Plibrico, a manufacturer and installer of superior aluminosilicate and high alumina monolithic refractories, has expanded its footprint with the grand opening and dedication of its new state-of-the-art production facility in Oak Hill, Ohio. The company’s refractories are used in a variety of heat treating applications, and the new plant will enhance technology and production capacity.
Brad Taylor President & CEO Plibrico
Plibrico celebrated the occasion with a two-day GO LIVE Showcase, which included in attendance Shane Wilkin, Ohio State Senator; Samuel Brady, president and CEO of Economic Development Partnership of Jackson County; and Paul McNeal, mayor of Oak Hill. In addition to the dedication ceremony and training sessions, attendees received a behind-the-scenes tour of the company’s new refractory production facility. The event also featured discussions on innovation, growth, and development in the refractory industry.
“This facility represents more than just bricks and mortar,” said Brad Taylor, president and CEO of Plibrico, in his welcome address. “It symbolizes our dedication to innovation, growth, and a higher standard of excellence that we bring to our industry every day.”
Main photo: Brad Taylor, President and CEO of Plibrico, ribbon cutting to celebrate opening of new refractory production facility in Oak Hill, Ohio/ Source: Plibrico
The press release is available in its original form here.
Łukasiewicz – the Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals (Łukasiewicz – IMN) recently expanded its heat treating operations with a VIM furnace for melting metals and metal alloys on a laboratory scale. The new equipment will be used to develop new types of alloys, make individual castings, and conduct research on melting processes.
The vacuum induction melting furnace, ordered from SECO/WARWICK, has a maximum operating temperature of 2000˚C (3,632°F) and a single-chamber VIM furnace. It was designed to produce metal and alloy castings weighing up to 20 kg in vacuum, or under pressure using an inert gas (argon).
Sławomir Woźniak President & CEO SECO/WARWICK Group Source: SECO/WARWICK
This is the second processing solution the furnace supplier has designed for the institute. Łukasiewicz – IMN, a member of the Łukasiewicz Research Network, received a targeted subsidy for the implementation of an investment related to scientific activities for the purchase of research equipment granted by the Ministry of Education and Science (currently the Ministry of Science and Higher Education).
“Scientific institutions are one of the group of recipients for our solutions,” said Sławomir Woźniak, CEO of the SECO/WARWICK Group. “For example, we have supplied solutions to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), which ordered a non-standard, 12-meter vertical rotary retort furnace for the heat treatment of a gyrotron part, as a contribution to the ITER experimental thermonuclear reactor. We have also supplied laboratory furnaces for the Institute of Precision Mechanics. We invest heavily in research and development ourselves. We have our own R&D centers, which allow us to continuously improve the technology we offer.”
The press release is available in its original form here.
Heat TreatToday offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 18 news items.
Equipment
A Canadian automotive components manufacturer recently expanded its operations with an electrically heated small batch oven to be used for curing arts. The small batch oven was manufactured by Wisconsin Oven, designed to utilize combination airflow to maximum heating rates of 650°F and temperature uniformity.
With the successful conversion to a four-stand finishing mill, Henan Yirui New Materials Technology Co, Ltd, officially began production. SMS Group converted an existing hot rolling mill into a tandem finishing mill by adding three new finishing mill stands, developed for refurbishing and integrating components.
KALLER, a manufacturer of gas springs and gas hydraulic systems based in Sweden, recently launched its fully automated line of hardening furnaces for surface coatings on gas springs. The hardening systems were supplied by Ipsen International.
Electrically heated small batch oven to be used for curing arts at Canadian automotive components manufacturer. Source: Wisconsin OvenFully automated line of hardening furnaces installed at Kaller Source: LinkedInFAC Signing Ceremony L-R: Rüdiger Roger Wiechmann, Project Manager at SMS group, with Zheng Guoqiang, Project Manager at Henan Mingtai Aluminium). Source: SMS Group
Company & Personnel
Steve Fuller has joined the team at Nitrex HTS as the new plant general manager at their Michigan location. He brings 45 years of experience in commercial heat treating, machine tool manufacturing, fabrication, quality management, and more.
Bobby Boom, Tim Litchauer, and Wade Sholmire, have been added to the Superheat team as business development managers. Wade is the new National BDM, Tim will oversee the Greater Houston Area, and Bobby will manage the Southeast Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas regions.
Chris Martin has been promoted to regional sales manager for the Southeast by Ipsen. Chris will be responsible for leading a team of seven that includes six field service engineers and one service administrator.
Adam Woelber has been promoted to manager of aftermarket parts and service at AFC-Holcroft.
Ethan Castle has been appointed the St. Louis plant manager for Paulo Heat Treating, Brazing, and Metal Finishing, recognized for his leadership, technical capability, and mentoring role, in addition to representing the company within the North American Diecasting Association and National Tooling and Machining Association. Ethan has also been named to Heat TreatToday‘s 40 Under 40 Class of 2024.
Gary Doyon has stepped down from his role as CEO of Inductotherm Group, after 15 years in the position and 38 years with the company. Mick Nallen and Satyen Prabhu have taken as co‐leaders at the company, which provides thermal processing technologies. Mr. Doyon will remain actively involved with the company, assisting with specific operational needs of other businesses owned by the Rowan family and pursuing new business avenues and opportunities for the Inductotherm Group.
Ipsen USA has launched its Field Service Engineer Academy, designed to be a 20-week in-depth program with classroom training and experience in the field with veteran service technicians. Darci Johnson, program and transformation manager at the company, is leading the implementation of the FSE Academy. Content will focus on the fundamentals of vacuum furnace repair.
Industrial furnace equipment manufacturer Gasbarre welcomed Dan Hill as product development manager; he will be based at the company’s Livonia, Michigan, facility. A licensed professional engineer, Dan brings a diverse background in capital equipment, spanning material handling, control systems, boilers and furnaces, combustion systems, and industrial washing/deburring equipment.
The U.S. Navy recently selected StandardAero to serve as its engine depot-level repair prime contractor to perform Rolls-Royce T56-A-427A engine MRO services, supporting the Navy’s fleet of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The aerospace aftermarket service supplier has also announced that Turkish and European Boeing 737 Operator Corendon Airlines has extended its contract for the support of CFM LEAP-18 engines.
Ipsen USA recently announced the formal launch of its Service HUBmodel, marking a significant shift in how the company delivers customer service and support across the United States. The program has been under the direction of Geoffrey Somary, the company’s global CEO. Currently being led by John Dykstra, chief service officer, the HUBs now provide services across a large portion of the Midwest and Southeastern United States. Lu Chouraki, manager of business development, is leading the implementation of the HUBs.
Steve Fuller Plant General Manager Nitrex HTS Source: Nitrex Wade Sholmire National Business Development Manager Superheat Source: SuperheatTim Litchauer Business Development Manager for the Greater Houston Area Superheat Source: SuperheatBobby Boom Business Development Manager for Southeast Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas Superheat Source: Superheat
Chris Martin Regional Service Manager for the Southeast Ipsen Source: IpsenAdam Woelber Manager of Aftermarket Parts and Service AFC-Holcroft Source: AFC-HolcroftEthan Castle St Louis Plant Manager
Source: PauloGary Doyon Retiring CEO Inductotherm Group Source: Inductotherm Group The launch of Ipsen USA’s Field Service Engineer Academy Source: Ipsen USADan Hill Product Development Manager Gasbarre Source: Gasbarre
Kudos
James Wellborn, gas nitride manager at Advanced Heat Treat Corp, celebrates 25 years with the company.
Patricia Miller, director of technical services at Uddeholm, has been named the Technical Committee Member of the Year by North American Die Casting Association (NADCA).
Denise Blaubach, who is known as the resident flow meter assembly expert at UPC-Marathon in Wisconsin, recently celebrated 35 years with the company.
Constellium today announced it has achieved Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard Certification for all its operations, and for its corporate office in Paris.
Sinosteel E&T and Tenova have successfully completed the performance test for the ENERGIRON DRI Plant at the Baosteel Zhanjiang site in China. The sustainable hydrogen-based 1,000,000 tonnes/year ENERGIRON Direct Reduction (DR) plant demonstrated the nominal production of DRI, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and marking a significant step in the green steel industry.
James Wellborn Gas Nitride Manager Advanced Heat Treat Corp Source: Advanced Heat Treat Corporation Patricia Miller Director of Technical Services Uddeholm Source: UddeholmDenise Blaubach celebrates 35 years at UPC-Marathon Source: UPC-MarathonENERGIRON DRI Plant at the Baosteel Zhanjiang site in China where Sinosteel E&T and Tenova complete performance test Source: Tenova
Today’s News from Abroad installment highlights global accomplishments from pilot programs in gas recovery and a successful trial run of biomass usage in ferrochrome making to the first electric furnace for luxury bottles and state-of-the-art furnace upgrades – all with a goal of achieving production efficiency and sustainability.
Heat TreatTodaypartners 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.
Bolstering Sustainable Operations with Cutting Edge Gas Recovery
Industrial hydrogen recovery plant with process piping and equipment Source: Outokumpu
“Outokumpu, a supplier of sustainable stainless steel, and ON2Quest, an innovator in the field of industrial gas purification and generation, are piloting a cutting-edge gas recovery system that will enable the recovery of hydrogen from their production processes. The collaboration aims to enhance sustainable operational efficiency by integrating hydrogen recovery into the stainless steel production cycle at Outokumpu’s production plant in Krefeld, Germany. The gas recovery system is designed to recover hydrogen – a by-product of the stainless steel manufacturing process – where the gas will undergo a rigorous cleaning and compression process to ensure that it will be suitable for use again. The purified hydrogen will then be blended with natural gas, creating a hybrid fuel that will be used to power the burners.”
Reinforcing Capacities with State-of-the-Art Furnace Upgrades
Speira upgrades its plants in Grevenbroich and Töging with two new furnaces each. Source: Speira
“Speira, a European aluminum rolling and recycling company, is upgrading its plants in Grevenbroich and Töging with two new furnaces each, replacing the previous units with state-of-the-art systems. With the four tiltable rotary furnaces, the aluminum recycler is reinforcing its capacities specifically for the recycling of so-called ‘low grades’ such as heavily contaminated scrap and dross produced during the melting process. ‘We take a holistic view of our contribution to a functioning circular economy. That’s why we don’t just look at the pure, easy-to-recycle scraps, but also at the more difficult lower grades and by-products. Wherever aluminum is in it, we want to get the maximum out of it and put it back into the cycle,’ explains Ralf Köring, Head of Recycling Services, which are provided for Speira’s other business areas as well as for external customers, for example in the automotive and packaging industries. Speira is investing around eleven million euros in the four furnaces. This includes charging machines, suction hoods, thermal afterburners, piping and other infrastructure.”
Biomass Usage in Ferrochrome Trial Marks Progress in Reducing Carbon Footprint
Tata successfully conducts trial of biomass usage at Ferrochrome Plant. Source: Tata Steel
“Tata Steel, has successfully conducted the trial of biomass usage in ferrochrome making at its Ferrochrome Plant in Athagarh of Odisha’s Cuttack district. The plant, operating under the Ferro Alloys and Minerals Division (FAMD) of the company, becomes first in India to have performed the trial run as part of its sustainable alternative to traditional carbon sources. Marking a significant step towards sustainable ferrochrome production and reducing the carbon footprint, the trial involved substitution of conventional fossil fuels with biomass, a renewable energy source derived from organic materials. This initiative is expected to lower CO2 emission by 0.08/t of Ferrochrome (5% use of biomass) which is around 6% of total CO2 emission from Ferrochrome plant.”
France’s First Electric Furnace To Impact Sourcing Green Energy
Groupe Pochet and ABO Wind join forces to source first electric furnace in France. Source: Groupe Prochet
“Groupe Pochet and ABO Wind announce the signing of a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the commissioning of the developer’s largest photovoltaic (PV) park in France. The PV park, with an installed capacity of around 20 MWp, will be in operation by early 2025, and will accompany the project to build France’s first electric furnace for luxury bottles. Through this agreement, Groupe Pochet is acting to reduce its impact on the planet by sourcing green energy and securing the long-term purchase price of electricity. Pursuing its ‘Sustainable Beauty’ CSR roadmap, and in line with its decarbonization plan, Groupe Pochet has teamed up with ABO Wind, a major player in the development of renewable energies worldwide, by signing a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement. As a major project under the decarbonization plan, the electric furnace, which will be operational by the end of 2024, will be partly supplied by green energy from the future photovoltaic plant.”
Steelmaker Sanbao Group has expanded its heat treatment operations with three annealing and coating lines for non-grain oriented (NGO) silicon steel. The equipment enhancement is part of the company’s entry into the field of silicon steel production.
Sanbao contracted with Tenova LOI Thermprocess, an industrial furnace supplier, for the heat treatment furnaces intended for processing metals. Two electric arc furnaces (EAF) previously supplied by Tenova Group have been installed and put into operation.
A signing ceremony was held at the headquarters of Sanbao Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., in Zhangzhou, China, as part of the company’s “Cold rolled Silicon Steel and Metal Products Deep Processing Project”, a new greenfield project for electrical steel that aims to obtain the highest surface quality and best magnetic properties in NGO electrical steel for Southeast China.
Sascha Bothen Senior Vice President of Sales Tenova LOI Thermprocess Source: LinkedIn
“Tenova and Sanbao have already collaborated successfully establishing Tenova’s Consteel® technology and the successful references of Tenova LOI Thermprocess in the heat treatment of electrical steel and great efforts in the research & development in this sector fully convinced us to this investment,” stated Wang Guangwen, chairman of Sanbao Group.
“It was a great honor for us to participate in the signing ceremony of the Sanbao Group in Zhangzhou, which emphasizes their trust in our technology,” stated Sascha Bothen, senior vice president sales, Tenova LOI Thermprocess. “We are proud to further strengthen the cooperation and work together to help propel forward the green energy transition in the steel industry.”
Included in the featured image: Wang Guangwen, chairman of Sanbao Group; Dong Guibo, vice general manager of Sanbao Group; Sascha Bothen, senior vice president of sales, Tenova LOI Thermprocess; and Wolfgang Eggert, general sales manager, Tenova LOI Thermprocess.
The press release is available in its original form here.
A tool supplier has boosted its production capabilities with the installation of a new nitriding/nitrocarburizing system, expanding its heat treatment services with a large-capacity batch furnace to perform advanced nitriding, nitrocarburizing, and post-oxidation treatments.
Belgin Mert General Manager Volkan Steels Source: kalypdunyasi
Volkan Steels Powders Metal San. Tic ve Ltd. Şti. (V’Steels) acquired the nitriding/nitrocarburizing system from North American furnace manufacturer Nitrex to match the company’s current production capacity and to accommodate future expansion. The Nitrex turnkey system has a 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) capacity for processing tooling loads, including aluminum extrusion dies, die-casting dies, forging dies, and plastic injection molding dies, for industries such as energy, petrochemistry, defense, and maritime.
“Our heat treatment services, which began in 2023, have been strengthened by our recent investment in a Nitrex furnace. This enhancement allows us to comprehensively meet the heat treatment needs of our long-standing business partners in the tool steel industry, enabling them to achieve higher performance,” said Belgin Mert, general manager of V’Steels.
Utku Inan Nitrex Sales Representative in Türkiye BDI Source: Nitrex
“The decision to integrate a Nitrex system was influenced by the expertise of the V’Steels team, several members of whom have prior experience with Nitrex from their previous roles. Our strong relationship and the team’s deep understanding of Nitreg® technologies made this an easy choice,” said Utku Inan of BDI Metal, Nitrex sales representative in Türkiyee. “We managed the installation and startup seamlessly, ensuring optimal performance from the start. V’Steels’ positive feedback underscores their satisfaction with both the Nitrex system and our comprehensive support.”
Marcin Stokłosa Project Manager NITREX Poland LinkedIn.com
“The integration of the Nitrex system will significantly enhance the performance and reliability of tool steels, resulting in longer-lasting and more efficient tooling for V’Steels’ customers,” said Marcin Stoklosa, technical sales manager – EMEA region at Nitrex. “By utilizing Nitreg® technologies, V’Steels is set to offer finished tooling that endures longer under operational stress, translating into increased throughput and reduced downtime for their clients. This advanced treatment not only boosts tool durability but also improves operational value, giving V’Steels’ customers a competitive edge through superior tool steel quality and consistency.”
The press release is available in its original form here.
Furniss & White has partnered with a stainless steel technology company to produce its castings at its heat treatment facility using a new series of high-performance alloys. The foundry, which specializes in high-integrity stainless steel castings, fabrications, and precision machining, has signed a long-term agreement to manufacture its cast products using the high-performance alloys.
The castings are solution heat treated at approximately 1100°C (2012°F) and above and then water quenched by the company’s lift-off cover-type furnace with a load capacity of 5.3 tons (11,684.5 lbs). The N’GENIUS SeriesTM was developed by N’GENIUS Materials Technology and represents the total reinvention of conventional austenitic stainless steels, commonly known as the 300 Series.
Furniss & White will continue to produce its castings now using high-performance alloys under the N’GENIUS Series license for engineering products made using these advanced materials to its clients, serving the pump, valve, filter and engineering industries with castings from approximately 0.5kg to 2,600kg finished weight in a range of materials including carbon and low alloy steels, stainless steels, and nickel alloys. The firm manufactures an extensive selection of cast products for wide application in sectors including oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical, mining, marine, defense, and power generation.
Dr. Ces Roscoe CEO of N’GENIUS Materials Technology Source: LinkedIn
“For more than 44 years we have built a strong reputation as a high-quality British manufacturer of high integrity castings made in our modern foundry in the UK,” said Sam Scholes, managing director at Furniss & White. “Now, as an approved licensed N’GENIUS manufacturer, we are writing an exciting new chapter in our history and to be the first foundry in the world to have this capability makes us extremely proud. We expect these game-changing N’GENIUS materials will be extremely popular with our existing customers and help open up new opportunities in other markets including the U.S. and Canada and in clean energy industries such as hydrogen.”
“Furniss & White is a company that shares our own passion and drive for innovation, and we are absolutely delighted to be collaborating with them on what is destined to be an industry changing technology,” said Dr. Ces Roscoe, CEO of N’GENIUS Materials Technology and inventor of the N’GENIUS Series. “With a long history of steelmaking, Sheffield is widely regarded as the birthplace of stainless steel and it seems befitting that it will essentially be ‘reborn’ in the same city more than a century later.”
Furniss & White has successfully completed a range of Manufacturing Procedure Qualification Tests at its facilities in various grades from the N’GENIUS Series.
Main image: Furniss & White casting an N’GENIUS grade alloy.
The press release is available in its original form here.
Today’s News from Abroad installment examines strategies global manufacturers are investigating and enacting to move the industry toward the next generation of production efficiency and sustainability through decisive equipment investments, cooperative research efforts, and innovative processing breakthroughs.
Heat TreatTodaypartners 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.
Extruder Expands Production With Additional Homogenization Line
Continuous homogenization furnace installed at Exlabesa at its A Coruña plant Source: SMS Group
“The recently commissioned state-of-the-art melting furnace is specifically designed to produce recycled billets from post-consumer aluminum scrap that has reached the end of its life cycle. The subsequent expansion of the foundry, which focuses on Hertwich’s new continuous homogenization plant, will once again significantly increase the capacity for processing new scrap. This makes Exlabesa less dependent on the procurement of primary aluminium and at the same time conserves resources. These investments underline Exlabesa’s commitment to greater sustainability and the reduction of CO2 emissions by promoting a cleaner and more efficient industry based on the principles of the circular economy.”
Breakthrough: World’s first successful industrial-scale hydrogen Casting
First successful industrial-scale production of aluminium slab using hydrogen combustion explores the performance of hydrogen as a substitute for natural gas at an industrial scale Source: Unsplash
“Constellium announced the successful completion of its first industrial-scale hydrogen casting at C-TEC, Constellium’s primary R&D center. This casting was performed in a 12-ton furnace following strict internal procedures. . . . ‘The 12-ton aluminium slab produced using hydrogen will be further processed at our Neuf-Brisach site in France for use in electric vehicles. This milestone is significant in our roadmap towards decarbonising our industrial activities, as we have begun exploring the performance of hydrogen as a substitute for natural gas at an industrial scale, provided that hydrogen is green, more accessible, and cost-effective for industrial applications.’”
New Production Line Moves Steelmaker Closer to Next Generation
Curved section of Primetals Technologies’ Stelmor Conveyor for future in-line direct solution treatment (DST) processing Source: Primetals
“A further benefit for Yantai Walsin was the fact that the bar-in-coil outlet realizes in-line quenching for austenitic and ferritic stainless products, leading to a reduction of subsequent post-processing annealing. Moreover, Primetals Technologies has designed the equipment to accommodate a future addition of an in-line solution for the direct treatment of wire rod products, which also reduces subsequent post-processing annealing. For bar products, the producer now uses a rapid transfer system to slow cooling bins for martensitic grades.”
Toward Climate-Neutral Steel Production: Replacing Blast Furnace With Direct Reduction Plant
Dr. Heike Denecke-Arnold (left), Chief Operations Officer Executive Board of thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG, and Gretta Stephens, Chief Executive for Climate Change and Sustainability at BlueScope Steel (right) Source: thyssenkrupp
“thyssenkrupp expands its research activities in the field of CO2 low-carbon steel production in cooperation with BlueScope Steel. At the heart of this collaboration are the smelting units, which are a central component of the first transformation step towards climate-neutral steel production: the replacement of the first blast furnace with a direct reduction plant (DR plant) with downstream smelters. . . . As part of the research cooperation with BlueScope Steel, which is scheduled to run for four years, the process understanding and plant management are to be optimized in the run-up to the commissioning of the smelter. These include electrode management, furnace operation, process parameters, refractory material and maintenance.”
A defense industry manufacturer has purchased an inert atmosphere batch oven for processing stainless steel parts in a reduced oxygen environment to prevent scaling. The furnace is designed to use a nitrogen atmosphere system to reduce surface oxidation of parts and includes a flow meter calibrated for nitrogen and controlled via closed loop to maintain the reduced oxygen level.
Wisconsin OvenCorporation shipped the system, which has a maximum temperature rating of 1,250°F with the capacity to heat and cool approximately 6,000 lbs. of steel per load in an inert atmosphere. The temperature is controlled by a Watlow F4T digital recorder/controller with ethernet communication capabilities. Temperature uniformity of +/- 10°F at 1,000°F and 1,200°F was verified with a nine-point profile test.
Mike Grande Vice President of Sales Wisconsin Oven Corporation Source: Wisconsin Oven Corporation
The oven features a “CAN” style construction with a heavy plate exterior, a total of six inches of insulation, and an 18-gauge 304 stainless steel interior. To maximize throughput and productivity, the oven is designed with a pneumatically operated vertical lift door and powered load/unload table capable of handling up to 6,000 lbs., along with a water cooling system to reduce the cooling time, to allow for faster production cycles.
“This inert atmosphere oven includes several state-of-the-art features that increase production throughput and provide reduced surface oxidation,” said Mike Grande, vice president of sales at Wisconsin Oven. “These include water cooling to reduce the cooling time at the end of the cycle, closed-loop nitrogen control to prevent nitrogen overconsumption, oxygen and humidity sensors to provide real time data, and an industrial IoT system to connect the unit to the Wisconsin Oven aftermarket team for remote data monitoring and tech support.”
The press release is available in its original form here.
IperionX, a U.S. titanium metal and critical materials company, recently delivered its first successful titanium furnace production run at the company’s Titanium Manufacturing Campus, based in Virginia. The furnace was installed in April 2024 with full run rate target capacity of at least 125 metric tons per year anticipated by the end of the year.
Anastasios (Taso) Arima CEO IperionX Source: IperionX
IperionX announced the commissioning of the Hydrogen Assisted Metallothermic Reduction (HAMRTM) furnace, noting that the titanium de-oxygenation production run represents a technological milestone for the company with a breakthrough +60x increase in titanium production capacity. The company’s titanium metal and critical minerals are processed for the consumer electronics, space, aerospace, defense, hydrogen, electric vehicles, and additive manufacturing industries.
“Over the last two years, we have successfully operated our pilot titanium production facility in Utah, producing high performance titanium products for customers and importantly – delivering first revenues for our company,” said Anastasios (Taso) Arima, CEO of IperionX.“Today, we demonstrated that our HAMR technology works at commercial scale. We successfully increased the furnace production capacity by ~60x times and produced high performance titanium that exceeds industry quality standards.”
The HAMR furnace is produced entirely from 100% scrap titanium (Ti-6Al-4V alloy, Grade 5 titanium), with a confirmed reduction in oxygen levels from 3.42% to below 0.07%, far exceeding the ASTM standard requirement of 0.2% for Grade 5 titanium. IperionX’s proprietary HAMR technologies offer a range of competitive advantages, including lower operating temperatures, reduced energy consumption, enhanced process efficiency, and accelerated production cycles.
The press release is available in its original form here.
