AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT

Airbus to Increase Production of U.S. Aircraft

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Airbus will expand operations in the U.S. by increasing the production rate of A320 family aircraft at its U.S. manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama, to seven per month by the beginning of 2021 as part of its plans to produce 63 of this aircraft per month. With plans already in place for production of four A220 aircraft per month in Mobile by the middle of the decade, Airbus is on track to produce more than 130 aircraft in Mobile each year for its airline customers.

C. Jeffrey Knittel,
Airbus Americas Chairman & CEO

Airbus Americas Chairman and CEO C. Jeffrey Knittel said, “Airbus has been manufacturing in the U.S. for many years now through our helicopter, aircraft, and satellite products. This increase in commercial aircraft production in Mobile is an exciting expansion of our significant industrial investment in the U.S., and it continues Airbus’ positive contribution to American aerospace.”

Airbus plans to open its new final assembly line for the A220 in Mobile this year and deliver the first U.S.-made A220. They are on track to deliver their 200th U.S.-built A320 family aircraft in the summer.

 

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Gulfstream Awards GAMPS 5101 & 5102 Certification to Heat Treater

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Gulfstream recently awarded Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania with material processing specification approvals for GAMPS 5101 and 5102. Specification GAMPS 5101 relates to the heat treatment of low alloy steels and GAMPS 5102 is associated with the annealing and precipitation hardening of PH stainless steel. Compliance to these two specifications are important to ensure that flight-critical raw materials and parts are heat treated and tested properly.

Michael Johnson,
Sales Manager
Solar Atmospheres of Western PA

“This prime approval not only gives our current customer base permission to use our location for thermal processing of Gulfstream components, it also gives them the ability to run larger loads of 40,000 – 60,000 lbs. at a time, due to our large furnace sizes,” stated Michael Johnson, Sales Manager. “The larger loads reduce the number of certifications, furnace charts, and mechanical testing documentation that is typically required post heat treating.”

 

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CMC: What are They? Why are They Important?

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Source: L&L Special Furnace Co., Inc

 

CMC stands for Ceramic Matrix Composite, and these materials are considered a subgroup of both ceramics and composite materials. CMC components are used in the energy and power, defense, aerospace, electrical, and electronics industries. In this Best of the Web Technical Tuesday feature, L&L Special Furnace Co., Inc. delves into the composition, applications, fabricating process, and uniqueness of CMCs.

An excerpt:

“CMCs are able to retain a relatively high mechanical strength even at very elevated temperatures. They offer excellent stiffness and very good stability, both mechanical, thermal, dimensional, and chemical.”

 

To explore more about ceramic matrix composites, read more: “What Are Ceramic Matrix Composites?”

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Sandvik Acquires North Carolina-Based High Temp Furnace Manufacturer

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Sandvik Group, a global engineering group based in Sweden, has acquired a manufacturer of high temperature furnace systems and metallic heating elements headquartered in North Carolina.

Sandvik, which offers products for industrial heating, has purchased Thermaltek, Inc., a producer of furnace systems for handling nonferrous alloys, including aluminum, magnesium, brass, and tin. They also design and create custom high-temperature furnaces and heating equipment for ceramic applications.

Göran Björkman,
President of Sandvik
Materials Technology

“Through this acquisition we add further strength to our leading position in industrial heating, a strategically important growth area for our Kanthal division within Sandvik Materials Technology,” says Göran Björkman, President, Sandvik Materials Technology.

Thermaltek will continue to go to market under its own brand.

 

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Doncasters Implements New Operating Model for Production

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Doncasters Group Ltd., based in Burton upon Trent, UK, has made financial changes to allow for increased focus on precision casting and superalloys production. They are implementing a “new operating model” and will organize into two geographic divisions led by two managing directors, Jason Mays in the U.S. and Simon Ward in Europe.

Jas Sahota,
CEO of Doncasters Group Ltd.

“This is a significant positive development for Doncasters, our people, customers and suppliers. The agreement we have reached with our lenders will provide the necessary stable platform for DGL to deliver on its future strategy,” said CEO Jas Sahota of the agreement. Ownership of the group will transfer to the senior lenders, which is expected during Q1 2020.

Doncasters’ casting operations —including Certified Alloy Products, Doncasters Precision Castings – New England, and Doncasters Southern Tool, all in the U.S. — are investment casting plants producing aerospace and industrial gas turbine parts, aerospace structural castings, and more.

The superalloy business produces vacuum- and air-melted ferrous, nickel-base, and cobalt-base superalloy bar stock used to cast and fabricate turbine blades and vanes and other components for aerospace engines and land-based gas turbines, hot-end turbocharger wheels, medical prostheses, and other components requiring high metallurgical integrity.

Photo Credit: Foundry Management & Technology

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NATO Agrees to Surveillance Aircraft Contract with Boeing

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NATO and Boeing have announced a $1 billion agreement to update and modernize the Alliance’s AWACS surveillance aircraft fleet.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the president of Boeing International, Sir Michael Arthur, met at Melsbroek Airport in Brussels to mark a major investment in the Alliance’s fleet of AWACS surveillance aircraft. NATO’s investment will ensure the surveillance aircraft continue to support the Alliance’s missions to 2035.

Jens Stoltenberg,
NATO Secretary General

“NATO AWACS have been our eyes in the sky, supporting our operations for decades, from patrolling American skies after 9/11, to our operations in Afghanistan, and as part of the Global Coalition against ISIS,” said the Secretary General.

He welcomed the contract with Boeing, which will provide NATO’s 14 AWACS aircraft with sophisticated new communications and networking capabilities. 16 NATO Allies, on both sides of the Atlantic, are funding this modernization, and companies from Europe and North America are working together to provide high-tech capabilities.

Sir Michael Arthur,
President of Boeing International

“NATO AWACS is a symbol of trans-Atlantic excellence, in terms of technology and partnership between Boeing, NATO and Europe. This modernisation programme will ensure the aircraft continue to thrive,” noted Sir Michael Arthur.

 

Photo Credit: Virginia Mayo/AP

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Bodycote Acquires Aerospace Surface Coating Specialist

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Bodycote, a leading provider of heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services, has entered into an agreement to acquire Ellison Surface Technologies, of Mason, Ohio, which will provide thermal spray and engineered coating surface technology services to the aerospace industry.

Combining Ellison’s thermal spray and engineered coating surface technology services with Bodycote’s services and global infrastructure will broaden their service offering to aerospace customers.

Stephen Harris,
Group Chief Executive of Bodycote

Group Chief Executive of Bodycote Stephen Harris said, “Ellison’s business is one that we have long respected and is a perfect strategic fit for Bodycote’s aerospace and Specialist Technologies’ businesses. Ellison has been successful in winning new business in recent years and it will be very complementary to Bodycote’s existing surface technology business.”

Completion of the transaction is contingent on various regulatory filings’ processes; it is anticipated that the transaction will complete during the first quarter of 2020.

Main Photo Credit: ASM International

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Bombardier Announces Plans to Relocate Global Aircraft Final Assembly

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Canadian business jet manufacturer Bombardier recently announced that it will relocate its global aircraft final assembly plant to Mississauga, Ontario.

Bombardier signed a long-term lease agreement with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) to build its new state-of-the-art Global Manufacturing Centre located at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Preliminary site work is underway, and first production activities are set to begin in 2023, opening the way for final assembly operations for all global business jets, including the industry flagship Global 7500 business jet.

Alain Bellemare, president and CEO, Bombardier Inc
A rendering of Bombardier’s Global Manufacturing Centre at Toronto International Pearson

The one-million-square-foot facility will incorporate Bombardier’s advanced manufacturing technology, including a state-of-the-art automated positioning system that uses laser-guided measuring to ensure major aircraft structures, such as the wing and fuselage, are joined consistently and perfectly each time.

“Today, I’m very excited to announce the relocation of our Global aircraft family production activities to a new, cutting-edge manufacturing facility at Toronto Pearson,” said Alain Bellemare, president and CEO, Bombardier Inc. “This is a strategic move for Bombardier and a strong commitment to Ontario’s aerospace industry. It will allow us to offer world-class career opportunities and continue fueling the economic development of the region for years to come.”

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GE Aviation Extends, Expands Agreement with Specialty Materials Manufacturer

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A global manufacturer of technically advanced specialty materials and complex components recently announced that it has reached an agreement on multiple new long-term contracts with an aircraft engine supplier to supply iso-thermal and hot-die forgings used in the manufacture of commercial jet engines.

Robert S. Wetherbee, ATI’s president and CEO

GE Aviation, headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, has contracted with Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) for the development and production of materials and components for hotter-burning, more fuel-efficient jet engines.

“We are pleased to extend and expand our six-decade partnership with GE Aviation,” said Robert S. Wetherbee, ATI’s president and CEO. “These long-term agreements demonstrate the trust that GE Aviation places in ATI to deliver the highest quality materials and components to their production lines on-time.”

Michael J. Wagner, GE Aviation’s global sourcing general manager

“This is a great example of how we are developing key partnerships, like ATI, for the purpose of growing capability and capacity in the forging industry to ensure we can support our customers,” said Michael J. Wagner, GE Aviation’s global sourcing general manager.

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Aerojet Rocketdyne Auctions Heat Treat Equipment at California Facility, Sets Sights on Arkansas Expansion

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Advanced large-capacity heat treating equipment and vacuum furnaces, as well as rare aerospace equipment, are listed among the items that were auctioned in December 2019, as part of the closure of an industrial facility belonging to a California-based rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer.

Paul Zimmer, CEO of Machinery Marketing International

Aerojet Rocketdyne began downsizing its operations and holdings in Rancho Cordova, California, in 2017 and expanding its manufacturing footprint in Arkansas. Machinery Marketing International (MMI), in collaboration with Hilco Industrial, was secured to partner with Aerojet in the downsizing of assets, and a large industrial auction of Aerojet Rocketdyne manufacturing equipment that occurred in December.

The auction of the 800,000-plus sq ft manufacturing facility features advanced large-capacity heat and vacuum treating, composite structure forming, CNC machining, quality assurance equipment, and more. Key assets falling under the auctioneer’s gavel include an Abar Ipsen HR-120x152VC 6-bar MetalMaster horizontal vacuum compression braze furnace and a Grieve HB-500 500°F electric oven.

“We are proud to have been selected as an asset disposition partner for this closure,” said Paul Zimmer, CEO of Machinery Marketing International. “This facility features rare aerospace equipment including vacuum furnaces and heat treatment machinery, composite manufacturing equipment, large scale turret lathes, and a wide selection of machine tools. The scale and quality of this equipment makes this auction a unique opportunity for buyers.”

Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Rancho Cordero facility // Photo credit: Jay Mather, Sacramento Bee file

The live auction will take place at 2001 Aerojet Road Rancho Cordova, California 95742 on Tuesday, December 10, at 10:00 AM (Pacific Time) with additional online webcast bidding hosted by Bidspotter. Lot preview and machinery inspection will occur Monday, December 9, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time), or earlier by appointment.

Details, photo gallery, and bidding information are available at http://info.mmi-direct.com/aerojet-rocketdyne-auction-december-10

 

Main image credit/caption: MMI / Apar Ibsen Furnace: One of many rare and pristine machines available in this aerospace equipment auction

 

 

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