Aerospace sustainability study of industrial 3D printing
February 7, 2014 Source: ASM International
EOS collaborated with Airbus Group Innovations to complete an environmental lifecycle comparison of two key production technologies, rapid investment casting and DMLS.
Continue readingASM International debuts revamped website
February 6, 2014 Source:
ASM International, Materials Park, Ohio, recently rolled out a major redesign of their company website. The new site aims to enhance the user experience by simplifying and streamlining the ASM information and services available online. "Member feedback is everything to us, so redesigning the website around their needs was the natural next step in ASM's evolution," says Thom Passek, Managing Director of ASM. "We celebrated our 100th year anniversary in 2013, so kicking off 2014 with an all-new website is a great start to the next century of this society."
Based on ASM member and customer feedback, several key issues were addressed in the site redesign. The major updates are as follows:
Users are encouraged to send feedback to [email protected].
ASM International, Materials Park, Ohio, recently rolled out a major redesign of their company website.
Continue readingMississippi Silicon to produce silicon metal in state-of-the-art plant
February 5, 2014 Source:
Mississippi Silicon, Burnsville, a subsidiary of Rima Holdings USA, has broken ground for a $200 million state-of-the-art silicon metals plant in Burnsville. It will produce silicon metal for a broad range of industries, including the aluminum, automotive, and chemical industries. It is said to be the first greenfield silicon manufacturer to be built in the western hemisphere in more than four decades. The only other facilities have been built in Asia, primarily China.
The project was made possible primarily by Rima Holdings USA, which is a subsidiary of Brazil-based conglomerate Rima Industrial S/A. Rima is the majority owner of the Mississippi Silicon venture, with an 80% stake in the business.
Rima is the only primary magnesium producer in the Southern Hemisphere and the only one in the world producing automotive parts directly from the mineral ore (dolomite). Rima utilizes in-house recycling and an innovative molten magnesium transportation technology along with a vertically integrated process with the aim of conserving energy and reducing costs.
Rima also owns and operates the second-largest magnesium diecasting facility in the world, which produces excellent quality and very competitive parts for various markets.
According to the Mississippi Development Authority, the state is providing a total of $21.15 million for building construction and workforce training, as well as a $3.5 million loan to Tishomingo County for infrastructure needs.
http://www.mississippi.org/press-room/ms-silicon-12-31-2013.html
Mississippi Silicon, Burnsville, a subsidiary of Rima Holdings USA, has broken ground for a $200 million state-of-the-art silicon metals plant in Burnsville.
Continue readingNadcap awards Merit status to Solar Atmospheres of Western PA
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Solar Atmospheres of Western PA (SAWPA), Hermitage, announces that it has been awarded Nadcap Merit status for vacuum heat treating and brazing of metals. The successful November 2013 audit marks ten years of doing business as a Nadcap supplier. Having demonstrated SAWPA's ongoing commitment to quality by satisfying customer requirements and industry specifications, the Nadcap Task Group has determined that SAWPA has earned the prestigious honor of being a Merit status supplier.
Among other benefits, Merit status means that SAWPA has been granted an accreditation that lasts two years, through January 2016, instead of the standard one-year accreditation.
Susan Generalovich, SAWPA Quality Manager, says, "Achieving Nadcap accreditation with Merit could not have been accomplished without the help and understanding of each and every Solar employee. I would especially like to recognize Bob Hill, SAWPA president, for his unwavering support. Upper management support is a key to a smartly run organization. Top down encouragement and drive for excellence, achieves excellence!"
"Achieving Nadcap accreditation is not easy: it is one of the ways in which the aerospace industry identifies those who excel at manufacturing quality product through superior special processes. Companies such as Solar Atmospheres of Western PA go above and beyond achieving Nadcap accreditation to obtain Merit status and they should be justifiably proud of it," said Joe Pinto, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Performance Review Institute.
"Benefitting from a less audit schedule reduces audit costs and associated pressures and demonstrates the trust that the aerospace industry has in Solar Atmospheres of Western PA, based on their past performance in Nadcap audits."
Solar Atmospheres of Western PA (SAWPA), Hermitage, announces that it has been awarded Nadcap Merit status for vacuum heat treating and brazing of metals.
Continue readingThe Metal Treating Institute reports year-to-date sales
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The Metal Treating Institute, Jacksonville, Fla., reports that year-to-date sales for the Metal Treating Industry for December 2013 were $877.0 million. This is a decrease of 2.0% from 2012, when sales for January-December equaled $894.5 million.
Sales for the Metal Treating Industry for December 2013 totaled $66.8 million, an increase of 7.6% from 2012, when sales for December equaled $62.1 million.
Seven out of the nine MTI districts reported higher sales in December 2013 compared to the previous year.
The Metal Treating Institute, Jacksonville, Fla., reports that year-to-date sales for the Metal Treating Industry for December 2013 were $877.0 million.
Continue readingAl-Fe Heat Treating achieves TS16949 Certification for auto industry
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Al-Fe Heat Treating, Charlotte, N.C., announces that its ferrous heat-treating plant has achieved TS16949 Certification, allowing the company to be a direct, tier-one supplier to the automotive industry. The plant has operated under ISO 9001 2008, which is general industry certification, and this new level ensures documentation and administrative processes are up to automotive standards. A copy of the TS16949 certificate can be downloaded as a PDF from Al-Fe's website.
Many of our customers require suppliers to be TS 16949 certified, and Al-Fe is to have earned this certification. We're proud to be a supplier to the automotive industry, and receiving our TS 16949 certification shows our continued commitment to this industry and to our customers. In addition, there are occasions when a captive heat treater reaches out for short-term support, even if it's last minute, or when an auto supplier looks to outsource a long-term contract, and we are now able to be responsive and take on that new work.
Al-Fe Heat Treating, Charlotte, N.C., announces that its ferrous heat-treating plant has achieved TS16949 Certification, allowing the company to be a direct, tier-one supplier to the automotive industry.
Continue readingTinius Olsen IT800 pendulum impact tester provides 800 J of available energy
January 29, 2014 Source:
Tinius Olsen, Horsham, Pa., introduces its new IT800, a pendulum impact tester designed for Charpy-style impact tests on high strength materials, with 800 J of available energy. The test is controlled by a front-mounted touch screen display that facilitates setup and clearly displays results. The instrument incorporates a number of unique features, including a following arm that monitors the travel of its pendulum. If the test area safety doors are open (or the optional light curtain is broken), the IT800 immediately stops any additional motion of the pendulum.
All Tinius Olsen high-energy impact testing machines that are equipped with digital displays can be linked to a stand-alone PC with an RS232 port and the company's Horizon software. Horizon offers user-selected reporting and exporting formats, built-in SPC programs for X-bar, R and frequency distribution charts, and histograms, as well as separate modes for testing and recall.
Across the range of Tinius Olsen pendulum impact testers are a variety of tooling options (easily interchangeable striking bits and a low blow fixture) for conducting Charpy, Izod, or tension impact tests, including at any of 55 velocity/energy levels from 5.47 m/s (17.9 ft/s) down to 0.13 m/s (0.4 ft/s). All Tinius Olsen models feature precision, friction-compensated, robust test frames and a range of safety features to ensure repetitive, secure testing.
Tinius Olsen, Horsham, Pa., introduces its new IT800, a pendulum impact tester designed for Charpy-style impact tests on high strength materials, with 800 J of available energy.
Continue readingRTI acquires Directed Manufacturing for additive manufacturing of titanium aerospace and medical products
January 28, 2014 Source:
RTI acquires Directed Manufacturing for additive manufacturing of titanium aerospace and medical products
RTI International Metals Inc., Pittsburgh, has acquired Directed Manufacturing Inc., Austin, Texas, a leader in additive manufacturing of metals and plastics for both commercial production and engineering development applications. The transaction is expected to enhance RTI's ability to deliver advanced, cost-effective titanium and other advanced material solutions to customers in markets such as aerospace and medical devices.
RTI Directed Manufacturing Inc. will become the flagship organization in RTI's Advanced Additive product line. It produces complex components of titanium, nickel–chromium alloys, and other specialty metals and composite plastics. The specific additive manufacturing or "3D printing" technologies used by the company include Direct Metal Laser Sintering and Plastic Laser Sintering systems.
Directed Manufacturing currently manufactures products that include aerospace airfoils, rakes, guide vanes and injection nozzles, complex fasteners, surgical tools, medical implants, injection mold inserts, and many others. It is one of the few companies in the fast-growing additive manufacturing field with commercial production experience in both metals and plastics. The company's customers include a number of major aerospace industry prime contractors and suppliers.
RTI International Metals Inc., Pittsburgh, has acquired Directed Manufacturing Inc., Austin, Texas, a leader in additive manufacturing of metals and plastics for both commercial production and engineering development applications.
Continue readingWichita State acquires full-scale aircraft structural testing systems from MTS for aviation R&D
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MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, Minn., has sold an extensive array of state-of-the-art mechanical testing systems to Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). The MTS systems will be used in NIAR's new Aircraft Structural Test and Evaluation Center (ASTEC), one of the world's largest and most sophisticated full-scale structural testing facilities.
At 130,000 square feet, ASTEC has the capacity to host full-scale structural testing for some of the world's largest aircraft, or multiple aircraft simultaneously. The center also includes laboratories for component and materials testing, enabling commercial and military aircraft manufacturers to conduct virtually any kind of testing in one location.
MTS systems are deployed throughout the center, and include FlexTest Controllers, MTS FlexDAC Data Acquisition Systems, and AeroPro Software for structural test applications, as well as high-force load frames for component and materials testing.
"MTS technology allows us to efficiently manage resources across the entire spectrum of testing that occurs within ASTEC, and to readily accommodate any modifications our clients need to make to their test setups," said Tim Hickey, ASTEC Director. "The integrated control and data acquisition streams enhance the speed and ease of data processing, allowing our clients to quickly verify that a test was successful. Because of this, we have a lot of repeat clients; once they realize the full scope of capabilities and equipment we have, they want to do more kinds of testing on additional projects."
MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, Minn., has sold an extensive array of state-of-the-art mechanical testing systems to Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR).
Continue readingPenn Stainless and Lehigh collaborate to study stainless steel corrosion and welding
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Penn Stainless Products, Quakertown, and Lehigh University, both of Pennsylvania, have announced a collaborative effort to provide metal users with access to the expertise in Lehigh's Materials Science and Engineering Department.
This strategic partnership will enable them to work together to expand knowledge and collaborative opportunities between material end users and the research community. The alliance is designed to resolve technical issues related to corrosion and welding, while giving students the opportunity to learn about the practical challenges associated with manufacturing and engineering.
Lehigh's research experience in metallurgy and metalworking processes such as welding and forming align perfectly with Penn's diverse inventory of stainless, duplex, and nickel-base alloys, as well as its customer base of fabricators, machine shops, and engineering, specialty construction, and process industries.
Penn Stainless will provide Lehigh faculty and students with access to over 20 specialty stainless, duplex and nickel alloys for research and experimentation, processing capabilities, and insight into issues impacting metal users across a wide range of industry segments and applications.
According to Dr. John DuPont, of the Materials Science and Engineering Department, "We are very pleased to work with Penn Stainless Products. It's vital that our students understand the real-world issues facing metal consumers, and the company's extensive inventory and processing expertise is an invaluable asset that will help our students to complete experiments."
Penn Stainless Products, Quakertown, and Lehigh University, both of Pennsylvania, have announced a collaborative effort to provide metal users with access to the expertise in Lehigh’s Materials Science and Engineering Department.
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