Retech furnace produces 1320-pound ceramic shell titanium casting in a single pour
March 16, 2018 Source: ASM International
Retech Systems LLC, Ukiah, Calif., part of the Seco Warwick Group, announces that its consumable electrode casting furnace has produced the largest ceramic shell titanium casting ever created from a single pour in Europe.
Continue readingOutokumpu introduces corrosion-resistant titanium-stabilized nickel-base Ultra Alloy 825
December 8, 2017 Source: ASM International
Outokumpu Oy, Finland, introduces Ultra Alloy 825, a titanium-stabilized austenitic nickel-base alloy with added copper designed primarily for process equipment in the chemical and oil and gas industries.
Continue readingPenn State to lead $20 million NETL coalition for fossil energy research
May 16, 2016 Source:
The DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), South Park Township, Pa., has selected Pennsylvania State University, State College, as the lead institution to establish the six-year, $20 million University Coalition for Fossil Energy Research. The Coalition will bring together a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from participating universities to address the fundamental challenges that impede advancement of fossil energy-based technologies.
Research will directly support the Office of Fossil Energy's Coal and Oil and Gas programs by focusing efforts in a variety of pertinent areas that include, but are not limited to, advanced energy systems, carbon dioxide capture and storage, natural gas resources and infrastructure, and onshore and offshore oil and gas technology. The Coalition will facilitate basic and applied energy research and promote multidisciplinary collaboration among the member universities and NETL.
Penn State, the lead institution, will leverage expertise, facilities, and resources from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Texas A&M University, University of Kentucky, University of Southern California, University of Tulsa, University of Wyoming, and Virginia Polytechnic and State University.
The coordination structure is flexible, allowing for new university members to provide additional research capabilities and collaborations as needed throughout the research lifespan. Members of the Coalition will actively seek industry participation in research projects and promote technology transfer to the private sector.
The research completed throughout the six-year initiative is expected to accelerate the development and deployment of fossil fuel-based technologies, enabling the continued use of our nation's abundant natural resources.
http://news.psu.edu/story/410564/2016/05/13/research/under-pressure
The DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), South Park Township, Pa., has selected Pennsylvania State University, State College, as the lead institution to establish the six-year, $20 million University Coalition for Fossil Energy Research.
Continue readingTimkenSteel develops faster process for manufacturing high-pressure tubing
February 24, 2016 Source:
TimkenSteel, Canton, Ohio, reports that it has developed a new process to manufacture high-pressure tubing for the production of low-density polyethylene and recently received its first order, from a major petrochemical producer. TimkenSteel's process begins in Canton where its special bar quality (SBQ) steel is forge-rolled and heat treated. It is then sent to TimkenSteel Material Services in Houston where it is bored and honed.
"We have developed a more streamlined process using the assets and operations we have in place to create cost efficiencies. High-pressure tubing (HPT) that previously took more than a year to produce now takes a matter of months," said Shawn Seanor, TimkenSteel's executive vice president of sales and business development. "Another advantage our process offers is flexibility, allowing customers to buy smaller lot sizes."
TimkenSteel recently entered into a supply agreement with A&A Machine & Fabrication LLC, of La Marque, Texas, to further process, market, and sell HPT for low-density polyethylene customers. A&A completed reliability testing to ASME code on prototype tubing and processed that material to industry fabrication requirements in order to illustrate material performance. A&A and TimkenSteel then met with end-users to gain market acceptance of the material.
"HPT users will be able to plan projects with a more accurate forecast due to the shorter lead times and ease of inspection and oversight of the manufacturing process," said C. Alan Hutchins, President and CEO of A&A.
TimkenSteel, Canton, Ohio, reports that it has developed a new process to manufacture high-pressure special bar quality tubing for the production of low-density polyethylene.
Continue readingReliance acquires Tubular Steel for its specialty steel products
January 8, 2016 Source:
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Los Angeles, has acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Tubular Steel Inc. ("TSI"), St. Louis. TSI stocks over 60,000 tons and ships over two million custom-cut lengths of pipe, tubing, and bar products annually from its seven service centers across the United States. TSI will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., and current management will remain in place.
"Tubular Steel is a strong company with a respected position in the market and we are very excited for TSI to join the Reliance family of companies," commented Gregg Mollins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Reliance. "The addition of Tubular Steel, with specialty, high margin products, fits our growth strategy of investing in higher returning businesses, while expanding our product breadth and end market diversification. Energy is an important end market for Tubular Steel. Although current activity levels are lower than normal in this area, we are confident in the long term strength of the energy market and Tubular Steel's ability to benefit during the recovery."
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Los Angeles, has acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Tubular Steel Inc., which stocks over 60,000 tons and ships over two million custom-cut lengths of pipe, tubing, and bar products annually.
Continue readingIpsen ships Titan H8 furnace to Saudi Arabia, the first outside the United States
August 31, 2015 Source: ASM International
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that it has made its first shipment of a Titan H8 furnace to a company outside the United States: A Titan H8 vacuum furnace was shipped to a facility in Saudi Arabia.
Continue readingIpsen Atlas furnace heat treats parts for automotive and oil & gas industries
July 31, 2015 Source:
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently shipped an Atlas atmosphere furnace, two temper furnaces, a washer, a loader, and a storage table to a commercial heat treater in the Midwest. This single-chain, batch atmosphere furnace will be used to process parts for the aftermarket automotive and oil & gas industries. The single-chain Atlas features a 36 x 48 x 38-in. load size, with a 3500-pound load capacity. It also operates at temperatures of 1450 to 1800 °F and has a quench oil capacity of 3500 gallons.
The furnace offers some of Ipsen's newest design features and innovations, including Carb-o-Prof control software with predictive process capabilities. It has an efficient heating combustion system, which provides energy and cost savings; a cartridge-type heat fan assembly; and variable-speed quench agitation, which allows users to achieve and maintain better quenching control.
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently shipped an Atlas atmosphere furnace, two temper furnaces, a washer, a loader, and a storage table to a commercial heat treater in the Midwest.
Continue readingVertical vacuum heat treating furnace processes flowformed components
Source:
PMF Industries, Williamsport, Pa., has expanded its flowforming capabilities with the addition of a new vacuum furnace that allows vertical heat treating of flowformed and machined shafts up to 80 in. long. The vertical-loading vacuum furnace also processes combustor cases, diffusers, seals, and bearing sets for aerospace engines; parts for ground-based turbine systems used in the energy sector; and cylinders for the commercial food and beverage industry.
Flowformed and machined shafts must be heat-treated vertically rather than horizontally to ensure that they remain straight throughout the thermal process. Although PMF's capabilities have long included the heat treatment of flowformed parts and products produced through other metal processing techniques, all of the company's previously existing furnaces feature horizontal loading and are able to accommodate heat treating of shafts only up to 34 inches in a vertical condition.
PMF's new vacuum heat treatment system provides a clean manufacturing environment that offers uniform cooling and features a 46 x 80 inches all-graphite hot zone with a 6000-lb. load capacity. It provides gas cooling to 2 bar absolute pressure, and operates at temperatures of 1000 to 2400°F.
Flowforming is a cold-extrusion, metal-forming process that produces seamless, high-precision, rotationally symmetrical cylindrical, conical, or contoured shapes. The process offers design flexibility and has the ability to produce complex, near-net-shaped components from preforms or blanks, resulting in significant material savings and dramatically lower costs than other metal-forming techniques. Many flowformed parts subsequently undergo heat treating to provide them with additional material properties or physical features required of the finished component.
PMF Industries, Williamsport, Pa., has expanded its flowforming capabilities with the addition of a new vacuum furnace that allows vertical heat treating of flowformed and machined shafts up to 80 in. long.
Continue readingIpsen delivers vertical Titan vacuum furnace to South Korea
July 20, 2015 Source:
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently installed a Titan V6 thermal processing vacuum system at a company's facility in South Korea, where it will be used to process production tools for the petrochemical industry. Easily fitting into a single 40-foot shipping container, this standard vacuum furnace was able to traverse the globe with ease, thus helping maintain cost-effective delivery.
This vertical, bottom-loading furnace utilizes two-bar gas quenching and features a 60 x 60-in. graphite hot zone with a 3000-pound load capacity. It is also equipped with a 35-in. diffusion pump and Ipsen's VacuProf control system. The company took a proactive approach to maintenance, ordering one of Ipsen's many spare parts kits, which consist of consumable and preventive maintenance items to help ensure equipment uptime and keep the furnace running smoothly.
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., recently installed a Titan V6 thermal processing vacuum system at a company’s facility in South Korea, where it will be used to process production tools for the petrochemical industry.
Continue readingUltra 76 Plus tantalum alloy resists corrosion in hot concentrated acids
July 8, 2015 Source:
H.C. Starck, Newton, Mass., introduces the Ultra 76 Plus tantalum alloy, which is designed to combat aggressive hazardous-chemical corrosion in hot concentrated acids. The alloy is based on the Ta2.5W alloy, which improves corrosion resistance by minimizing hydrogen embrittlement, extending equipment life, and reducing downtime.
Ultra 76 Plus was designed by H.C. Starck's Fabricated Products Division. It enables increased concentrations and operating temperatures in HCI, H2SO4, and other acids. It can add value to a multitude of products, from heat exchangers, condensers, and coils, to thermocouple protection sheaths, pumps, distillation columns, boilers, and condensers.
H.C. Starck's high-tech materials — molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, and their alloys — are excellent choices for applications in high temperatures and severe environments. Tantalum, in particular, is widely used in electronics, chemical processes, and biomedical industries, where its alloys provide cost-effective, long service-life solutions for mission-critical components. In addition, it enables users to eliminate separate "Platinum Spot Welding" steps.
H.C. Starck, Newton, Mass., introduces the Ultra 76 Plus tantalum alloy, which is designed to combat aggressive hazardous-chemical corrosion in hot concentrated acids.
Continue reading