The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, Md., selected a consortium led by Northwestern University, Ill., to establish a new NIST-sponsored center of excellence for advanced materials research.
Continue readingAerospace materials testing laboratory to expand capacity by 70%
Element Materials Technology, Huntington Beach, Calif., reports that it plans to substantially increase its aerospace testing capacity by expanding laboratory facilities by 70% and adding a third shift. The new facility will enable the laboratory to further grow its stress rupture and creep testing departments, and will house over 300 test frames, more than double its current number. The new building is to have its own dedicated machine shop to improve efficiency.
With demand from the Aerospace Primes and their supply chain partners continuing to increase, Element Huntington Beach has leased a 20,000 sq ft property adjacent to its existing 30,000 sq ft site. It has also launched a third shift on weekdays and now offers services 24 hours a day, five days a week, with an additional shift on both Saturday and Sunday.
According to Colin Speedie, VP U.S. Operations, “The aerospace market is extremely buoyant at the moment, and we are anticipating it will strengthen yet further in 2014. In response to this, we have moved quickly to offer a 24-hour laboratory service. We are already seeking to double the size of the third shift in 2014.”
Spirit AeroSystems and Norsk Titanium build aerospace titanium parts via direct metal deposition
Spirit AeroSystems Inc., Wichita, Kan., and Norsk Titanium Components AS, Norway, have reached a significant milestone in a multi-year collaboration for direct metal deposition technology. They developed an additive manufacturing technology that enables titanium components to be built up close to the final shape using titanium feedstock instead of a large titanium block. The process reduces waste, uses less energy, and is significantly faster.
Continue readingHTS Members Receive ASM Awards
Four members of the ASM Heat Treating Society will be recognized this year at ASM’s annual Awards Dinner, Tuesday, October 29, Le Westin Hotel, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Mr. William J. Bernard, Jr., FASM, President and CEO, Surface Combustion, Inc.
Continue readingPraxair to increase capacity at its New Mexico plant to 300 tons per day of liquid nitrogen
Praxair Inc., Danbury, Conn., has started up a second nitrogen plant at its facility in Kirtland, N.M., to support growing nitrogen demand in the San Juan basin, which includes southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico. The new plant, along with an additional liquefier expansion to be completed later this year, will increase total capacity at the site to 300 tons per day of liquid nitrogen.
Continue readingIHEA announces 2013-2014 board and officers
The Industrial Heating Equipment Association, Taylor Mill, Ky., recently announced its 2013-14 Board of Directors and Officers. Serving as president (shown in the photo) is Tim Lee of Maxon, a division of Honeywell. Bob Green of Bloom Engineering was named IHEA Vice-President, and B.J. Bernard of Surface Combustion was elected Treasurer. Outgoing president Mike Shay of Elster Kromschröder, assumes the role of Past President.
Continue readingBeralcast beryllium-aluminum alloys under consideration for F-35 Lightning II optical components
IBC Advanced Alloys Corp., Wilmington, Mass., reports that its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, IBC Engineered Materials Corp., is working directly with Lockheed Martin to develop specific investment-cast optical components on the F-35 Lightning II aircraft to demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of Beralcast beryllium-aluminum alloys. Beralcast principal alloys are more than three times stiffer than aluminum, with 22% less weight. They can be precision cast for simple and complex three-dimensional stability. These high modulus alloys are ideal for high-performance industrial and high-tech components, as well as for a wide range of aerospace applications.
This collaboration enables IBC to demonstrate its expertise and industry leadership in offering rapid prototyping and advanced materials solutions to provide investment cast parts to aerospace customers with short lead times and competitive pricing.
“IBC Engineered Materials is excited to be collaborating with Lockheed Martin and believe we will demonstrate the viability of our Beralcast alloys and cast components as mechanically compliant and cost effective components for the F-35 Lightning II program,” said Ray White, President of IB-EMC. “We hope that IBC’s partnership and collaboration with Lockheed Martin will advance the potential for our engineered materials products for other aerospace industry initiatives where modulus, weight, and cost are important design criteria.”