Today’s News from Abroad installment investigates the influence AI is bearing on the global field of heat treating, as well as a 2023 sustainability report and a future-looking question about the German foundry model amid transformations and a shortage of skilled workers.
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.
AI News No.1: Smart Manufacturing Proves Its Value
Viking Analytics and Bharat Forge sign a three-year contract
“A new agreement has been signed between Viking Analytics and Bharat Forge Kilsta (BFK) from Karlskoga. The agreement, which is for three years, provides BFK with the AI-based optimization tool ‘Smartforge’ after a 10-month implementation phase. Smartforge optimizes the forging process, primarily in the critical heat keeping process where the problems with scrap are greatest. The goal is to reduce discarded products by 50% and contribute to energy savings and a more environmentally friendly production.”
AI News No. 2: Global Industry Goes “All In” With AI
Digital transformation and the concept of a sustainable economy go hand in hand with energy and environmental challenges.
“According to a report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), nearly 80 percent of companies around the world consider innovation to be one of their three main priorities this year, and 66% of them plan to increase spending for this purpose, of which 42% are ready to invest up to 10% more than before. Innovation is one of the SECO/WARWICK Group’s values, embedded in its DNA. Industry 4.0 is the guiding principle in the Group’s mentality and strategic direction, which identifies AI, automation and digitization as a priority.”
A Sustainability Commitment to a Greener, Equal Future Shows Results
Tenova’s 2023 Sustainability Report illustrates the company’s ESG-guided sustainability framework, including energy efficiency initiatives, circular economy solutions, and sustainable innovation.
“Tenova has announced the launch of its new Sustainability Report, which tracks the progress the company has made against its sustainability agenda over the past year. The Report illustrates the company’s ESG-guided sustainability framework, including energy efficiency initiatives, circular economy solutions, and sustainable innovation. . . . Tenova’s flagship technologies–Direct Reduction Iron (DRI), Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs), and the Silicon Steel ones–are essential in driving the decarbonization of both the metals industry and the planet. This is demonstrated by its major international projects, which are set to make a substantial impact on sustainability in Europe, China, and other parts of the world.”
At its third “Zukunftstag“ (Future Day), the German Foundry Association (BDG) discussed: Do we still need casting from Germany? And why is the industry currently facing such difficulties?
“At its third ‘Zukunftstag’ (Future Day), the German Foundry Association (BDG) posed a rhetorical question to stakeholders and the industry: Do we still need casting from Germany? And why is the industry currently facing such difficulties? The Federal Association of the German Foundry Industry launched the ‘Future Day’ format in 2020 in order to visualize and establish generally applicable topics from corporate management and framework conditions in open discourse with experts from outside the industry, in addition to the industry’s technically focused conferences. In addition to economic policy framework conditions, the program revolved around skilled workers in the afternoon. The German foundry industry, part of the energy-intensive SME sector, is struggling amid transformations and a shortage of skilled workers.”
Heat TreatToday offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 10 news items.
Equipment
Premier Furnace Specialists received orders for nine pieces of heat treating equipment to be delivered to a range of manufacturing operations, all of which are currently in various stages of completion and testing or delivery and installation.
A manufacturer in the composites industry recently received shipment of a cabinet oven from Gruenberg, an industrial oven and sterilizer manufacturer. The furnace will be used for curing composite parts under a vacuum.
A second nitriding system was installed by Nitrex to increase capacity at Balexco, an aluminum extrusion company in Bahrain focusing on increasing production capacity.
Nine furnaces in various stages of completion and testing on the floor at Premier Furnace SpecialistsGruenberg cabinet oven shipped to composites manufacturerNitrex nitriding system installed at Balexco
Company & Personnel
Greg Miller National Business Manager Superheat
Cognizant, a professional services company that helps clients modernize technology, announced intent to acquire Belcan, a global supplier of digital engineering services for multiple industries, including aerospace, defense, and automotive.
Greg Miller has joined Superheat as national business development manager for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Greg will continue to work from his base in Lanarkshire, Scotland, bringing experience in manufacturing and preventative maintenance, with a foundation in induction heating.
Kudos
On July 2, 2024, David Lynch celebrated 40 years with Induction Tooling, Inc. This milestone was accomplished by his commitment to excellence and consistent hard-work and dedication.
Superheat, an on-site heat treatment service provider based in New Lenos, IL, recently received two Industrial Safety Training Council (ISTC) Safety Achievement Awards: one for achieving three consecutive years with zero recordable injuries and another for celebrating five years without an OSHA lost workday case. Bret Cadenhead, regional HSE manager at Superheat, represented the company at the awards event in Beaumont, Texas.
StandardAero celebrates 60 years of providing service to Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PT6A turboprop across four overhaul locations worldwide. In 1964, Dallas Airmotive (acquired by the company in 2021) became the first independent MRO provider to enter into a turboprop agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Centorr Vacuum Industries celebrates its 70th year in business in the vacuum furnace industry. The company was founded in Somerville, MA, as Vacuum Industries in 1954, and Centorr Furnace Company in 1962 in Suncook. NH. The two companies merged in 1989 in their current facilities in Nashua, NH.
Sławomir Woźniak, CEO of the SECO/WARWICK Group, celebrates five years in the position, managing all three brands: SECO/WARWICK, Retech, and SECO/VACUUM.
StandardAero’s engine overhaul center in San Antonio, TX, has completed correlation of its first test cell for the CFM International LEAP-1B turbofan engine, as part of its introduction of LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities.
Bill Stuehr (L), president & CEO of Induction Tooling, Inc., congratulates David Lynch (R) on 40 years with the companyBret Cadenhead, Superheat (R), receives ISTC Safety Achievement AwardSławomir Woźniak President & CEO SECO/WARWICK GroupCentorr Vacuum Industries, Nashua, NH, location
A Georgia-based provider of natural gas measurement and control products and solutions has announced the acquisition of a distribution and service center for the natural gas industry, extending its capabilities for heat treating manufacturers.
“We’re excited to welcome the Tri-State team to Equipment Controls,” said Jeb Bell, president of Equipment Controls Company. “Tri-State has built its reputation on a foundation of exceptional service. Their motto, ‘The Service Matters,’ resonates with our values, and we’re eager to extend that level of service to our customers.”
“We look forward to our future with ECCO. Our shared vision and complementary strengths will enable us to deliver exceptional value to our customers and the natural gas industry as a whole,” said Paul Hayes, president of Tri-State Meter and Regulator Service, Inc.
ECCO will be keeping Tri-State’s brand, team, offices, products, and service offerings.
This press release is available in its original form here.
Nitriding systems have expanded the operations at two global companies: a gear manufacturer for the automotive industry and a fuel injection systems manufacturer for the marine machinery industry. In both cases, the systems will be integrated into existing installations in order to increase production capacity.
NXHL-910512 nitriding furnace Source: Nitrex
A Chinese gear manufacturer has added a fourth Nitrexnitriding furnace to its automated gear production, which includes the manufacturing of transmission gears, transfer case gears, synchronizers, and engine-gear rings for both local automotive OEMs and global markets.
“This expansion goes beyond capacity enhancement; it elevates the manufacturer’s in-house capabilities and tightens production controls,” said Tao Liu, sales manager at Nitrex China. “It allows the company to focus resources on driving innovation and sustainability across domestic and international vehicle markets, including the growing new energy vehicle (NEV) sector.”
A third Nitrex nitriding system has been installed at a manufacturer specializing in high-performance fuel injection systems for diesel engines in maritime vessels. The new NX-815 batch furnace with a 3300 lb. (1,500 kg) load capacity is specifically tailored for processing carbon steel and stainless steel parts and meets stringent requirements of the shipbuilding and industrial marine industries.
“As environmental regulations propel the shift towards alternative energy-powered ships, our advanced nitriding technologies play a crucial role. We are proud to support their expansion into stainless steel applications,” said Tao Liu.
Press releases are available in their original form hereand here.
Robert (Bob) Hill, FASM President Solar Atmospheres of Michigan Source: Solar Atmospheres
After successfully relocating and commissioning ten vacuum furnaces into their current facility, Solar Atmospheresof Michigan Inc. is poised for further expansion. Bulldozers have commenced work on a new 20,000-square-foot building, which will more than double the current footprint at their Chesterfield, Michigan, location.
Bob Hill, president of Solar Atmospheres of Michigan, commented, “This expansion will create a larger shipping and receiving area to better serve our customers’ needs and position us for future growth. Come watch us grow!”
Source: Solar Atmospheres
This press release is available in its original form here.
Toyota Material Handling is investing nearly $100M for a new 295,000-square-foot facility at its Columbus, Indiana, headquarters, adding 85 manufacturing jobs by June 2026. The project will house Toyota’s manufacturing processes, which include the production of electric forklifts and material handling products.
“We are excited about this significant strategic expansion to our Columbus campus,” said Tony Miller, senior vice president of Engineering, Operations & Strategic Planning at Toyota Material Handling, at a recent groundbreaking ceremony. “Electric products are more popular than ever, and we are committed to doing whatever it takes to keep up with increased demand.”
“Electric forklifts make up 65% of the North American market and this trend towards electrification in the material handling industry will continue to grow,” said Brett Wood, president & CEO of Toyota Material Handling North America and senior executive officer for Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO). “This investment is one of the largest in our history and signifies TICO’s commitment to the North American market, the state of Indiana, the city of Columbus, and most importantly, our dealers and our customers.”
Photo Pictured L to R: Brett Wood, Toyota Material Handling North America President & CEO; Eric Holcomb, Governor of Indiana; Bill Finerty, Toyota Material Handling President & CEO; Tony Miller, Toyota Material Handling Senior Vice President of Engineering, Operations & Strategic Planning
The press release is available in its original form here.
Welcome to Heat Treat Today’sThis Week in Heat Treat Social Media. We’re looking at hot summer events, hot summertime activities, and hot heat treat industry events coming soon to a social media page near you. Check out these posts, podcasts, and videos for a roundup in Heat Treat Social Media.
As you know, there is so much content available on the web that it’s next to impossible to sift through all of the articles and posts that flood our inboxes and notifications on a daily basis. So, Heat Treat Today is here to bring you the latest in compelling, inspiring, and entertaining heat treat news from the different social media venues that you’ve just got to see and read!If you have content that everyone has to see, please send the link to editor@heattreattoday.com.
1. Heat Treating Skateboards > Hot Moves
This space is usually reserved for something rich and technical, but it’s summertime in the northern hemisphere and heat treating is just as essential for the proper working of items affiliated with leisure and outdoor activities as the products that make the world go round (e.g., automotive, aerospace, etc.). “Skateboarding is not just a sport; it’s an art form, a mode of transport, and a way of life for many. But did you know that the metal trucks on a skateboard—those T-shaped pieces that mount the wheels to the deck—are a product of meticulous heat treatment?” (from Bodycote on LinkedIn, November, 2023)
Check out this recent post from Bodycote laying out how critical it is to safety and experience for skateboard trucks to be heat treated with the same level of skill that it takes to execute an ollie or a shuvit.
2. It’s a Beautiful Day in the Heat Treat Neighborhood
What’s everyone been up to on the social channels?
Summer Engineering Institute reshaping the Future of Heat Treating
Future Leaders: Report to the Dome!
Take Us Out to the Old Ballgame!
It may Be Summer but It’s Never Too Early to Think About the Fall
‘Tis also the season for Registration for 2024’s industry events and social media provides an excellent platform for getting the word out. Here are some of the events taking place just in September — don’t delay! Registration is still open for all of these!
Marking Milestones
3. Learn with Us
Sometimes, it’s the small things on social media that grab your attention or give you the “ah ha!” moment. And sometimes things affecting the industry in other places cause us to go “hmm.” Do any of these short posts make you say “eureka”?
Queueing and Sequencing (and more!)
Quiz Time
4. Open Your Ears: The Podcast Corner
You can’t read everything, we get it. Heat Treat Today is here to recommend two informative podcasts to enjoy on your daily commute!
Tune in to Listen to Heat Treat Radio #110! Isolated Heat, the Future of Vacuum Furnaces
Sharpen your hearing: Heat Treating Knives on the TTT Podcast
5. Junk Food and a Logo Extravaganza
Click through to see what Kowalski Heat Treating thinks about junk food and how that thinking gets them counting logos.
Have a great weekend!
Find Heat Treating Products and Services When You Search on Heat Treat Buyers Guide.com
What is the path forward for thermal loop systems, and how is “sustainability” at the forefront of this technology? The following article is co-authored by Peter Sherwin, global business development manager of Heat Treatment, and Thomas Ruecker, senior development manager, at Watlow. They examine four scopes to take into consideration when assessing thermal loop systems in the context of greenhouse gas emissions and their environmental impact.
Heat treatment thermal loop solutions provide several sustainability benefits, including reduced energy consumption and waste. The power controller regulates the power output to minimize energy waste, and the possible integration with renewable energy sources and circular economy principles provides a complete power solution that spans from element design to recycling and renewables. The thermal loop solutions, in combination with insulation design and materials, provide energy-efficient solutions that contribute to sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of heat treatment processes.
When discussing these systems in the context of greenhouse gas emissions and their environmental impact, it is essential to consider Scopes 1, 2, and 3, as well as the less common Scope 4:
Scope 1 (Direct Emissions): Heat treatment processes often involve the combustion of fossil fuels like natural gas, propane, or oil to generate heat. These direct emissions are attributed to the equipment used in the heat treatment process, such as furnaces and ovens. Efforts to reduce Scope 1 emissions include upgrading to more efficient equipment or adopting alternative heating technologies, like induction or electric heating systems.
Scope 2 (Indirect Emissions from Energy): In heat treatment processes and thermal loop systems, electricity is often used to power various components, such as pumps, fans, and control systems. The emissions associated with generating this electricity are considered Scope 2 emissions. To reduce Scope 2 emissions, companies can improve energy efficiency, invest in renewable energy sources, or purchase green energy from their utility provider.
Scope 3 (Other Indirect Emissions): These emissions are associated with activities throughout the value chain of heat treatment applications and thermal loop systems, such as the manufacturing and transporting of raw materials, equipment, and waste management. Companies can work to reduce Scope 3 emissions by collaborating with suppliers to improve the environmental performance of their products and services, optimizing transportation and logistics, and implementing waste reduction strategies.
Scope 4 (Avoided Emissions): In heat treatment applications and thermal loop systems, avoided emissions may come from implementing energy-efficient technologies, waste heat recovery systems, or other innovative solutions that reduce overall energy consumption and associated emissions. By quantifying these avoided emissions, companies can showcase the positive impact of their sustainability efforts on reducing their carbon footprint. Avoided emissions can also be highlighted when subcontracting heat treatment requirements to a more energy-efficient source rather than running an in-house operation. In this approach, the heat treatment process is outsourced to an external, specialized heat treatment service provider, especially if the in-house equipment is due to be lightly utilized. These service providers operate independent heat treatment facilities and offer services to multiple clients across various industries and generally run 24/7 with high utilization.
At the component level, energy savings can be realized using current technology. Advanced SCRs provide predictive load management functions and hybrid firing algorithms and contribute to sustainability by optimizing the energy usage of heat treatment processes. These SCRs offer real-time monitoring and control of energy consumption, while predictive load management systems use specific algorithms to manage peak power loads and adjust to optimize for local conditions (load shedding or load sharing). Hybrid firing systems use a combination of firing methods to control power factors and reduce the negative impact on the electrical infrastructure.
Heater design is also essential. Switching time impacts heater life with fast, modern switching modes (hybrid firing) significantly extending heater life compared to slower switching from conventional mechanical contactors.
Systems can be rapidly tested, simulated, and modeled through computational engineering. Several thermal loop systems today have improved temperature uniformity due to these methods.
Adaptive thermal system (ATS) solutions are the next frontier of thermal loop solutions. Rather than selecting the best-of-breed components — sometimes with overlapping functionality and kitting a complete solution — ATS provides a merged design between heater and control systems. ATS is already in place in several semiconductor applications, and this type of technology is looking to scale into heat treatment applications shortly.
Figure 2. Watlow Adaptive Thermal Systems ATSTM Source: Watlow
Challenges and Limitations
The initial investment in heat treatment thermal loop solutions can sometimes be higher than in traditional methods. However, this investment often leads to a significantly lower total cost of ownership and improved return on investment due to the thermal loop solutions’ increased efficiency, improved quality control, and extended life.
Ensuring regulatory compliance is complex and time-consuming, requiring organizations to have the right people, processes, and equipment.
Future Trends
As Industry 4.0 and digital transformation continue to gain momentum and Industry 5.0 practices are implemented, heat treatment thermal loop solutions will become increasingly important. Integrating digital technology and machine learning algorithms will provide even greater control, traceability, and transparency, enabling organizations to make informed decisions based on real-time data and predictive analytics. In addition, as new materials and manufacturing processes are developed, adaptive and flexible heat treatment thermal loop solutions will need to evolve to meet these challenges and provide the necessary level of control and efficiency for these new applications.
Conclusion
Heat treatment thermal loop solutions provide several benefits over traditional heat treatment methods, including improved temperature control, increased efficiency, and improved sustainability outcomes. The integration with Industry 4.0 and data management systems, as well as the use of FMEA and OEE metrics, further help enhance the performance of heat treatment processes. As Industry 4.0 digital transformation and Industry 5.0 practices continue to evolve, heat treatment thermal loop solutions will play an increasingly important role in the future of heat treatment.
About the Authors:
Peter Sherwin Global Business Development Manager of Heat Treatment WatlowThomas Ruecker Senior Business Development Manager of Heat Treatment Eurotherm, a Watlow company
Peter Sherwin, global business development manager of Heat Treatment at Watlow, is passionate about offering best-in-class solutions to the heat treatment industry. He is a chartered engineer and a recognized expert in heat treatment control and data solutions.
Thomas Ruecker is the business development manager of Heat Treatment at Eurotherm Germany, a Watlow company. His expertise includes concept development for the automation of heat treatment plants, with a focus on aerospace and automotive industry according to existing regulations (AMS2750, CQI-9).
“Communication is key.” As heat treating equipment and processes evolve, it becomes critical that the accompanying control systems also develop to maintain “communication.” In this Technical Tuesday installment, guest columnist Stanley Rutkowski III, senior applications engineer at RoMan Manufacturing, Inc., discusses how digital control system communications have improved to increase energy efficiency for manufacturers with in-house heat treat operations.
This informative piece was first released inHeat Treat Today’sMay 2024 Sustainability Heat Treat print edition.
Industrial furnace applications that rely on resistive heating will consume large amounts of electrical energy when processing their loads. Utilizing digital controls technologies to maximize this type of heating allows for a cleaner-and thus greener-approach to energy demands.
Typically, heat treat processes have a long duration (hours to days in length), and each load can have its own unique recipe in the amount of power required. With unique recipes, there tends to be a ramp-up phase (getting the vessel to temperature), followed by a soak phase (which demands more control over the power system), and then a cool-down phase (an even more controlled state). As the power is controlled through the furnace system, disturbances occur with different technologies. This starts with “tube technology,” then variable reactance transformer (VRT) technology, then silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) technology, and finally IGBT (insulated-gate bipolar transistor) technology. As these technologies have evolved, their ability to communicate information digitally has allowed for less disturbance in the power system and allowing both a less expensive energy bill and a cleaner energy usage for the process.
Definitions
Electrical Power
Power losses in an electrical system are defined by five aspects (Figure 1):
Resistance (R): a function of the material cross section and the length of an electrical conductor.
Reactance (XL): a function of the area in a circuit and is a vector 90 degrees offset from resistance.
Capacitance (XC): a vector 180 degrees offset from reactance. In inductive circuits, capacitance can be added for power factor correction.
Impedance (Z): the vector sum of resistance, reactance, and capacitance.
Power Factor [cos(F)]: the ratio of resistance to impedance. In industrial applications, displacement power factor (DPF), the offset of the current to voltage waveforms, is used in the billing of electrical power.
There are five unique aspects that define electrical power usage (Figure 2):
Real power (kW): the amount of power that is generated.
Reactive power (kVAR): the amount of power that is wasted.
Total power (kVA): the rate at which power is consumed. This is also referred to as apparent power.
Power factor (cos(F)): the ratio of real power to total power. In industrial applications, the displacement power factor (DPF) is the offset of the current to voltage waveforms and is used to bill for electrical power.
Peak demand: the capacity required when the power grid experiences the highest power demand in a specified period of time.
3 Most Popular Types of Control Systems
For the most part, today’s furnace manufacturers use three main types of control systems: VRT, SCR, and IGBT. Each operates with slightly different methods to control how power goes into the heat treat furnace and creates heat.
VRT Control System
One traditional resistance heating setup uses a VRT control system that incorporates a saturable reactor, which controls the power applied to the transformer in the system (Figure 3). The control transformer on the output side of the transformer feeds back to the reactor to set the limit on the input power to the transformer.
Figure 3. VRT Control and Transformer Schematic (CT=control transformer); Source: RoMan Manufacturing, Inc.
SCR Control System
Figure 4. SCR Control and Transformer Schematic; Source: RoMan Manufacturing, Inc.
Another traditional resistance heating setup uses an SCR control system that includes dual thyristors (gated diodes) to control the amount of power applied to the primary of a transformer.
The SCR control delays the start of the waveform, and the control point is reset when the waveform crosses the zero line.
Figure 5. Comparison of Sine Waves; Source: RoMan Manufacturing, Inc.
IGBT Control System
Finally, an IGBT control system uses a diode bridge, capacitor, and switching transistors to control the amount of power applied to the primary (i.e., main power input of a transformer). The input frequency to the transformer is controlled by the switching transistors. Since the IGBT control system utilizes all three phases of the power system, the IGBT control can be set to a particular phase for the zero cross (for phase orientation in the application, synchronous mode) or left floating (non-synchronous mode), as is demonstrated in Figure 6. The input voltage to the transformer is increased by the operation of the IGBT control. As such, potential energy savings may be had with these types of controls as compared to tradition controls (such as on-off contractors, time proportioning controls, or other types of current proportioning control systems).
Figure 6. IGBT Control and Transformer Schematic; Source: RoMan Manufacturing, Inc.
Synchronization with the IGBT can be to the incoming lines (A, B, or C phase) and can be offset from each of the phases. The ability to offset from a phase allows for traditional arrangements (Single Phase, Scott-T, Delta and Wye) as well as unique offsets allowing for additional vector heating in the application with AC outputs. The unique arrangements beyond the traditional systems could allow for more uniform heating of the part and less energy being consumed during the process.
Advantages of Utilizing Communications
As technology for controlling heating systems has evolved, and with an emphasis on clean energy sources, the ability to communicate with the control system has increased as well. This communication allows for more precise control of the run for the load, improved power usage (better power factors and less peak power usage as well as less total power usage), and inputs into a preventive maintenance program.
Table A. Analog vs. Digital IGBT Systems
With an IGBT system, both analogue and digital control communications are available today. See Table A for a comparison on how each control option works.
In addition to the EIP defined pieces, there is the ability to access the FPGA system for graphical outputs that can be downloaded into another system in your process for storage, comparisons, or general record keeping for a part run. The FPGA is an internal processor in the control that allows for more data, charting, and diagnostics to be captured and used by the system for both energy consumption and possible preventative maintenance purposes.
Why does this matter? Let’s turn to some possible ways of using the data generated from digital controls systems:
Evaluate average, minimum, and maximum DC bus voltages to plan for the best time and day to run heat treat jobs. For high power draw jobs, planning ahead can minimize power costs; similarly, knowing power trends can be helpful to plan jobs requiring sensitive control of the heating.
Evaluate transformer output voltage to allow the system to detect any shorts in the process. If the controller output and transformer output diverge from the known turns ratio, a change has occurred in the system. This could be corroborated if controller on time and output power do not trend.
Track furnace run records with EIP communications and FPGA data. This will be most helpful in processing lots of data, as is the case for Milspec records.
Evaluate changes in power factor to monitor any loose cables, and so avoid reactive power losses.
Evaluate the current versus the voltage to monitor the resistance of the system. If there is an increase in the resistance, you could project the trends in wear of the heating elements, therefore predicting future required maintenance.
Evaluate the critical control temperatures of the system to know if it is being run close to, or above, its ratings or if there is a disturbance in the cooling systems.
Use knowledge of power usages and power stability to update recipes for load runs so they use less power over the total run; this allows for a less costly power-savings solution. With less power usage, more output of the total facility can be had as each station contributes less to energy consumption
Even more benefits can be realized when users and builders of furnace systems and component manufacturers collaborate in the design of the total system. Such dialogues lead to the creation of more interactive and intuitive solutions that minimize power consumption, minimize downtime, and maximize outputs. These practical benefits are the foundation of a greener system.
About the Author:
Stanley F. Rutkowski III Senior Applications Engineer RoMan Manufacturing, Inc.
Stanley F. Rutkowski III is the senior applications engineer at RoMan Manufacturing, Inc., working on electrical energy savings in resistance heating applications. Stanley has worked at the company for 33 years with experience in welding, glass and furnace industries from R&D, design, and application standpoints. For more than 15 years, his focus has been on energy savings applications in industrial heating applications.
David Burritt president and CEO U.S. Steel Source: U.S. Steel
Access to technology and expertise in integrated mills are among the advantages that will accompany the U. S. Steel–Nippon Steel merger, according to David Burritt, U. S. Steel’s CEO. Heat treatment processes are an element in integrated mill operations within both companies’ profiles.
On December 18, 2023, it was announced that Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel (NSC) would acquire Pittsburgh–based U. S. Steel. Under the deal, Nippon Steel would acquire the company for $14.1 billion, which totals to $14.9 billion when including the assumption of U.S. Steel’s debt. As part of the deal, Nippon Steel will invest $1.4 billion in U. S. Steel’s assets and will share technical knowledge, stated Burritt during his keynote address to the 2024 Global Steel Dynamics Forum.
“They’re experts in integrated mills, and they want to invest here,” he said.
In April, Nippon Steel released a statement that the merger will include U. S. Steel having access to Nippon’s technologies and R&D advancements, “help[ing] U. S. Steel produce more advanced and environmentally sustainable steel for domestic customers.”
