Olympus designs ultrasonic thickness gage for outside of internally corroded pipes
April 30, 2014
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Olympus Corp., Center Valley, Pa., has developed the 27MG Ultrasonic Thickness Gage for accurate measurements from one side of internally corroded or eroded metal pipes and structures. It weighs only 12 oz. (340 g) and is ergonomically designed for one-hand operation. Despite its compact size, the 27MG has many innovative measurement features utilizing the same technologies available on more advanced thickness gages.
The durable, rugged 27MG is battery-operated and features a large, backlit LCD with easy-to-read numerals, and an intuitive color-coded keypad with direct access to many key features.
Standard features include Automatic Probe Recognition to ensure optimal transducer performance, Auto Zero compensation to enhance the accuracy of measurements on hot surfaces, Gain Adjust to improve measurements on sound-attenuating materials such as cast metals, Differential mode, Hi-Low Alarm settings, and a Min/Max mode that recalls the minimum or maximum thickness at 20 measurements per second.
The 27MG is designed for inspectors and maintenance engineers that need to monitor the wall thickness in metal pipes, tanks, beams, and structural supports that are susceptible to corrosion on the inside surface. An ultrasonic thickness gage provides a quick, cost-effective solution by transmitting sound into the material from the outside, making it unnecessary to damage the part.
www.olympus-global.com
Olympus Corp., Center Valley, Pa., has developed the 27MG Ultrasonic Thickness Gage for accurate measurements from one side of internally corroded or eroded metal pipes and structures.
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Purdue selects Rick Sisson as one of three 2014 Outstanding Materials Engineers
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The Purdue University School of Materials Engineering, West Lafayette, Ind., has chosen Richard Sisson, WPI Professor and Director of CHTE (Center for Heat Treating Excellence), as one of three 2014 Outstanding Materials Engineers. He was selected for his work in applying fundamental science in transport phenomena, phase transformations, and phase equilibria to a wide range of engineering materials systems; and for his leadership role as Dean of Graduate Studies at WPI.
The award was established by Purdue to recognize alumni who have demonstrated exemplary accomplishments and leadership in the field of Materials Science and Engineering or an affiliated profession.
wpi.edu/+chte
The Purdue University School of Materials Engineering, West Lafayette, Ind., has chosen Rick Sisson, WPI Professor and Director of CHTE (Center for Heat Treating Excellence), as one of three 2014 Outstanding Materials Engineers.
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Castrip to build build steel plant for thin-strip casting process
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Castrip LLC, Charlotte, N.C., has signed a license agreement with one of North America's fastest growing steelmakers to build and operate a plant utilizing the Castrip thin-strip casting process. The new casting facility will have the capability to produce 500,000 tons of thin-gauge, high-strength sheet steel for local manufacturing and construction markets. Castrip has not revealed the name of the steelmaker or the location of the plant.
The independent EAF steelmaker will be the first licensee outside of Nucor to build a Castrip facility. Nucor owns and operates thin-strip casting facilities in Crawfordsville, Ind., and Blytheville, Ark.
"We are very pleased to add another partner to the Castrip family that is well suited technically and commercially to exploit this game changing technology," said Frank Fisher, President of Castrip LLC.
The process equipment and technical services for the new facility will be provided by a consortium comprised of Siemens Metals Technologies, IHI, and Castrip LLC. IHI and Siemens are licensed exclusively by Castrip LLC to provide core equipment for Castrip facilities. The consortium has developed an optimized supply model for world-wide distribution of all new Castrip plants.
The new twin-roll casting and rolling plant will produce UCS (Ultra-thin Cast Strip) coils up to 1680mm wide, with gauge ranging between 0.8mm – 1.8mm. Start-up of the new Castrip facility is expected in early 2016.
Castrip LLC is a joint venture of Nucor Corp., BlueScope Steel of Australia, and IHI Corp. of Japan. The partnership was formed to market and license the intellectual property developed jointly by its three owners, related to the twin-roll casting of carbon and stainless steels. Castrip LLC currently holds more than 1500 patents and patents pending related to strip casting.
http://www.castrip.com
Castrip LLC, Charlotte, N.C., has signed a license agreement with one of North America’s fastest growing steelmakers to build and operate a plant utilizing the Castrip thin-strip casting process.
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Zimmer to acquire Biomet in transaction valued at $13.35 billion
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Zimmer Holdings Inc. and Biomet Inc., both of Warsaw, Ind., have approved a definitive agreement under which Zimmer will acquire Biomet in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $13.35 billion, including the assumption of net debt. The merger will position the combined company as a leader in the $45 billion musculoskeletal industry and is aligned with Zimmer's strategic framework, which focuses on growth, operational excellence, and prudent capital allocation.
The combined company is expected to deliver attractive growth by offering a more comprehensive and scalable portfolio of solutions with enhanced cross-selling opportunities. In addition, the combined company is expected to advance innovation to benefit healthcare stakeholders, and stockholders are expected to benefit from a more diversified and predictable revenue mix consistent with the comprehensive portfolio.
Upon closing, the transaction is expected to be double-digit accretive to Zimmer's adjusted diluted earnings per share in the first year. Cash flows from operations are expected to increase by 1.5 times Zimmer's stand-alone estimates.
"This is a milestone combination that brings together two highly complementary organizations and is consistent with our mission to lead the industry in delivering value to healthcare providers, their patients and stockholders," said David Dvorak, Zimmer President and CEO. "The transaction positions the combined company as a leader in the musculoskeletal industry with a broad portfolio of products, technologies and services, enabling us to help shape how solutions are developed and delivered.
According to Jeffrey R. Binder, Biomet's President and Chief Executive Officer, "The combination with Zimmer will prepare us to compete as a stronger entity in the medical device industry of the future. Our combined scale will extend the reach and influence with which we pursue our common passion: delivering products and services that benefit our customers and the patients we ultimately serve."
www.zimmer.com
Zimmer Holdings Inc. and Biomet Inc., both of Warsaw, Ind., have approved a definitive agreement under which Zimmer will acquire Biomet in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $13.35 billion, including the assumption of net debt.
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Cartech’s precision machining bar provides high strength and corrosion resistance
April 24, 2014
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Carpenter Technology Corp., Wyomissing, Pa., has expanded its Project 70+ PDB portfolio of precision stainless steel machining bar designed for CNC Swiss-style screw machines by adding Project 70+ PDB Custom 630 (17Cr-4Ni) stainless. This is a martensitic, precipitation/age-hardening stainless steel offering high strength and hardness along with excellent corrosion resistance. The alloy can be age-hardened by a single-step, low-temperature treatment. Custom 630 stainless offers customers greatly improved machinability over standard 17Cr-4Ni stainless, boosting productivity of machine shop operations.
Carpenter launched the Project 70+ PDB stainless family of precision drawn machining bar in April 2013. The highly engineered bars are drawn to ASTM half standard (h9) tolerances and possess characteristics that can help fabricators and machine shops maximize their productivity. Project 70+ PDB stainless machining bar has performed well on CNC Swiss-style screw machines.
www.cartech.com
Carpenter Technology Corp., Wyomissing, Pa., has expanded its Project 70+ PDB stainless portfolio of precision machining bar designed for CNC Swiss-style screw machines by adding Project 70+ PDB Custom 630 (17Cr-4Ni) stainless steel.
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Ipsen vertical vacuum furnace heat treats flowformed aerospace products
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Ipsen USA, Cherry Valley, Ill., reports that PMF Industries in Pennsylvania selected Ipsen to manufacture a vertical MetalMaster vacuum heat treatment system. PMF will use this furnace to manufacture stainless steel flowformed products for the aerospace industry. This particular MetalMaster vacuum furnace has a 48 x 84 in. all-graphite hot zone with a 6000-pound load capacity. It utilizes gas cooling to 2-bar absolute pressure and operates at temperatures of 1000 to 2400°F. The furnace also features a 35-in. Varian diffusion pump and Ipsen's CompuVac control system.
The need for a clean manufacturing environment and overall uniform cooling drove PMF to select Ipsen's MetalMaster, which delivers cleanliness and uniform cooling, while also providing a cost-effective, versatile, and adaptable vacuum furnace system. Ipsen equipment is also capable of meeting Nadcap and AMS 2750E applicable requirements.
MetalMaster heat treatment furnaces are available in a wide variety of sizes and configurations, including horizontal or vertical designs and all-metal or graphite insulated hot zone packages. This multi-purpose vacuum furnace series features a specially engineered heat exchanger and turbine blower designed to optimize gas flow for more efficient cooling and excellent temperature uniformity of ±10 °F (±5 °C) or better. In addition to Ipsen's CompuVac control system, MetalMaster offers other high-productivity options, including specialized instrumentation, increased pumping capability, and material handling systems.
www.ipsenusa.com www.pmfind.com
Ipsen USA, Cherry Valley, Ill., reports that PMF Industries in Pennsylvania selected Ipsen to manufacture a vertical MetalMaster vacuum heat treatment system.
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Duplex stainless steel yacht is lighter than aluminum
April 22, 2014
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Sandvik Materials Technology, Sweden, has built a prototype stainless steel yacht manufactured entirely of Sandvik SAF 2507 duplex stainless steel. Construction is based on a thin hull with internal ship-length reinforcements. It is lighter than traditional aluminum boats, and consumes half as much fuel. SAF 2507 provides excellent corrosion properties and very high mechanical strength. It is particularly well-suited for service in aggressive environments such as warm chlorinated seawater and acidic, chloride-containing media.
Suitable for service in highly corrosive conditions and where high strength is required, the properties of Sandvik SAF 2507 are being widely used in offshore oil and gas exploration and production, and in heat exchangers in petrochemical and chemical processing. The grade is also a good choice for hydraulic and instrumentation applications in tropical marine environments.
The external surface is manufactured and delivered under license from Outokumpu, while Sandvik delivers the boat's details, such as strip steel for hull reinforcements, welding wire, tubes, and propeller-shaft rods.
www.smt.sandvik.com
Sandvik Materials Technology, Sweden, has built a prototype stainless steel yacht manufactured entirely of Sandvik SAF 2507 duplex stainless steel.
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Novelis launches aluminum beverage can with 90% recycled content
April 16, 2014
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Novelis, Atlanta, announces that Red Hare Brewing Company will launch the world's first commercial use of Evercan, the company's independently certified high-recycled-content aluminum sheet for beverage cans. Evercan aluminum sheet is made of a guaranteed minimum 90% recycled content. The company has announced capital investments of approximately $500 million over the last two years that will double its global recycling capacity to 2.1 million metric tons by 2015.
"Evercan is a perfect fit for Red Hare," noted Roger Davis, founder and CEO of Red Hare Brewing Company. "The independent certification of the closed-loop recycling process behind evercan strengthens our commitment to employing the best in sustainable business practices, making evercan a natural extension of the Red Hare brand."
Red Hare Brewing Company, one of the fastest-growing micro-breweries in the U.S., selected Evercan aluminum as part of its commitment aimed at reducing the company's environmental footprint, while preserving the freshness and enhancing the taste of its finely crafted beer. Red Hare was the first craft brewery in Georgia to package its products in aluminum cans, following a trend in the micro-brewery industry to move from bottles to cans as a way to expand distribution and appeal to on-the-go consumers.
www.novelis.com
Novelis, Atlanta, announces that Red Hare Brewing Company will launch the world’s first commercial use of Evercan, the company’s independently certified high-recycled-content aluminum sheet for beverage cans.
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Vac Aero commissions vacuum furnace for aerospace manufacturer
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Vac Aero, Burlington, Ontario, has commissioned a high-vacuum production-scale, 2-bar VAH3436 horizontal vacuum furnace with work zone dimensions of 24-in. wide x 24-in. high x 36-in. deep. It is designed to process aerospace parts under high vacuum and partial pressures with excellent process control, and is rated at a normal operating temperature of 2400°F (1316°C).
The hot zone is comprised of curved graphite elements and the heavy duty hearth is constructed with quickly removable rails of pure molybdenum designed to support a uniformly distributed load of 1000 lb at 2400°F. The vacuum chamber and door are constructed of carbon steel and feature a double-wall, water-cooled design. The furnace operating system is based on Vac Aero's versatile HC900 interactive hybrid control package with SCADA and complete network integration capabilities and remote monitoring and control. The furnace is expected to run at full capacity next month.
www.vacaero.com
Vac Aero, Burlington, Ontario, has commissioned a high-vacuum production-scale, 2-bar VAH3436 horizontal vacuum furnace with work zone dimensions of 24-in. wide x 24-in. high x 36-in. deep.
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Lucifer Furnaces supplies high temperature box furnace to battery maker
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Lucifer Furnaces, Warrington, Pa., recently shipped a high-temperature laboratory box furnace to a leading producer of products for the battery, ceramics, and glass industries around the globe. Model 3027-K12 heats to 2500°F with silicon carbide rod-type heating elements mounted above and below the hearth providing uniform heat in the work chamber.
The 12 x 12 x 12-in. chamber is lined with 7 in. of insulation consisting of 5 in. insulating brick and 2 in. mineral wool block. The double pivot horizontal swing door with insulating plug meets with the throat section at the front of the furnace chamber minimizing heat loss. Hammond Lead Products, Pottstown, Pa. , selected a Honeywell UDC 3500 temperature controller with enhanced set point programming, fast scanning and onboard diagnostics, as well as an Overtemperature Safety System for automatic furnace shutdown in the event of a high temperature excursion, an add-on recommended for unattended furnace operation.
Controls are mounted in the furnace base cabinet and include a voltage-regulating power transformer with selector switches. A type R platinum thermocouple mounted through the roof provides a fast, accurate response and excellent lifespan at elevated temperatures. Hammond will be using the furnace for the development of PZT powders. Jon Hegland of Hammond says they chose a Lucifer because it was "the right product at the right price, and everyone involved in the sale were friendly and helpful."
www.luciferfurnaces.com
Lucifer Furnaces, Warrington, Pa., recently shipped a high-temperature laboratory box furnace to a leading producer of products for the battery, ceramics, and glass industries around the globe.
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