AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS Archives - Page 25 of 27

Weldaloy’s Aluminum Heat-treating Capacity Increased

On the heels of a recent expansion of their seamless rolled ring capabilities, Weldaloy continues to grow with the addition of a new low temperature aluminum aging oven. The new oven will increase Weldaloy’s aluminum heat-treating capacity.

Ovens created specifically for aluminum can reduce cycle times and increase productivity by optimizing temperature uniformity through adequate airflow. This translates to a better product that can be made in a repeatable recipe.

“We’re receiving more and more requests for large aluminum work, so we needed to add this low temperature aluminum aging oven to be able to increase our capacity and meet production needs. This addition will allow us to produce more parts in the same amount of time for our customers while maintaining quality,” said Kurt Ruppenthal, Vice President & General Manager at Weldaloy.

Many of the new opportunities for aluminum work have come from the oil and gas industry and the aerospace industry, as well as from the private space sector. Weldaloy recently achieved the AS9100C certification for their Quality Management System, which has opened the door for them to work with more aerospace companies that require certification of their suppliers.

“We look forward to continuing to grow our aluminum capabilities to meet the increase in demand,” said Ruppenthal.

Weldaloy’s Aluminum Heat-treating Capacity Increased Read More »

New MB Aerospace Technologies (Poland) to Focus on Heat Treating Processes

September 27, 2016 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS

International aerospace engineering group MB Aerospace has completed the acquisition of Vac Aero (Poland) from its Canadian parent company Vac Aero International.

The business, which employs over 100 employees at two sites in Kalisz (central Poland) and Rzeszow (south-east Poland), specializes in providing protective and performance enhancing coatings for aero-engine and industrial gas turbine components. These OEM licensed and proprietary coatings provide wear, corrosion and heat resistance properties across performance critical compressor, combustor and turbine components. Since the company was founded in 2003, it has developed an extensive range of special process capabilities including heat treatment and vacuum brazing, vacuum carburizing, air plasma spray (APS) and high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) protective coatings, as well as corrosion and oxidation resistant paint coatings. The former Vac Aero subsidiary will continue to serve key customers in Europe including UTC, Pratt & Whitney and Siemens.

The business will remain at its two current sites and will be immediately rebranded as MB Aerospace Technologies (Poland). In order to support the existing customer base and growing aerospace market in Eastern Europe, MB Aerospace is planning to invest across the business with particular focus on its surface coating services, including thermal and plasma coatings and a range of paint capabilities, as well as heat treatment and brazing processes.

Craig Gallagher, MB Aerospace chief executive officer, said: “We are delighted to acquire the Polish operations of Vac-Aero – now trading as MB Aerospace Technologies (Poland) – as its extensive range of capabilities and skilled employees will help us broaden our offering to existing customers and the expanding aerospace market in Poland and the surrounding industrial areas of Western and Eastern Europe.

“With thermal and plasma coating capabilities now available to us in the region, we can provide customers with fast, responsive lead times for aero-engine and industrial gas turbine component treatments, whilst mitigating the logistics, and cost, of shipping products long distances to have such critical work done.”

Dave Farmery, managing director of MB Aerospace Poland, added: “We have inherited a well-established and respected business in Poland with highly skilled employees and a wide range of customer approvals. Working closely with the existing team, we will invest heavily to provide the local market with the capabilities and capacity required to ensure customers continue to receive a world-class service.”

Tomasz Krążyński, General Manager, of MB Aerospace Technologies (Poland) said: “After more than a decade of growth and success under Vac-Aero we look forward to starting a new chapter within the MB Aerospace family of companies. The acquisition offers a fantastic opportunity for the business and the planned investment will help us establish ourselves as one of the premier providers of thermal processes and surface coating services in Europe.”

New MB Aerospace Technologies (Poland) to Focus on Heat Treating Processes Read More »

Safran Celebrates the Completion of 500th Landing Gear for Boeing 787 Dreamliner

September 19, 2016 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS

Ajax, Ont, 12 September 2016

Safran Landing Systems announces the completion of the 500th landing gear set (nose and main landing gear) for Boeing 787 Dreamliner in its Canadian facility located in Ajax, Ontario.

Since being awarded with the contract in 2006, Safran Landing Systems has been responsible for the design, development, qualification, testing, manufacture and support of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner main and nose landing gear.

“This milestone is a testament to our commitment to technology and research,” said Deane Weatherby, VP, North American Programs at Safran Landing Systems. “Our Boeing 787 landinggear features a number of innovations in material technology aimed at reducing landing gear weight, corrosion and providing higher resistance to fatigue.”

Production activities for the 787 program are shared across Safran Landing Systems facilities in Canada, USA, China, France, Mexico and the UK. Final integration takes place at the company’s Everett, Wash. and Ajax facilities as well as its sister company Safran Electrical and Power site in Charleston, S.C., where the system components are integrated with the landing gear structure prior to delivery to Boeing’s final assembly lines in Seattle and Charleston. The 500th landing gear set is scheduled to be shipped to Boeing’s final assembly line in Seattle.

“This is a significant landmark for Safran Landing Systems,” said Deane Weatherby. “Since the launch of this program, more than 113 million passengers have flown on the 787 Dreamliner equipped with our landing gear. We are pleased to be a part of the Boeing 787 family and we look forward to our continued partnership.”

Safran Celebrates the Completion of 500th Landing Gear for Boeing 787 Dreamliner Read More »

Schafer Gear Works Transfers its Fort Wayne, Ind., Commercial Aviation Shafts and Small Gear Capabilities to South Bend, Ind.

September 7, 2016 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT NEWS

To meet Schafer Gear Works’ growing demand for high-precision commercial aviation shafts and gears, the company recently moved its Fort Wayne, Ind., operations to its larger production facility in South Bend, Ind. “Acquisition of new, state-of-the-art equipment at our South Bend plant and the ability to better leverage our gear manufacturing expertise led to the transfer,” said Paresh Shah, operations manager for the South Bend facility. The transition was seamless and the plant now produces precision-critical shafts and small-diameter gears with tolerances to 0.0004” and microfinishes to 16 RMS.

Shah said moving the small-diameter gear production 90 miles west to Schafer Gear Works South Bend will improve design and manufacturing efficiencies as well as customer support. By centralizing the facility’s small- and medium-diameter gear engineering, production and quality control expertise, the company is expanding its presence in the aerospace and automotive industries as well as with medical instruments, light and heavy industrial products, recreation vehicles, and material handling companies. Its efforts to reduce tool costs and downtime keep pricing competitive and delivery among the fastest in the gear-making industry. Because of the South Bend facility’s continuous equipment improvements and stringent quality standards, it has earned ISO 9001-2008 and AS9100 certification.

Schafer Gear Works manufactures one of the widest ranges of custom-engineered, precision-cut gears for off-highway markets. In addition to the small-diameter gears and precision components, the South Bend plant produces 1.5- to 10-inch diameter spur, internal and helical gears as well as shafts.

Schafer Gear Works Transfers its Fort Wayne, Ind., Commercial Aviation Shafts and Small Gear Capabilities to South Bend, Ind. Read More »

Aleris To Be Acquired By Zhongwang USA LLC

August 31, 2016 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS

Aleris Corporation, a global aluminum rolled products producer, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Zhongwang USA LLC, a company majority-owned and led by Mr. Liu Zhongtian, founder of China Zhongwang Holdings Limited (“China Zhongwang”, HKEX code: 01333). The aggregate value of Aleris amounts to $2.33 billion, comprising $1.11 billion in cash for the equity to be paid by Zhongwang USA, plus $1.22 billion in net debt.

Aleris will continue to be headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and will be operated as an independent entity. The Aleris management team will remain in place, providing continuity for Aleris employees and customers and supporting the continued implementation of the Aleris strategy.

Aleris will retain its name and continue to serve its customers with no changes to current operations, contracts or commitments. It will continue with the implementation of all strategic growth projects, including its major expansion project in Lewisport, Kentucky, which will enable Aleris to meet the North American automotive industry’s growing demand for aluminum auto body sheet.

“We are excited about this transition to strategic ownership as it will allow us to accelerate our strategy to expand our capabilities to support the production of high-value advanced materials for the global automotive and aerospace markets, while maintaining our position as a leading supplier to critical regional markets like building and construction,” said Sean Stack, President and CEO of Aleris. “We expect the transition to be seamless for our employees and customers, and that the new strategic shareholder will provide us with greater financial flexibility to continue to anticipate and meet the needs of our customers well into the future.”

The acquisition of Aleris reflects Mr. Liu’s commitment to disciplined operating investments over the long-term in an industry to which he has been committed for two decades. In addition to his role at Zhongwang USA, Mr. Liu is also the chairman and founder of China Zhongwang, the second largest aluminum extrusions product developer and manufacturer in the world and the largest in Asia. With the acquisition of Aleris, Mr. Liu will now oversee companies that have complementary geographic footprints and capabilities.

“This acquisition is an international expansion to establish a complementary business foothold, as I strongly believe in the potential and prospects of Aleris and the aluminum industry as a whole,” Mr. Liu said. “Aleris has a strong management team, talented employees and industry-leading capabilities with a complementary geographic footprint. As the company enters the final phase of its Lewisport automotive project, I believe Aleris is well-positioned to capitalize on the positive demand trends we see globally, and I look forward to supporting the Aleris management team in implementing their growth strategies and pursuing continued success with expanded resources and financial and operational flexibility.”

Since 2010, Aleris has been owned and controlled by a group led by certain investment funds of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., with affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P., and Sankaty Advisors, LLC owning minority interests.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017 following the customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

Credit Suisse acted as financial advisor to Aleris. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson, LLP acted as legal advisors. Moelis & Co. advised the Aleris Board on certain aspects of this transaction. Paul, Weiss, Wharton & Garrison LLP acted as legal advisors to Oaktree Capital Management.

Aleris To Be Acquired By Zhongwang USA LLC Read More »

Advanced Heat Treat Receives Nadcap Merit Status

August 26, 2016 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

Advanced Heat Treat Corp. announces that it has been awarded Nadcap Merit status for Heat Treating (Ion Nitriding) at the MidPort location in Waterloo, IA.

“Achieving Merit status for the second time in a row is a huge accomplishment for us. Our team works hard each day to ensure the highest quality is given not only to our aerospace and defense customers, but every customer that sends parts to AHT! We are proud to offer the Nadcap certification for our ion (or plasma) nitriding services and hope our customers take pride in the fact they send their parts to AHT.” Stated John Ludeman, Director of Metallurgy and Quality Excellence.

Advanced Heat Treat Corp. has held Nadcap accreditation since 2013. Having demonstrated their ongoing commitment to quality by satisfying customer requirements and industry specifications, the Nadcap Task Group has determined that Advanced Heat Treat Corp. has earned special recognition. This means that, instead of having their next Nadcap audit in twelve months, Advanced Heat Treat Corp. has been granted an accreditation that lasts 18 months!

“Achieving Nadcap accreditation is not easy: it is one of the ways in which the aerospace industry identifies those who excel at manufacturing quality product through superior special processes. Companies such as Advanced Heat Treat Corp. go above and beyond achieving Nadcap accreditation to obtain Merit status and they should be justifiably proud of it,” said Joe Pinto, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Performance Review Institute. “Benefitting from a less frequent audit schedule reduces audit costs and associated pressures and demonstrates the trust that the aerospace industry has in Advanced Heat Treat Corp., based on their past performance in Nadcap audits. PRI is proud to support continual improvement in the aerospace industry by helping companies such as Advanced Heat Treat Corp. be successful and we look forward to continuing to assist the industry moving forward.”

Advanced Heat Treat Receives Nadcap Merit Status Read More »

Norsk Titanium to Build World’s First Industrial-Scale Aerospace Additive Manufacturing Plant in New York

August 22, 2016 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES, TITANIUM PROCESSING NEWS

State Releases First Funds for Signature Economic Development Project for Initial Lot of 20 Norsk Titanium MERKE IV™ Rapid Plasma Deposition™ Machines to Launch Aerospace Factory of the Future

Norsk Titanium AS, the world’s pioneering supplier of aerospace-grade, additive manufactured, structural titanium components announced today the State of New York, in partnership with SUNY Polytechnic Institute, has placed an order for an initial lot of 20 of Norsk Titanium’s patented MERKE IV™ Rapid Plasma Deposition™ (“RPD™”) machines. The order is in accordance with an approved state budget allocation to facilitate Norsk Titanium’s US subsidiary building and operating the world’s first industrial-scale metal additive manufacturing plant in New York with the following details:

Plattsburgh, New York selected as the location for the world’s first Rapid Plasma Deposition™ factory
Facility to be operational by the end of 2017
The first 20 MERKE IV™ RPD™ machines establish a baseline production level of 400 metric tons per year of aerospace-grade, structural titanium components
The New York program envisions a capacity ramp-up to a total of 40 MERKE IV™ RPD™ machines capable of up to 800 metric tons per year, which will be consumed to meet increasing demand from the aviation industry
New York State investment advances Norsk Titanium’s production of the first 20 machines
New York has released an additional $4.0 million in planning funds for the Norsk Titanium US industrial-scale Plattsburgh factory

“We are proud to be a part of the unwavering vision and leadership of Governor Cuomo and are moving forward in support of his efforts to revitalize upstate New York with jobs, technology and community pride,” said Norsk Titanium Chairman of the Board John Andersen, Jr. “Our researchers have spent ten years pioneering the Rapid Plasma Deposition™ process that is now ready to cut millions of dollars in cost from the world’s premier commercial and military aircraft, and with the foresight displayed in other sectors, the State of New York is the ideal place to launch this manufacturing revolution.”

“Today marks the beginning of a new era in the way aircraft, marine vessels, automobiles, spacecraft and many industrial products are designed and built,” said Norsk Titanium President & Chief Executive Officer Warren M. Boley, Jr. “Not only are we creating jobs, huge economic impact and great visibility for the wider Plattsburgh community, we are also making history by kicking off a new phase of on-demand, near-net-shape manufacturing that sets a new benchmark of efficiency and customer responsiveness.”

“This unparalleled investment by Governor Andrew Cuomo in the North Country’s aerospace sector brings together a leading-edge global company in Norsk Titanium with an established high-tech aviation ecosystem in the region and the state, a perfect match that will create good paying advanced manufacturing jobs in Plattsburgh while advancing New York’s leadership in this dynamic and growing industry,” said SUNY Polytechnic Institute Vice President Christopher Walsh. “SUNY Poly is proud to partner with Norsk Titanium to bring this revolutionary technology to market and to continue to drive cutting edge research in all of the state’s nanotechnology-enabled industries.”

Under the terms of the deal, Norsk Titanium US will provide additional investment into the Plattsburgh operation that is expected to bring the total program commitment to the $1 billion dollar level over the initial 10-year period of operations. A $125 million New York investment in the Norsk Titanium US Plattsburgh factory was approved in the 2016-2017 State budget and first highlighted by Governor Cuomo on April 1, 2016 during the North County Highlights budget address in Albany.

Norsk Titanium US is also partnering with the North County Chamber of Commerce in Plattsburgh to support and promote the successful launch and growth of Norsk’s industrial-scale factory including workforce training, economic development and STEM outreach including specific educational programs for SUNY Plattsburgh, local community colleges and other schools in the region.

Norsk Titanium’s proprietary RPD™ process works by feeding titanium wire into a set of plasma torches protected by a cool argon environment that has made it possible to replace legacy forged parts, which take months and even years to develop and produce, with precision, additive manufactured components. The company has signed numerous contracts with the top echelon of aerospace manufacturers and tier-1 suppliers interested in leveraging RPD™ to cut cost and lead time from airframe and engine programs.

Norsk Titanium RPD™ components have equivalent strength to forgings, but are delivered inexpensively and efficiently, with unprecedented part cost and design-to-market speeds.

Norsk Titanium to Build World’s First Industrial-Scale Aerospace Additive Manufacturing Plant in New York Read More »

Laser -Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A New Tool for Real Time Metal Quality Measurement

July 22, 2016 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS

Source: Die Casting Engineer

“Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has shown great potential for use in metal processing and can be performed directly in the molten metal, allowing for quick and representative measurements.”

Laser -Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A New Tool for Real Time Metal Quality Measurement Read More »

Alcoa Awarded Multi-year, $470 Million Contract with Embraer

July 12, 2016 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS

“Lightweight metals leader Alcoa (NYSE:AA) today announced a long-term contract with Embraer – the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 130 seats – valued at approximately $470 million. Under the multiyear agreement, Alcoa will supply aluminum sheet and plate for Embraer’s new E2s, the second generation of its E-Jets family of commercial aircraft, a narrow-body medium-range jet airliner. The Embraer E-Jets E2 were launched at the Paris Airshow in 2013 and are scheduled to enter into service in 2018.

“Our partnership with Embraer is rooted in constant innovation and this contract is further proof of that strength,” said Mark Vrablec, President of Alcoa’s Aerospace & Automotive Products business. “Our patented alloys enable us to support our customer’s game-changing E2 program, and we’re proud that Alcoa will fly with Embraer.”

Embraer chose Alcoa’s proprietary alloys for the E2 due to the combination of strength, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance that they offer.

“Alcoa offers a good combination of technical expertise and industry leading material and capabilities,” said Fernando Queiroz, Embraer Vice President, Supply Chain. “Embraer designed the E-Jets E2 commercial aircraft to be the best in its segment and to do that, we needed the best material in the business, and Alcoa offers the best solution.”

According to Embraer, the market segment that the new E2 program was designed to serve is projected to require 6,350 new aircraft over the next 20 years. In addition, Embraer also stated that it has more than 50 percent market share by orders with the current E-Jet and expects to maintain similar levels with the new E-Jets E2 aircraft.

The long-term agreement makes Alcoa sole supplier to Embraer for proprietary wing skins and fuselage sheet on the E2 line of jets. Other Alcoa plate products, used in key applications such as wing ribs, fuselage frames and other structural parts of the aircraft, are also part of the contract and will be featured on the E2 as well as Embraer’s KC-390 military transport aircraft and executive jets.

Alcoa has developed most of the aluminum aerospace alloys to ever take flight, and every major new aircraft program incorporates Alcoa’s product innovations. The Alcoa/Embraer partnership draws on the aerospace manufacturing capabilities of Alcoa’s Global Rolled Products business, supplying Embraer from its plants in Davenport, Iowa, and Kitts Green, United Kingdom.

Alcoa products can also be found on other parts of the E2 aircraft: the state-of-the-art Pratt & Whitney PurePower^® engine. Alcoa already supplies key parts for the PurePower^® engines, including the forging for the first ever aluminum fan blade.”

Alcoa Awarded Multi-year, $470 Million Contract with Embraer Read More »

GE Aviation to Invest 200 Million with 2 New Alabama Factories

July 1, 2016 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, ENERGY HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS

Source: AL.com

“The state of Alabama is celebrating another economic win in Huntsville this week after GE Aviation said it will launch two materials factories to service jet engines and land-based gas turbines.”

GE Aviation to Invest 200 Million with 2 New Alabama Factories Read More »

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