Magna to build high-pressure aluminum diecasting plant in England
June 1, 2016
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Magna International of America Inc., Troy, Mich., announces plans to build a new world-class aluminum casting facility in Telford, England, to support Jaguar Land Rover, the country's leading vehicle manufacturer. Once production begins in 2018, Magna's high-pressure vacuum die casting process will be used to produce advanced lightweight aluminum castings — key building blocks in the next generation all-aluminum and multi-material vehicle architectures.
The new facility is expected to be approximately 225,000 square feet, and will create up to 295 jobs at full capacity. The UK Trade & Investment and the Automotive Investment Organization, along with financial support from the UK Government's Regional Growth Fund, helped to secure this project.
"We are excited to work closely with Jaguar Land Rover in the development of this project, which will bring the most advanced structural casting technologies to the UK," said John Farrell, President of Cosma International, an operating unit of Magna International. "As lightweighting continues to be a key technology driver, we are uniquely positioned to help automakers achieve optimal weight savings throughout the vehicle architecture."
Construction is expected to start in the autumn of 2016.
Magna, through its Cosma International operating unit, is one of the world's premier suppliers providing a comprehensive range of body, chassis, and engineering solutions to automakers around the world.
www.magna.com
Magna International of America Inc., Troy, Mich., announces plans to build a new world-class aluminum casting facility in Telford, England, to support Jaguar Land Rover, the country’s leading vehicle manufacturer.
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Solar builds 48-foot heat-treating vacuum furnace
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Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania, Hermitage, and Solar Manufacturing Inc., Souderton, Pa., are building the world's largest commercial heat treating vacuum furnace. The working hot zone of this high-vacuum furnace (which has three 35-inch Varian diffusion pumps) is 80 inches in diameter by 48 feet long, with a maximum operating temperature of 2400°F.
Thirty five points of temperature will be surveyed to within +/- 10°F per the stringent AMS 2750E specification. The robust U.S.-patented dual load car design will have the capacity to transfer up to 150,000 pounds of material in and out of the furnace. For dimensionally critical, near-net-shape jobs, the dual load car design will also have the capability to maintain the critical support needed at elevated temperatures to keep parts flat to within 0.030 inches.
All of the major components have been delivered and installed. The gas and water systems are in place. The remaining installation of all the electrical components and wiring will occur over the next several weeks. This multi-million dollar project is expected to be completed in June with the commissioning of the furnace into production in July of 2016. This unique piece of equipment will not only open up new production opportunities within the North American vacuum heat treating markets, but also internationally.
www.solarmfg.com
Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania, Hermitage, and Solar Manufacturing Inc., Souderton, Pa., are building the largest commercial heat treating vacuum furnace in the world.
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One Minute Mentor: Influence of Chromium on Ferritic Stainless Steels
May 26, 2016
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Ferritic stainless steels are quite similar in their mechanical behavior to carbon steel. The main influence of chromium is to produce some solid solution hardening. As noted, intermetallic phases may increase hardness (sometimes usefully) and decrease ductility, notch toughness, and corrosion resistance. For example, the graph shows the hardening effect of alpha prime.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Heat Treating of Ferritic Stainless Steels ⇒ Properties
Ferritic stainless steels are quite similar in their mechanical behavior to carbon steel.
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Titan H8 vacuum furnace heat treating system improves speed, reliability, and versatility
May 21, 2016
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently shipped a Titan vacuum furnace system with two-bar gas quenching and PdMetrics predictive maintenance software platform to a company on the West Coast, where it will be used to manufacture components and systems for the aerospace industry. The Titan H8 system provides a much-needed solution in the form of speed, reliability, and versatility of process capabilities, and it is also capable of meeting applicable AMS 2750E and Nadcap requirements.
This horizontal furnace features a 48 x 80 x 48-inch all-metal work zone, with a 6000-pound load capacity, and is capable of operating at temperatures up to 2500°F with ±10°F temperature uniformity.
A key feature of the system is its center elements option, which helps optimize the brazing process and ensures that high-quality parts emerge bright and clean. This heat-treating system is also equipped with a dual 20-inch diffusion pumping system for high pumping performance.
In addition, the system is integrated with Ipsen's PdMetrics software platform for predictive maintenance. Offering sophisticated monitoring of critical systems and key parameters, the PdMetrics platform gathers data, analyzes it, and provides real-time diagnostics that help improve the health and integrity of the equipment. Overall, this allows users to anticipate future furnace problems, refine operations, reduce unplanned downtime, and increase production.
Ipsen's line of Titan vacuum heat-treating systems can be found at facilities around the world, thanks to their ability to operate in most languages and offer various sizes and configurations, all within a small footprint. In addition, Ipsen's 360-degree support offers integrated heat treatment solutions for diverse needs through all stages of the system's life cycle, no matter the location – whether it is facilitating on-site installation, providing expert training and start-up assistance, or delivering responsive field support and spare parts.
www.IpsenUSA.com/TITAN
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently shipped a Titan vacuum furnace system with two-bar gas quenching and PdMetrics predictive maintenance software platform to a company on the West Coast, where it will be used to manufacture components and systems for the aerospace industry.
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Advanced Heat Treat completes Phase I of plasma nitriding evaluation
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Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT), Waterloo, Iowa, announces that it has completed Phase I of a grant to evaluate plasma nitriding for improved life of forging dies by generating a hard case on tribological surfaces. AHT, along with Ohio State University's Manufacturing Research Group, received a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration SBIR Program and the Defense Technical Information Center. The grant was issued in August 2015 to research "Plasma Enhanced Nanostructures for Improved Life of Forging Dies," and Phase I was completed on April 30th, 2016.
Forging die failure affects the entire economy of forging companies, including the cost of tooling, repair, press downtimes, and production lead times, to name a few. According to a recent survey, as the batch sizes increase, machine setup costs go down (economy of scale); however, tooling costs rise.
This technological challenge is the prime driver for this proposed research, where plasma-enhanced nanostructured surface treatments will be explored to increase die life by up to five times its current life. Plasma nitriding is widely used to generate a hard case on engineering surfaces for enhanced performance of many tribological components.
Recently, this process has found wider applications in advanced surfaces in aerospace, electronics, and power systems for corrosion protection. In addition, plasma nitrided surfaces are being investigated for the emerging areas of alternate power generation such as fuel cells, and in human implants. The potential impact of this research is not only in the current fields of application, but also in the emerging areas vital to the energy and industrial future of our country.
A summary of the Phase I findings was issued to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) for their review. Those interested in a full copy of the summary should contact Advanced Heat Treat Corp. at 319-232-5221 or submit requests online at www.ahtweb.com using a "quick contact" form.
www.ahtweb.com
Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT), Waterloo, Iowa, announces that it has completed Phase I of a grant to evaluate plasma nitriding for improved life of forging dies by generating a hard case on tribological surfaces.
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Can-Eng installs T7 heat treatment system for HPDC aluminum auto structures
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Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, has completed the installation and commissioning of a T7 automated furnace line for the heat treatment of HPDC aluminum automotive structural components for an innovative all-electric automobile manufacturer located in California. The T7 system was designed for the thermal processing of components related to a family of parts for the launch of a new model.
The high-volume T7 roller hearth heat treating system includes a solution furnace with customized structural product fixtures, the Can-Eng Precision Air Quench (PAQ) system, an artificial aging system, and controls integrated into a Level II SCADA system. The PAQ system integrates a unique combination of recirculating air chambers, distribution nozzles, dampers, and directional ductwork that uniformly delivers conditioned quench media, leading to repeatable and uniform property and dimensional results. Quench parameters were developed for each component, as part of the component family, and once validated were integrated as part of the product recipe.
Can-Eng was chosen for this new light-weighting project because its flexible, cost effective heat treatment technology allows manufacturers to integrate new state-of-the-art processing systems into existing manufacturing cells, avoiding prohibitively expensive large-scale continuous processing systems capital costs.
Can-Eng focuses on the development of high volume continuous industrial furnaces for challenging applications and is the industry leader in the development of automated heat treating systems for the processing of thin-walled, lightweight aluminum automotive structural components.
www.can-eng.com.
Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, has completed the installation and commissioning of a T7 automated furnace line for the heat treatment of HPDC aluminum automotive structural components for an innovative all electric automotive manufacturer located in California.
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Furnacare opens advanced vacuum furnace hot-zone rebuild and service center
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Furnacare Inc., Spartanburg, S.C., announces the opening of its new vacuum furnace hot-zone rebuild and service center facility. Strategically located in the industrial growth area of the South East, the company is strongly positioned to service vacuum heat treaters in the United States.
Furnacare brings over 30 years of vacuum heat treat equipment experience to the industry, specializing in hot-zone rebuilds, control system upgrades, gauge and TC calibration, and vacuum-pump service and repair.
Company technology has improved customer ROI through fast response times, innovative approaches, and superior materials. Heat treaters considering the next vacuum heat treatment furnace hot zone overhaul, service, or new equipment purchase, are invited to discuss their requirements and learn about Furnacare's capabilities.
Customers make the most of any vacuum furnace by investing in high-performance materials and new functionalities. Furnacare is aimed at helping its customers reduce costs and maximize efficiency through the delivery of premium quality products that are personalized, technologically advanced, and durable over time.
http://www.furnacare.com
Furnacare Inc., Spartanburg, S.C., announces the opening of its new vacuum furnace hot-zone rebuild and service center facility, strategically located in the industrial growth area of the South East.
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One Minute Mentor: Stabilization
May 20, 2016
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Stabilization is generally considered to be the simple gettering of carbon and nitrogen by a suitable carbide former such as titanium or niobium. Stabilization is essential for ferritic stainless steels to avoid the precipitation of grain boundary carbides.
For example, if carbon and nitrogen are kept as low as possible and a stoichiometric amount of titanium is available (i.e., greater than about four times the carbon plus nitrogen), then essentially all carbon is removed from solution (below 2280°F). However, the stabilization formula in various specifications is more than four times the carbon plus nitrogen, because experiments show that sometimes understabilization occurs. This is due to the influence of oxygen and sulfur having already formed compounds with the titanium, and to less-important kinetic factors that have prevented TiC formation.
The graph shows the time-temperature-transformation (TTT) curve for an unstabilized 430-type alloy with carbon plus nitrogen of 0.08%.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Heat Treating of Ferritic Stainless Steels ⇒ Stabilization
Stabilization is generally considered to be the simple gettering of carbon and nitrogen by a suitable carbide former such as titanium or niobium. Stabilization is essential for ferritic stainless steels to avoid the precipitation of grain boundary carbides.
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One Minute Mentor: Stabilization of Ferritic Stainless Steels
Source:
Stabilization is generally considered to be the simple gettering of carbon and nitrogen by a suitable carbide former such as titanium or niobium. Stabilization is essential for ferritic stainless steels to avoid the precipitation of grain boundary carbides.
For example, if carbon and nitrogen are kept as low as possible and a stoichiometric amount of titanium is available (i.e., greater than about four times the carbon plus nitrogen), then essentially all carbon is removed from solution (below 2280°F). However, the stabilization formula in various specifications is more than four times the carbon plus nitrogen, because experiments show that sometimes understabilization occurs. This is due to the influence of oxygen and sulfur having already formed compounds with the titanium, and to less-important kinetic factors that have prevented TiC formation.
The graph shows the time-temperature-transformation (TTT) curve for an unstabilized 430-type alloy with carbon plus nitrogen of 0.08%.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Heat Treating of Ferritic Stainless Steels ⇒ Stabilization
Stabilization is generally considered to be the simple gettering of carbon and nitrogen by a suitable carbide former such as titanium or niobium. Stabilization is essential for ferritic stainless steels to avoid the precipitation of grain boundary carbides.
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Lindberg/MPH ships cyclone pit furnace for heat treating aerospace parts
May 17, 2016
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Lindberg/MPH, Riverside, Mich., announces the shipment of a cyclone pit furnace for heat treating aircraft components to a supplier of the aerospace industry. The cyclone design has historically provided optimum heat distribution and exceptional temperature uniformity, which makes it ideal for applications such as tempering, normalizing, annealing, and solution treatment of aluminum.
This heat treating pit furnace has a maximum temperature rating of 1250°F, and the work chamber has a diameter of 16 inches with a depth of 20 inches. This cyclone pit furnace is a direct replacement of an existing piece of Lindberg/MPH equipment the customer already had in place.
Lindberg/MPH provided a centralized control system with a programmable logic controller to control this equipment and six other furnaces. The cyclone pit furnace design utilizes a heater plug assembly that is easily lifted out and replaced externally without having to pull elements out through the furnace walls.
"This customer was looking to improve operating efficiency of the furnace line," says Jason Dobberstein, Inside Sales Manage. "By providing a control system that allows operators to monitor and control multiple units, it greatly simplifies the process and fulfills data acquisition needs."
Unique features of this cyclone pit furnace:
An alloy liner that protects the work chamber from high-velocity flow and prevents damage while loading/unloading; Easily replaceable heater plug assembly; Recirculating fan with variable frequency drive; Workload support; Lid limit switch.
www.lindbergmph.com
Lindberg/MPH, Riverside, Mich., announces the shipment of a cyclone pit furnace for heat treating aircraft components to a supplier of the aerospace industry.
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