Arconic wins billion-dollar contract from Airbus for aluminum sheet and plate
November 7, 2016
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Arconic, Pittsburgh, Pa., announces a multi-year contract with Airbus valued at approximately $1 billion, to supply aluminum sheet and plate for its highest-volume programs. This agreement is the first to include material from Arconic's new state-of-the-art thick plate stretcher, which will come online in 2017 and enables production of the largest high-strength monolithic wing ribs in the industry. Located at the Davenport (Iowa) Works, the stretcher enhances the performance of thick aluminum and aluminum-lithium plate in wing ribs and fuselage frame material.
The stretching process reduces stress introduced into the plate as part of the manufacturing process, resulting in a part that is more easily machined and processed. For example, as composite wings get larger, one of the challenges is strength and stiffness, and the aluminum plate from this stretcher will enable Arconic to make wing ribs to address that issue. The addition will also enable Arconic to serve the existing plate market, while also providing airframe builders with the ability to make large wing ribs, fuselage frames, and bulkheads using Arconic thick plate.
"This large contract is a further important step to expand our leadership position in the aerospace industry," says Klaus Kleinfeld, Chairman and CEO of Arconic. "We are proud that Airbus has chosen us to support its fastest growing, technologically advanced programs. Partnerships like this with industry leaders are core to our strategy, and this contract is another proof-point of the potential that lies in it. We continue to focus on developing products and technologies that take all of our aerospace customers to new heights." Arconic's most significant share gain in the contract is in the A320 family, which is Airbus' highest growth program.
The multi-year agreement starts in January 2017 and makes Arconic sole supplier to Airbus for specific applications, including some wing, fuselage, and structural components. In addition to Arconic's proprietary alloys – chosen for their combination of strength, corrosion resistance, density, and manufacturability – Airbus planes will feature Arconic plate products on every platform, in key applications such as wing ribs, fuselage frames, and other structural parts.
www.arconic.com
Arconic, Pittsburgh, Pa., announces a multi-year contract with Airbus valued at approximately $1 billion, to supply aluminum sheet and plate for its highest-volume programs.
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PdMetrics software now included with Ipsen Titan heat treat systems
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that its PdMetrics platform is now included standard with its Titan heat treating systems. PdMetrics securely connects to a network of integrated sensors on the furnace to gather and analyze data, run algorithms, and provide real-time diagnostics. As a result, these Titan furnaces provide sophisticated monitoring of critical systems and key parameters that improve the health and integrity of the equipment.
Ipsen recently delivered two Titan H2-size vacuum furnaces with 1.9-bar gas quenching and the PdMetrics platform to Japan. Shipped within three weeks of each other, these furnaces will be used by separate commercial heat treaters and feature 18 x 24 x 18-inch graphite hot zones with a 1000-pound load capacity. They operate at temperatures up to 2400°F with ±10°F uniformity, and are capable of meeting applicable AMS 2750E and Nadcap requirements.
Both companies also took a proactive approach to preventive maintenance by ordering one of Ipsen's many spare parts kits. These kits consist of consumable and preventive maintenance items to help ensure equipment uptime and keep the furnace running smoothly.
www.IpsenUSA.com/TITAN
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that its PdMetrics platform is now included standard with its Titan heat treating systems.
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Russian scientists develop strong shape memory alloy based on Fe-Ni-Co-Al
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The Tomsk University Laboratory for Physics of High-Strength Crystals, Russia, announces that its researchers have designed a new high-strength iron-base shape-memory alloy whose properties are developed through a heat treatment technology that they have patented. "We especially use iron-nickel-cobalt-aluminum, plus a fifth element that could be titanium, niobium, or tantalum," says Prof. Yury Chumlyakov, head of the laboratory. "These alloys can compete with nickel titanium."
In particular, the researchers claim that the alloys have a reversible change in shape of about 15%, while nickel-titanium alloys have about 10%. Thus, the sensors and actuators made of the alloys would work more effectively. The iron-base alloys are also said to have high strength, important for practical use in devices that must withstand high external loads, such as components for the aerospace and engineering industries.
The laboratory researchers emphasize that these sensors and actuation devices would be not only stronger, but also cheaper than nickel-titanium. Thus, they can reduce the cost of production of household equipment, fire alarm sensors, connecting elements for aerospace and automotive components, and many other devices.
The scientists developed the material within the framework of the project called "Mechanisms of Phase and Structural Transformations in High-Strength Crystals of Iron and Nickel-Titanium Based Alloys with Conventional and Magnetic Shape Memory Effect." This project is supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation in the amount of $790,000. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of actuating mechanisms and sensors for mechanical engineering, aerospace, and other industries. The laboratory plans to continue studying these alloys.
The results of their study were presented at the international conference Alloys with Shape Memory Effect (St. Petersburg).
http://en.tsu.ru/news/tsu-physicists-have-created-a-high-strength-material-for-the-aerospace/
http://en.tsu.ru/
The Tomsk University Laboratory for Physics of High-Strength Crystals, Russia, announces that its researchers have designed a new high-strength iron-base shape-memory alloy whose properties are developed through a heat treatment technology that they have patented.
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Alcoa completes separation from parent company Arconic
November 2, 2016
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Alcoa Corp., Pittsburgh, announces that it has completed the separation from its parent company Alcoa Inc. (now named Arconic Inc.) and has begun operating as an independent, publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AA. Alcoa Corporation is a globally cost-competitive industry leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminum products, positioned to succeed throughout the market cycle.
The separation was completed through a pro rata distribution by Alcoa Inc. of 80.1% of the outstanding shares of the newly formed Alcoa Corporation. Arconic will retain 19.9% of Alcoa Corporation common stock.
"We are launching Alcoa Corporation as a world leader in the aluminum industry with distinct competitive advantages across the value chain," says Roy Harvey, Chief Executive Officer of Alcoa. "Our bauxite and alumina portfolios enjoy strong first quartile cost positions and our aluminum portfolio has a highly competitive second quartile position. We've made a commercial success of our cast products business. Our can sheet business is a leader in North America, and our substantial energy assets are also driving value for maximum profitability."
"Today we launch Arconic as a strong independent company," said Arconic Chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld on Nov. 1. "Our multi-year transformation while part of Alcoa Inc. substantially improved our competitiveness and profitability. Today, we are very well positioned as a leader in attractive markets."
Within aerospace, which accounts for approximately 40% of Arconic total revenues, the company develops and manufactures high-performance, engineered products and solutions for airframe structures and aero engines. Since 2008, the company has significantly grown its capabilities through a combination of organic and inorganic technology and innovation-focused investments.
As a result, Arconic has gained significant share on next generation aero engines and aero structures. The company can today supply over 90% of the components within the jet engine, and it is a leader in structural parts for both metallic and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) aircraft. In fact, 85% of aerospace revenues come from products where it holds either the number one or number two market position.
In the North American automotive market, Arconic invented the bonding process to enable the mass-market shift from steel to aluminum, and it is today at the forefront of capturing growing demand for aluminum sheet as the industry shifts to light-weighting. The Company expects its North American automotive sheet revenues to grow six-fold, from $229 million in 2013 to $1.3 billion in 2018. Across its North American automotive portfolio, 96% of the company's revenues come from products where it is number one or number two in its market.
www.alcoa.com
www.arconic.com
Alcoa Corp., Pittsburgh, announces that it has completed the separation from its parent company Alcoa Inc. (now named Arconic Inc.) and has begun operating as an independent, publicly-traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AA.
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Thermo-Calc and QuesTek partner for advanced modeling and materials design
October 28, 2016
Source: ASM International
Thermo-Calc Software AB, Stockholm, and QuesTek International LLC, Evanston, Ill., have partnered to establish a joint company, QuesTek Europe AB, which will offer Integrated Computational Materials Engineering modeling services and novel materials design and development to the European market.
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Bright annealing furnace heat treats stainless steel under inert gas
October 19, 2016
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Ajax Tocco Magnethermic, Warren, Ohio, recently shipped a bright annealing induction furnace to a major stainless steel tube manufacturer in the Northeast United States. This bright annealing system progressively heats the stainless steel tube to high temperatures in an atmosphere of inert gases, and then anneals the tube in a cooling chamber, reducing the hardness to achieve ductility for further processing. Special features include the ability to produce a high-quality product with a ready-to-ship surface finish.
The equipment supplied consists of a hydrogen atmosphere heating and cooling system, utilizing an Ajax Tocco 75 kW Pacer T IGBT induction power supply. The system is capable of processing tubing from 0.25 - 0.625 inch outside diameter.
Ajax Tocco is a leader in providing induction heating and processing solutions for bar and tube applications, including bright annealing. Its experience in providing this type of system was a key factor in the tube manufacturer's decision to choose Ajax Tocco Magnethemic as the supplier.
www.ajaxtocco.com
Ajax Tocco Magnethermic, Warren, Ohio, recently shipped a bright annealing induction furnace to a major stainless steel tube manufacturer in the Northeast United States.
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Praxair and GE Aviation form joint venture to develop advanced aircraft engine coatings
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Praxair Surface Technologies Inc., Danbury, Conn., and GE Aviation, Cincinnati, announce the formal creation of PG Technologies LLC, a joint venture that will focus on development, support, and application of specialized coatings tailored for GE Aviation's and CFM International's current and future engine models, including the GE9X and LEAP engines. CFM International is a 50/50 joint venture company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines of France. Praxair Surface Technologies and its subsidiary will hold the majority interest in the venture with GE Aviation and its subsidiary holding the remainder.
According to PG Technologies Board Member and Praxair Surface Technologies President Pierre Lüthi, "The formation of PG Technologies builds upon decades of collaboration between Praxair Surface Technologies and GE Aviation. This joint venture will take the leadership role in the next generation of coating technology applications, and will invest in new coating production capacity to meet the needs of the burgeoning aviation sector."
"PG Technologies will play an important role in GE Aviation's engine manufacturing system," said Colleen Athans, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation's Supply Chain. "With engine production volume levels growing, GE's need for specialized coatings will also increase, and this joint venture will ensure we meet our commitments on the performance and durability of our engines."
Coating operations for PG Technologies will be based in Ellisville, Mississippi; Indianapolis, Indiana; and the Republic of Singapore. PG Technologies services will also be supported by the global facility network of Praxair Surface Technologies.
PG Technologies, LLC focuses on the development, support and application of specialized coatings tailored for GE Aviation's current and future engine platforms including GE9X and LEAP engines. PG Technologies is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with other coating operations in Ellisville, Mississippi, and the Republic of Singapore.
www.praxairsurfacetechnologies.com.
www.ge.com/aviation
Praxair Surface Technologies Inc., Danbury, Conn., and GE Aviation, Cincinnati, announce the formal creation of PG Technologies LLC, a joint venture that will focus on development, support, and application of specialized coatings tailored for GE Aviation’s and CFM International’s current and future engine models, including the GE9X and LEAP engines.
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Powder metallurgy systems combine reactive metals with inert gas atomization
October 13, 2016
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Seco Warwick, Meadville, Pa., announces that its subsidiary Retech Systems LLC, Ukiah, Calif., has developed metal gas atomization systems that combine melting of reactive metals and alloys with inert gas atomization to meet a variety of powder specifications. Designed in a range of capacities, from laboratory and pilot to large-scale production, Retech's systems are tailored to achieve specific customer demands .
Products include powder metallurgy technologies that utilize gas atomization to produce powders that meet specific quality requirements. For example, vacuum induction melting (VIM) and casting systems are designed to easily handle a wide range of materials for automotive and consumer products, as well as critical, high-value equiax, directionally solidified, or single-crystal aerospace parts.
Cold wall induction (CWI) melting systems enable casting of titanium parts for demanding applications. Vacuum arc remelt (VAR) and consumable casting (skull melting) systems are designed for the manufacture of aerospace, consumer, and commercial products. Plasma arc melting (PAM) and electron beam (EB) melting systems are engineered for production of ingots and electrodes.
www.secowarwick.com
Seco Warwick, Meadville, Pa., announces that its subsidiary Retech Systems LLC, Ukiah, Calif., has developed metal gas atomization systems that combine melting of reactive metals and alloys with inert gas atomization to meet a variety of powder specifications.
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Voestalpine expands capabilities to additive manufacturing of steel
October 5, 2016
Source: ASM International
The Voestalpine Group, Dusseldorf, announces that it is expanding from traditional steel manufacturing to 3D printing with the opening of an additive manufacturing research and development facility.
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Ipsen ships heat treating systems for aerospace, tooling, other industries
September 27, 2016
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently shipped ten heat-treating systems to process parts for the aerospace, commercial heat treating, defense, metal injection molding and tooling industries. Among the shipments were a six-bar Global Vertical vacuum furnace and a vacuum aluminum brazing furnace with a 35-inch diffusion pump.
Also shipped were four Titan H2 furnaces – two of which were shipped with Ipsen's PdMetrics software platform for predictive maintenance. This exclusive platform helps optimize equipment performance and production efficiency. Ipsen also shipped horizontal MetalMaster and TurboTreater heat-treating systems, Titan DS (debinding and sintering) vacuum furnaces, and a custom furnace upgrade that will be used in the aerospace industry. This upgrade will help enhance furnace performance and ensure continued high-quality results.
To best support such diverse industries and needs around the world, Ipsen's Global Support Team facilitates system installations, and provides expert training, startup assistance, and 360-degree support throughout the entire lifespan of the equipment.
www.IpsenUSA.com/Products.
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently shipped ten heat-treating systems to process parts for the aerospace, commercial heat treating, defense, metal injection molding and tooling industries.
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