Oerlikon builds surface solutions center in Japan for Japanese auto industry
June 1, 2017
Source:
Oerlikon, Switzerland, is building a new surface solutions center in Nagoya, Japan, dedicated to providing the latest technologies and services to the Japanese automotive industry. The investment will allow Oerlikon to meet the requirements of a recently won contract with one of the largest Japanese automotive manufacturers. The center is scheduled to open at the beginning of 2018.
Nagoya is one of the four largest industrial centers in Japan and a key manufacturing area for cars. It is home to the production facilities of large automobile companies such as Toyota and Mitsubishi. Oerlikon is investing a sum in the low double digit millions of Swiss francs in the construction of the new center, and plans to double its workforce in Nagoya over the long term. The new site will offer both Oerlikon Balzers coating technologies and Oerlikon Metco friction system coating technologies, making this facility a one-stop solution provider of surface technologies for the automotive industry.
Dr. Roland Fischer, CEO of the Oerlikon Group, commented: "The new coatings center in Nagoya is an important step for us in strengthening our foothold in the Japanese automotive market. We will be able to offer our customers a comprehensive set of automotive surface technologies. Our coating solutions help to optimize the performance of interacting surfaces in relative motion, thereby extending the lifespan of manufacturing tools, motor parts and components, which in turn increases the efficiency and performance of these products for customers."
Oerlikon's thin-film and thermal spray coatings and friction system technologies are used in many applications in the automotive industry. Engineered surfaces of components and engine parts in cars lead to improvements in engine performance, while the surface-treated tools and molds used in automotive manufacturing are much more durable and efficient.
www.oerlikon.com
Oerlikon, Switzerland, is building a new surface solutions center in Nagoya, Japan, dedicated to providing the latest technologies and services to the Japanese automotive industry.
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Siemens wins 3D Printing Industry Award for its printed gas turbine blades
May 30, 2017
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Siemens Inc., Germany, announces that it has won an International 3D Printing Industry Award in the category "3D Printing Application of the Year" for the first successful worldwide test of gas turbine blades produced via additive manufacturing.
The turbine blades were installed in a 13-megawatt SGT-400-type industrial gas turbine. The printed turbine blades were produced from a high-temperature-resistant, powdered polycrystalline nickel-base superalloy. They are able to withstand the high pressures, extreme temperatures, and centrifugal forces that arise during turbine operation.
Earlier this year, Siemens announced a breakthrough in 3D printing: an international project team with contributions from Siemens engineers in Finspång/Sweden, Lincoln/U.K. and Berlin/Germany together with experts from Materials Solutions in Worcester/U.K. The team successfully completed performance testing under full-load conditions of the first gas turbine blades ever to be produced by additive manufacturing.
Over the past few weeks, readers of "3Dprintingindustry.com," a leading online news source in the industry, voted this achievement to be the best 3D printing application of the year.
"We are very glad to receive this award for our printed turbine blades, and we are especially proud as the votes are from members of the Additive Manufacturing community," says Phil Hatherley, General Manager Materials Solutions - A Siemens Business. "With this award, we show that Siemens as a technology driver can play a decisive role in the future of Additive Manufacturing. And we are ready to take the next steps in this development."
Additive manufacturing has the potential to become a key technology in the production of gas turbine components. Siemens has been investing in this innovative technology right from its inception, and is now driving the industrialization and commercialization of these processes. In addition to turbine blades, Siemens is applying the technology to build burner tips and burner nozzles, and to repair burner heads. The international team of experts with the innovation centers located in Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom, are transforming the new design possibilities into specific solutions for Siemens' customers.
www.siemens.com/press/3D-printing
Siemens Inc., Germany, announces that it has won an International 3D Printing Industry Award in the category “3D Printing Application of the Year” for the first successful worldwide test of gas turbine blades produced via additive manufacturing.
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One Minute Mentor: Diffusivity of Nitrogen in Austenite
May 26, 2017
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The diffusivity of nitrogen in γN was determined from the stepwise denitriding kinetics of initially fully nitrided homogenous (stress-free) expanded austenite coupons. From the average diffusion coefficient for a series of narrow composition intervals, the composition-dependent diffusivity of nitrogen was reconstructed. The graph shows the diffusion coefficient of nitrogen in expanded austenite as a function of the nitrogen occupancy of the interstitial sites of the face-centered cubic lattice. Models based on the growth kinetics of the expanded austenite zone should take into consideration that the diffusivity of interstitials in expanded austenite is (strongly) concentration dependent and driven not only by a composition gradient but also by the presence of a (huge) compressive residual stress gradient over the thickness of the zone.
Volume 4D, Heat Treating of Irons and Steels ⇒ Heat Treated High-Alloy Steels ⇒ Low-Temperature Surface Hardening of Stainless Steel ⇒ Physical Metallurgy of Expanded Austenite
The diffusivity of nitrogen in ?N was determined from the stepwise denitriding kinetics of initially fully nitrided homogenous (stress-free) expanded austenite coupons.
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Nucor to build 72-inch-wide hot band galvanizing/pickling line at its Kentucky mill
May 25, 2017
Source: ASM International
Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., is investing an estimated $176 million to build a 72-inch-wide hot band galvanizing and pickling line at its sheet mill in Ghent, Kentucky.
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Wisconsin Oven ships walk-in oven to medical equipment manufacturer
May 24, 2017
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Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, Wis., has shipped an electrically heated enhanced-duty walk-in series oven to a medical equipment manufacturer for sterilizing its products. The work chamber of this sterilizing oven is 14x34x8 feet, and the maximum temperature rating is 300°F. The customer required a temperature uniformity of ±2°F at 160°F, and this was proven based on a thirty-point test.
The equipment has sufficient capacity to heat 18,000 pounds of swab boxes from 85°F to 160°F within 180 minutes when loaded into an ambient oven. The oven body is constructed with tongue and groove panel assemblies featuring patented high-efficiency panel seams (provides 25% better insulating efficiency).
"At Wisconsin Oven, we strive to find heat treat solutions for our customer's toughest problems," says David Burke, Sales Representative. "For this oven, we focused on the heating rates for the large loads of products which will help increase production rates and efficiency."
This walk-in oven was fully factory tested and adjusted prior to shipment. All safety interlocks were checked for proper operation and the equipment was operated at the normal and maximum operating temperatures. An extensive quality assurance check list was completed to ensure the equipment met all Wisconsin Oven quality standards. This equipment is backed by Wisconsin Oven's five-Year WOW warranty.
www.wisoven.com
Wisconsin Oven Corp., East Troy, Wis., has shipped an electrically heated enhanced-duty walk-in series oven to a medical equipment manufacturer for sterilizing its products.
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Evraz North America to double heat treat capacity for OCTG at facility in Alberta
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Evraz North America, Chicago, announces that it has approved engineering design work and ordering of long-lead time equipment to install a new heat treatment line at its facility in Red Deer, Alberta, for oil country tubular goods.
"This project will allow us to better meet the growing need for premium OCTG products by approximately doubling the installed OCTG heat treat capacity in this region," says Conrad Winkler, President and CEO. "This project, along with prior projects that expanded premium threading capacity and increased our premium connections offering, demonstrates our commitment to supporting the evolving requirements of energy exploration companies in North America."
Evraz North America plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of Evraz plc, one of the largest vertically integrated steel and mining businesses in the world. The company is a leading North American producer of engineered steel products for rail, energy, and industrial end markets. The company has six production sites located in the United States (Portland, Oregon; Pueblo, Colorado); and Canada (Regina, Saskatchewan; Calgary, Camrose and Red Deer, Alberta).
www.evrazna.com
Evraz North America, Chicago, announces that it has approved engineering design work and ordering of long-lead time equipment to install a new heat treatment line at its facility in Red Deer, Alberta, for oil country tubular goods.
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Electrically heated aluminum melting furnace has melt rate of 50 pounds per hour
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Lindberg/MPH, Riverside, Mich., has shipped an electrically heated hand-tilting aluminum melting furnace to a manufacturer in the aluminum sand casting industry. The furnace will be used as a central breakdown for transfer via bull ladle.
The resistance melting furnace has a melt rate of 50 poiunds per hour and can accommodate a crucible with a holding capacity of approximately 150 pounds of molten aluminum. The furnace utilizes low voltage heating elements that provide a long service life.
The furnace shell is ruggedly reinforced with steel and is lined with insulating firebrick and backup board, resulting in a low exterior shell temperature. An easy-to-use hydraulic tilting mechanism is also included.
"At Lindberg/MPH we work to provide our customers with efficient solutions," says Andrew Paul, Sales Engineer. "The hydraulic tilting mechanism supplied with this aluminum melting furnace provides ease of use and efficiency for operators."
This equipment is backed by Lindberg/MPH's exclusive three-year warranty that covers all materials for all components (less wear items).
www.lindbergmph.com
Lindberg/MPH, Riverside, Mich., has shipped an electrically heated hand-tilting aluminum melting furnace to a manufacturer in the aluminum sand casting industry.
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MTS installs Echo remote lab monitoring technology in Brazilian research institute
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MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, Minn., has completed the installation of the MTS Echo remote lab monitoring technology in the Civil Engineering Structural and Materials Laboratory at Rio de Janeiro's Pontificia Universidade Católica (PUC-Rio).
The University deployed MTS Echo Intelligent Lab to help improve lab efficiency. Under the supervision of Dr. Flavio de Andrade Silva, PUC-Rio contracts with many of Brazil's foremost engineering companies to design and conduct a wide array of mechanical tests to better understand the performance and durability characteristics of construction materials, techniques, and structures.
Now with the latest technology from MTS incorporated into the laboratory, the staff and students have far greater visibility to ongoing test system performance and overall system health. Authorized personnel can remotely access detailed information about their test systems from an Android or iOS-compatible device (smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.). The university is consequently able to maximize testing efficiency, and can preemptively identify equipment problems that could delay testing results.
Facing more demanding schedules, many modern test facilities are often expected to run around the clock, and unscheduled disruptions can affect multiple projects. Through Echo Equipment Monitoring, MTS addresses the growing need to improve productivity by providing real-time remote access to test status and equipment performance data. In addition, the Echo Health Monitoring functionality helps extend test system service life, enabling early detection and remedy of potential issues before they damage equipment or interrupt tests.
"There is a longstanding and deep-rooted cooperative relationship between PUC-Rio and MTS," says Dr. Flavio de Andrade Silva of PUC-Rio's Civil Engineering Department. "With the implementation of the Echo solution, we're able to know what is happening in the lab even when we are not there, giving us the assurance that we are operating efficiently."
www.mts.com
www.lem.civ.puc-rio.br
http://www.puc-rio.br
MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, Minn., has completed the installation of the MTS Echo remote lab monitoring technology in the Civil Engineering Structural and Materials Laboratory at Rio de Janeiro’s Pontificia Universidade Católica (PUC-Rio).
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Can-Eng to build 36-foot rotary hearth furnace for titanium aerospace forgings
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Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been contracted to commission a turnkey 36 ft. diameter "pancake" style rotary hearth furnace for a leading North American aerospace supplier. The furnace will be used in the production of titanium and nickel-based alloy closed-die forgings for large fixed-wing aircraft structures. The open hearth configuration allows for flexible loading and uniform heating.
The furnace system features an advanced low NOx combustion system designed to meet the most stringent environmental and temperature uniformity requirements. A special dual-door design provides the customer with significant flexibility for forging-to-press manipulation within the existing plant layout. The system is capable of processing up to 250,000 pounds in a 24/7 production environment.
The furnace system complies with thermal performance requirements laid out in AMS2750E. It integrates a low-shrinkage ceramic fiber lining, a unique rotating hearth drive, and a sealing system. The system is scheduled to be commissioned to the United States in the third quarter of 2017.
www.can-eng.com
Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been contracted to commission a turnkey 36 ft. diameter “pancake” style rotary hearth furnace for a leading North American aerospace supplier.
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Super Systems automated system enables tight nitriding process control for Callies
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Super Systems Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, reports that Callies Precision Engine Components has installed an SSI automated system with the ability to achieve tight nitriding process control using an easy-to-use recipe system that maintains tight tolerances on temperature, gas flow, and nitriding potential.
The relatively shallow nitride case delivers significant improvement to the fatigue life of every Callies crankshaft. The extremely hard nitrided surface also gives the crankshaft excellent wear resistance. The SSI control system provides the latest in sensor and flow technology for measuring the nitriding atmosphere, and an operator-friendly interface to provide complete traceability to the process and load data.
The SSi control panel was retrofitted on an existing a Lindberg pit furnace previously used for nitriding. Delivering proper surface and case properties requires in-situ control of the nitriding potential (Kn) and control of the ammonia, dissociated ammonia, and nitrogen gases. The system delivered by SSi also included the control of the dissociated ammonia (DA) generator. The controls for the DA generator provide gas-flow monitoring and temperature control to ensure the ammonia is fully cracked prior to being used as process gas in the furnace.
http://www.supersystems.com
http://www.callies.com
Super Systems Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, reports that Callies Precision Engine Components has installed an SSI automated system with the ability to achieve tight nitriding process control using an easy-to-use recipe system that maintains tight tolerances on temperature, gas flow, and nitriding potential.
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