Ipsen completes ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation for pyrometry services

Ipsen, Cherry Valley, IL, has successfully achieved ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation for calibrations, enhancing its pyrometry services. This accreditation is particularly significant for customers operating under the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP) and Aerospace Material Specifications (AMS) 2750G.

A key update in AMS2750G, revised in 2022, mandates that calibration service providers must hold ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation. This requirement encompasses temperature controller calibration, system accuracy testing (SAT), and temperature uniformity surveys (TUS).

Cavan Cardenas, Ipsen’s calibration and pyrometry coordinator, emphasized the importance of this certification: “Obtaining this lab certification reassures our customers of our capability to accurately conduct these tests. It’s crucial for us to verify the precision of our calibration equipment to provide superior support to our clients.”

Ipsen has appointed a dedicated technician for its Calibrations Lab, located at the Vacuum Technology Excellence Center in Cherry Valley, IL. This addition strengthens the company’s commitment to providing advanced calibration solutions.

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One Minute Mentor: Distortion in Tool Steels

Distortion in tool steels encompasses all irreversible dimensional changes. There are two main types: size distortion and shape distortion. Size distortion involves expansion or contraction in volume or linear dimensions without changes in geometrical form. Shape distortion entails changes in curvature or angular relations, as in twisting, bending, and/or nonsymmetrical changes in dimensions. In most cases both types of distortion occur during a heat-treatment operation.

Some of the main interactions occur between temperature, microstructure, and stress/strain. Especially for tool steels these interactions are mainly influenced by the carbon content in the steel matrix, the types and relative amounts of the alloying elements, and the carbide formation/transformation/precipitation characteristics of the alloy system.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 1..

R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

One Minute Mentor: Plasma Nitriding Equipment

Cold-walled (double-walled water-cooled) systems were the first generation of plasma nitriding furnaces. This technology is also a vacuum-based process but employs the principle of glow discharge to provide energy for heating and nitriding at one time. Therefore, the independent control of the temperature stability and the nitriding intensity is not possible because both processes are using the same energy source—the plasma.

The hot-wall plasma nitriding furnaces, the next generation of cold-wall ion nitriding systems, are mainly used and built now. This system ensures optimal nitriding quality by fulfilling the highest demands on temperature and nitriding process control. The big advantage of this technology is the separation of the control of the heating and the plasma nitriding parameters. 

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 26

R Schneider; R. Mesquita; H. Altena; T. Müller; P. Seemann, Processes and Furnace Equipment for Heat Treating of Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Seco/Warwick delivers Vector vacuum furnace to revolver manufacturer

Seco/Warwick, Meadville, Pa.,  received another order for the supply of a Vector vacuum furnace to a South American international manufacturer of weapons and military equipment. The furnace will process various components including barrels, reels, locks, and firearm magazines, which are expected to be reliable, of the highest quality, and perform with outstanding resistance to negative external conditions.

This will be the second solution of this type in the South American defense industry leader’s internal hardening plant. It is a single-chamber gas-cooled vacuum furnace which can be used for a variety of metal heat treatment processes and applications. This solution has been adapted to the customer’s requirements so that it is as effective as possible at delivering the precision heat treatment results required for quality weaponry.

Thanks to the large working space (900x900x1200 mm), the Vector system is designed to process quite large elements. A characteristic feature of the design is convection heating, which improves heat transfer efficiency when heating at lower temperatures, and directional cooling, which enables differentiated cooling of problematic parts in terms of shapes.

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Nitrex provides nitrocarburizing system to New Zealand heat treater

Nitrex, Quebec, has announced that they have provided a nitrocarburizing system to Heat Treatments, a leading provider of commercial heat treatment services in New Zealand and one of Nitrex’s earliest customers.

Heat Treatments’ partnership with Nitrex dates to 1992 when they purchased its first Nitrex system with Nitreg nitriding capabilities. As operations grew, the company later added a second system in 2004 for nitrocarburizing and post-oxidation treatments. Contrary to the first two systems, which are identical pit furnaces, the latest addition, an NXK series, features the furnace and control panel mounted on an integral platform. Delivery, installation, and startup time and costs are reduced with this design. The NXK-812 model is designed to treat workloads weighing up to 1200 kg, with a diameter of 800 mm (31.5″) and a height of 1200 mm (47.25″). The system is equipped with advanced process technologies, including Nitreg-C controlled nitrocarburizing and ONC post-oxidation, which provide precise control and consistent results.

https://www.nitrex.com/

One Minute Mentor: Plasma Nitriding Equipment

Cold-walled (double-walled water-cooled) systems were the first generation of plasma nitriding furnaces. This technology is also a vacuum-based process but employs the principle of glow discharge to provide energy for heating and nitriding at one time. Therefore, the independent control of the temperature stability and the nitriding intensity is not possible because both processes are using the same energy source—the plasma.

The hot-wall plasma nitriding furnaces, the next generation of cold-wall ion nitriding systems, are mainly used and built now. This system ensures optimal nitriding quality by fulfilling the highest demands on temperature and nitriding process control. The big advantage of this technology is the separation of the control of the heating and the plasma nitriding parameters. The heating and temperature control of hot-wall plasma nitriding furnaces is realized by several independent heating/cooling zones, which guarantees optimal temperature homogeneity

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 26.

R Schneider; R. Mesquita; H. Altena; T. Müller; P. Seemann, Processes and Furnace Equipment for Heat Treating of Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Mark Saline receives MPIF distinguished service award

Gasbarre, Dubois, PaA, announced that Mark Saline, president of Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems, is a recipient of the 2023 MPIF Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy (PM) Award that recognizes individuals who have actively served the North American PM industry for at least 25 years.The award is selected by the Metal Powder Industries Federation’s (MPIF) Awards Committee.

Over 70 nominated individuals were on the ballot for review by the past 10 years of Distinguished Service Award recipients, as well as the MPIF Board of Governors and Boards of Directors of the MPIF trade associations. Mark Saline will receive his award during PowderMet 2023 in Las Vegas. Mark has been well established in the Powder Metallurgy industry for many years. His PM involvement includes teaching students at the PM Sintering Seminar, sitting on the MPIF Program Committee, judging the PM Design Excellence Awards, he has written several publications on processing in continuous furnaces, and he provides input in organizations such as the Center for Powder Metal Technology, Powder Metal Equipment Association, and the Association for Metal Additive Manufacturing. Mark will also serve at the Conference Technical Chair-Person for PowderMet 2024 in Pittsburgh.

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Lindberg/MPH ships rod overbend box furnace to the manufacturing industry

Lindberg/MPH, Mich., has announced the shipment of a rod overbend box furnace with powered load/unload table to the manufacturing industry. This heat-treating furnace has a maximum temperature rating of 2000°F and a load capacity of 900 lbs. 

The workspace dimensions of the furnace are 24” W x 36” D x 18” H and it is designed for air atmosphere applications. The box furnace features an automated actuator to flip the push/pull mechanism on the load table to eliminate the operators need to manually flip it into push position. This option allows the push/pull head to retract from the furnace once the work grid is in the furnace chamber and increase operator safety by removing the need to reach into the hot furnace with a hook to flip the push/pull head and.

The furnace chamber is heated with a radiant heating system the utilizes heavy gauge alloy rod over-bend heating elements mounted along the side-walls and the floor. The furnace temperature is controlled by an Allen Bradley ControlLogix Programmable Logic Controller that includes digital setpoint and display. A Honeywell DC2500 high limit controller disconnects the power to the heating elements and sounds an audible alarm if the temperature exceeds desired set-point. 

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Lindberg/MPH ships mesh belt conveyor furnace for use with powdered metal

Lindberg/MPH, Mich., has announced the shipment of an electrically heated, full muffle, mesh belt conveyor furnace. This furnace is designed for treating pressed powdered material.

The furnace is designed for applications with a maximum process temperature of 1000° C (1832° F) that utilize a nitrogen or clean dry filtered air process atmosphere. The unit is configured with 9 temperature control zones and includes a water-cooling section. The conveyor system features a 14 inch wide mesh belt with belt stop alarm to provide an audible and visual indication in case of a conveyor stoppage.

There are purge chambers at the entrance and exit of this conveyor furnace. In these chambers purge gas flows from perforated plenum chambers above and below the belt and exhaust stacks with adjustable butterfly valves are located at the inner ends of each chamber. Load and unload tables at the entrance and exit of the conveyor provide ease of product transfer for the operator.

The furnace zone temperatures are controlled by Eurotherm controllers. These controllers have advanced PID control with variable overshoot inhibition. A hi-limit Eurotherm controller guards against over temperature conditions in each zone of temperature control.  A visual and audible alert and removal of power to the heating element occur in the event the monitor temperature exceeds a desired set point. 

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One Minute Mentor: Salt Bath Nitrocarburizing

Salt bath nitrocarburizing is usually performed at temperatures between 560 and 580 °C (1040 to 1075 °F) in cyanate- and carbonate-containing salts with traces of cyanides and furnaces similar to those used for the nitrocarburizing of mechanical compounds. These conditions fit well with the usual tempering temperatures of hot-work tool steels, which form the main field of application of salt bath nitrocarburizing in tooling with treatment times of 15 min to 2 h.

 To guarantee a good reproducible nitriding performance, the cyanate content must be kept at approximately 35% to achieve a full ε-nitride compound layer, which today is usually done by adding a regenerator. The advantages of salt bath nitrocarburizing can be found in the very homogeneous temperature distribution, the fast formation of thick compound layers that give good tribological and corrosion properties, its high flexibility, and he fact that it does not require that any special attention be given to passivation effects. Extrusion dies are regularly treated several times during use to restore the nitride layer at areas of heavy wear.

More recently special salt compositions were developed for lower nitrocarburizing temperatures, which are essential for cold-work tool steels that do have lower tempering temperatures.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 21

R Schneider ; R. Mesquita ; H. Altena ; T. Müller ; P. Seemann,Processes and Furnace Equipment for Heat Treating of Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Can-Eng Furnaces contracted for continuous quench and temper furnace system

Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara, Ontario, was recently contracted to engineer and commission a continuous quench and temper furnace system for a North American producer of mining, construction, and materials handling products. The purchase of this equipment is part of a larger plant expansion and initiative to bring foreign outsourced manufacturing in house.  

This move is not only to improve part quality but also to help eliminate overall shipping costs and reduce supply chain issues which have been plaguing many industries over the past couple of years. This equipment will be part of an automated manufacturing cell and fed automatically from upstream handling equipment. Special considerations have been made to precisely control the quench temperature to reduce hardness variations and improve overall part quality.  

The multizone belt style temper furnace employs high efficiency natural gas fired heating and recirculation systems which have been proven to provide the ultimate in temperature uniformity in even the most demanding of applications.  

 

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Ipsen installs vacuum furnace at Taiwan Hodaka Technology

Ipsen, Tainan City, Taiwan, has announced the installation of a TurboTreater vacuum furnace for a customer in Southeast Asia. Established in 2002, Taiwan Hodaka Technology Co., Ltd. is an aluminum extrusion supplier, specializing in high-end aerospace aluminum alloys. 

They also produce products used in the sporting goods, consumer electronics and automotive industries. The TurboTreater boasts a work zone size of 36” (914 mm) x 36” (914 mm) x 48” (1219mm) with a weight capacity of 3000 lb (1360 kg) and normal operating temperature up to 2400 °F (1315 °C). The furnace was designed with convection heating, allowing for more uniform processing of large cross-section parts and dense loads. It is also capable of quenching at up to 12 bar positive pressure in nitrogen.

Hodaka chose Ipsen for their positive brand reputation, technical capabilities and process know-how.

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Kanthal and Rath announce strategic partnership to expand sustainable industrial heating technology offerings

Kanthal and Rath, Amherst, NY, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at expanding their combined offering in industrial heating technology. This collaboration is set to benefit industries such as steel and petrochemical as they strive to transition to greener practices.

By joining forces, Kanthal and Rath will create the most extensive range of sustainable industrial heating solutions available in the market. Kanthal’s expertise in heating elements and systems, combined with Rath’s premium insulation and refractory products, will provide customers with a unique and comprehensive offering to meet their industrial heating needs.

Robert Stål, president of Kanthal, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to partner with Rath to further expand our offerings in industrial heating technology, enabling societies and industries to make the green shift. In this era of electrification, this partnership will provide our customers with a broader range of innovative solutions that will enable them to optimize their operations and achieve their sustainability goals. Together, we can leverage our collective expertise to deliver greater value to our customers and help them thrive in a rapidly evolving market.”

Andreas Pfneiszl, CFO/CSO of Rath, emphasized their focus on sustainability, particularly in developing energy-saving refractory products and materials for electrically heated furnaces. He stated, “With our strategic partner Kanthal, we will enable customers’ shift towards fossil-fuel-free production.” This partnership aligns with Rath’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices.

Through closer collaboration in developing new technologies and solutions, Kanthal and Rath will leverage their expertise to drive the technology shift that industries like steel and petrochemical are currently undergoing. The joint go-to-market model will provide customers with a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, offering enhanced value and convenience.

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One Minute Mentor: Vacuum Furnaces

The demands on vacuum-hardening technology have changed in recent decades. One of the most important considerations that must be met is the accomplishment of highest dimensional stability with optimal microstructural properties and minimal change of the surface of the workpieces. 

Minimizing exposure to air during the heat treatment by reducing the quantity of oxygen in a heat treatment furnace, as with creating a vacuum, is an excellent method for preventing changes in surface appearance and chemical composition.

Suppliers of modern vacuum furnaces are further faced with new demands, such as increasing quenching speed to improve microstructural and mechanical properties by reducing grain size, and enhancing hardness and toughness and/or reducing distortion due to the hardening process. Furthermore, quality standards such as AMS 2750d or North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), which describe temperature homogeneity or quenching speeds and resulting and needed workpiece properties, had a significant effect on furnace design and process control.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 14

R Schneider ; R. Mesquita ; H. Altena ; T. Müller ; P. Seemann,Processes and Furnace Equipment for Heat Treating of Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Constellium to provide closed-loop recycling for the all-new Megane E-TECH Electric

Constellium, Paris,  announced today its agreement with Renault Group to establish a closed-loop recycling process for the all-new Megane E-TECH Electric. 

Aluminum, lightweight and fully recyclable, is the material of choice for the electrification of the automotive fleet, and Constellium is well-positioned to support this transition with advanced products and solutions.

Renault Group has developed a closed-loop recycling process to bring manufacturing scrap from the stamping process directly back to Constellium, resulting in a reduced CO2 footprint. Based on best practices to avoid mixing 5xxx and 6xxx alloys and to compact scrap for optimal logistics at Renault Group, the closed-loop process will recycle these alloys, so that they can be reused in Renault Group’s production without any loss of properties, and overall with no downcycling.

Constellium, a full-service supplier of rolled and extruded aluminum solutions for the global automotive market, supplies aluminum for 1 in 4 vehicles produced in Europe and the U.S. We help automakers produce lighter, safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles, as well as electric vehicles with greater range. Renault Group is supplied by Constellium’s ASI-certified facility in Neuf Brisach, France.

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EndoFlex generator chosen for fastener heat treatment

UPC-Marathon, Quebec,, a Nitrex company, has commissioned a 100 M3H EndoFlex endothermic gas generator for a South American manufacturer of industrial fasteners.

This is a repeat customer that has UPC-Marathon‘s gas panels, flowmeters, oxygen probes, and Protherm plant automation software installed in their heat treatment operations. With the addition of the EndoFlex generator, they will now be able to supply gas to a new continuous mesh belt neutral hardening furnace for the treatment of metal fasteners used in automotive applications.

The customer had the option to choose between a nitrogen-methanol system or an endothermic gas generator for their neutral hardening furnace. After careful consideration, they selected UPC-Marathon’s EndoFlex generator in order to achieve better control and consistency of the process atmosphere. The result is an improved hardening process and higher-quality hardened fasteners, along with reduced operating costs. The EndoFlex mixes ratios more accurately and efficiently, ensuring a constant furnace atmosphere and consistent gas quality, leading to immediate cost savings through reduced electricity and gas consumption and zero waste.

The system was started in March 2023, and its consistent performance has exceeded the customer’s expectations.

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Norman Noble opens new corporate headquarters

Norman Noble, Highland Heights, Ohio, a medical device contract manufacturer, announced it has officially opened their new corporate headquarters at 5500 Avion Park Drive. 

The new 51,000-square-foot facility on 12.35 acres accommodates the sales, estimating, and purchasing departments, and includes collaboration rooms, conference rooms, a learning center, and future manufacturing and product development space.

As project manager, Julie Bennett Lowry, Norman Noble’s director of facilities and environmental Health and Safety stated, “The newly constructed space is stunning, from the two-story main lobby with the full-height glass curtain walls to the 9-display video wall. The space was designed with multiple conference rooms ranging in size as well as a very open office concept making it inviting for personnel to collaborate.”

The technology and the design of the headquarters will help meet medical OEM customers’ growing requirements for Nitinol-based products, including structural heart implants, neurovascular devices, and vascular stent implants.

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