Solar Atmospheres of California is awarded Nadcap 24-month Merit status

August 9, 2016
Source:

Solar Atmospheres of California, Fontana, announces that it has been awarded Nadcap 24-month Merit status for Heat Treating, which means that instead of having its next Nadcap audit in eighteen months, it has been granted an accreditation that lasts until July 31, 2018.

"We are extremely pleased PRI has recognized our corporate commitment to quality," says a company news release. "Achieving 24-month Merit status has been a goal set by Solar's employees since the company opened its doors in 2011. The adherence to strict specification requirements, flawless process execution, and a daily commitment to quality processing is evident among all employees."

The company has held Nadcap accreditation since 2011. Having demonstrated its ongoing commitment to quality by satisfying customer requirements and industry specifications, the Nadcap Task Group has determined that Solar Atmospheres of California has earned this special recognition.

According to PRI's VP and COO Joe Pinto, "Benefitting from a less frequent audit schedule reduces audit costs and associated pressures, and demonstrates the trust that the aerospace industry has in Solar Atmospheres of California based on past performance in Nadcap audits. PRI is proud to support continuous improvement in the aerospace industry by helping such companies be successful, and we look forward to continuing to assist the industry moving forward."

www.solaratm-ca.com

AMG Titanium Alloys to supply titanium aluminides for PW1100G-JM engine

August 3, 2016
Source:

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V., Amsterdam, announces that AMG Titanium Alloys and Coatings (AMG TAC) has been selected by MTU Aero Engines to provide titanium aluminides for the production of the Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G-JM engine. The value of the long-term supply contract exceeds$40 million.

The TiAl intermetallic combines the heat resistance of nickel alloys with the lightweight characteristics of titanium. AMG's TiAl materials will be used to produce low-pressure turbine blades for the PurePower PW1100G-JM engine for single-aisle aircraft, including the Airbus A320neo.

According to Pratt & Whitney, the ultra-efficient PurePower PW1100G-JM engine delivers double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency, reduces noise by 20 dB, and slashes CO₂ and NOX emissions.

To support this next stage of expansion, AMG TAC will invest in new vacuum furnaces supplied by AMG Engineering. The combined value of current and future supply contracts for AMG's TiAl business, across all customers, exceeds $130 million.

www.amg-nv.com

Can-Eng to build a rotary furnace for heating titanium billets

July 27, 2016
Source:

Can-Eng Furnaces Intl. Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been contracted to design, manufacture, and commission a rotary furnace system for the heating and hot working of titanium and alloy billets and preformed shapes for Weber Metals Inc., Paramount, California. Weber Metals is a subsidiary of Otto Fuchs KG of Meinerzhagen, Germany, and an operating unit of the Otto Fuchs Aerospace Group.

This large-diameter rotary furnace is a part of Weber Metals' 60,000 ton Press Expansion Project. The 60,000-ton press will allow Weber Metals to manufacture larger and lighter forgings, utilizing more advanced materials, and will incorporate the latest in green technology to reduce waste and  energy consumption, and increase efficiency.

The new facility will house the largest aerospace forging press in the Americas, and will produce some of the world's largest monolithic forging components. Can-Eng is proud to be a part of this ground-breaking project.

Can-Eng is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company and is a global provider of state-of-the-art thermal processing systems.

 www.can-eng.com

Wallwork doubles capacity for vacuum brazing complex parts

July 20, 2016
Source:

Wallwork Heat Treating Co., England, announces that it has more than doubled its capacity for vacuum brazing complex high-performance components at its sites in Cambridge and Manchester. Staffed by skilled technicians, the facilities are equipped with a range of computer-controlled vacuum furnaces for efficient processing of components of any size and complexity, from a few grams to several metric tons.

Fabrications are brazed under vacuum with excellent temperature uniformity. This means that they can be treated using controlled heating and cooling, which in turn reduces residual stress. This controllability enables additional heat treatment processes at the same time, which offers a unique, cost-effective dual process that can reduce overall costs.

According to the company, vacuum brazing is one of the most versatile processes for joining different metals available to aerospace manufacturers. Components made by this method are said to be strong, reliable and shock resistant. Furthermore, the technique is equally suited to fast prototyping and to volume production.

The technology allows creation of complex components of almost any size and shape, from a broad range of aerospace metals and ceramics, and makes it possible to combine machined, cast, forged or stamped components. Braze materials and processes can be selected to meet strength and environmental requirements.

Braze joints are frequently stronger than the materials being joined, and bonding is frequently better than welding, with the added benefit that heat treatment can often be achieved within the same process cycle.

http://www.wallworkht.co.uk/content/vacuum_brazing/   

Aleris to supply aluminum plate, sheet, and wing skins for Airbus aircraft

Source:

Aleris, Cleveland, Ohio, announces that it has signed a new multi-year contract with Airbus to supply aluminum plate and sheet, as well as technically advanced wing skin material, for all Airbus aircraft programs. The agreement further strengthens a long-standing partnership with Airbus, demonstrating how Aleris continues to meet the high expectations required of a strategic supplier to the aerospace industry.

The agreement includes aluminum plate and sheet for applications such as  aircraft fuselage and wing structures, and also now includes the supply of wing skins – a highly specialized product that requires additional processing and pre-machining. The contract includes the supply of material from the company's facility in Germany, and also from the $350 million greenfield facility in China, which was qualified by Airbus for the production of aerospace material in 2015.

"This vote of confidence from Airbus validates our strategy to expand our global rolled products footprint and invest in technology, as we are now able to extend our range of aerospace products and better serve Airbus," says Sean Stack, President & CEO of Aleris.  "With world class facilities strategically positioned in Germany and China, we are in a strong position to support the significant growth projected in the aerospace industry, particularly in the Asia Pacific region."

According to a forecast completed by Flight Ascend Consultancy, part of FlightGlobal, the world's fleet of commercial aircraft is expected to increase by 81% to 49,940 aircraft in 2035, by which time 41% of the fleet is expected to be operating in Asia Pacific and China.  Continued higher-than-average passenger traffic growth rates in this region will remain the key drivers for the industry's growth and new aircraft demand in the next 20 years.  

www.aleris.com

Alcoa aluminum flies high on Embraer aircraft

July 13, 2016
Source: ASM International

MB Aerospace acquires Vac Aero Poland for heat treating and thermal spray

Source:

MB Aerospace, East Granby, Conn.,  has acquired Vac Aero (Poland) from its Canadian parent company, Vac Aero International, for its extensive range of special process capabilities, including heat treatment and vacuum brazing, vacuum carburizing, air plasma spray (APS), and high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) thermal spray coatings, as well as corrosion and oxidation-resistant paint coatings.  The former Vac Aero subsidiary has a range of customer approvals and will continue to serve key customers in Europe, including UTC, Pratt & Whitney, and Siemens.

The business, which employs over 100 people at two sites in Kalisz (central Poland) and Rzeszow (south-east Poland), specializes in providing protective and performance-enhancing coatings for aero-engine and industrial gas turbine components. These OEM-licensed and proprietary coatings provide resistance to wear, corrosion, and heat across performance-critical compressor, combustor, and turbine components.

The business will remain at its two current sites and will be immediately rebranded as MB Aerospace Technologies (Poland). In order to support the existing customer base and the growing aerospace market in Eastern Europe, MB Aerospace is planning to invest across the business with particular focus on its surface coating services, including thermal and plasma coatings and a range of paint capabilities, as well as heat treatment and brazing processes.

According to Craig Gallagher, MB Aerospace chief executive officer, "With thermal and plasma coating capabilities now available to us in the region, we can provide customers with fast, responsive lead times for aero-engine and industrial gas turbine component treatments, whilst mitigating the logistics, and cost, of shipping products long distances to have such critical work done."

"We have inherited a well-established and respected business in Poland with highly skilled employees and a wide range of customer approvals," says Dave Farmery, managing director of MB Aerospace Poland. "Working closely with the existing team, we will invest heavily to provide the local market with the capabilities and capacity required to ensure customers continue to receive a world-class service."

www.mbaerospace.com

Facility dedicated to heat treating Mg and Al aerospace parts is Nadcap certified

July 12, 2016
Source:

Wallwork Heat Treating Co., England, announces that it has a dedicated, Nadcap-certified heat treatment facility for magnesium and aluminum components ranging from small parts to large fabrications. Aluminum and magnesium are seen by some thermal processors as difficult to treat, but over the last four years Wallwork has increased capability and steadily expanded these services.

Starting with commercial work and now extending Nadcap approvals to meet the needs of aerospace customers, the company treats a wide variety of parts, from small metal pressings to large cast, fabricated, or machined components. These are destined for applications as varied as aerospace and satellites, to sports cycles.

The main furnace has a capacity of up to 1760 pounds and can process components occupying up to 70 cubic feet. Variable quench facilities including air, water, and polymers are available to meet different technical requirements. With these methods, quench cycles can be as short as ten seconds.

In aerospace particularly, post treatment validation is vital. Our in-house laboratories are able to perform key tests and provide documentation to certify conformance to specifications. With a dedicated fleet of over 40 vehicles, we provide a national service.

www.wallworkht.co.uk