MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS Archives - Page 24 of 44

Steelmaker Invests in Q&T Production at Alabama Plant

A Swedish steelmaker is responding to the increase in demand for quenched and tempered (Q&T) steels in the U.S. by investing the equivalent of approximately $110 million in its Mobile, Alabama, steel mill.

Martin Lindqvist, SSAB’s President and CEO

SSAB’s investment is targeted to increase annual production capacity of Q&T in Mobile from 330,000 tons (U.S.) to 440,000 tons (U.S.) and to reduce costs.

“SSAB is a global leader in Q&T steels and we have largely driven market growth through application development together with customers,” said Martin Lindqvist, SSAB’s President and CEO. “Over the past 20 years, we have increased Q&T volumes by an average of 7 percent a year. There is great market potential as Q&T penetration is still relatively low in, for example, North and South America, where we now plan to increase capacity.”

The investment of around SEK 1 billion is scheduled to take place 2019-2021 and is targeted at three areas: formatting, blasting & painting, as well as shipping capacity.

In parallel, a new, accelerated cooling system will also be installed and this will improve the potential to grow volumes of more advanced premium products while reducing the need for alloys. The investment has been designed to include the potential to build additional Q&T capacity through direct quenching similar to the technology currently used at SSAB’s production facilities in Finland and Sweden.

Steelmaker Invests in Q&T Production at Alabama Plant Read More »

Sacrificial Lambs: Hardness Testing and Heat Treating

November 20, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, HARDNESS TESTERS TECHNICAL CONTENT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Source: Gear Technology

In a recent blog post at Gear Technology, Charles D. Schultz, president of Beyta Gear Service, addressed the importance of accuracy when describing hardness test location and the reason why “sacrificial lambs” are needed during production.

“I cannot emphasize enough that if you are not cutting up parts or coupons you do not know what is really happening during your thermal processing.” ~ Charles D. Schulz

Photo Credit: Gear Technology

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Nevada, Wisconsin Construction Equipment Manufacturer Expansion Includes Heat Treat

November 15, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

A manufacturer and supplier of earth-moving equipment recently announced expansion plans that include two of its brands building new facilities in Nevada and Wisconsin, one to host a new heat treat shop.

Jeff Dawes, President and CEO of Milwaukee-based Komatsu Mining Corp

Komatsu Equipment Company will a build state-of-the-art, $47 million customer support and service center in Elko, Nevada. This announcement comes not long after Komatsu Mining Corp reported intentions to construct a new headquarters and manufacturing campus near the location of the company’s original machine shop off South First Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Komatsu’s investment of nearly $300 million at the Milwaukee site will include the design and construction of advanced machine, heat treat, and fabrication shops; state-of-the-art technology, R&D, and robotics labs; as well as new office and training facilities. Komatsu Mining Corp. aims to reduce energy consumption with green initiatives, including solar panels, wind spires, a remotely operated closed-loop heat treat system, green spaces, LED lighting and other sustainable solutions. Project completion is expected in 2022.

“The new campus provides us opportunity for advancement in state-of-the-art facilities that expand our capabilities on a global scale,” said Jeff Dawes, President and CEO of Milwaukee-based Komatsu Mining Corp. “Our new facilities will be designed to enhance safety, efficiency and environmental sustainability – all top priorities of Komatsu worldwide, allowing us to better serve our customers and deliver innovative solutions.”

John Pfisterer, president of Komatsu Equipment Company

Of the new 189,000 sq-ft manufacturing space in Elko, Nevada, Komatsu Equipment Company John Pfisterer said: “The new building offers an exciting opportunity to bring together local employees of two major Komatsu subsidiaries: KEC and Komatsu Mining Corp. (KMC), into one integrated organization. Collaborating directly in a shared, state-of-the-art space, these combined teams will enhance customer support and operational efficiency.”

The new building will include a six-bay, full-service construction equipment and mechanical rebuild shop; a heavy welding and fabricating shop, large enough for rebuild and manufacturing of large shovel and truck structures and manufacturing of truck bodies; a heavy machine shop with large, horizontal milling and boring machine, plus vertical lathe capability; and a construction equipment and rental-machine yard. The Nevada project is planned for completion in early 2020.

Nevada, Wisconsin Construction Equipment Manufacturer Expansion Includes Heat Treat Read More »

Steelmaker Completes Acquisition of Rebar Facilities

November 14, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

A steel and metal manufacturer based in Irving, Texas, which includes heat treating in the processes it provides recently announced the company has completed the acquisition of 33 rebar fabrication facilities as well as steel mills in the United States.

Barbara Smith, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Metals

Commercial Metals Company acquired the plants from Gerdau S.A., a producer of long and specialty steel products in the Americas. The steel mills are located in Knoxville, Tennessee; Jacksonville, Florida; Sayreville, New Jersey; and Rancho Cucamonga, California.

“I am thrilled to welcome the approximately 3,200 employees of these operations to Commercial Metals Company,” said Barbara Smith, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Metals. “The successful completion of the transaction represents an important step in our strategy to be the leading concrete reinforcing specialist as well as a significant provider of merchant and wire rod products. With our expanded geographic footprint and added operational flexibility, this transaction supports our vertically integrated steelmaking model and will leverage our existing rebar manufacturing technology and customer service core competencies.”

Photo credit: BizJournals.com

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Recognizing the U.S. Veterans Within the Heat Treat Industry

November 12, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Although Veteran’s Day, set aside to honor military veterans — those who served in the United States Armed Forces — is November 11, because this year the date falls on a weekend, Monday, November 12, is the day the U.S. observes the celebration and commemoration of this federal holiday.

Veterans Day coincides with other international holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. (Major hostilities of World War I formally concluded at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect.)

A number of heat treating and heat treat-related businesses are owned and operated by veterans of U.S. military branches, and it is our honor to recognize some of those companies below. In addition, we feature 3 members of our class of 2018 40 Under 40 who are U.S. veterans.

Baker Furnace, based in Brea, California, designs and manufactures industrial ovens, heat treat furnaces, and pollution control equipment. Acquired in 2015 by Thermal Product Solutions.

Century Inc., headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan, provides precision machining, heat treating, welding and cladding, and testing and inspection services for a variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, defense, and energy sectors.

Certified Metal Craft is a brazing, cryogenics, and heat treating company based in El Cajon, California.

Global Furnace Materials, based in Janesville, Wisconsin, is a leading distributor for semi-finished refractory metal products. Owner Nick Suchoski, who served in the US Army as a combat engineer, was featured in a previous Veterans Day article on Heat Treat Today, “Veteran-Owned Heat Treat Supplier Commits 1% of Profits to Warrior 360” and was selected for Heat Treat Today‘s 40 Under 40 inaugural class of 2018.

Quality Calibration Servies LLC, based in New Berlin, Wisconsin, an ISO/IEC: 17025 accredited full service metrology lab.

RIS Enterprises, based in Oxnard, California, provides calibration services, industrial instrumentation, and products to manufacturers, laboratories, and industrial companies in Southern California, Utah and Nevada. (including Nadcap certification).

40 Under 40 recipients and Honorable Mentions:

In addition to Nick Suchoski, Lee Rothleutner, Prinicipal Development Engineer with The Timken Company, and a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, was represented in our 40 Under 40 class of 2018. Recipient of an Honorable Mention for the 40 Under 40 class of 2018, Matt Watts, Business Development Manager with Ultra Furnace Parts, served in the United States Air Force as an Avionics Test Station and Analysis Technician on the B1 Bomber.

We ask our Heat Treat Today readers to join with us in honoring our U.S. veterans, including those who work among us in the heat treating industry.

Recognizing the U.S. Veterans Within the Heat Treat Industry Read More »

Heat Treat Today’s Meet the Consultants: Adeel Karim

November 7, 2018 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Heat Treat Today recently unveiled its Heat Treat Consultants page in the October 2018 print edition (available in digital format here) and at FNA in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer this comprehensive listing of heat treat industry consultants as part of our efforts to help minimize the effects of heat treat “brain drain.” With so many heat treat brains growing older, the expertise that once used to reside inside of manufacturing operations is dwindling. Where, then, do manufacturers with in-house heat treat departments go when they need heat treat answers?

Turn to Heat Treat Today and our comprehensive list of heat treat industry consultants, which we will introduce to you one by one in this occasional feature, “Meet the Consultants”. There is no more comprehensive list of heat treat consultants. Learn more about Adeel Karim in below’s inaugural entry, and then click through to the page to read more details about each consultant. We are adding more regularly. Contact them directly, or call us and we’ll introduce you to them. Whether it’s a technical process question, a safety concern, a compliance issue, or a business related question, one of our heat treat consultants will be able to help. If you are a consultant and would like to be listed, please contact Doug Glenn.

Name: Adeel Karim
Company Name: Doctor Furnace, Inc.
Location: Tampa, Florida, USA
Years in Industry: 15+
Consulting Specialties: Pyrometry /Nadcap Implementation

Email: Adeel@doctorfurnace.com | Phone: 614-519-0740, 352-315-9090

Briefly:

Adeel Karim is Doctor Furnace, the role he took on not long after he founded Heat Treat Professionals, Inc., in 2002 to provide clients with Nadcap and heat treating consulting. He went on to launch Doctor Furnace Inc. which continues to contribute to the industry today by offering clients expertise in pyrometry and Nadcap implementation (specification knowledge includes: AMS 2750, PWA F40, BAC 5621, RPS, DPS 1.700, GE P10TF1 and F3, and Bell Helicopter to name just a few), as well as the latest and best products and services to the heat treatment industry. Adeel operates as a training specialist and private consultant in pyrometry in all aspects of the industry, including to Fortune 500 companies in aerospace and defense, and is currently on the lecturing circuit for pyrometry. In addition, Adeel is also part owner of ZK SONS, Inc, a holding company of IT, agriculture, and vocational education companies, and a concierge jeweler specializing in custom diamond and luxury watches with offices in Tampa, Dubai, and Karachi under the business name of Carats & Cents.

Publications or Significant Accomplishments:

Founded Heat Treat Professionals Inc. (2002).
Founded Doctor Furnace Inc. (2004).
Nadcap heat treat consultant and pyrometry expert for Boeing, Lockheed, Rolls Royce, GE Aircraft, Pratt & Whitney, and Safran Snecma Group amongst others. Implementation of Nadcap in heat treatment, chem processing, welding, and NDT amongst others.
Author of “The Latest on AMS 2750 Rev. E”, published at Industrial Heating (2014).
GAP analysis, procedure writing, training, cap ex survey , and Nadcap response development support.
Record 228 companies with zero failures in any discipline in attaining Nadcap Accreditation.
Global Lecturer & Consultant for the latest revisions of AMS 2750, CQI 9, BAC 5621, RPS 953, PWA F40, and GE P10 T F3.
Consultant with GE Aviation (2011-2013).

Links to Other Resources from This Consultant

“The Latest on AMS 2750 Rev. E”, Industrial Heating, 1/6/2014

References available upon request from the Consultant

Heat Treat Today’s Meet the Consultants: Adeel Karim Read More »

Specialty Alloys Firm Enhances AM Capabilities with Powder Lifecycle Technology Acquisition

November 5, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, SINTERING POWDER METAL NEWS

A Pennsylvania producer and distributor of premium specialty alloys recently announced it has acquired a leader in the development and supply of advanced metal powders and powder lifecycle management solutions.

Carpenter Technology Corporation, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, broadens its role as a leader in solutions provider in additive manufacturing with the approximately $81 million purchase of LPW Technology Ltd (LPW), based in Widnes, Chesire, United Kingdom, with additional processing operations near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The acquisition incorporates metal powder lifecycle management technology with quality control and traceability.

Tony R. Thene, Carpenter’s president and CEO

Carpenter’s alloy production includes titanium alloys, nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys, stainless steels, alloy steels, and tool steels and is used in applications within the aerospace, transportation, medical, and energy sectors.

“Our aggressive development in key aspects of Additive Manufacturing (AM) demonstrates our commitment to build on our industry-leading position in this space,” said Tony R. Thene, Carpenter’s president and CEO. “The acquisition combines LPW’s metal powder lifecycle management technology and processes with our technical expertise in producing highly engineered metal powders and additively manufactured components.”

Lifecycle management technology is becoming increasingly important to understanding how materials behave before, during, and after production in the powder-bed fusion process. Understanding powder behavior is critical as AM becomes more widely adopted and implemented across various industries.

“LPW’s innovative platforms and enabling technology further solidify Carpenter’s position as a preferred provider of end-to-end next generation Additive Manufacturing solutions,” said Phil Carroll, LPW’s founder. “I’m extremely proud of the accomplishments we’ve achieved at LPW and I’m excited to be part of Carpenter’s continued growth and leadership in AM.”

Photo credit: Additive Manufacturing Magazine

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Steel Rail Producer Looks to Invest in Mill Expansion

November 1, 2018 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

A leading North American steel rail producer is looking to invest at least $200 million into the expansion of its footprint in Pueblo, Colorado.

Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel has three mills in Pueblo and is considering building another or replacing one of the existing mills in the Steel City. The Pueblo city council approved a $15 million incentive package for the company.

“It is hard to find anybody in Pueblo who has not had a family member work at the steel mill in the last 135 years. The investment the community looks to make in this project celebrates the incredible workforce at the steel mill who will continue to make Pueblo proud. We look forward to 135 more years,” said Jeff Shaw, President and CEO of Pueblo Economic Development Corp. “Since 1882, the year that the first rail came out of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Plant, Pueblo has been known as the Steel City. The steel industry and the CF&I steel mill, now EVRAZ, has literally been the backbone of the community. Not only does the mill produce steel that is used all over the world, it also provides thousands of direct and ancillary jobs that bolster the local economy and help keep Pueblo moving forward in a strong and thriving direction. ”

Evraz has until December 2019 to make a final decision.

Steel Rail Producer Looks to Invest in Mill Expansion Read More »

CNC Machined Components Manufacturer Acquires Like Company

October 24, 2018 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

An industry leader in the production of CNC machined components recently announced the completion of the acquisition of a Summerville, South Carolina, manufacturer of similar products for the commercial truck, agricultural, utility vehicle, automotive and appliance markets.

Skyway Precision, based in Plymouth, Michigan, has added Bellwright Manufacturing LLC to its footprint, which includes manufacturing facilities in Michigan and Wisconsin. The Summerville location is now operating as Skyway Precision South, Inc.

“We are excited to work with the Bellwright team to enhance our value proposition to our customers,” said Bill Bonnell, President of Skyway. “This transaction demonstrates our continued commitment to leadership in our core products and technologies and to creating long-term, value-added partnerships with our customers. We will continue to pursue disciplined organic growth with our customers, as well as strategic acquisitions.”

Skyway is a leader in the machining of complex, close tolerance, iron and aluminum drivetrain components for the transportation and general power markets, including light and heavy commercial truck, recreational vehicle, automotive, marine, construction, agricultural, and power generation equipment applications.

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The Heart of a Vacuum Furnace System

October 23, 2018 / FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM PUMPS GAUGES VALVES, VACUUM PUMPS GAUGES VALVES TECHNICAL CONTENT

Source: VAC AERO International

Heat treaters know that the heart of a vacuum furnace system is the pumping system. As broad as the variety of furnaces is, so is the selection of pump types.

A roots blower, which also goes by the name “booster pump” and “intermediate stage vacuum pump,” is a dry, gas transfer pump that boosts the performance of the primary pump, providing an increase in pumping speed and pressure. This article from VAC AERO International’s Vacuum Pump Technology: Education and Training page provides an exhaustive analysis of the heart of a vacuum furnace system: the pump.

“Roots blowers have the reputation of being virtually indestructible and run for years seemingly unattended while the primary (mechanical) and high vacuum (diffusion pumps seem to receive all the attention. While they need little day-to-day maintenance, monitoring of the oil level in the pump is required. The main function of these booster pumps is to improve pump-down rates and ultimate vacuum levels.” ~ VAC AERO International

The Heart of a Vacuum Furnace System Read More »

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