International Molybdenum Association reports on global molybdenum market
August 25, 2014 Source: ASM International
The International Molybdenum Association, London, reports that global use of molybdenum in the first quarter of 2014 decreased to 136.1 million pounds, down 2% from 138.2 million pounds in the previous quarter, but 7% higher than the same quarter in 2013.
Continue readingKPS Capital Partners to sell Waupaca Foundry to Hitachi Metals
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KPS Capital Partners LP, New York, has signed a definitive agreement, through an affiliate, to sell its portfolio company Waupaca Foundry Inc., Waupaca, Wis., to Hitachi Metals Ltd. for $1.3 billion in cash. Waupaca is the largest iron foundry company in the world, producing gray and ductile iron castings by state-of-the-art technology. It is North America's leading supplier of iron castings to the automotive, commercial vehicle, agriculture, construction and industrial markets.
"KPS recognized the potential of our business two years ago," says Gary Gigante, Chief Executive Officer of Waupaca. "Working in partnership with KPS, we invested significantly in our operations and people, which included an expansion of our production capacity and launching numerous continuous improvement initiatives across all six of our foundries. We are very grateful to KPS for its leadership and its commitment to improving and growing our business. We are thrilled to join Hitachi Metals, which has the resources, foundry experience, access to capital and global reach that will enable Waupaca to achieve an even higher level of success."
Headquartered in Waupaca, Wis., the iron metal caster operates six manufacturing facilities, located in Waupaca (3 individual sites), Marinette, Wisconsin; Tell City, Indiana; and Etowah, Tennessee. Waupaca employs approximately 3900 people.
KPS Capital Partners LP, New York, has signed a definitive agreement, through an affiliate, to sell its portfolio company Waupaca Foundry Inc., Waupaca, Wis., to Hitachi Metals Ltd. for $1.3 billion in cash.
Continue readingQuestek Ferrium M54 qualifies for Navy T-45 hook shank production
Source: ASM International
Questek Innovations LLC, Evanston, Ill., announces that its Ferrium M54 steel has qualified for Navy T-45 aircraft hook shank production.
Continue readingIpsen’s Titan furnaces used for aerospace, automotive, and sporting goods
August 20, 2014 Source: ASM International
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that it shipped three Titan vacuum furnaces in a span of one week: two went to China for use in the aerospace and automotive industries, and the other was shipped to Arizona for an American company in the commercial sporting industry.
Continue readingInternational Molybdenum Association publishes emissions study
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The International Molybdenum Association (IMOA), London, has published a study demonstrating that lightweight components manufactured from advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) can reduce attributable greenhouse gas emissions by around 29% compared with traditional component designs. The study, conducted by PE International, measures the lifetime environmental impact of replacing the B-Pillar in the latest Ford Fusion model with a new AHSS design.
The B-Pillar is one of the most critical components in a vehicle body, protecting occupants by helping to maintain structural integrity in a side impact. Traditionally made from press-hardened boron steel, it has been replaced in the new model with a hydro-formed component made from a mix of DP800 and DP1000 steels. The molybdenum in the steel supports modern forming processes while imparting exceptional strength, reducing the amount of steel required and making the new B-Pillar just as strong but 4 kg lighter.
The environmental benefit was calculated using life cycle assessment (LCA) to measure the total lifetime environmental impact from manufacture and use through to end-of-life. A number of environmental metrics relevant to vehicle performance were used, covering climate change, air pollution and energy resource use.
The results generated indicate that the new design has a lower impact across all environmental metrics assessed, with a saving of 29% in Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared with the previous component. Over an estimated lifetime mileage of 200,000 km, this equates to a GWP saving for both B-Pillars of 165 kg CO2e for a petrol drivetrain, and 141 kg CO2e for a diesel drivetrain. This is a saving equivalent to the emissions from driving the vehicle for over 1000 km. The new B-Pillar also performs better in side impact crash tests, and Ford estimates that it has yielded a significant cost saving.
www.imoa.info/sustainability/LCA-studies.php
The International Molybdenum Association (IMOA), London, has published a study demonstrating that lightweight components manufactured from advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) can reduce attributable greenhouse gas emissions by around 29% compared with traditional component designs.
Continue readingVac Aero ships vacuum furnace to aerospace manufacturer in Mexico
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Vac Aero, Burlington, Ontario, has shipped a VAH 6660 HV-2 horizontal vacuum furnace to an international company's plant in Mexico to process aerospace parts. This customer has a long history with Vac Aero, having purchased many vacuum furnaces for its plants all over the world over the last few decades. The furnace features an all-metal hot zone with a work chamber of 48 x 48 x 60 in., with a 4000-pound load capacity.
It utilizes gas cooling to 2-bar absolute pressure and operates at temperatures of 1000 to 2200°F. The furnace is also equipped with a 35-in. diffusion pump and Vac Aero's HC900 control system. A key control feature is the ability to independently control the work chamber zones for optimal work-load uniformity, as well as the ability to program heat-treatment cycles that can then be run automatically and accurately allowing the operator to achieve the specific structure and properties required for their application.
Vac Aero, Burlington, Ontario, has shipped a VAH 6660 HV-2 horizontal vacuum furnace to an international company’s plant in Mexico to process aerospace parts.
Continue readingNovelis completes investment in new aluminum can coating line in Brazil
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Novelis, Atlanta, Ga., announces the commissioning of a new coating line for beverage can end stock, and an expanded recycling center at its complex in Brazil. The company invested approximately $106 million in the combined projects that will add 100,000 metric tons of coating capacity and 190,000 metric tons of recycling capacity when fully operational.
The state-of-the-art coating line is designed specifically for beverage can end stock and demonstrates the continued importance of the can market to Novelis. The addition of this 100,000-ton line doubles the market's capacity to supply coated can end stock and enables Novelis to deliver directly to can customers in the region, a function previously provided by a third-party partner. Novelis expects to begin shipping commercial product from the new line in the coming months.
The investment in the recycling center supports the company's long-term commitment to increasing the recycled content in its products to 80 percent by 2020. With this expansion, the plant's recycling center, already the largest in South America, will nearly double its capacity from 200,000 to 390,000 metric tons per year when fully commissioned later this year. Over 100 new jobs were created to support the expanded operations.
"As we look ahead, we expect the anticipated increase in the population's disposable income and the upcoming Olympic Games to drive additional demand in the region," said Tadeu Nardocci, Novelis Senior Vice President and President of Novelis South America. "Brazil is one of the most rapidly-growing regions where Novelis operates around the world."
Novelis, Atlanta, Ga., announces the commissioning of a new coating line for beverage can end stock and an expanded recycling center at its complex in Brazil.
Continue readingAl-Fe Heat Treating becomes Rolls-Royce approved supplier
August 13, 2014 Source:
Al-Fe Heat Treating's Wadsworth, Ohio, plant has been named an approved supplier for Rolls-Royce Corporation of Indianapolis. The scope of the approval is for Rolls-Royce Corporation sub-tier suppliers, heat treating, AMS 2770, AMS 2771, AMS 2772, AMS-H-6088, ASTME-10 and ASTME-18. The company operates plants throughout the Midwest and Southeast serving aerospace, automotive, military and commercial customers with both ferrous and non-ferrous facilities.
"We have a sincere commitment to continuous improvement at Al-Fe, and receiving this approval from Rolls-Royce is another validation that we are achieving our quality commitments. We look forward to our future working with such a prestigious company as Rolls-Royce and our other valued customers," says Michelle Carver, quality supervisor, Al-Fe Wadsworth.
Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Al-Fe Heat Treating, Inc., is the largest commercial aluminum heat treating operation in the United States.
Al-Fe Heat Treating’s Wadsworth, Ohio, plant has been named an approved supplier for Rolls-Royce Corporation of Indianapolis.
Continue readingSSAB merges with Rautaruukki to form a global steel company
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SSAB, Stockholm, Sweden, announces that Rautaruukki became part of SSAB on July 29, 2014. Together, the two create a Nordic and U.S.-based steel company that is a leading producer on the global market for advanced high-strength steels, quenched & tempered steels, standard strip, plate, and tubular products, as well as construction solutions.
The preliminary combined net sales for the companies during 2013 amounts to approximately SEK 56 billion (EUR 6.4 billion), and SSAB and Rautaruukki combined have around 17,300 employees. The company has an annual steel production capacity of 8.8 million metric tons. tonnes.
The merger of SSAB and Ruukki creates a global steel company that offers value-added products and services developed in close cooperation with its customers. The new company has five divisions: SSAB Special Steels –advanced high-strength steels and quenched and tempered steels; SSAB Europe – a Nordic-based steel producer of high quality strip, heavy plate and tubes; SSAB Americas – a North America-based steel producer of high quality heavy plate; Tibnor – a Nordic full-service steel distribution partner; and Ruukki Construction – a European provider of energy-efficient building and construction solutions.
SSAB, Stockholm, Sweden, announces that Rautaruukki became part of SSAB on July 29, 2014.
Continue readingOutokumpu lean duplex stainless steel extends water heater life
Source: ASM International
Outokumpu Oy, Finland, reports that PVI Industries LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has chosen Outokumpu’s proprietary lean duplex stainless steel grade LDX 2101 to replace carbon steel in its water heaters.
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