Federal research ship discovers new methane hydrate deposits along the Atlantic coast
September 21, 2018
Source:
The U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, reports that an interagency federal research ship recently sailed along the Mid-Atlantic margin to characterize methane hydrate deposits. The researchers collected 2000 km of Multi-Channel Seismic System data that confirmed previously detected methane hydrates, and also discovered new deposits.
Methane hydrate is a cage-like lattice of ice that contains trapped molecules of methane, the chief constituent of natural gas. If a methane hydrate is warmed or depressurized, it reverts to water and natural gas. When brought to the earth's surface, one cubic foot of gas hydrate releases up to 180 cubic feet of natural gas, making it a potentially massive new energy source. Hydrate deposits occur under Arctic permafrost and beneath the ocean floor along continental margins.
Researchers acquired six seismic lines running down the continental slope from the shelf-break to waters as deep as about 12,100 feet offshore New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The work of the cruise fills a gap in modern seismic data acquisition along the U.S. Atlantic margin and will be used by academic collaborators and other researchers.
“USGS researchers have been involved for decades in investigations that are helping us understand the full extent of the hydrate resource,†says Skip Pratt, NETL Project Manager. “We are pleased that we were able to support a project that is making important advances in understanding gas hydrates.†Federal agencies, along with the private sector and academic institutions, are all working together to gain a better understanding of the nature and distribution of marine gas hydrates.
https://www.energy.gov/fe/articles/doe-netl-supported-research-cruise-racks-methane-hydrate-data-successes
The U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, reports that an interagency federal research ship recently sailed along the Mid-Atlantic margin to characterize methane hydrate deposits.
Continue reading
Commercial heat treater Thermetco expands capacity with AFC-Holcroft furnaces
September 14, 2018
Source:
Thermetco, Montreal, announces that it has expanded its heat treatment production capability with the purchase of a new AFC-Holcroft UBQ (Universal Batch Quench) furnace and a UBT (Universal Batch Temper) furnace.
The equipment will be used for general heat treating and offers the capability of providing metallurgical processes such as carburizing, carbonitriding, annealing, tempering, stress relieving, and other processes. AFC-Holcroft UBQ batch furnace equipment is designed not only to encompass a wide range of metallurgical processes, but also to offer flexibility in production capability through its modularity and expandability.
Thermetco is the largest commercial heat treater in Quebec, offering several different heat-treating processes, with well-known customers in the automotive, aerospace, energy and petrochemical industries. Delivery took place in the first quarter of 2018. The equipment was installed and commissioned at the company’s newly built manufacturing facility in Chateauguay (suburb of Montreal).
www.afc-holcroft.com
Thermetco, Montreal, announces that it has expanded its heat treatment production capability with the purchase of a new AFC-Holcroft UBQ (Universal Batch Quench) furnace and a UBT (Universal Batch Temper) furnace.
Continue reading
Nucor to expand sheet mill in Kentucky from 1,600,000 to 3,000,000 tons per year
Source:
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., reports that its Board of Directors has approved an investment of $650 million to expand the production capability of Nucor Steel Gallatin, the company's flat-rolled sheet steel mill in Ghent, Kentucky. This investment will increase the production capability from 1,600,000 tons to approximately 3,000,000 tons annually and will increase the maximum coil width to approximately 73 inches. The project is expected to create 70 full-time jobs.
This expansion complements the $176 million investment currently underway to construct a hot band continuous pickle galvanizing line at Nucor Steel Gallatin. The pickle galvanizing line is expected to be operational in the first half of 2019 and will produce approximately 500,000 tons per year of galvanized hot band steel. Nucor continues to evaluate additional expansion projects as part of the company's initiative to further grow its sheet business.
"This investment is another major component of our planned strategy for long-term profitable growth," said John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO & President of Nucor. "Together with the new galvanizing line, this expansion increases our presence in the important Midwest market, specifically in the automotive, agriculture, heavy equipment, and energy pipe and tube sectors." Nucor acquired the former Gallatin Steel Company in late 2014 for a purchase price of approximately $780 million.
www.nucor.com
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., reports that its Board of Directors has approved an investment of $650 million to expand the production capability of Nucor Steel Gallatin, the company’s flat-rolled sheet steel mill in Ghent, Kentucky.
Continue reading
Specialty Steel Works invests in advanced process technologies at its Indiana bar plant
Source:
Specialty Steel Works Inc., Hammond, Ind., announces a multimillion dollar investment in new high-performance equipment and infrastructure at its Niagara LaSalle Corporation Cold Finish Steel facility in Hammond. The investment will enhance the Hammond facility's operating capabilities and make it the most modern bar-to-bar operation in North America. The Hammond facility processes cold finished steel bars in a wide range of sizes, shapes, grades, finishes and tolerances for a myriad of customer applications, predominately in the transportation, industrial equipment, and agriculture markets.
Joel Hawthorne, Chief Executive Officer of SSWI said: "We continually look for innovative solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our manufacturing platform to achieve high quality, low cost production and superior customer service. The multimillion dollar investment is transformative to our Company and is part of a strategy to build a sustainable portfolio of assets across the Company's operational footprint. Our ability to find innovative solutions is a competitive advantage that helps position the Company for future growth."
Michael Salamon President and Chief Operating Officer of SSWI stated: "This investment demonstrates our commitment to leading edge processing and production efficiencies in order to always be in the best position to respond to our customers' changing needs. Innovation and process automation move SSWI into a market leadership position and we will continue to look for ways to meet our customers' stringent demands through enhancement of our processing capabilities, operational excellence and customer-centric culture." Salamon also noted, "In conjunction with our industry-leading coil-to-bar operation at Corey Steel, this investment solidifies our position as the low cost, high quality provider of engineered specialty steel solutions in North America."
The Hammond facility is the largest single site for cold drawn capacity in North America. The new equipment will be phased in over the next twelve months. This investment will enhance the long-term viability of this facility.
www.specialtysteelworks.com
Specialty Steel Works Inc., Hammond, Ind., announces a multimillion dollar investment in new high-performance equipment and infrastructure at its Niagara LaSalle Corporation Cold Finish Steel facility in Hammond.
Continue reading
Aichelin to deliver 80-meter cast link belt furnace to Swedish fastener manufacturer
Source:
Aichelin, Austria, reports that Swedish fastener manufacturer Bulten has commissioned a cast link belt furnace system for the refinement of high-strength-steel screws and nuts. At 80 meters length, the furnace system can produce two tons per hour. It is the second industrial furnace plant for the Swedish Hallstahammar site.
Ten years after its first delivery for this site, Aichelin has now been warded a follow-up order for a second 2000 kg/h cast link belt furnace plant. Thanks to the positive references at Bulten, the current project was finalized within a few months between the first request and the final negotiation. The plant line measures 80 x 10 meters, and weighs around 180 tons. If liquids and components are included, weight is an even 230 tons.
Aichelin is delivering the electrically heated high-temperature hardening furnace and the protective-gas-tight tempering furnace with oil or emulsion hardening baths. Measuring and switching systems are included, as well as the process control system FOCOS 4.0 for the new system (as well as an update of the data acquisition of the existing plant) and a protective gas generator. As with the previous order, the customer provides the loading and unloading device and the component washing machines under its own direction.
www.aichelin.com
http://www.bulten.com
Aichelin, Austria, reports that Swedish fastener manufacturer Bulten has commissioned a cast link belt furnace system for the refinement of high-strength-steel screws and nuts.
Continue reading
Stratasys 3D printer cuts time for assembly tool production from weeks to hours
September 8, 2018
Source: ASM International
Stratasys, Minneapolis, reports that GKN Aerospace has been able to reduce production time for assembly tools from several weeks to a few hours since integrating Stratasys additive manufacturing machines into its Filton manufacturing site in the United Kingdom.
Continue reading
Metalysis powers up industrial-scale plant for solid-state production of metal powders
Source: ASM International
Metalysis, England, is powering up the world’s first commercial plant based on solid-state production (Cambridge process) of metal alloy powders at its Materials Manufacturing Centre in Wath upon Dearne, South Yorkshire.
Continue reading
Abstract from 2018 MS&T Conference, Microalloyed Steels Symposium: Development of Hot Rolled Ultra High Strength Steel with Enhanced Mechanical Properties
September 7, 2018
Source: ASM International
Hot-rolled ultra-high strength steel with a gauge range of 3-10mm (0.118 – 0.395 inch) was developed using conventional slab caster and hot strip mill technology at Stelco Inc. to meet standard industry specifications along with additional unique customer requirements.
Continue reading
One Minute Mentor: Overaged maraging steels
September 6, 2018
Source: ASM International
Great effort has been devoted to examining the properties of overaged maraging steels.
Continue reading
Wisconsin Oven ships steel tempering conveyor oven to tool manufacturer
Source: ASM International
Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, announces the shipment of an electrically heated standard two zone conveyor oven to a tool and equipment manufacturer.
Continue reading 