability is at the core of Novelis’ business model,” said Emilio Braghi, executive vice president and president of Novelis Europe. “With our company vision, Novelis 3×30, we’ve set ambitious goals to advance circularity and decarbonization by 2030. The upgrade of our three melting furnaces represents a practical advancement in reducing our environmental footprint and improving operational efficiency.”

“This project represents a new milestone in our long-standing collaboration with Novelis, which began nearly two decades ago,” added Pablo Arribalzaga, managing director for Europe at Fives North American Combustion. “We are proud to support Novelis’ sustainability journey with high-performance, low-emission combustion solutions tailored to their operations.”

Press release is available in its original form here.

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22 News Chatter To Keep You Current

/ HEAT TREAT NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 22 news items.

Equipment

  1. ROGESA Roheisengesellschaft Saar GmbH has commissioned SMS group to carry out a comprehensive modernization of blast furnace 4 (BF4), which will extend the service life of the blast furnace and ensure effective monitoring of the hearth lining. The contract includes the planning and delivery of the Paul Wurth hearth lining and multi thermocouple sensor probes (MTPs), as well as technical support during the installation phase at the in Dillingen, Germany, location. Additionally, Future Forgeworks, a steel manufacturer based in Brisbane, Australia, has commissioned SMS group to supply the nation’s first continuous mill technology (CMT® 350) mill. Future Forgeworks’ landmark project, the Swanbank Green Steel Mill Project, will produce rebar steel in an endless process for the Australian company, guaranteeing low carbon emissions and highly efficient production. 
  2. Piper Industrial Manufacturing Company, a Piper Aircraft, Inc., subsidiary, has acquired a Flexform™ fluid cell press from Quintus Technologies, expanding its equipment inventory to target the growing demand for low volume, high-complexity sheet metal forming. The company provides turnkey world-class manufacturing solutions.
  3. Steel producer Colakoğlu Metalurji AS, has placed an order with SMS group for the modernization of the laminar cooling section and the downcoiler in its 1,850-millimeter hot strip mill. With the completion of the laminar cooling system upgrade, the Turkish company plans to enter the market for wear-resistant steel grades. Additionally, Fujian Kebao Metal Products Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Fujian Sanbao Group, has contracted with SMS for two tinplate continuous annealing lines (TIN CALs).
  4. A heat and energy management company that produces approximately 2 million complex parts per year has expanded with a custom-made VAB furnace for vacuum aluminum brazing. SECO/WARWICK has delivered the furnace to the company, located in the Czech Republic.
  5. Aluminum and renewable energy company Hydro has decided to invest in a new sow casting line at Husnes to increase its primary aluminum casthouse flexibility. The company’s primary plant produces low-carbon extrusion ingot for the European construction and automotive industries. The sow caster, which will have a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year, will give flexibility to produce sow ingots in periods of lower demand for the plant’s main products.
  6. Secat, Inc., recently announced the addition of the Alubin extrusion press to its Nicholasville Pilot Lab. The press was donated by Wagstaff, Inc., which manufactures direct chill aluminum casting systems. This equipment will elevate the company’s testing, development, and small-scale production capabilities.
  7. Tenova will supply a new hot dip galvanizing line for PT Tata Metal Indonesia. The flexibility of the new line for zinc aluminum magnesium alloys will enable production of three types of coated coils.
View of ROGESA blast furnace 4 from the water treatment plant
Cooling groups operating as part of the laminar cooling system for Colako
Low-carbon extrusion ingot for the European construction and automotive industries produced at Husnes
A new aluminum extrusion press installed at Secat’s Nicholasville Pilot Lab in Kentucky
Tenova and PT Tata Metal Indonesia

Company & Personnel

  1. Can-Eng Furnaces International, Ltd. has announced the promotion of two long-standing employees to new leadership roles in 2025. Jason Clay has been promoted to manufacturing operations manager, overseeing the future direction of the company’s manufacturing strategies. Adam DeCiccio has been promoted to purchasing and logistics manager and will focus on implementing innovative strategies and improvements within purchasing, supply chain, and inventory planning to support company growth.
  2. thyssenkrupp Aerospace, a logistics service provider for the commercial aerospace industry, and aluminum manufacturer Novelis have renewed their strategic partnership through a multi-year agreement.
  3. Kolene Corporation recently announced the promotions of Timothy D. Shoemaker and Peter L. Shoemaker, both to co-chief operating officers for the corporation. Tim Shoemaker is responsible for sales and has oversight of the company’s engineering, field service, and project management departments. Peter Shoemaker continues to lead the company’s chemical supply chain and order fulfillment departments, as well as its critical replacement parts revenue segment.
  4. Gasbarre‘s new 150,000-square-foot facility in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, recently became fully operational, with expanded floor space, upgraded infrastructure, and state-of-the-art equipment.
  5. JSW Steel Dolvi Works has selected SMS group for a major expansion of its steelmaking facility, increasing the annual capacity of the existing steel mill by 3.7 million tons per year.
  6. Watlow, a provider of industrial technology and thermal systems, recently expanded its executive leadership team by appointing two regional presidents to oversee operations in Asia and Europe. Shiyi Zhou will serve as regional president of Asia, and Klaus Aarestrupp as regional president over Europe.
  7. Ipsen announced the 2025 schedule for its comprehensive training course on vacuum furnace equipment. Ipsen U will take place on April 1-3, June 10-12, August 12-14, and October 7-9 in Cherry Valley, Illinois.
  8. CAN-ENG Furnaces International Ltd has formed a strategic partnership with Piotr Pelian, founder of Industrial Process Technology to expand its European presence.
  9. Hydro and Northvolt have signed an agreement where Hydro will acquire the remaining shares in the battery recycler Hydrovolt for NOK 78 million, increasing its ownership in Hydrovolt from 72 to 100 percent through this transaction. Hydrovolt is a raw materials company established in 2020 as a 50/50 joint venture between Hydro and Northvolt.
Jason Clay
Manufacturing Operations Manager
CAN-ENG Furnaces International, Ltd
Adam DeCiccio
Purchasing & Logistics Manager
CAN-ENG Furnaces International, Ltd
Timothy D. Shoemaker
Co-Chief Operating Officer
Kolene Corporation
Peter L. Shoemaker
Co-Chief Operating Officer
Kolene Corporation
Gasbarre’s new facility in St Mars, Pennsylvania
Shiyi Zhou
Regional President Asia
Watlow
Klaus Aarestrup
Regional President Europe
Watlow
Ipsen U training class
Piotr Pelian
Founder
Industrial Process Technology
Hydrovolt, one of Europe’s largest EV battery recycling plants in Fredrikstad, Norway

Kudos

  1. Solar Atmospheres, Inc. has been recognized as the industry leader in the Surface Treatment Services category of the 2024 Leadership in Medtech Awards.
  2. Phoenix Heat Treating has announced that their furnaces have received approvals from Pratt & Whitney and Bell Helicopter, increasing the company’s capacity to process orders that require specifically approved furnaces, ensuring compliance with stringent aerospace and defense standards.
  3. Steelhead Technologies recently announced the launch of the Tides of Steel Sweepstakes, in partnership with Calvary Industries. The contest offers an opportunity for job shops to win prizes that will accelerate 2025 growth and reward hard-working teams.
  4. The Otto Junker Foundation announced the winners of the Otto Junker Prize 2024, honoring outstanding academic achievements at the RWTH (Technical University of Aachen). The recipients are: Daniel Baggen, Moritz Diewald, Gerrit Ipers, and Jan Krusenbaum.
  5. Mark Thomason and John Blauser, both of Gasbarre, have received the 2025 Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy Award from the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF). The award recognizes individuals who have dedicated at least 25 years to the powder metallurgy (PM) industry and made outstanding, long-term contributions that have earned the admiration of their peers.
  6. The inaugural class of field service engineers recently graduated from the Ipsen FSE Academy, a next-generation training program building on the foundation of the former Ipsen Corporate Academy. This revamped initiative reflects Ipsen’s ongoing commitment to developing top-tier talent. These engineers successfully completed an intensive 20-week training program focused on mastering the complexities of heat treatment furnace repair and service
Left to right: Wolfgang Bleck, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the OJ Foundation; Jan Krusenbaum, award winner; Gerrit Ipers, award winner; Daniel Baggen, award winner; Moritz Diewald, award winner; Ulrich Rudiger; Udo von Berg. Source: Andreas Schmitter
Mark Thomason
Global Sales Manager
Gasbarre Products
John Blauser
Business Development Manager
Gasbarre Precision Tooling
Members of the inaugural class of field service engineers from the Ipsen FSE Academy

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News from Abroad: Safer Technologies and Carbon Cutting

/ BURNERS & COMBUSTION SYSTEMS, BURNERS COMBUSTION SYSTEM NEWS, FOUNDRY CASTING, FOUNDRY CASTING NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Today’s News from Abroad installment highlights more carbon-cutting trends from the steel industry, ranging from robots in the cast house to recycling best practices.  

Heat Treat Today partners with two international publications to deliver the latest news, tech tips, and cutting-edge articles that will serve our audience — manufacturers with in-house heat treat. heat processing, a Vulkan-Verlag GmbH publication, serves mostly the European and Asian heat treat markets, and Furnaces International, a Quartz Business Media publication, primarily serves the English-speaking globe. 

Robots Bring Safety to Casting 

Primetals Technologies’ new customized LiquiRob robotics system in operation at Siam Yamato Steel’s Map Ta Phut plant Source: Primetals Technologies

“Thai steel producer Siam Yamato Steel has implemented a new robot concept from Primetals Technologies, including LiquiRob, at its steelworks in Map Ta Phut . . .. Thanks to the robotics solution, safety and occupational health in the steelworks have significantly improved. Previously, workers who manually operated the shadow tube had to stand directly next to the distributor and the stream of steel flowing out of the ladle. In the case of a so-called ‘frozen pan.’” 

READ MORE: “Primetals Technologies: New robotics concept for safer casting processes” at heat-processing.com

Carbon Cut with Induction Solution at High Heats

CELES EcoTransFlux™ brings green high heating abilities to the induction heating technology. Source: Furnaces International

“Nippon Steel Stainless Steel Corporation and Sojitz Group met with our induction team at Fives headquarters in Paris for a detailed design review of the transverse flux induction heating system. CELES EcoTransFlux™ is an induction heating technology with very high heating rates at extremely high temperatures, and a compact footprint. It also has a minimal environmental footprint, making it beneficial for steelmakers to improve their carbon, stainless or electrical steel production.” 

READ MORE: “Breakthrough technology for steelmakers” at furnaces-international.com

Standards To Maximize Can Recyclability

EAGP members signed an agreement to engage in a standardisation project for beverage cans. Source: Anrita1705/Pixabay

“Four leading flat-rolled aluminium manufacturers and members of the European Aluminium Packaging Group (EAPG), Constellium, Elval, Novelis and Speira, have signed an agreement to engage in a standardisation project to maximise the recycled content levels of the beverage can and thus substantially lower carbon emissions, focused on increased recyclability of the can end.” 

READ MORE: “European Aluminium Producers Agree on Standardisation Project for Cans” at heat-processing.com

Mini-Mill Investment Transforms Future for Swedish Metal Manufacturer

Fossil-free mini-mill Source: Furnaces International

“SSAB’s Board of Directors have taken the decision to proceed with the next step in SSABs transition, building a state-of-the-art fossil-free mini-mill in Luleå, Sweden. When completed SSAB will close the current blast furnace-based production system. This will reduce Sweden’s CO2 emissions with 7% in addition to the 3% from the Oxelösund mill conversion.” 

READ MORE: SSAB continues the transformation with a fossil-free mini-mill in Luleå, Sweden” at furnaces-international.com

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News from Abroad: Safer Technologies and Carbon Cutting Read More »

16 Quick Heat Treat News Chatter 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 & 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.

Equipment Chatter

  • 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.

Kudos Chatter

  • 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 »

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

  • Gregory Scheuring has joined Solar Atmospheres of Western PA (SAWPA) as plant metallurgist.
  • Precise Metal Products, a leading manufacturer of complex metal assemblies for many of the world’s largest aerospace and defense companies, was recently acquired by an affiliate of Staple Street Capital in partnership with Thompson Capital Partners.
  • A leading global provider of high-performance specialty materials used in thermal management, emission control, batteries, specialty filtration and fire protection applications recently signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Shenyang JiuQing Dongxiang Glass Product Co. Ltd, a leading provider of high-performance specialty fibers in China. Unifrax, which is backed by Clearlake Capital Group, L.P., acquired the assets from the Li family.
  • American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM) recently announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its U.S. iron casting operations to funds managed by Gamut Capital Management. Across 10 manufacturing facilities, Grede develops, manufactures, assembles and supplies ductile, gray, and specialty iron castings and machined components for automotive, commercial vehicle and industrial markets.  AAM will retain its El Carmen, Mexico, iron casting operations, which will continue to provide significant vertical integration benefits to AAM, while also continuing to serve external customers in Mexico and other global markets.
  • Magnetic Specialties, Inc. (MSI), which manufactures heavy-duty power supplies for the electric furnace industry, specialty transformers and reactors for various industries, and smaller specialty transformers for the electrical and electronic industry, announced the construction of a new 4,800 SF addition to its plant space in Telford, Pennsylvania. Mike Afflerbach, President of MSI, said the building addition is essential for added efficiencies and expansion of useable floor space in his main manufacturing building.

Equipment Chatter

  • A nitriding system was supplied to Hydro Extrusion Solutions in Trzcianka, Poland, to address the company’s need for improved process performance and more accurate control of nitriding results. The Nitrex N-EXT 812 nitriding system provided by Nitrex Metals replaces a decommissioned nitrider that was phased out several years ago due to extrusion die failures and inconsistent metallurgical results.
  • An electric annealing furnace was manufactured for a major manufacturer by Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems. This is the second 48″ wide belt furnace Gasbarre has supplied this company. The furnace came equipped with 3 heating zones that can heat up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • A 350°F (177°C) clean room oven, No. 1048, being used for the final cure of hardcoated optical lenses, was recently supplied by Grieve to the customer at its facility.
  • A leading manufacturer of calcium phosphate materials used for medical devices recently purchased a furnace from L&L Special Furnace Co, Inc. This is the fifth Model GS1714 furnace shipped to this company. The calcium phosphate powder is sintered in the furnace at a temperature of about 2,200°F (1,204°C).
  • ALD recently delivered a SyncroTherm system to a well-known institute in the Beijing area, the first for the Chinese market.

Kudos Chatter

  • Novelis’ Terre Haute, Indiana, facility recently celebrated 60 years with its 160 employees. Current and retired employees, their families and community leaders attended the celebration.
  • The Industrial Heating Equipment Association’s (IHEA) Infrared Equipment Division (IRED) recently completed revisions to its popular Infrared Process Heating Handbook for Industrial Applications. This quick introduction to the many applications of infrared heating in industrial processes has been updated to include new technical information, additional application examples, and new case studies.

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 »

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

  • GE Additive has announced the opening of its Arcam EBM Center of Excellence in Gothenburg, Sweden. The new 15,000 square meter facility triples the floor space of Arcam EBM’s previous site in Mölndal with production, R&D, training facilities, and support functions all housed under one roof.
  • Northern Minerals Ltd., Australia, has signed a rare earths supply agreement with Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Materials Trading for 100% offtake from the Western Australia Browns Range pilot plant, which has already begun producing heavy rare earth carbonates. Under the terms of the agreement, Thyssenkrupp will purchase all heavy rare earth carbonates from the pilot plant and will serve as the exclusive sales partner of Northern Minerals. The two companies will jointly work on the implementation of separating technologies and future expansion of the Browns Range project.
  • Fluxtrol Inc. presented at the 2019 National Induction Heat Treatment Technology Seminar & Mr. Shen Qingtong Career 67th Anniversary Event in Luoyang City, Henan Province, China. The presentation was titled, “What is Happening When We Induction Scan Harden an Axle?”

Equipment Chatter

  • An international aerospace firm based in the southeastern United States recently purchased spray/dunk washers manufactured and shipped by Premier/BeaverMatic.
  • A universal oven (No. 841) was recently put to use heat treating at a customer’s facility, provided by Grieve Corporation.
  • The production facilities of China-based stainless steel producer Fuxin Special Steel Co Ltd, a part of Formosa Plastics Corporation, in Zhangzhou city in Fujian Province of China, were expanded by a new hot rolling mill as well as cold rolling mills including continuous annealing line and numerous finishing lines. The supply contract for coil transport logistics between the individual plants was awarded to AMOVA GmbH, a company of SMS group.
  • A hot stamping company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, recently purchased an integrated three-chamber furnace from Lindberg/MPH.  A recent video of the installed furnace (at Lindberg/MPH’s website) shows the integration with a robotic transfer system and a hydraulic press.
  • A rapid heating furnace was recently purchased by a research organization to be used for lightweight hot stamping & formed aluminum automotive component product development. Can-Eng Furnaces International Limited was awarded the contract for the equipment which will integrate the aluminum sheet heating furnace with existing equipment to support both automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers throughout North America for the development of new safety-critical, lightweight structural components.
  • A company from within the pharmaceutical industry purchased a Gruenberg steam-heated granulation dryer from Thermal Product Solutions.

Kudos Chatter

  • Ipsen USA announces its next Corporate Academy class for training Field Service Engineers, part of a fast-track development strategy to continue increasing technical
    service capacity in the field. Participants get 26 weeks of comprehensive classroom knowledge, hands-on troubleshooting experience, and on-the-job field training. expertise in servicing and maintaining furnace equipment.
  • The Cleveland Chapter of ASM International will be hosting its Season Kick-off Event on Friday, September 13, 2019, raising money for the Annual Scholarship Fund. The event will be a luncheon, followed by an 18-hole, shot-gun start golf tournament and ending with dinner and awards, at Briarwood Golf Course in Broadview Hgts, Ohio. For more information, contact Rosanne Brunello, incoming chair, at ASMInternational.org/cleveland. Non-golfers welcome to cheer and/or help.
  • Novelis and Georgia Institute of Technology recently established the Novelis Innovation Hub at Georgia Tech Company, committing $2.5 million to initiate transformational innovation through sponsored research.
  • On August 12, 2019, Parker Hannifin and ASM International officially dedicated two new laboratories located at ASM’s headquarters in Materials Park, Ohio. The Powder Characterization Lab and the Computed Tomography Lab were established due in large part to the partnership that Parker Hannifin formed with ASM, allowing key equipment to be acquired for use in the evaluation of additive manufactured metal parts. The Powder Characterization Lab focuses on the size, flow, and shape characteristics of metal powders. The laboratory utilizes a Freeman Powder Rheometer FT4, Horiba Partica LA-960, and a Retsch Technology Camsizer X2, in a total cleanroom environment. The Computed Tomography Lab focuses on non-destructive analysis of metallic parts by way of a Nikon XT H 225 ST CT scanner and an Olympus LEXT OLS5000 laser confocal microscope.

 

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

/ 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 »

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

  • Ashleigh Walters, president of Onex, Inc., recently participated in Penn State’s 2018 Fall Engineering Speaker Series, addressing how leadership can create impact through focusing on teamwork, creativity, improved processes, and mission.
  • Wallwork Heat Treatment’s Richard Burslem recently received the Meritorious Service to Heat Treatment Industry Award at the annual Surface Engineering and Heat Treatments Awards, presented on October 12th at the Radisson Blu in Manchester by Alan Hick, the secretary of the Contract Heat Treatment Association (CHTA).
  • A high tech provider of vacuum solutions for multiple markets recently opened a new 27,000-sq ft building in Nashua, New Hampshire, to house the company’s North American headquarters for administration, sales, product management, marketing and customer care. Pfeiffer Vacuum will convert the former 24,000 square foot administration building into a Service Center of Excellence, bringing together under one roof all service activities for the major part of the Pfeiffer Vacuum product portfolio.
  • A mobile heating station where ceramic components can be heated uniformly to 400ºC has been introduced by StrikoWestofen, allowing the components of dosing furnaces to be heated up on site.
  • StandardAero recently extended its long-running relationship with leading aviation services provider Dumont Group, LLC, through a follow-on contract for Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) JT15D-5R engine overhauls.
  • Novelis Inc. recently made several newsworthy announcements: 1) The company announced that it expects its new $300 million automotive aluminum sheet manufacturing plant in Guthrie, Kentucky, to be in production in mid-2020 where it will operate heat treatment and pre-treatment lines that prepare aluminum for use in vehicle parts. 2) Novelis has agreed to partner with Impression Technologies to explore innovative ways to increase the broader adoption of aluminum through the hot stamping process. Impression Technologies has the exclusive rights to Hot Form Quench (HFQ®), a unique technology used to design and manufacture components using ultra high-strength aluminum for the high volume automotive and transport markets. 3) Finally, the company unveiled plans to establish a global network of Customer Solution Centers (CSCs) to accelerate collaborative innovation between Novelis and automakers for the next generation of vehicle design.

Equipment Chatter

  • Ipsen USA recently posted a record month of sales with orders for nine TITAN® vacuum furnaces to be shipped for use in a variety of applications for companies in aerospace, automotive and commercial heat-treating industries. In addition,  Ipsen also sold seven custom units, including MetalMaster®, TurboTreater® and vacuum aluminum brazing furnaces.
  • A Hot Isostatic Press from Quintus Technologies has been purchased by Paulo to be installed in the Cleveland Division’s recent expansion and primarily support densification and heat treatment of investment castings and additively manufactured parts.
  • GE Additive and GE Aviation recently announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given ‘change in design’ approval to replace a conventionally manufactured power door opening system (PDOS) bracket, used on GE Aviation’s GEnx-2B commercial airline engines that power the Boeing 747-8, with an additively manufactured bracket.
  • An order for a complete walking hearth furnace plant has been received by ANDRITZ Group from Deutsche Edelstahlwerke Specialty Steel GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, for its facility in Witten, Germany. Production is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2020.

  • The expansion agreement for an existing bell annealer facility is expected to begin production next month. Guang Xi Zheng Run New Material Technology Co., Ltd. placed an order with EBNER® for the expansion this summer. The agreement includes three HICON® workbases employing 100 % argon as a process atmosphere, two heating bells, and one cooling bell.

Kudos Chatter

  • Solar Atmospheres – Greenville, SC, announces that it has been awarded Nadcap 18-month Merit status for Heat Treating, Brazing and Carburizing. We are extremely pleased PRI has recognized our corporate commitment to quality. Achieving 18-month merit has been a goal set by Solar’s employees since opening its doors in 2015. The adherence to strict specification requirements, flawless process execution, and a daily commitment to quality processing is evident among all employees of Solar Atmospheres. The Solar Atmospheres Greenville facility has held Nadcap accreditation since 2015.
  • Meron Medical, LLC, announces the successful transition to ISO 13485:2016. Safety and quality are non-negotiables in the medical devices industry. Regulatory requirements are increasingly stringent throughout every step of a product’s life cycle, including service and delivery. With greater attention on the organization’s ability to meet applicable customer and regulatory requirements, ISO 13485:2016 focuses on the entire supply chain of the medical device industry, with added emphasis on risk management.

 

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 »

Jeep Wrangler Lightens Up in 2018 With Aluminum

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS

FCA US recently announced that the new 2018 Jeep® Wrangler will be manufactured with lightweight, high-strength aluminum for closures, which includes parts of the doors, fenders, swing gate, and windshield surround, boosting fuel economy with a 200 pounds lighter structure than the previous steel version and an improvement of three miles per gallon in gas mileage. Jeep enthusiasts will also find it easier to remove the doors, which will be 14 pounds lighter compared to previous models.

Global aluminum rolled products manufacturer Novelis will supply the aluminum for the next generation Wrangler from its facilities in Oswego, New York, and Kingston, Ontario.

By incorporating aluminum into this design, FCA US joins a number of automakers that are turning to aluminum for the benefits they see in vehicle performance, agility and safety.

Jeep Wrangler Lightens Up in 2018 With Aluminum Read More »

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