Harper partners with University of Colorado to process magnesium for auto parts
November 6, 2014
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Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y., has finalized a contract for a research-scale high-temperature reactor to support the University of Colorado Boulder's development of magnesium for lightweight vehicle parts. Harper's system is based on an advanced carbothermal reaction of carbon and magnesium oxide, which are heated to high temperatures to produce magnesium vapor and carbon monoxide gas. While the magnesium vapor is converted into a solid metal, the carbon monoxide is combined with steam and excess heat recovered from the solar-electric reactor to shift the carbon monoxide into hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the syngas building blocks that can be catalytically reacted into diesel fuel or gasoline.
CU-Boulder was awarded a three-year, $3.6 million grant from the U.S. Energy Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency in September of 2013. CU-Boulder Professor Alan Weimer and his research team will utilize the Harper reactor to produce both magnesium and synthesis gas, or syngas, a precursor for synthetic gasoline.
One of the most advanced customizations of the Harper system includes the hybrid utilization of both electric energy and renewable, concentrated solar power for heating. The current leading process to produce magnesium involves using electricity 24 hours a day, a method that is particularly expensive because of high energy consumption during daylight hours. The CU-Boulder team will use solar energy to power the reactor in the daytime and use electricity only at night during off-peak hours.
"Harper's custom system will enable us to not only make magnesium, a high value and strategic material, but also to make fuel, and in a more energy-efficient manner," said Professor Weimer. "Our partnership with Harper throughout the design process yielded a one-of-a-kind hybrid solar/electric cavity reactor that will propel our critical research for producing magnesium as well as future materials."
Magnesium is 75% lighter than steel and 33% lighter than aluminum. By 2020, magnesium parts will allow cars and trucks to weigh 15% less, leading to fuel savings of 9 to 12%, according to the U.S. Automotive Materials Partnership, an industrial coalition of the Chrysler Group LLC, the Ford Motor Company and the General Motors Co. The Weimer research lab has been engaged in solar-thermal processing for the past 17 years and is the largest academic solar-thermal chemistry research team in the United States.
www.harperintl.com
Harper International, Buffalo, N.Y., has finalized a contract for a research-scale high-temperature reactor to support University of Colorado Boulder’s development of magnesium for lightweight vehicle parts.
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Ipsen ships furnaces worldwide for aerospace, automotive, energy, and more
November 4, 2014
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., reports that in recent months it has shipped more than 30 furnaces around the globe for a variety of applications and industries. The equipment was sent to international customers in Germany, Mexico, China, Tunisia and South Korea, as well as sites within the United States, covering a range of 12 different states. These shipments were designated for use in a diverse range of applications and industries, including aerospace, automotive, energy, mint (currency), commercial heat treating, medical, commercial sporting and surface engineering.
More than half of these shipments were from Ipsen's Titan line and included horizontal and vertical Titan furnaces with a variety of hot zone sizes, as well as Titan Temper furnaces. Other equipment models delivered included horizontal and vertical Metal Master furnaces, Turbo Treater furnaces, and vacuum aluminum-brazing furnaces.
Of the furnaces sold, five companies bought more than one to handle their varied processes. Overall, these shipments represent Ipsen's ability to provide heat-treating solutions through a product line that supports various applications and processes.
http://www.ipsenusa.com
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., reports that in recent months it has shipped more than 30 furnaces around the globe for a variety of applications and industries.
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Novelis invests $100 million in its Chinese aluminum plant
October 29, 2014
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Novelis, Atlanta, has opened China's first plant dedicated to the production of heat-treated aluminum automotive sheet. The wholly-owned facility, located in the Changzhou National Hi-Tech District, represents a $100 million investment by Novelis to expand its global footprint to serve the rapidly growing market for automotive aluminum.
With an annual capacity of 120,000 metric tons, the new facility will assist China in meeting its environmental goals, and will provide customers in Asia and abroad with high-quality automotive sheet for lightweight vehicle structures and body panels such as hoods, doors, fenders, and lift gates.
The opening makes Novelis the only company to produce automotive aluminum sheet in all three of the world's major automobile producing regions -- Asia, Europe, and North America.
Since 2011, Novelis has invested more than $550 million globally to triple its automotive sheet capacity to 900,000 metric tons by 2015. Demand for aluminum is rapidly increasing as automakers strive to design a new generation of lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles with reduced life-cycle emissions. Each 10% weight reduction can result in a 5 to 7% fuel savings.
Currently, Novelis aluminum products are featured in more than 180 models of vehicles produced by leading automakers around the globe. Novelis forecasts the global demand from automakers for aluminum sheet will grow by approximately 30 percent each year through the end of the decade
www.novelis.com/china
Novelis, Atlanta, has opened China’s first plant dedicated to the production of heat-treated aluminum automotive sheet.
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SSAB launches Laser Plus steel with guaranteed flatness after laser cutting
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SSAB Stockholm, Sweden, has introduced Laser Plus, a new generation of steels for laser cutting that comes with unique guarantees: maximum flatness deviation of 3 mm/m after laser cutting, and bending radius of 0 -1.5 x the material thickness. These features make it possible to meet the most challenging requirements in automated production environments.
The production process of Laser Plus steels results in a surface that is covered with a thin micro scale. This enables extremely efficient laser- water- and plasma cutting. The quality of the cut edge remains excellent, even up to a thickness of 30 mm. The cold forming properties of Laser Plus steels are excellent and SSAB guarantees inner bending radius of 0-1.5 x the material thickness, depending on strength level in combination with thickness.
Laser Plus steels are now available both as heavy plates and hot-rolled strip products. It is the new standard for demanding applications in mechanical engineering and construction, as well as in the automotive and electronics industries.
www.ssab.com
SSAB Stockholm, Sweden, has introduced Laser Plus, a totally new generation of steels, for laser cutting that comes with unique guarantees: maximum flatness deviation of 3 mm/m after laser cutting and bending radius of 0 -1.5 x the material thickness.
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EFD Induction lands major order for thread annealing of CV joints
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EFD Induction, Madison Heights, Mich., announces that a global leader in advanced steering and driveline systems has selected its HardLine system to anneal the thread area of constant-velocity (CV) joints. The HardLine heat treatment machine is a custom engineered system, which includes an EFD Induction Sinac heat generator, the industry's most reliable induction frequency converter.
"Of course, nothing can be left to chance when annealing a component as important as a CV joint," says Mark Andrus of EFD Induction USA. "The annealing quality must be consistently high, and the heat treatment solution must deliver exceptional uptime. As we all know, automakers must constantly strive to reduce costs while at the same time maintaining high quality levels."
EFD Induction has to date installed thousands of heating solutions for a vast range of industrial applications—bringing the benefits of induction technology to many of the world's leading manufacturing and service companies. EFD Induction has manufacturing plants, workshops, and service centers in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
www.efd-induction.com
EFD Induction, Madison Heights, Mich., announces that a global leader in advanced steering and driveline systems has selected its HardLine system to anneal the thread area of constant-velocity (CV) joints.
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EFD Induction chosen for heat treatment of balance shafts
October 21, 2014
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EFD Induction Inc., Madison Heights, Mich., announces that a global supplier of engine, steering and chassis components, has selected its Hardline vertical hardening system as a solution for hardening of balance shafts. A balance shaft is an eccentric weighted shaft that offsets vibrations in engine designs that are not inherently balanced.
The system, which will be installed at a plant in Pune, India, is a HardLine VM 500. The HardLine vertical hardening system is powered by an EFD Induction Sinac 60/80 generator. The machine also features a CNC-based control system and a closed-loop cooling system.
"Balance shafts are subjected to extreme conditions," says Kiran Deyannavar of EFD Induction India. "The hardening process for this critical component must satisfy stringent quality standards. So we're delighted that a world-leading manufacturer of balance shafts chose us to devise a solution. It's a major vote of confidence in our technical capabilities."
EFD Induction has to date installed thousands of heating solutions for a vast range of industrial applications—bringing the benefits of induction technology to many of the world's leading manufacturing and service companies. EFD Induction has manufacturing plants, workshops and service centers in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
www.efd-induction.com
EFD Induction Inc., Madison Heights, Mich., announces that a global supplier of engine, steering and chassis components, has selected its Hardline vertical hardening system as a solution for hardening of balance shafts.
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Al-Fe Heat Treating offers glycol quenching of aluminum for precise control
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Al-Fe Heat Treating, Fort Wayne, Ind., has just added glycol quenching to its list of Nadcap-accredited aluminum heat treat services at its plant in Wadsworth, Ohio. Glycol quenching has numerous benefits for heat treating, particularly when used with aluminum parts, because it allows for precise control over quenching speeds, something traditional hot water quenching methods don't offer.
Glycol quenching is ideal for parts with thin sections or wall thicknesses, as well as sheet metal and stamped parts that may be distorted using standard water or air treatments. Although water quenching is the most economical, it can cause metals to lose strength, hardness and flexibility. Glycol's unique inverse solubility eliminates vapor pockets and provides more even heat extraction, which reduces warpage in finished parts. Precise cooling rates can be achieved by changing the polymer concentration. Because of this, glycol provides consistent quenching results, load after load, reducing downtime and scrap.
Al-Fe Heat Treating's locations in Wabash, Indiana, and Wadsworth, Ohio provide both low- and high-volume aluminum heat treating with glycol quenching for automotive and commercial applications. Glycol quenching, coupled with water and air quenching methods, is just one more tool Al-Fe Heat Treating offers to help its customers manufacture parts with consistent quality.
http://www.al-fe.com
Al-Fe Heat Treating, Fort Wayne, Ind., has just added glycol quenching to its list of Nadcap-accredited aluminum heat treat services at its plant in Wadsworth, Ohio.
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TimkenSteel to invest $40 million in quench-and-temper facility
October 10, 2014
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TimkenSteel, Canton, Ohio, announces that it will locate an advanced quench-and-temper facility that will produce more value-added steel for demanding applications. The $40 million facility, which will be fully operational within two years, will carry out heat-treat operations and have capacity for 50,000 process-tons annually of 4-inch to 13-inch bars and tubes. It will be located in Perry Township on the site of TimkenSteel's Gambrinus Steel Plant near three existing thermal treatment facilities.
"Our investment in additional value-added operations feeds growing sales of our most sophisticated product lines, which meet the needs of demanding applications in energy and other markets," said Shawn J. Seanor, executive vice president of Energy and Distribution. "Our decision to locate the new operation near our Canton facilities offers us operational benefits and comes after strong state and local support."TimkenSteel's energy offerings serve global equipment manufacturers and service companies with customized products and services for their most demanding applications in down-hole tools and top-of-hole infrastructure. The company's integrated supply chain solution combines high-performance material, industry-leading thermal treatment, proprietary machining processes and responsive delivery capabilities.
TimkenSteel's products reach all corners of the globe to serve a diverse client base, including those in the oil and gas, automotive, industrial equipment, mining, construction, rail, aerospace, heavy truck, agriculture and power generation industries.
www.timkensteel.com
TimkenSteel, Canton, Ohio, announces that it will locate an advanced quench-and-temper facility in Perry Township in northeast Ohio.
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Al-Fe Heat Treating partners with Ford to build Precision Air Quenching system
October 9, 2014
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Al-Fe Heat Treating, Fort Wayne, Ind., is investing millions of dollars in its plant in Saginaw, Mich., as part of Al-Fe's alliance with Ford to process structural parts for the all-new military grade aluminum alloy and high-strength steel F-150. To replace heavier steel stampings with lightweight aluminum, Ford needed a solution for heat treating aluminum parts to the required mechanical properties while controlling and minimizing distortion. Al-Fe Heat Treating is providing that solution, by investing $7-10 million dollars in its Saginaw plant to build a state-of-the-art heat treating system that utilizes Precision Air Quenching.
The stampings will be manufactured by a Tier One stamping supplier to Ford. Al-Fe is also partnering with Can-Eng International to upgrade and customize the controls on Al-Fe's continuous solution furnace, as well as build and install the Precision Air Quench system. In addition, Can-Eng will assist in adapting the configuration of the automated conveyors, delivering the parts immediately to Al-Fe's existing continuous age oven, thereby completing the artificial aging process.
This truck will be one of the first to offer lightweight design, increasing fuel efficiency while still maintaining strength. In an effort to meet increased MPG standards, the projected aluminum content in vehicles will increase from 343 pounds currently to 550 pounds by 2025. From engine blocks to impact beams, aluminum will be a vital component of all vehicles going forward. However, using lighter weight aluminum in engines and vehicle frames necessitates a unique method of heat treating, one that minimizes torque, distortion, and cracking, while still maintaining part integrity.
www.al-fe.com
Al-Fe Heat Treating, Fort Wayne, Ind., is investing millions of dollars in its plant in Saginaw, Mich., as part of Al-Fe’s alliance with Ford to process structural parts for the all-new military grade aluminum alloy and high-strength steel F-150 pickup truck.
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Ipsen to ship VFS furnaces for heat treating medical devices and aerospace equipment
October 1, 2014
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Ipsen USA, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that it will ship four VFS furnaces from its facility in Souderton, Pa., to sites in Washington, Ohio, North Carolina, and South Carolina, primarily for heat treating medical devices and aerospace structures. Valued at more than $4.7 million, these furnaces include HIQ (Horizontal Internal Quench), HEQ (Horizontal External Quench), and the specialized VDS (Vacuum Debind and Sinter) system capable of high-efficiency binder- and contaminate-trapping.
The HEQ and HIQ models represent the latest vacuum furnace innovations and designs. Overall, the VFS series provides consistent performance and reliability, all while staying committed to supplying maintenance-friendly designs that reduce downtime.
Ipsen designs and manufactures industrial vacuum furnaces, atmosphere furnaces, and supervisory control systems for a wide variety of thermal processing markets, including: Aerospace, Commercial Heat Treating, Medical, Energy and Automotive.
www.ipsenusa.com
Ipsen USA, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that it will ship four VFS furnaces from its facility in Souderton, Pa., to sites in Washington, Ohio, North Carolina, and South Carolina, primarily for heat treating medical devices and aerospace structures.
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