A U.S.-based engineered knitted wire mesh solutions company and global supplier for the automotive, food service, and janitorial industries will receive a vacuum heat treat furnace. The furnace will be primarily utilized for vacuum annealing materials that are susceptible to adverse effects of their mechanical properties when exposed to any levels of oxygen or nitrogen.
Solar Manufacturing Mentor® Pro Model HFL-3036-2IQ furnace Source: Solar ManufacturingJason Davidson Northeast Regional Sales Manager Solar Source: solarmfg.com
This vacuum furnace features a molybdenum shielded hot zone measuring 18” wide x 18” high x 36” deep. It is capable of operating temperatures up to 2400°F and has a workload weight capacity of up to 1,000 lbs. Additionally, it includes the SolarVac® Essentials PLC-based control system. The internal gas cooling system with a 50 HP drive motor can reach quenching workloads at 2-bar positive pressure in either nitrogen or argon.
Jason Davidson, regional sales manager at Solar Manufacturing, states, “Our customer started running trials with our affiliate commercial heat treater, Solar Atmospheres. Once the trial results proved the heat treat cycle, and the [Mentor® Pro Model HFL-3036-2IQ] furnace demonstrated it could process the required quantities, the customer had confidence to place the purchase order with us.”
This press release is available in its original form here.
Aalberts surface technologies, a global provider of specialized thermal processing, surface treatment, and material coating solutions, announced on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, that it is making changes to its U.S. portfolio in response to changing market dynamics. The provider has made investments in its Canton, OH, facility, adding austempering capabilities which will provide a logistically favorable option to clients located in the Midwestern, Eastern, and Northeastern U.S. markets. To balance the capacity available in the market with demand, the heat treat provider will be closing its plant in Ft Smith, AR.
Steve Wyatt President Aalberts surface technologies – HIP | Braze | Heat Treatment
Source: Aalberts Surface Technologies
“The decision to exit the austempering market in the South was a difficult one, but the market for austempering in the addressable market for our Ft Smith, AR plant simply is not sufficient to sustain the operation. We recognize the hardships that this difficult decision may create and will be working with our Ft Smith Team to minimize the impact as much as possible, including exploring opportunities at one of the many other Aalberts locations,” says Steve Wyatt, president of Aalberts surface technologies – HIP | braze | heat treatment.
The austempering capabilities in Canton, OH, will startup in mid-February 2024 and be fully production ready by the end of March 2024. The decommissioning of the Ft Smith, AR, plant will begin in mid-February 2024, with production expected to cease when we have completed working with clients to transition their product, but not later than April 2024.
Oliver Jaeger CEO Aalberts surface technologies LinkedIn
“We are focused on optimizing our portfolio around the globe; this initiative is about responding to what the market needs and where it is needed. In our business, logistics is a significant percentage of the total cost of our services, therefore, we must constantly be seeking ways to minimize that cost for our customers. We are committed to growing in the U.S. and look forward to partnering with our customers to develop solutions that contribute to our mutual success,” says Oliver Jaeger, CEO of Aalberts surface technologies.
The original press release from Aalberts surface technologies is available upon request.
PiovanGroup is launching a new strategic division for industrial and process refrigeration, the result of the integration of the businesses operated by the recently acquired Thermal Care and Aquatech.
With a legacy spanning over half a century, Thermal Care andAquatech have solidified themselves as prominent players in industrial process cooling markets by providing high‐quality, sustainable equipment and solutions. Operating primarily out of the U.S., near Chicago, Thermal Care has been a leader in the design, manufacturing, sales, and service of heat‐transfer solutions across various industries.
Thermal Care and Aquatech products manufactured in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America will continue to be produced and sold in their respective regions, now under the newly established division. The integration of these business units will provide R&D efficiencies and an expanded portfolio of products, solutions, and services capable of serving a wider range of market sectors.
The Thermal Care brand now expands globally, facilitated by the integration of the Aquatech business which moves forward under the banner of Thermal Care. The inclusion of PiovanGroup into the Thermal Care logo not only signifies geographical expansion but also reflects a unified vision for growth and innovation.
The new division, headed by Lee Sobocinski, current president of Thermal Care Inc., shall operate under the Thermal Care brand and will have consolidated sales of approximately 100 million Euro, globally. The creation of the global brand, coupled with the exchange of the institutional knowledge within PiovanGroup into this emerging division, will provide assistance to clients, irrespective of their geographical presence, spanning from preliminary sales engagement to post‐sales support.
The announcement of this pivotal moment in the ongoing progression of Thermal Care coincides with the commemoration of the group’s 90th anniversary and its 60th anniversary in the polymer industry.
The original press release from Thermal Care is available upon request.
Tom Schulz Sales Manager L&L Special Furnace Source: L&L
An investment castings manufacturer's heat treat department received a large floor-standing box furnace from a North American specialty furnace company. The furnace will be used as support in the client's tool and die production along with tempering of finished castings.
The L&L model XLE3436 box furnace from L&L Special Furnace has an effective work zone of 34” wide by 22” high by 32” deep. It is equipped with a direct-lift vertical door with a floor switch to activate. The cantilevered vertical door eliminates the need for the upright structure to reduce the overall height of the equipment.
Tom Schulz, sales manager at L&L, highlights the key role this will play for the heat treat department, saying that this type of furnace is the company's “workhorse when it comes to thermal processing.”
The inert blanketing gas enables the part to be heat-treated with minimal surface de-carb. A stack light indicates the furnace status via an audible and visual indicator light mounted on top of the control.
Additionally, the furnace is equipped with a pyrometry package that has reference control thermocouple ports along with corner locations to record the high and low points within the unit as indicated by the latest temperature uniformity survey.
The original press release from L&L Special Furnace is available upon request.
IperionX, a producer of high-quality titanium alloys, has commissioned a titanium production facility in Virginia.
Anastasios (Taso) Arima, CEO of IperionX, commented in a letter to the company’s shareholders: “Our Virginia titanium facility is designed to apply our HAMR [Hydrogen Assisted Metallothermic Reduction] and HSPT [Hydrogen Sintering & Phase Transformation] technologies to produce sustainable, high-quality and high strength titanium metal products at low cost.”
Full capacity is scheduled for 2026, with more than 1,000 metric tons of titanium produced per year. Using titanium powder produced on site, IperionX plans to employ unique forging technologies to produce titanium mill products and near net shape titanium products and to apply AM to produce 3D printed titanium products.
Arima also added, “We engaged with Lockheed Martin, GKN Aerospace, and the U.S. Army to replace traditional titanium mill products, in this case titanium plate, providing a new domestic and sustainable source to enhance their critical supply chains.” To aid these goals, Iperion is installing a large-scale, industrial furnace at their Virginia facility.
This letter to IperionX’s shareholders can be found here.
Cemented carbide is often used interchangeably with other terms in the industry to describe a popular material for tool production. However, the specifics of what makes up a cemented carbide, and how this material can be processed, are not so widely discussed.
In this best of the web article, discover the composition, applications, and processes involved in sintering cemented carbide, as well as how vacuum furnaces play an essential role for this material. You will encounter helpful diagrams and resourceful images depicting each step of the process.
An Excerpt:
“Hard metal, or cemented carbide, refers to a class of materials consisting in carbide particles dispersed inside a metal matrix. In most cases, the carbide of choice is tungsten carbide but others carbide forming element can be added, such as tantalum (in the form of TaC) or titanium (in the form of TiC). The metal matrix, often referred as ‘binder’ (not to be confused with wax and polymers typically used in powder metallurgy) is usually cobalt, but nickel and chromium are also used. This matrix is acting as a ‘cement,’ keeping together the carbide particles (hence the ‘cemented carbide’ definition).”
Welcome to Heat Treat Today’sThis Week 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!
This week, we dive into innovations in several heat treat processes, take a look at some fascinating technological applications for heat treaters, tune into a conversation on batch vs. continuous furnaces, and explore an unexpectedly beautiful result of AM.
If you have content that everyone has to see, please send the link to editor@heattreattoday.com.
1. Bikes of the Future: the titanium revolution
Titanium has historically been limited as a material for bikes, despite its excellence as a material, due to its high cost and difficulty to process. Check out this post by IperionX on LinkedIn, sharing the revolutionary innovations they intend to bring to titanium processing, with applications for biking.
2. Metallurgical Moments: from Medicine, to rust removal, to atomic structure
As all heat treaters know, the world of metals is a vast one. Here are a few fascinating metallurgical moments to inform you and hopefully put a smile on your face.
The Power of Metals in MRI
Laser Cleaning: Heat Treat Potential Of The Future (Or Past?)
Did you know that the first lasers were created in 1960? They may have a futuristic look, but these devices have been around for quite a while, and their potential applications in the heat treating industry continue to grow. Check out this fascinating video from @Metallurgical Engineering on LinkedIn to get an up-close look at how lasers can be used to clean rust and perhaps streamline your heat treating maintenance in the future.
Metallurgical Art: The Structure of Metals
3. Continued Learning
Each of these posts brings an educational aspect of part of the heat treat world you may or may not be familiar with.
A Brief Overview of Quenching
HIP: What the Cool Heat Treaters Are Up To
4. Reading (and Podcast!) Corner
You can’t read everything, we get it. Heat Treat Today is here to recommend one informative podcast to enjoy on your daily commute, suggest a quick video on laser heat treating, and put a comprehensive article on surface treatments for automotive on your radar!
The Highly-Anticipated Sequel is Here! Tune in to Listen to Heat Treat Radio #105: Batch IQ Vs. Continuous Pusher Part 2, with Michael Mouilleseaux.
Interested in Surface Treatment? This Article from Race Engine Technology/Race Engine Suppliers magazine is for you!
In case you missed it: An overview of laser heat treating with Aravind Jonnalagadda (AJ), CTO and Co-founder at Synergy Additive Manufacturing LLC
5. AM is the Name of the Game
Additive Manufacturing (AM) is taking the heat treating world by storm, but it’s not often we get to sit back and appreciate the beauty that this technology is capable of creating. Check out this amazing gothic cathedral creating using LMM technology. Be sure to click below to see the full post.
Have a great weekend!
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Bringing forward plans by two years, Wallwork Group have signed for a second hot isostatic press. Following hot on the heels of opening their £10 million Wallwork HIP Centre, Wallwork Group is installing this HIP to meet and serve increasing demand from various manufacturers.
David Loughlin Business Manager Wallwork HIP Centre
This second HIP from Quintus Technologies, a high pressure manufacturer with North American locations, has been contracted following Quintus completing the commissioning of the first HIP in the third quarter of 2023.
“We expected strong demand from UK castings, 3D printing, powder fabrication, and near-net-shape manufacturers. Especially, as the UK is currently under-served with hot isostatic pressing capacity,” says Wallwork HIP Centre, business manager, David Loughlin.
Adds Simeon Collins, group director of Wallwork, “Demand from customers for processing components in our first hot isostatic press has been astonishing. It is prudent to bring forward planned investment for the next HIP, knowing it will take most of 2024 to build and install. We hope to have it up and running by early 2025. Deciding to prepare pits for expansion during the first installation has proved right.”
The second HIP will be identical to the first, operating at pressures from 40 to 207 MPa (5,800 to 30,000 psi) and temperatures up to 2282°F (1250°C). It will also have the latest rapid cooling technology, as well as the capability to offer increased cycle pressures at elevated temperatures, complements engineering advances in metal 3D printing and more.
This press release from Wallwork Group can be found in its original form here.
ECOACERO, an ESTRELLA Group company, has placed an order for a new rebar mill with a heat treater with North American locations. It will be located nearby Santo Domingo, in Dominican Republic, for serving the growing local and regional construction industry.
The upcoming ECOACERO facility with a rebar mill from SMS group will introduce a versatile range of rebar to the market, tailored to meet the demands of different construction industry segments, manufactured with state-of-the-art technology from SMS, and adhering to rigorous international quality standards.
The complete project, conceptualized with a sustainability philosophy, consists of two phases, with the forthcoming integration of a steel production, involving a melt shop with a continuous casting machine, from the scrap processing.
The scope of delivery of the SMS includes a reheating furnace for billets, feeding a continuous single-strand rolling mill. Products are finished on a MEERdrive® finishing block, a machine that reduces CO₂ emissions and boots plant efficiency. Water boxes in the production process enable steel with improved mechanical properties through quenching and self-tempering of the bars, minimizing the use of expensive alloying elements in the melt shop.
From left to right: Pedro Estrella, Director of ECOACERO; Giuseppe Maniscalco, CEO of industrial division Grupo Estrella; Filippo Verlezza, SMS group and Nicola Redolfi, SMS group (Source: SMS group)
The second phase involves a modern electric arc furnace (EAF), high electrical efficient and designed with burner and oxygen injector technology to reduce CO₂ emissions and operating costs.
The scrap charging-based electric arc furnace will be equipped with the latest SMS technologies for safe and automatic operation aimed at reducing the carbon footprint. The entire melting-refining-casting process line is monitored by X-Pact® Level 2 system.
The plant commissioning is scheduled for the beginning of 2025, pointing to ECOACERO as the one of the largest and modern steel companies in the Caribbean and Central America.
This SMS group press release can be found in its original form here.
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An Ultra Low NOx HPH®-flameless bell-type annealing plant at thyssenkrupp Hohenlimburg has achieved CO2-neutral heat treatment of precision strip.
Tenova LOI Thermprocess, a company which is part of Tenova, continues to prove that CO2-neutral heat treatment can go together with low nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in a cooperation project with thyssenkrupp Hohenlimburg GmbH. Tenova LOI Thermprocess is part of Tenova and is one of the leading companies supplying industrial furnace systems for the heat treatment of metals. Tenova, a Techint Group company, is as a worldwide partner for sustainable, innovative, and reliable solutions in the metals and the mining industries.
In bell-type annealing plants, which have so far been mainly operated with natural gas, precipitation and spheroidizing annealing of steel coils is carried out to specifically adjust the mechanical properties for subsequent rolling processes or the required product properties at the end customer.
At thyssenkrupp’s Hagen-Hohenlimburg site, Tenova LOI Thermprocess’s heating hoods with LOI’s patented Ultra low NOx HPH®-flameless concept has been used for around 12 years. By increasing air preheating temperatures to 1112°F (600°C), this technology has led to energy and therefore CO2 savings of up to 12%.
Dr. Gökhan Gula Project Manager and Process Engineer Tenova LOI Thermprocess.
In a campaign involving several annealing cycles, a further step has been taken towards decarbonizing steel production as part of the joint project. In production trials, the fuel gas supply for the heat treatment of hot-rolled narrow strip was gradually converted from natural gas to up to 100% hydrogen. Tenova indicates that, for the first time in the world, 70 t of steel strip were heat treated in a bell-type annealing plant in a locally CO2‑neutral process. The flameless concept demonstrates its advantages here because despite the higher combustion temperature compared to natural gas and thus a tendency towards higher nitrogen oxide emissions, it results in remarkably low NOx emissions.
Using the bell-type annealing plant, up to 2600 kg of CO2 can be saved per annealing cycle by using regenerative produced hydrogen, while maintaining productivity and product properties.
“The combustion of hydrogen is technically more complex than the direct use of electricity or the combustion of natural gas. This project has provided us with further insights into the decarbonization of the bell-type annealing process and is helping us on our joint path towards the transformation to climate-neutral steel production,” says Dr. Gökhan Gula, project manager and process engineer at Tenova LOI Thermprocess.
