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Source: Today's Medical Developments - March 2016
3D printing technique using liquid inks and common furnaces is less expensive, faster, and more uniform, says Northwestern University engineering researchers.
Read More: New Ways to print 3D Metals and Alloys
Heat Treating Involved in 3D Printing Technique Read More »
Norsk Titanium AS, the world’s leading provider of aerospace-grade, titanium additive manufacturing technology, today announced the groundbreaking of a new European assembly and test center outside Oslo, Norway.
Norsk Titanium Chief Commercial Officer Chet Fuller, Chief Executive Officer Warren M. Boley Jr., and Senior Vice President of Operations Chris Bohlmann were on hand to kick off construction of the new facility, which is scheduled to be completed October 2016.
“Customer demand for our additive manufacturing technology is growing to the point where we need significantly more space to assemble and test our MERKE IV™ RPD™ machines prior to worldwide shipment,” said Senior Vice President of Operations Chris Bohlmann. “This new factory will enable us to better serve our manufacturing partners and aerospace customers while expanding our footprint in this innovative region of Norway.”
Norsk Titanium also plans to install the world’s first end-to-end aerospace Ultra Lean Manufacturing line in the facility. A MERKE IV™ Rapid Plasma Deposition™ machine paired with a heat treating oven and a multi-axis CNC machining center will demonstrate the conversion of titanium wire into finished aerospace parts in a production line length of approximately 30 meters.
“The new Ultra Lean Manufacturing line allows our customers to do hands-on development of new part programs on the same campus as our worldwide technology center,” said CEO Warren M. Boley Jr. “Titanium wire comes in one end, the CAD drawing is input, and finished aerospace parts that are fully tested, heat treated and ready for installation are produced in a matter of days. RPD™ truly is a game-changer in terms of cost reduction, speed to market and production line efficiency.”
About Norsk Titanium AS
Norsk Titanium AS is the world’s pioneering supplier of aerospace-grade, additive manufactured, structural titanium components. The company is distinguished in the aviation industry by its patented Rapid Plasma Deposition™ (RPD™) process that transforms titanium wire into complex components suitable for structural and safety-critical applications. The Norsk Titanium research and development team is committed to displacing the inefficient forging process with a precision wire deposition technology embodying substantial savings for aerospace, defense and commercial applications. www.norsktitanium.com
Heat Treating Oven Part of Norsk Titanium’s Ultra Lean Manufacturing Line Read More »
Västerås, Sweden, December 17, 2015 – Jan Söderström, CEO of Quintus Technologies (formerly Avure Technologies), joined Frank Du, President of China’s Yingliu Group, to celebrate the inauguration of a Quintus® hot isostatic press (HIP) at the Anhui Yingliu Group Huoshan Casting Co. Ltd. foundry in Anhui province, China, in early December.
The new press, model QIH 1.6 x 2.5 – 2000 – 1400M URC, brings several advanced capabilities that enable the Huoshan facility to manufacture products meeting mission-critical performance standards in the aerospace and nuclear power environments.
Operating at a pressure of 200 MPA (29,000 psi) and temperatures up to 1400°C (2552°F), the Quintus HIP produces complex components with improved fatigue strength and extended service life, ever-more-important characteristics that are difficult to achieve in traditional manufacturing technology.
A work zone of 1600 mm (63 inches) in diameter and 2500 mm (98 inches) in height accommodates the size requirements for production of large aircraft engine casings and core components for nuclear power, marine engineering, metallurgy, and other applications. Quintus’ proprietary Uniform Rapid Cooling (URC) technology enables increased productivity with optimal temperature control.
“Quintus HIP systems produce parts with excellent isotropic material properties and offer the highest possible density of all available compaction methods,” noted Mr. Söderström as he handed the keys to the press to Mr. Du during the inauguration ceremony. The event was attended by more than 500 guests, including representatives from a dozen prominent Chinese companies in the aviation and nuclear power industries.
Reminding the audience of the Made in China 2025 campaign to improve quality and production efficiency, Mr. Du referenced the Yingliu Group’s own strategic commitment to industrial upgrading. The company ordered the QIH 1.6 x 2.5 in December 2013. It was delivered after a 15-month manufacturing process at the Quintus plant in Västerås, Sweden. Installation, testing, and commissioning took place over a period of 20 weeks. Now fully operational, the press fulfills the Yingliu Group’s vision of establishing a world-class hot isostatic pressing center at the Huoshan Casting facility.
Quintus Technologies specializes in the design, manufacture, installation, and support of high pressure systems for sheet metal forming and densification of advanced materials and critical industrial components. Headquartered in Västerås, Sweden, and represented in 35 countries worldwide, the company is the world leader in high pressure technology and has delivered more than 1,800 systems to customers across the globe within industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical implants.
Anhui Yingliu Group Inaugurates Quintus® Hot Isostatic Press Read More »
Wisconsin Oven Corporation announced the shipment of two (2) direct gas fired batch ovens to a leading automotive supplier for tempering tire molds. The tempering process of the molds results in a longer mold life. This industrial oven was designed with the load capacity of 6,000 pounds and provides easy access of loading and unloading of tire molds by fork truck.
Each tempering batch oven has a maximum operating temperature rating of 800°F, work chamber dimensions of 5’0”W x 5’0”L x 8’0”H, and a 6” reinforced insulated floor. The recirculation system utilizes combination airflow which provides both horizontal and vertical upward airflow to maximize heating rates and temperature uniformity of the product. The batch oven is equipped with a 10,850 CFM @ 15 HP belt-driven blower. Supply air is delivered through fully adjustable boxed ducts and side-mounted along the length on each side of the work chambers. The heating system features an industrial air heat burner rated at 850,000 BTU per hour.
“Designing a solution for our customers that improves their production process is always a top priority. Improved work flow and ease of loading/unloading was a focus for this project to increase production efficiencies.” Tom Trueman, Senior Application Engineer, Wisconsin Oven Corporation
Unique features of these tempering batch ovens include:
Industrial Batch Ovens to Automotive Supplier Read More »
Source: SME Manufacturing Engineering
“We’re about out of the woods,” Alan Beaulieu, president of ITR Economics, said during a presentation at the MFG Meeting in Palm Desert, CA. “We are not looking at a recession in manufacturing in the United States.”
Read more: Economist: Manufacturing Revives in 2016’s Second Half
Economist: Manufacturing Revives in 2016’s Second Half Read More »
Source: Q1 Productions
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Performance Review Institute (PRI)
“2016 is going to be a milestone year in terms of MedAccred’s development. The program has established itself in 6 critical process areas (PCBAs, Cable & Wire Harnesses, Heat Treating, Sterilization, Plastics and Welding) and numerous companies are now stepping forward to participate in the audit process and gain accreditation.”
Heat Treating Opportunities Available in Medical Industry Read More »
Bonnell Aluminum, a subsidiary of Tredegar Corporation (NYSE:TG), announced it will be investing approximately $18 million over the next 12 months to fund an expansion project which will include the purchase of a new state-of-the-art aluminum extrusion line at its AACOA facility in Niles, Michigan. Planned startup is the second quarter 2017.
“With continued growing demand from our customers, it is exciting to invest in this additional capacity, knowing that we will satisfy these opportunities with the high quality products and services that AACOA is known for in the industry,” commented Brook Hamilton, President and General Manager for Bonnell Aluminum. “Our facility in Niles is ideally suited for this project, with a well-run operation and a great team in place.” “AACOA has a solid market reputation and is highly regarded as a leader in the markets it serves, primarily consumer durables and machinery and equipment. The facility also serves the automotive market due to its regional location,” added Ira Endres, Vice President Sales and Marketing. “It makes sense to increase the capacity in Niles based on demand from our customers.”
The new line will be comprised of a state-of-the-art 3600-ton extrusion press, housing a 9-inch container, handling systems and ancillary equipment. Capacity is estimated at approximately 16 million pounds. The project also includes additional floor space to accommodate future value-added fabrication capacity.
This announcement marks another important investment made by the Company in recent years and confirms once again Bonnell’s full commitment to its business. “The addition of this new line will provide new and broader product line capabilities for our customers,” added Hamilton.
Bonnell Aluminum is a subsidiary of Richmond Va., based Tredegar Corporation (NYSE:TG). The company produces soft and medium-strength alloy aluminum extrusions for building and construction, automotive, machinery and equipment, consumer durables, transportation, electrical and distribution markets. On October 1, 2012, Bonnell Aluminum acquired AACOA, a world-class manufacturer, fabricator and anodizer of aluminum extrusions with operations in Niles, MI, and Elkhart, IN.
Bonnell Aluminum to Invest $18 Million, Expand Automotive and Specialty Markets Read More »
SMS group received an order from Romania’s TMK-ARTROM for a heat-treatment line for tubes. The line will consist of an austenitizing furnace with walking-beam transport system, quenching head, quenching tank, walking-beam tempering furnace and cooling bed. It will allow various process steps, such as quenching, tempering and normalizing. The line, which will be able to treat tubes up to a wall thickness of 60 mm (2.4 inches), is scheduled to start up in the second quarter of 2017.
TMK-ARTROM’s plant in Slatina produces seamless tubes, OCTG pipes and high-strength tubes for mechanical applications. It has an annual capacity of 160,000 tons. This heat-treatment line, which also includes eco-friendly recuperative burners in the furnaces, will strengthen TMK-ARTROM’s presence in the market for tubes for oil and gas exploration
TMK-ARTROM Orders Austenitizing Tube Heat-Treatment Line Read More »
CANTON, Ohio, TimkenSteel (NYSE: TMST, timkensteel.com), a leader in customized alloy steel products and services, today announced that it has developed a new process to manufacture high-pressure tubing (HPT) for use in the production of low-density polyethylene (LDPE).
TimkenSteel recently accepted its first order of HPT for a major petrochemical producer. Over the last decade, HPT for LDPE environments has had extended supply chains that created long lead times for North American customers.
“We have developed a more streamlined process using the assets and operations we have in place to create cost efficiencies. HPT that previously took more than a year to produce now takes a matter of months,” said Shawn Seanor, TimkenSteel’s executive vice president of sales and business development. “Another advantage our process offers is flexibility, allowing customers to buy smaller lot sizes.”
TimkenSteel’s process begins in Canton where its special bar quality (SBQ) steel is forged-rolled and heat treated. It is then sent to TimkenSteel Material Services in Houston where it is bored and honed.
TimkenSteel recently entered into a supply agreement with A&A Machine & Fabrication, LLC, of La Marque, Texas, to further process, market and sell HPT for LDPE customers. A&A completed reliability testing to ASME code on prototype tubing and processed that material to industry fabrication requirements in order to illustrate material performance. A&A and TimkenSteel then met with end-users to gain market acceptance of the material.
“HPT users will be able to plan projects with a more accurate forecast due to the shorter lead times and ease of inspection and oversight of the manufacturing process,” said C. Alan Hutchins, President and CEO of A&A.
SOURCE TimkenSteel
TimkenSteel Develops New Manufacturing Process for High-Pressure Tubing Read More »
CHERRY VALLEY, IL – Ipsen recently shipped a horizontal-loading MetalMaster® vacuum furnace with 2-bar gas quenching to a company in the Southwest U.S. for use in manufacturing catalytic converter products, which are then used by such industries as Aerospace, Automotive and Power Generation. Ideal for brazing and other high vacuum applications, this vacuum furnace line performs well with thin section parts and lighter pieces.
This customized furnace features a 36″ x 36″ x 72″ (914 mm x 914 mm x 1,829 mm) graphite work zone with a carbon steel gas distribution plenum and graphite heating elements, as well as a 3,000-pound (1,361 kg) load capacity. It operates at temperatures of 1,000 °F to 2,400 °F (538 °C to 1,316 °C) with ±5 °F (±3 °C) temperature uniformity.
The furnace is also equipped with a 35-inch diffusion pump and Ipsen’s CompuVac® controls system. In addition, this MetalMaster furnace is capable of meeting applicable AMS 2750E requirements and providing tight temperature tolerances with DigiTrim® controls settings. It also features an open heating element detection system, as well as offers a specially engineered heat exchanger and turbine blower that are designed to optimize gas flow for more efficient cooling.
MetalMaster furnaces can also include several high-productivity options, including specialized instrumentation, increased pumping capability and material handling systems.
Brazing and High Vacuum Heat Treat Furnace Delivered to Southwest USA Read More »