Nucor to acquire Gerdau’s cold-drawn steel bar assets in Ohio and Georgia
November 11, 2015
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Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire Gerdau Long Steel's Bright Bar assets located in Orrville, Ohio, and Cartersville, Georgia, which manufacture cold-drawn steel bars and have a combined production capacity of 75,000 tons per year.
"This acquisition advances Nucor's strong competitive position in cold-finished bar and increases our downstream participation in this important channel to market," says John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO, and President of Nucor. "This acquisition improves our geographic coverage and expands our range of products in this market segment.
Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the United States and Canada. Products include carbon and alloy steel – in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel pilings; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold-finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; steel grating and expanded metal; and wire and wire mesh.
Through the David J. Joseph Company, Nucor also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, and HBI/DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America's largest recycler.
http://www.nucor.com
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to acquire Gerdau Long Steel’s Bright Bar assets located in Orrville, Ohio, and Cartersville, Georgia, which manufacture cold-drawn steel bars and have a combined production capacity of 75,000 tons per year.
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Ambrell launches Ekoheat with VPA for improved induction processes
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Ambrell, Scottsville, N.Y., has launched a line of Ekoheat products featuring Versatile Performance Architecture (VPA), which enables a product to integrate into manufacturing systems, or to function as a stand-alone induction heating solution. The Autoscan capability includes easy-to-use functionality to scan a new application and auto-set the starting frequency, and then recommend RF setup parameters.
The products include soft-start circuitry, a safety feature that eliminates the risk of tripping up other equipment when a power supply is turned on. System power is tightly controlled on start-up to minimize transient spikes and electrical noise.
Ekoheat VPA includes a universal printed circuit board that can be used across the entire product line. This means fast availability of service repair and replacement parts, assuring business continuity and long-lasting product life. Regardless of system size and frequency, common PCBs are integrated into the designs. A single board-set addresses multiple systems, thereby minimizing inventory and eliminating model-specific versions.
These products are enabled for remote diagnostics and data collection with industrial Ethernet communication capabilities. In the industrial and automation environment, networking is fully supported using Ekoheat VPA's chosen gateway and includes CIPs (Common Industrial Protocols) such as EthernetIP, Modbus/TCP, and PROFINET protocols.
www.ambrell.com
Ambrell, Scottsville, N.Y., has launched a line of Ekoheat products featuring Versatile Performance Architecture (VPA), which enables a product to integrate into manufacturing systems or to function as a stand-alone induction heating solution.
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Air Force selects Northrop Grumman to build new long-range bomber
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The U.S. Air Force has selected Northrop Grumman Corp., Falls Church, Va., the company that developed and manufactured the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, to deliver the new Long-Range Strike Bomber, which is also to be stealthy. The company has continued to develop stealthy systems, such as the stealthy X-47B unmanned aircraft.
"The Air Force has made the right decision for our nation's security," said Wes Bush, chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Northrop Grumman. "We look forward to providing the Air Force with a highly capable and affordable next-generation Long-Range Strike Bomber."
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide.
www.northropgrumman.com
The U.S. Air Force has selected Northrop Grumman Corp., Falls Church, Va., the company that developed the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, to deliver the new Long-Range Strike Bomber, which is also to be stealthy.
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Titanium strength and ductility grow when large grains are added to microstructure
Source: ASM International
A team from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences announces that titanium strength and ductility are both increased when large grains are added to an ultrafine-grain matrix.
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Lockheed Martin closes acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft
November 9, 2015
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Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, Md., has closed its acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft, a world leader in military and commercial rotary-wing aircraft. Aligned under the Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training (MST) business segment, Sikorsky Aircraft is now known as Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.
"Today we are proud to welcome the Sikorsky team to Lockheed Martin," said Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin chairman, president, and CEO. "Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky share a legacy of innovation and performance that has shaped the history of aviation for more than a century. Together, we are even better positioned to provide the best value for our customers, employees, and shareholders."
The acquisition advances Lockheed Martin's commitment to provide its customers with mission-ready solutions that are affordable and efficient, while expanding its core business into the growing areas of helicopter production and sustainment. Sikorsky's ability to leverage Lockheed Martin's scale will ensure that it remains a technology leader at the forefront of vertical lift.
Dan Schultz has been named president of Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company. Mr. Schultz led the integration efforts for Lockheed Martin leading up to the closure, and he previously served as the vice president for Lockheed Martin's Ship & Aviation Systems line of business within MST.
"Dan is a former Marine helicopter pilot and has decades of experience in the rotary-wing segment, including leading Lockheed Martin's helicopter system integration business," Ms. Hewson said. "He brings a wealth of leadership experience and a deep understanding of our international customer base. I am confident he is the right person to lead Sikorsky at this pivotal time."
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, will retain its headquarters in Stratford, Connecticut. The line of business employs nearly 15,000 employees in 11 countries. Its helicopters are used by all five branches of the U.S. armed forces, along with military services and commercial operators in 40 nations.
www.lockheedmartin.com/sikorsky
Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, Md., has closed its acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft, a world leader in military and commercial rotary-wing aircraft.
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Silver nanoparticles in polymer coating prevent infections in dental implants
November 8, 2015
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Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute, Germany, have reportedly developed DentaPlas, an antimicrobial coating for dental implants that consists of three layers, with two plasma polymer layers surrounding a center layer of silver nanoparticles. Within this structure, a biocide reservoir is formed, and the outermost layer releases the ions.
Scientists can tailor the silver concentration as well as the thickness of the layers and their porosity. This allows the silver ions to penetrate the outermost plasma polymer layer over a set period of time. When the silver reservoir is exhausted, no more silver ions are released, thus avoiding any long-term toxic effects.
In trials of finished implants and titanium test samples, the team demonstrated that the DentaPlas coating is not only anti-microbial, but also fully biocompatible and sterilizable. They confirmed the mechanical stability and robustness of the DentaPlas coating in trials using the lower jawbones of pigs taken from butcher shops. Here, they subjected the DentaPlas-coated implants to the rigors of being screwed into place with instruments in modern dental practice.
The DentaPlas coating passed this stress test with no problems. Project partner and Fraunhofer spinoff Bio Gate AG successfully transferred the processes of coating the test samples and titanium screws to its own production facilities. This medical technology company is also the manufacturer of the DentaPlas three-layer coating system.
A demonstration unit of the plasma polymer coating is currently available. Researchers will be presenting a dental implant featuring the DentaPlas coating at the MEDICA trade fair in Düsseldorf from November 16 -19 at the joint Fraunhofer booth (Hall 10, Booth G05).
https://www.fraunhofer.de/en/press/research-news/2015/november/preventing-dental-implant-infections.html
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute, Germany, have reportedly developed DentaPlas, an antimicrobial coating for dental implants that consists of three layers, with two plasma polymer layers surrounding a center layer of silver nanoparticles.
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Nomination deadline for the 2016 Class of Fellows is fast approaching
November 5, 2015
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The honor of Fellow of the Society was established to provide recognition to members for distinguished contributions in the field of materials science and engineering, and to develop a broadly based forum for technical and professional leaders to serve as advisors to the Society.
If you are interested in nominating someone for this prestigious award, please contact Christine Hoover, for a unique nomination link. This link will be exclusive to you, as the nominator, and will provide you the ability to work through the nomination at different times to add content and attachments until you submit the final nomination.
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The ASM Fellow Award is first and foremost an award for technical achievement and not intended to exclusively award contributions to ASM International. To the extent possible, the selection committee shall select a diverse slate of nominees from all the constituencies of ASM.
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Five years of current, continuous membership in ASM International as an individual is required at the time of nomination.
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Candidates for the award may be proposed by Chapters through their Executive Committee, Affiliate Societies, Regional Councils, Committees/Councils, Award Selection Committee, Awards Policy Committee, ASM Fellow or any five members of the Society.
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Please be aware that the nominee, and nominator(s), must be current ASM members in good standing, or the nomination will not be accepted. If you have any question regarding the status of membership, please contact me.
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The nomination is limited to ten pages, plus up to five letters of support for a total of 15 pages (this is in addition to the nomination form).
Please refer to our website to view the rules and lists of past recipients. The deadline for submission is November 30.
The honor of Fellow of the Society was established to provide recognition to members for distinguished contributions in the field of materials science and engineering, and to develop a broadly based forum for technical and professional leaders to serve as advisors to the Society. The deadline for submission is November 30.
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One Minute Mentor: Interactions Among Variables during Heat Treatment of Tool Steels
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Interactions Among Variables during Heat Treatment of Tool Steels
The diagram shows an overview of the main interactions during the heat treatment of steel alloys. Some of the main interactions take place between temperature, microstructure, and stress/strain. Especially for tool steels, these interactions are mainly influenced by the carbon content in the steel matrix, the types and relative amounts of the alloying elements, and the carbide formation/transformation/precipitation characteristics of the alloy system.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels -> Tool steels -> Distortion in Tool Steels
The diagram shows an overview of the main interactions during the heat treatment of steel alloys.
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Heat treat 2015 finishes with a “bang!”
November 2, 2015
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The ASM Heat Treating Society Conference and Exposition (Heat Treat 2015) took place in late October in Detroit. The three-day event, co-located with the American Gear Manufacturer's Association Gear Expo, attracted over 7000 heat treating and gear professionals from all over the world, including an equipment exhibition featuring 202 companies in 288 booths. The show featured top-notch technical programming as well as several new initiatives such as live equipment demonstrations on the show floor and a "hot" new social event that lit up the Detroit sky as well as local social media.
The technical program at Heat Treat featured more than 140 oral and poster presentations, including a new Applied Technology track focused on practical applications for operators. Jonn Nebbe, a metallurgical engineer at Eaton Corp., said, "Learning about the academic side of things is nice, but learning practical applications that you can take back to the shop floor? That's what I'm here for."
Attendees also enjoyed a plenary session from Dr. Alan Taub, chief technical officer of the newly established American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute, who discussed the LIFT (Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow) consortium. The conference program also featured an expert-led panel on "New Development and Opportunities in Heat Treating" focused on technology needs and new disruptive technology within the industry. Finally, the popular Master Series lectures educated attendees on specific technical subjects such as the past and future of martensitic steels, bainite transformation in steel, and the Holloman-Jaffe parameter.
Local high school students got to participate in the ASM Materials Education Foundation "Mini Materials Camp" on the show floor during Heat Treat. Eight presenters gave hands-on science demonstrations to over 150 students in the mini-camp, including heat treating bobby pins and paper clips and the principle of diffusion at work in brassing a penny. College students also took part in the free "This is Heat Treat" student program, which included a special 35 and Under Keynote Breakfast and a student networking mixer on the show floor.
On the networking side of the event, attendees had many opportunities throughout the week to meet and catch up with old friends. Exhibitors and attendees were treated to a networking reception on Tuesday evening featuring local brews and appetizers on the show floor, and several refreshment and dessert breaks throughout the week. The main event however, the first-ever Heat Treat social event called "The Heat Is On," was held Wednesday evening at Waterview Loft at Port Detroit. Guests were treated to flame twirlers, local craft beer, and Detroit-style food. The evening was capped off by a fireworks display on the Detroit River, which surprised both guests and locals who happened to catch the show. The "mystery" fireworks caused quite a stir on social media and the news.
Attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors were positive about the direction that Heat Treat is going. "There is a new energy to this event," says Stephen Kowalski, president of the ASM Heat Treating Society and president, Kowalski Heat Treating. "The organizers are doing some exciting things with the programming, and the social event really was above and beyond all expectations and certainly had the local and international media on fire. Even if you have been to Heat Treat before, come again in 2017 – you won't be disappointed."
Chuck Faulkner, Market Development Manager, Heat Treatment & Metal Forming at Houghton International, says that Heat Treat is the must-attend event for the heat treating industry. "This show is one our company doesn't miss. We will be back in 2017."
Heat Treat 2017 will take place in Columbus, Ohio, on October 24-26, 2017. Space is limited and is expected to sell out. To reserve exhibit space, contact Christina Sandoval, global exhibition manager a [email protected] or 440.338.5151 ext. 5625.
The ASM Heat Treating Society Conference and Exposition (Heat Treat 2015) took place in late October in Detroit. The three-day event, co-located with the American Gear Manufacturer’s Association Gear Expo, attracted over 7000 heat treating and gear professionals from all over the world, including an equipment exhibition featuring 202 companies in 288 booths.
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Lincoln Electric to invest $30 million to build Welding Technology Center
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The Lincoln Electric Co., Cleveland, Ohio, announces that it is investing approximately $30 million in a new Welding Technology Center on its campus in Euclid, Ohio. The new 130,000-ft.2 center will double Lincoln's welding education capacity to 180 welding booths, and will include high-tech classroom and seminar spaces. It will also showcase and integrate Lincoln Electric's latest technologies and solutions into a comprehensive welding curriculum.
The Center will focus on the training of welding educators and industry leaders to address the rising demand for welding education and career pathways in welding and advanced manufacturing. Construction is expected to begin in early 2016 with an opening anticipated in 2017 – marking the centennial anniversary of Lincoln's legacy welding school, the longest-running welding school in the United States.
"This investment reflects our commitment to being at the forefront of welding innovation and education," says Christopher L. Mapes, Lincoln Electric's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The increased demand from customers, the skilled trades, and technical schools to help develop the next generation of industry-ready welders has accelerated our investment in education."
www.lincolnelectric.com
The Lincoln Electric Co., Cleveland, Ohio, announces that it is investing approximately $30 million in a new Welding Technology Center on its campus in Euclid, Ohio.
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