IBC Advanced Alloys to collaborate with Nu-Cast on Be-Al investment casting projects for aerospace
February 12, 2014
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IBC Advanced Alloys Corp., Vancouver, has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Nu-Cast Inc., Londonderry, N.H., to collaborate on new beryllium-aluminum investment casting projects and opportunities, initially for the aerospace sector. The goal is to increase manufacturing capacity and improve production efficiencies of IBC's proprietary near-net-shape beryllium-aluminum castings.
The two companies have identified opportunities for beryllium aluminum castings to support future growth. Nu-Cast has extensive experience with aluminum investment castings that will complement IBC's beryllium aluminum casting expertise. Pursuant to the MOU, the parties will initially evaluate and develop opportunities to expand IB-EMC's proprietary Beralcast alloys for aerospace applications.
The parties will also focus on joint business development initiatives aimed at increasing market share for IBC's castings, which offer significant cost savings and improved delivery times compared to the existing production methods.
"Nu-Cast has successfully served the aerospace sector for almost three decades and is an excellent complement to IBC's technology and corporate vision," said Don McKitterick, President of Nu-Cast. "By combining IBC's propriety and cost effective castings with Nu-Cast's manufacturing and marketing experience, we believe there is enormous potential for growth and we look forward to working with IBC on this opportunity."
Beralcast alloys can be used in virtually any high performance application requiring complex, lightweight and high-stiffness parts and can be substituted for aluminum, magnesium, titanium, metal matrix composites as well as pure beryllium or powder metallurgy beryllium-aluminum. Beralcast's principal alloys are more than three times stiffer than aluminum with 22% less weight and can be precision-cast for simple and complex three-dimensional stability. These high-modulus alloys are ideal for high-performance industrial and high-tech components, as well as for a wide range of aerospace applications.
www.ibcadvancedalloys.com
IBC Advanced Alloys Corp., Vancouver, has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Nu-Cast Inc., Londonderry, N.H., to collaborate on new beryllium-aluminum investment casting projects and opportunities, initially for the aerospace sector.
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Aluminum products producer Aleris acquires sheet producer Nichols Aluminum
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Aleris, Cleveland, Ohio, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Nichols Aluminum, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quanex Building Products Corp. Nichols is a leading producer of aluminum sheet for the transportation, building and construction, machinery and equipment, consumer durables, and electrical industries in North America. The acquisition includes two production facilities in Davenport, Iowa; a facility in Decatur, Alabama; and a facility in Lincolnshire, Illinois. The company has agreed to pay $110 Million in an all-cash transaction.
"Nichols has a long history of producing flat-rolled aluminum sheet products for customers in a number of key industries across North America and we look forward to continuing that long-standing tradition," says Steve Demetriou, Aleris chairman and CEO. "This acquisition is consistent with our strategy to expand our footprint and enhance our capabilities to ensure we are well-positioned to respond to projected growth in our key end uses as the economy begins to recover."
Upon the close of the transaction, Nichols will become part of Aleris' Rolled Products North America business, adding more than 500 Nichols employees to the Aleris team.
Aleris is a privately held, global leader in aluminum rolled products and extrusions, aluminum recycling and specification alloy production. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Aleris operates approximately 40 production facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia.
www.aleris.com
Aleris, Cleveland, Ohio, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Nichols Aluminum, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quanex Building Products Corp.
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Ametek acquires VTI Instruments for its high-accuracy test/measurement solutions
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Ametek Inc., Berwyn, Pa., announces that it has acquired VTI Instruments, Irvine, Calif., which manufactures a wide range of signal conditioning and switching instruments, data acquisition solutions, and integrated test systems for demanding electrical and structural testing applications where high measurement accuracy is critical. It joins Ametek as part of its Electronic Instruments Group (EIG), which produces advanced monitoring, testing, calibrating, and display instruments with 2013 sales of $2.0 billion.
VTI, acquired from an investor group led by Merit Capital Partners and Alerion Capital Group, has annual sales of approximately $38 million. "VTI is an excellent acquisition for Ametek. It is a market leader in high end data acquisition and precision instrumentation with deep technical expertise and applications knowledge," comments Frank S. Hermance, AMETEK Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The acquisition of VTI broadens our capabilities in the high end test and measurement market and provides us with additional technology differentiation, especially in the high-precision segment of the Aerospace market."
VTI has operations in Irvine, and additional facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, and Bangalore, India.
www.ametek.com
Ametek Inc., Berwyn, Pa., announces that it has acquired VTI Instruments, Irvine, Calif., which manufactures a wide range of signal conditioning and switching instruments, data acquisition solutions, and integrated test systems.
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Aurora Spine receives FDA clearance for its TiNano plasma spray coated spinal implants
February 9, 2014
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Aurora Spine Corp., Carlsbad, Calif., announces that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance for sterile-packed titanium plasma spray coated (TiNano) spinal fusion implants. TiNano is Aurora Spine's unique titanium plasma spray coating on PEEK Interbody implants. The coating allows for bone ingrowth due to its porous structure. TiNano-coated implants provide bone-titanium osseo-integration from the titanium coating, and the modulus and post-op imaging advantages of PEEK fusion implants.
"This FDA clearance is a major achievement for Aurora Spine. These intervertebral implants are developed to support the entire spine from cervical to lumbar, and to accommodate the company's ZIP Minimally Invasive Interspinous Fusion System portfolio as well as other fusion products on the market," said Trent J. Northcutt, President and Chief Executive Officer of the company.
"Patient safety is the most important goal for Aurora Spine, and that is the reason for every TiNano coated interbody implant being sterile packed," said Laszlo Garamszegi, Chief Technology Officer of the company.
The FDA clearance includes several interbody fusion devices, including configurations for Anterior Cervical (ACIF), Anterior Lumbar (ALIF), Posterior Lumbar (PLIF), Transforaminal Lumbar (TLIF) and Direct Lateral (DLIF) interbody spacers.
www.auroraspine.us
Aurora Spine Corp., Carlsbad, Calif., announces that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance for sterile-packed titanium plasma spray coated (TiNano) spinal fusion implants.
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Oerlikon to acquire Sulzer Metco for $1.1 billion
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Oerlikon, Switzerland, has signed an agreement to acquire Sulzer Metco, a division of Sulzer, also of Switzerland, for approximately $1.1 billion. According to Oerlikon, a combination of Metco with Oerlikon's existing Coating Segment will have pro-forma sales of ~$1.2 billion in 2014 and a unique global footprint with more than 110 coating centers worldwide.
"This step marks an important milestone for the Oerlikon Group, creating the technologically leading global product and service company for Surface Solutions. We are actively using our financial health and flexibility to shape a high-performing portfolio, which secures long-term profitable growth and value creation for all stakeholders in a sustainably growing industrial business close to our core," said Oerlikon Group CEO Dr. Brice Koch.
Oerlikon Balzers is the global technology leader in the service-driven PVD (physical vapor deposition) business. Metco is the global technology leader in the thermal spray and surface applications business. The combination will expand Oerlikon's market in Surface Solutions to some $9.9 billion. The two businesses are complementary in terms of their technological strengths, market access, and geographic footprint, enabling them to increasingly meet customer requirements in the years to come. The combined businesses will operate some 130 facilities with over 110 coating centers in 35 countries around the world, employing around 6000 people.
www.oerlikon.com
Oerlikon, Switzerland, has signed an agreement to acquire Sulzer Metco, a division of Sulzer, also of Switzerland, for approximately $1.1 billion.
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PPG Industries acquires assets of Hi-Temp Coatings Technology
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PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Hi-Temp Coatings Technology Co. Inc., Boxborough, Mass. Hi-Temp is a global supplier of coatings that withstand extreme temperatures to protect carbon steel and stainless steel substrates. The coatings are used widely in refineries, petrochemical plants, pulp and paper mills, and power plants.
Hi-Temp's products include HI-TEMP 1027, the industry-leading corrosion under insulation (CUI) coating. It can be applied while equipment is hot and in operation, reducing facility downtime during maintenance.
"PPG looks forward to integrating Hi-Temp coatings into our product offerings," said Tim Knavish, PPG vice president, protective and marine coatings. "Hi-Temp's unique technologies bring multiple growth opportunities to PPG, particularly in the petrochemical segment. Combining their excellent corrosion-under-insulation coatings portfolio with PPG's legacy portfolio enables us to provide additional high-quality options to meet more of our customers' coating needs."
www.ppgpmc.com.
www.hitempcoatings.com.
PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Hi-Temp Coatings Technology Co. Inc., Boxborough, Mass.
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Adding beta-TCP to porous orthopedic implants reduces risk of infection
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Researchers at Aalto University in Finland have developed a beta-tricalcium phosphate surface treatment for porous orthopedic and dental implants that will help reduce the risk of infection. Porosity is important for implants, because it helps to ensure good contact between the implant and the bone. However, it also allows bacteria to adhere and grow, leading to increased risk of infection.
A thin coating of hydroxyapatite (HAP) or bioactive glass (BAG) is typically applied to orthopedic and other implants to alter the surface properties. Such coatings improve the body's ability to recognize a foreign object in a more friendly way and promote implant integration into surrounding tissues. However, during the heat treatment process, excessive stresses can cause premature cracking and removal of the coating layer. This can lead to the development of deleterious compounds and increase the risk of infection.
"Our work has focused on developing an analysis of surface treatments for commercial implants which reduces risk of infection," said Professor Michael Gasik. "We have proven that by adding a certain amount of beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) such stresses are reduced and the biomaterial coating is better preserved." This minimizes the risk of coating destruction and bacterial adhesion, and allows the implant surface to achieve its function in an optimal way.
"Normally, implants require a certain level of porosity and elasticity to function properly," added Professor Gasik. "The challenge for us was to ensure full functionality of the implant while maintaining sufficient density of the coating during the heat treatment process."
http://chem.aalto.fi/en/current/news/view/2013-12-20/
Researchers at Aalto University in Finland have developed a beta-tricalcium phosphate surface treatment for porous orthopedic and dental implants that will help reduce the risk of infection.
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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.
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ASM International debuts revamped website
February 6, 2014
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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:
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Simplified Navigation –users can find content with less clicks by hovering over the "Mega Menu" main navigation tabs
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New Filtering – it is now easier to pare down ASM's huge resource collection of content by Resource Type, Subject and Publication Date
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Easier Reading – enlarged text adds to a simplified look and feel
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Fast Checkout – the new, overhauled checkout process is designed after well-known and respected internet commerce vendors
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Enhanced Rewards – members can now earn points for product purchases, which can be redeemed for free content
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More Connections –profile pictures can now be uploaded to the Member Directory, which can help with recognition at networking events
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Convenient Searching –the new search function for the ASM store allows user to find exactly what they are looking for to solve materials problems quickly and easily
Users are encouraged to send feedback to [email protected].
ASM International, Materials Park, Ohio, recently rolled out a major redesign of their company website.
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Mississippi Silicon to produce silicon metal in state-of-the-art plant
February 5, 2014
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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.
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