PRIME Project Launches to Strengthen Global Nitinol Supply Chain

Five leading companies in the medical device industry have launched the PRIME project, a strategic initiative dedicated to advancing the consistency, scalability, and performance of nitinol materials. PRIME, which stands for PRoficient Ingot Material Evaluation, brings together deep technical expertise from every stage of the nitinol value chain.

The founding members are Fort Wayne Metals (ingot melting), Vascotube and Euroflex (tube drawing), and Admedes and MeKo MedTech (component manufacturing). Together, the consortium spans the complete nitinol production chain from melting through tube processing to final device assembly.

The initiative was created to strengthen supply chain stability and meet rising market demands through joint testing, real-world validation, and transparent evaluation of new ingot sources. A key goal is to prevent monopolistic dependencies and mitigate future supply risks for critical medical applications such as stents and heart valve frames.

Technical papers with testing data will be made available through the consortium’s website, and ingots, tubes, and components will be available for independent testing and production validation.

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Gasbarre and SOLO Swiss Announce Exclusive Licensing Agreement for North America

Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems, DuBois, Pennsylvania, and SOLO Swiss SA, Porrentruy, Switzerland, announced an exclusive licensing agreement granting Gasbarre the rights to promote, sell, and manufacture the SOLO ProfiTherm heat treating system in North America. The agreement was announced on January 21, 2026.

The ProfiTherm system features a modular arrangement of bell furnaces and quench tanks with direct, rapid transfer from furnace to quench. The design is positioned as a practical alternative to traditional integral quench batch furnaces, offering a more compact footprint that simplifies installation and reduces plant disruption.

ProfiTherm supports a range of heat treating processes including austempering, marquenching, carburizing, carbonitriding, and neutral hardening. Target applications include captive heat treat departments and commercial shops serving general industry, aerospace, defense, and bearing markets.

The partnership expands Gasbarre’s equipment portfolio and gives North American heat treaters access to SOLO Swiss bell furnace technology that has been widely adopted in Europe.

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Bodycote Expands U.S. Aerospace and Defense Footprint with Acquisition of Spectrum Thermal Processing

Bodycote, Macclesfield, UK, announced the acquisition of Spectrum Thermal Processing, a heat treatment provider based in Cranston, Rhode Island. The transaction closed on January 14, 2026.

Spectrum brings established Nadcap-accredited and ITAR-compliant capabilities to Bodycote’s North American operations, including vacuum heat treatment, low-pressure carburizing, and gas nitriding services. The acquisition strengthens Bodycote’s regional capacity in the northeastern United States and reinforces its ability to support aerospace, defense, space, and industrial customers.

The deal expands Bodycote’s presence in critical process categories that serve sectors with demanding quality and compliance requirements. With the addition of Spectrum’s facility and expertise, Bodycote continues to build on its position as the world’s largest provider of heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services.

Bodycote operates more than 160 facilities in 22 countries worldwide. The company noted that the acquisition aligns with its strategy of targeted growth in markets with high barriers to entry and strong long-term demand, particularly in the aerospace and defense sectors.

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Constellium extends supply partnership with Embraer for advanced aerospace aluminum solutions

Constellium, Paris, France announced the extension of its long-term agreement with Embraer to supply advanced aluminum materials, including its proprietary aluminum-lithium alloy, Airware. The renewed partnership will continue to support Embraer’s Commercial Aviation, Executive Jets, and Defense & Security divisions.

Under the agreement, Constellium will provide high-performance aluminum products designed to meet the aerospace industry’s demand for lightweight, durable materials in critical structural applications.

Philippe Hoffmann, president of Constellium’s aerospace and transportation business unit, stated that the contract reinforces the company’s commitment to supporting Embraer’s growth and aligns with its broader strategy to meet increasing global demand for advanced materials in aerospace programs.

Roberto Chaves, executive vice president of global procurement and supply chain at Embraer, noted that the continued partnership is built on a foundation of quality, reliability, and collaboration, and supports efforts to strengthen the supply chain while advancing sustainable growth.

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Multi-furnace heat treat project for major steel forger

Nutec Bickley, Mexico, has been awarded a contract to manufacture and install five new lift-up furnaces, along with a fully modernized combustion system, for a leading U.S. manufacturer of high-quality alloy steel and carbon steel closed-die forgings. The project will take place between May and December 2023, with onsite work completed one furnace at a time to ensure the customer’s production schedules are not impacted. Two of the new furnaces will be used for tempering, while the remaining three will be used for austenitizing. Each furnace will be fitted with the latest control systems, complete fiber flues, and new exhaust and pressure control systems, along with insulation.

Nutec Bickley’s state-of-the-art combustion packages will be fully compliant with NFPA 86 standards, incorporating a fuel-only control system to allow maximum temperature uniformity potential for all cycles. The retrofitted furnaces will benefit from high-velocity nozzle mixing burners fitted with high-temperature burner blocks. The combustion systems will also feature automatic air control valves to adjust the maximum air volume used and to ensure proper burner ignition conditions.

The project will involve careful teamwork between the customer and Nutec Bickley to ensure successful delivery and highest quality outcomes. Rodrigo González, VP Metals at Nutec Bickley, emphasized the importance of constant communication and status updates with customers for a dynamic and mutually beneficial project result.

 

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One Minute Mentor: Crevice Corrosion Testing

In crevice corrosion testing, treated 316 stainless steel compares favorably with alloy 625, as shown in the figure with three images. This figure shows three specimens at the end of a weeklong crevice corrosion test in natural seawater, at room temperature, under an applied potential of 300 mV.

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