Steel Dynamics invests $28 million to expand rolling capacity at its Roanoke facility
February 6, 2017
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Steel Dynamics, Fort Wayne, Ind., recently invested $28 million for a reheating furnace and a new finishing area in its Roanoke Bar Division to increase rolling capacity from the current 500,000 tons to over 600,000 tons per year.
"With the addition of this equipment, which allows for multi-strand slitting and rebar finishing, we expect the added product diversification and our existing highly competitive cost structure to allow us to quickly grow market share. Additionally, we will be one of the largest independent rebar suppliers without our own rebar fabricating business, which we believe will be a positive for our new customer base," said Joe Crawford, Vice President and Roanoke Bar Division General Manager.
The supply package is comprised of a pusher-type high capacity reheating furnace designed to process 140 tons of billets per hour. The plan is to roll the billets into light sections and reinforcing bars from sizes #4 to #11, as well as corresponding round bars. The objective of the new reheating furnace is not only to increase productivity, but also to significantly improve energy efficiency, with the adoption of a smart combustion management system.
After the upgrade, the Roanoke Bar Division expects to increase production of rebar to over 200,000 tons per year. Commissioning is expected to commence at the end of 2017.
http://ir.steeldynamics.com/
Steel Dynamics, Fort Wayne, Ind., recently invested $28 million for a reheating furnace and a new finishing area in its Roanoke Bar Division to increase rolling capacity from the current 500,000 tons to over 600,000 tons per year.
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Plasma-sprayed aluminum-titanium coating to protect U.K. aircraft carrier deck
February 4, 2017
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The Aircraft Carrier Alliance, U.K., reports that a plasma spray aluminum-titanium coating has been developed by British companies specifically to protect the flight deck of the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers from the heat that results from the immense thrust of the engines of its F-35B Lightning II fighter jets.
The specialized thermal spray coating is being applied to sections of the vast flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth using a specially developed robotic spray that fires powdered metal through a jet of plasma at temperatures of almost 18,000°F. The molten droplets then flatten and quickly solidify, creating a tough but rough coating 2 to 2.5 mm thick that is bonded to the steel beneath. Approximately 2000 square meters of the 19,000 square-meter flight deck will be coated, with the work due to be completed prior to sea trials in early 2017.
The coating is made of a combination of aluminum and titanium powders, and can withstand temperatures of up to 2700°F. Developed in partnership with Monitor Coatings, based in Tyne and Wear, the material is expected to provide long-term protection through the 50-year life of the carriers. It is an important part of the work underway to prepare HMS Queen Elizabeth for sea trials this year and flight trials in 2018.
The QE Class ships, which include the Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales, will each provide eight acres of sovereign territory to be deployed around the world. They will be versatile enough to be used for operations ranging from supporting war efforts to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
According to Captain Simon Petitt, Senior Naval Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, "The new flight deck coating is one of the many 21st Century engineering innovations being incorporated in the Queen Elizabeth Class program. As the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy, these powerful ambassadors will protect U.K. interests around the globe for the next 50 years."
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance has four members, three of which are industrial: Babcock, BAE Systems, and Thales UK. The fourth, the UK Ministry of Defence, has a dual role, acting as a member of the Alliance as the customer.
While both aircraft carriers will enter service under the white ensign of the Royal Navy, they will ultimately be utilized by all three sectors of the UK Armed Forces.
http://www.aircraftcarrieralliance.co.uk/media/latest-news
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance, U.K., reports that a plasma spray aluminum-titanium coating has been developed by British companies specifically to protect the flight deck of the new Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers from the heat that results from the immense thrust of the engines of the F-35B Lightning II fighter jets.
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Additive manufacturing survey shows growth in Defense, Aircraft, and Space
February 3, 2017
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Defence IQ, London, recently conducted a wide-ranging survey of additive manufacturing in the defense, aerospace, and space industries to explore what has changed in the last 12 months and what the future holds. The findings are summarized in an infographic that shows much more than the section shown here. This section refers only to answers to the question, "Which companies are the leaders in applying additive manufacturing?"
The graph compares the results of the 2015 survey to the results of the 2016 survey. The outcome displayed here shows that GE Aviation has moved firmly into the lead at 63%. Last year's leader Airbus, at 53% in 2015, fell to 40% in 2016.
One section of the infographic shows that 37% of respondents think that international bodies should lead additive manufacturing certification efforts, down from last year's survey. The trend for 2017 shows that more people think it should be led by cross-sector working groups.
Other sections of the survey ask what are the industry's biggest challenges, how many stakeholders are aware of the benefits of AM, and how many respondents think that AM will be "standard and ubiquitous" over the next years and decades.
Download the full infographic here: http://bit.ly/2hMibdi
Defence IQ, London, recently conducted a wide-ranging survey of additive manufacturing in the defense, aerospace, and space industries to explore what has changed in the last 12 months and what the future holds.
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Leica Microsystems announces education partnership with ASM International
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Leica Microsystems, Buffalo Grove, Ill, announces a new educational partnership with ASM International, the preeminent association for connecting materials professionals with the finest resources available – to solve problems, improve materials performance, and support professional development.
ASM will host classroom programs using inverted and digital microscopes for inspection and analysis in metallography, manufacturing, and materials research through this partnership. These programs will rely on sophisticated equipment from Leica Microsystems, including the Leica DMi8 modular inverted microscope system for the material sciences and the Leica DMS300 digital microscopy system, as well as Leica LAS X advanced measurement and image analysis software. The partnership between Leica and ASM will provide learning opportunities for new imaging techniques and the benefits of heads-up inspection.
"The partnership will allow ASM to expand its existing content and enhance the experience for both instructors and professionals," says John Cerne, ASM International Senior Manager of Education.
"Leica Microsystems‘ partnership with ASM unites a leader in materials imaging and analysis instrumentation with the premier industrial materials educational institution," says Alan Paris, Director of Business Development at Leica Microsystems. "This partnership will advance materials science and manufacturing worldwide."
For questions regarding this partnership, please contact Lon Nelson, Director of Sales-Microscopy, at 224-628-2467 or [email protected].
www.leica-microsystems.com
Leica Microsystems, Buffalo Grove, Ill, announces a new educational partnership with ASM International, the preeminent association for connecting materials professionals with the finest resources available – to solve problems, improve materials performance, and support professional development.
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One Minute Mentor: Reactor for Gas Nitriding
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This diagram shows the major parts of a gas nitriding reactor. 1, muffle furnace; 2, outer shell; 3, heater; 4, internal container (retort); 5, gas inlet pipe; 6, exhaust pipe; 7, motor; 8, fan; 9, metal-made jig; 10, gas guide cylinder.
11, inverted funnel; 12, vacuum pump; 13, effluent gas combustion facility; 14, carbon donor compound gas cylinder; 15, ammonia gas cylinder; 16, nitrogen gas cylinder; 17, hydrogen gas cylinder; 18, flow-rate meter; 19, gas control valve.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Nitriding of Stainless Steels ⇒ Thermochemical Nitriding Treatments
This diagram shows the major parts of a gas nitriding reactor.
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Wisconsin Oven ships batch oven to Flame Treating to temper steel parts
January 30, 2017
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Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, Wis., has shipped a natural gas-fired draw batch oven to Flame Treating Systems Inc. in Durham, N.C., for tempering various steel parts. Flame Treating provides customized flame hardening systems to customers, and also provides in-house flame hardening services. The addition of this tempering oven allows the company to efficiently temper parts in-house.
The tempering oven has a maximum temperature of 1250°F and basket dimensions of 4x3x4 feet. Steel parts are loaded into the draw batch oven in the basket on two stainless steel pier rails with the load capacity of 2000 pounds gross. The recirculation system features a combination air flow arrangement that utilizes a 7000 CFM @ 10 HP plug-mounted blower. The combination airflow arrangement provides both horizontal and vertical upward airflow, which maximizes heating rates and temperature uniformity of the product.
"We are starting to do a significant amount of flame hardening for customers in our shop now," says Mark Sirrine, President of Flame Treating Systems Inc. , "so we needed a better solution than sending parts out for tempering. We installed the oven in the warehouse room adjacent to our 2000-lb. capacity spin flame hardening machine. Five days later it was in production, tempering batches of 800-pound sprockets. That pretty much tells you what you need to know about the ease of installation. We're looking forward to continuing to expand our services in the mid-Atlantic region for both localized hardening and tempering."
www.wisoven.com
www.flametreatingsystems.com
Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, Wis., has shipped a natural gas-fired draw batch oven to Flame Treating Systems Inc. in Durham, N.C., for tempering various steel parts.
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Wisonsin Oven’s heat treating batch oven tempers steel parts for Flame Treating
Source:
Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, Wis., has shipped a natural gas-fired draw batch oven to Flame Treating Systems Inc. in Durham, N.C., for tempering various steel parts. Flame Treating provides customized flame hardening systems to customers, and also provides in-house flame-hardening services. The addition of this tempering oven allows the company to efficiently temper parts in-house.
The tempering oven has a maximum temperature of 1250°F and basket dimensions of 4x3x4 feet. Steel parts are loaded into the draw batch oven in the basket on two stainless steel pier rails with the load capacity of 2000 pounds gross. The recirculation system features a combination air flow arrangement that utilizes a 7000 CFM @ 10 HP plug-mounted blower. The combination airflow arrangement provides both horizontal and vertical upward airflow, which maximizes heating rates and temperature uniformity of the product.
"We are starting to do a significant amount of flame hardening for customers in our shop now," says Mark Sirrine, President of Flame Treating Systems Inc. , "so we needed a better solution than sending parts out for tempering. We installed the oven in the warehouse room adjacent to our 2000-lb. capacity spin flame hardening machine. Five days later it was in production, tempering batches of 800-pound sprockets. That pretty much tells you what you need to know about the ease of installation. We're looking forward to continuing to expand our services in the mid-Atlantic region for both localized hardening and tempering."
www.wisoven.com
www.flametreatingsystems.com
Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, Wis., has shipped a natural gas-fired draw batch oven to Flame Treating Systems Inc. in Durham, N.C., for tempering various steel parts.
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Solar Atmospheres invests with confidence in America
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Solar Atmospheres, Souderton, Pa., announces that it placed an order on Jan. 20 for a large horizontal-loading ten-bar vacuum furnace with advanced cooling technology, built by its sister company, Solar Manufacturing Inc. The furnace will have a six-foot diameter, six-foot deep graphite and CFC hot-zone. It will be utilized for the heat treatment of gas turbine blades for the power generation industry at Solar's flagship plant in Souderton.
"This shows the confidence we have in improved business conditions going forward thanks to President Trump," says William R. Jones, CEO, FASM. The investment and installation cost will approach $2,000,000.
www.solaratm.com
Solar Atmospheres, Souderton, Pa., announces that it placed an order on Jan. 20 for a large horizontal-loading ten-bar vacuum furnace with advanced cooling technology, built by its sister company, Solar Manufacturing Inc.
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Can-Eng to build continuous T-7 heat treatment system for aluminum castings
January 29, 2017
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Can-Eng Furnaces Intl. Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been contracted to design, manufacture, and commission an automated T7 Heat Treatment System for the processing of high-integrity aluminum automotive structural castings for a company in the European Union. The Can-Eng design was chosen for this new facility because it offers inherent part handling features that reduce floor space requirements and energy consumption, while providing predictable mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the castings.
The high-volume continuous line includes integrated handling systems connected to up/down stream processes. The T-7 system integrates a robotic handling solution furnace with Precision Air Quench (PAQ) technology, an artificial aging system, and controls integrating Level II SCADA system. The PAQ system integrates a unique combination of features that have been developed through continuous system improvements and modeling carried out in over twenty similar systems commissioned in recent years.
The PAQ system uniformly delivers controlled quenching processes that provide repeatable and uniform mechanical properties and accurate dimensional results. The system is scheduled to be delivered and commissioned to the EU in the third quarter of 2017.
www.can-eng.com
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl. Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been contracted to design, manufacture, and commission an automated T7 Heat Treatment System for the processing of high-integrity aluminum automotive structural castings for a company in the European Union.
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Rolls Royce approves Wallwork Group for vacuum brazing of aerospace structures
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Wallwork Group, U.K., announces that the scope of Rolls Royce approvals for the Bury (Manchester) site of metal thermal processing specialists Wallwork Group, has been extended to include the company's new vacuum brazing facility. Wallwork already undertakes aerospace work for Rolls Royce and it is hoped the new vacuum brazing unit with attract even more high-value contracts.
"Bury is the largest of our three UK sites and already has extensive approvals for metal heat treatment processes," explains sales manager Howard Maher. "Vacuum brazing is a relatively new addition to the services at this location and is a natural addition to the other high vacuum processes that we operate. Achieving Rolls Royce approval so soon after commissioning the new vacuum brazing development laboratory and assembly area is another feather in our cap." Bury is the lead aerospace processing site in the Wallwork group and already has extensive approvals for mainstream heat treatments such as case hardening, carburizing, hardening and tempering, nitriding, and many other common processes. In addition to further Rolls Royce approval, the company also carries approvals from other aerospace primes, such as BAe Systems, Airbus, Safran, Bombardier, Moog and many others, for specific heat treatment processes.
www.wallworkht.co.uk
Wallwork Group, U.K., announces that the scope of Rolls Royce approvals for the Bury (Manchester) site of metal thermal processing specialists Wallwork Group, has been extended to include the company’s new vacuum brazing facility.
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