Sudosilo S.A. commissions new Nitrex installation

March 26, 2024
Source: ASM International

Sudosilo S.A. commissions new Nitrex installation

Nitrex, Quebec, is helping Sudosilo S.A., a leading commercial heat treatment service provider in South America, bring premier nitriding to the Argentine industrial sector with the recent commissioning of a turnkey installation. This newly operational nitriding system, represents a significant milestone as the first of its kind in Argentina, offering third-party heat treatment services to the region.

At the forefront of technological advancement, Sudosilo has embraced cutting-edge technologies to cater to various sectors, including aluminum injection, aluminum extrusion, forging, and oil applications. The integration of a NITREX system into its operations is set to establish a new benchmark for quality and precision in nitriding treatments.

The new Nitrex system adheres to CQI-9 guidelines for automotive heat treatment processes and NADCAP requirements for aerospace applications. This aligns Sudosilo with international standards, positioning the company to meet the exacting demands of both Argentine and South American markets for quality, innovation, and unparalleled service. 

The successful commissioning of the turnkey system, featuring a pit-type furnace model NX-1015 with Nitreg® controlled nitriding, Nitreg®-C controlled nitrocarburizing, and ONC® post-oxidation process technologies, was completed in November 2023. These advanced technologies ensure a uniform case depth and precise management of nitriding/nitrocarburizing/oxidation layer formation, optimizing the mechanical properties of tooling and dies. Nitreg® and Nitreg®-C contribute to enhancing surface hardness and fatigue resistance, while ONC® improves corrosion resistance. Notably, the system eliminates the need for post-finishing operations and boasts a substantial load capacity of 4400 lbs. (2000 kg). Marathon Systems Control, serving as a Nitrex representative for Latin America, played a pivotal role in expertly executing the system installation and finalizing the process validation.

https://www.nitrex.com/

One Minute Mentor: High performance line with hydrogen quenching

March 4, 2024
Source: ASM International

One Minute Mentor: High performance line with hydrogen quenching

For stainless martensitic grades and carbon steel up to certain thickness, the two-stage molten metal quenching is successfully converted into hydrogen quenching with big advantages in quality, including oxide-free and lead-free surfaces. Cooling gradients of up to 300 K/s are possible. Martensitic chromium steels with 13% Cr and 0.2 to 0.4% C are used to manufacture various stainless steel components, knives, and tools, as well as parts for the cutlery industry.

 

A special application for producing high-quality heavy-duty strapping band in bainitic condition is a line with high throughput and low-energy consumption. The steel grade AISI 1536/DIN EN 36Mn5 is usually preheated to approximately 400 °C (750 °F) in a compact two–stage molten metal quench, acting as the secondary winding of the transformer fed. The strip is raised to austenitizing temperature at 900 °C (1650 °F) and then quenched in the molten lead/bismuth. The thermal energy dissipated during quenching is used to preheat the incoming strip.

 

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 12. R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014  https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Harper Furnace Technology enables high performance silicon anodes


Source: ASM International

Harper Furnace Technology enables high performance silicon anodes

Harper Furnace Technology, Buffalo, NY, announced the development of high temperature thermal process solutions to enable production at several silicon anode battery material companies in 2024. Silicon anode material offers significantly higher specific capacity than traditional graphite anode materials enabling higher power density, faster charge times and smaller carbon footprint than current batteries. 

 

Harper has entered engineering design and equipment supply contracts for pilot and production scale equipment with its USA-based customers, many of whom are funded in part by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. The Harper technology includes indirect electrically heated, continuous rotary, vertical and horizontal conveyor furnace systems for each customer’s unique thermochemical processes. The Harper furnaces include tight control of the process atmosphere enabling safe and reliable continuous operation, are rated for temperatures between 800˚C and 1,800˚C and will have capacity up to 1,000 metric tons per year. Beyond the pilot-scale equipment projects, Harper is actively engineering the next generation of equipment solutions for these customers whose commercial scale plants will require capacity of 20,000 – 40,000 metric tons per year for the electric vehicle (EV) market.

 

https://www.harperintl.com/

Solar Atmospheres of Michigan achieves Nadcap accreditation for laboratory


Source: ASM International

Solar Atmospheres of Michigan achieves Nadcap accreditation for laboratory

Solar Atmospheres, Chesterfield, MI, has successfully achieved Nadcap AC7101/4 accreditation for their captive metallography laboratory. 

 

The accreditation will allow the Chesterfield plant to continue testing for microhardness, surface contamination, intergranular oxidation and grain size which were all previously completed at the Warren facility. In addition to continued testing capabilities, the addition of new metallographic preparation equipment and metallography software will expand Chesterfield’s R&D capabilities and assist in new product development.

Plant metallurgist Greg Scheuring states, “This was the next step in moving operations from Warren to Chesterfield. To limit downtime and maintain on-time delivery, we gave ourselves a week to make the move and conduct the audit. It was an extremely abbreviated time for such a task but personnel at both facilities pulled together to make it happen. Now the audit is complete with no findings, and we are back up and running. Stellar teamwork all around!”

 

https://solaratm.com/solar-atmospheres-of-michigan-achieves-nadcap-accreditation-for-laboratory/

Constellium to showcase cutting-edge solutions for aluminium automotive structures at CES 2024

February 6, 2024
Source: ASM International

Constellium to showcase cutting-edge solutions for aluminium automotive structures at CES 2024

Constellium, Paris, exhibited its latest innovations in aluminium Automotive Structures at CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 9-12. A leading supplier of advanced lightweight aluminium automotive components, Constellium highlighted its sustainable solutions for automakers and consumers. 

Constellium showcased a diverse range of aluminium solutions designed to address the industry’s growing demand for lightweight materials and more sustainable solutions. These components contribute to enhanced vehicle performance and play a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions, aligning with the global trend toward eco-friendly mobility. Among the products displayed are:  

  • Innovative Crash Management System for electric vehicles
  • Structural Sill providing stiffness and crash resistance
  • Lightweight Battery Enclosure solutions
    • Laser-Welded Battery Enclosure for Cell-to-Module applications
    • Adhesive-Bonded Battery Enclosures for Cell-to-Module or Cell-to-Pack applications
    • Structural Battery Enclosure for Cell-to-Pack or Cell-to-Body applications 

Read further here.

Nitrex Partners with Telfer School of Management


Source: ASM International

Nitrex Partners with Telfer School of Management

Nitrex, Quebec,  announced a collaboration with the Telfer School of Management, with the aim of nurturing innovation and cultivating the next generation of visionaries through the new PhD scholarship in Digital Transformation and Innovation (DTI). 

Nitrex said that this partnership echoes their commitment to driving digitalization, not only within the heat treat industry but also within academia. They added that this scholarship marks a significant leap in empowering brilliant minds to spearhead groundbreaking research, shaping the future technological landscape of industrial manufacturing.

Read further here.

Bodycote appointments Group Chief Executive

December 4, 2023
Source: ASM International

Bodycote appointments Group Chief Executive

Bodycote, Macclesfield, U.K, announced the appointment of Jim Fairbairn as the new Group Chief Executive, succeeding Stephen Harris upon his retirement. Fairbairn is set to join the company and its Board in March 2024 and will assume the role of Group Chief Executive in May 2024, following a structured transition period. Stephen Harris will retire and step down from the Board at the Annual General Meeting on May 31, 2024.

Jim Fairbairn, 54, brings a wealth of experience in managing engineering businesses. His career, spanning over thirty years, includes significant roles at John Wood Group, PE-owned Clyde Bergemann, Howden Group, and Megger Group, culminating in substantial experience as both a Divisional and Group CEO.

Fairbairn’s most recent position was Group CEO at Megger Group, a test and measurement specialist based in Dover, which he joined in 2017. Under his leadership, the company saw significant revenue growth to £325m and a notable increase in operating margins. He also played a pivotal role in evolving Megger’s strategy and culture. Before Megger, he held executive roles at Howden Group in Glasgow from 2009 to 2017, ending his tenure there as President of the Howden Power, Environment and Process business, overseeing global product and service revenues exceeding $1 billion across 19 sites worldwide.

Read further here.

One Minute Mentor: Continuous Operating Furnaces for Tool Steel Strips


Source: ASM International

One Minute Mentor: Continuous Operating Furnaces for Tool Steel Strips

The continuous heat treatment of tool steel is applied to low- or medium-alloyed carbon steel strips as well as martensitic stainless steels. The described lines produce high-quality strip with respect to uniform structure, flatness, and bright surface finish. Steel grades with 0.4 to 1.2% C, low and high alloyed, can be processed. 

Strip dimensions range between 10 to 750 mm (0.4 to 29.5 in.) wide and 0.05 to 4 mm (0.002 to 0.16 in.) thick. High quenching rates are necessary, especially for plain carbon steels. Cooling gradients of up to 600 K/s are possible in a molten lead-bismuth quench. Because two-stage quenching technology provides considerable advantages over quenching in oil, this method has been adopted worldwide. It is also possible to achieve isothermal transformation to bainite and pearlite using a molten metal quench, so this type of hardening and tempering line is extremely versatile.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 9. R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014  https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Solar Atmospheres South Carolina facility orders 10 bar vacuum furnace


Source: ASM International

Solar Atmospheres South Carolina facility orders 10 bar vacuum furnace

Solar Atmospheres, Greenville, SC, has announced the acquisition of a new 10-bar vacuum furnace for its Greenville, SC facility. Manufactured by Solar Manufacturing, this new horizontal vacuum furnace measures 48 inches wide, 48 inches high, and 96 inches deep. It is designed to handle loads up to 12,000 pounds and is scheduled for installation in late 2024.

The furnace will be equipped with a vacuum pumping system capable of achieving an ultimate vacuum of 1×10-6 Torr, essential for processing titanium and other high-grade alloys. It also features advanced designs for the uniform and rapid cooling of large workloads, enhancing the processing capabilities at the Greenville facility.

Steve Prout, president of Solar Atmospheres Southeast, said, “This new furnace will provide an additional option for high-pressure quenching of large components and workloads in the region. It also offers an opportunity for cost-effective thermal processing in the current economic environment.”

https://solaratm.com/solar-atmospheres-south-carolina-facility-orders-10-bar-vacuum-furnace/

Lindberg/MPH completes roller hearth furnace system for the energy industry

October 16, 2023
Source: ASM International

Lindberg/MPH completes roller hearth furnace system for the energy industry

Lindberg/MPH, Mich., announced the installation of a roller hearth furnace system for a manufacturer of products used in the energy industry. The heat treat system is comprised of two box furnaces with quench tanks, a dual directional load transfer car, four companion draw batch ovens, and two stationary load/unload tables.

The maximum operating temperature of the box furnaces is 1850°F and they are designed for nitrogen-based atmosphere applications. The load space dimensions of the box furnaces are 48” W x 96” D x 36” H, and the internal chambers are larger to provide clearance for baskets or fixtures. A snake chain pusher assembly is used by each furnace to transfer the loads from the chamber to the quench elevator deck.

Read further here.