Industrial Heating articles from November 2006

Industrial Heating archives from November 2006

State of the industry.(EDITORIAL)(Industry overview)(Editorial)
November 1, 2006... It seems as though everyone is taking polls, as the fall election is the topic du jour. I decided to get into the action with my informal state-of-the-industry straw poll taken at FNA 2006. What I found was not too surprising except for the...

Protectionism is bad policy.(FEDERAL TRIANGLE)
November 1, 2006... On September 29th, the day Congressional recess began before elections just ended, the Senate dropped plans to vote on imposing a 27.5% tariff on Chinese-made goods due to Beijing's currency management practices (policy if you insist). This...

What is vacuum?(THE HEAT TREAT DOCTOR)
November 1, 2006... When we talk in terms of heat treating in vacuum, most people think we do so in a space entirely devoid of matter. In reality, this isn't true. In practical terms then, a vacuum is a space with a highly reduced gas density. Just how many gas...

"Lean" and green.(ENVIRONMENTAL & SAFETY ISSUES)(Lean manufacturing and environmental protection)
November 1, 2006... Since the release of the 1990's best seller The Machine That Changed the World: The Story of Lean Production, companies around the world have been engaged in the Lean business model, which emphasizes the elimination of waste while delivering...

Pacific Metallurgical Inc.: quality heat treating.(MTI PROFILE)(Company overview)
November 1, 2006... Pacific Metallurgical is their name--serving the heat-treating needs of the aerospace industry is their game. Located in a region known as a strategic hub for the aerospace industry, this Kent, Wash.-based company has been providing vacuum...

MAXON: combustion innovation supporting the future of industry.(IHEA PROFILE)
November 1, 2006... After 90 years of serving the industrial-heating market, no one could blame MAXON Corporation if it decided to take a well-deserved break. MAXON, however, hasn't slowed down for a second when it comes to designing technologies to improve...

Business Trends.
November 1, 2006... Business Trends that May Impact the Thermal-Processing Industry [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Some Information Provided by Resource Development Co., Inc. www.rdcinc.com

Hypodermic--the holey needle: heat treat & metals in everyday life.(NOW YOU KNOW)
November 1, 2006... Just how do they get that small hole in the middle of that thin piece of metal? How is it made strong enough at such a thin gage to do its job? Let's take a look at the role thermal processing plays in the manufacture of hypodermic needles. ...

FNA 2006 show enhancer.(Show Enhancers)
November 1, 2006... Take a look at some of the sights from FNA 2006 in Reno, Nev. Here's a few photos of some of the companies that helped make the show a success. Get to know these businesses better by visiting their website. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Vacuum Ion Nitriding System, vacuum brazing furnaces.(New Equipment Orders)
November 1, 2006... Solar Manufacturing (Souderton, Pa.) has been contracted by Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (Waterloo, Iowa) to build a large car bottom chamber, hot zone and gas-system assembly as part of an Ion Nitriding System. The system will be delivered and...

Vacuum furnaces.(New Equipment Orders)
November 1, 2006... Vacuum Furnace Systems (Souderton, Pa.) sold two vacuum furnaces to Xi'an Aero Engine (China). The systems, which will be delivered in early 2007, are Horizontal Internal Quench furnaces including a 2-bar quench, molybdenum heating elements,...

Vacuum furnace.(New Equipment Orders)
November 1, 2006... G-M Enterprises (Corona, Calif.) is getting ready to ship a Model HVF 501-SFQ 6-bar horizontal-loading vacuum furnace. The furnace has a free work area of 42 inches wide x 42 inches high x 60 inches long, and it is equipped with two complete...

Melt shop material handling system.(New Equipment Orders)
November 1, 2006... Core Furnace Systems (Pittsburgh, Pa.) has been contracted to design and supply a complete melt shop material handling system at the SeverCorr's Lowndes County, Miss., mill. The project's features include an EAF/LMF flux-charging system and an...

Annealing, decarburization lines.(New Equipment Orders)
November 1, 2006... SMS Demag (Germany) received an order from Baosteel (China) for the supply on an annealing and pickling line, two decarburization lines and a final annealing line with insulation coating. The resulting final products (grain-oriented and...

Bright annealing line.(Installations)
November 1, 2006... Techint Technologies has designed a bright annealing line for stainless steel, and it has been inaugurated at TK-Mexinox, a ThyssenKrupp stainless-steel plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The line processes 70,000 metric tons per year of strip...

Furnace controls.(Installations)
November 1, 2006... Process-Electronic (Montreal) supplied Hansen Transmissions with furnace controls and a plant-floor automation upgrade for its gearbox manufacturing and assembly plant in Belgium. The order included a Protherm 300 controller for automatic...

IDS receives investment, marketing agreement.(Business News)
November 1, 2006... Integran Defense Systems (IDS), a leader in the development of nanostructured products for the aerospace and defense industry using high-performance nanocrystalline metals, received an investment from SAIC Venture Capital Corporation. IDS also...

ARR gets supplier.(Business News)
November 1, 2006... Aqueous Recovery Resources (Bedford Hills, N.Y.), manufacturer of Suparator[R] Oil Removal Systems, announced an agreement with Great Lakes Pump and Supply Co. where Great Lakes Pump will provide sales and support for Suparator Oil Control...

Alcan, jetmaker enter pact.(Business News)
November 1, 2006... Alcan Rolled Products-Ravenswood LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alcan Inc., will supply Montreal-based jetmaker Bombardier Aerospace with advanced lightweight aluminum products for its aerospace programs, including the CRJ-series and...

Hauck North American source for Kromschroder burner lines.(Business News)
November 1, 2006... Hauck Manufacturing Company (Lebanon, Pa.) is the source for selected Kromschroder and LBE burner lines in North America. The Kromschroder burners will be sold under the Hauck label and join the company's family of products designed to meet the...

CEC completes field testing.(Business News)
November 1, 2006... After significant testing at Consolidated Engineering Company's in-house Research & Development facility and further testing in a working foundry, CEC (Kennesaw, Ga.) has completed comprehensive field trials of the CleanCast[R] Heat Treatment...

Wall Colmonoy acquires business.(Business News)
November 1, 2006... Wall Colmonoy Corporation (Madison Heights, Mich.) acquired the assets of HTG Cincinnati, formerly known as The Aerobraze Corporation. The facility, located in Cincinnati, will be known as Wall Colmonoy Corporation, Aerobraze Division....

12th annual commercial heat treater of the year.(Business News)(12th annual Master Craftsman Award)(Sousa Corporation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Industrial Heating magazine, in cooperation with the Metal Treating Institute (Jacksonville Beach, Fla.) has awarded the 12th annual Master Craftsman Award to The Sousa Corporation (West Hartford, Conn.). The Sousa Corp. was founded in 1963...

Yokogawa system supplier for Air Liquide.(Business News)
November 1, 2006... Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Newnan, Ga.) has been selected by Air Liquide Engineering as a strategic preferred system supplier of process control systems for their air-separation units and syngas systems. Yokogawa products and services...

Sales groups merge.(Business News)
November 1, 2006... Effective Oct. 1, 2006, the North America sales representative groups of Ipsen International Inc. (Rockford, III.) and VFS Corporation (Souderton, Pa.) have become one team. This change will result in one representative team for both brands....

New aerospace technology center.(New Facilities)
November 1, 2006... The Timken Co. is continuing to expand its capabilities in the aerospace market with an investment of more than $12 million for a new technology center in Mesa, Ariz. The facility, which will include manufacturing and engineering functions,...

Steel shipments up 15.9% from 2005.(Association News)(American Iron and Steel Institute)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
November 1, 2006... According to the latest report from the American Iron and Steel Institute, U.S. steel mills shipped 9.02 million net tons of steel in July 2006, a 15.9% increase from the 7.78 million net tons shipped in July 2005. The figure was a 7.5%...

CHTE announces Chair, Board of Directors.(Association News)
November 1, 2006... The Center for Heat Treating Excellence announced that Ed Jamieson has accepted the role of Chair of the Board of Directors. Serving on the 2006-2007 Board of Directors: Ed Jamieson (Body-cote), Bill Bernard (Surface Combustion), Tim Davis...

2006 year-to-date sales show growth.(MTI News)(Metal Treating Institute)(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... MTI members reported $76.6 million in sales in August 2006, a jump of 7.1% from August 2005 when sales reached $71.6 million. 2006's year-to-date sales totaled $593.8 million, up 9.5% from 2005's total of $542.3 million. Seven out of nine MTI...

IHEA installs officers, board.(IHEA OFFICERS)
November 1, 2006... The Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA) installed its 2006-2007 Officers and Board of Directors during its 77th Annual Meeting in Bonita Springs, Fla. Serving as officers are Brian Russell (president), John Clarke (vice president),...

Industry events.(Calendar)
November 1, 2006... NOVEMBER 12-16 32nd ISTFA Conference and Exposition -- Austin, Texas; tel: 800-336-5152; fax: 440-338-4634; web: www.asminternational.org. 12-17 AVS 53rd International Symposium & Exhibition -- San Francisco, Calif., sponsored by AVS...

Selecting the right vacuum pump for the application.(Vacuum/Surface Treatment)
November 1, 2006... Selecting the right vacuum-pumping system for your heat-treat application is challenging, especially since no single type of vacuum pump is likely to meet all your process requirements. This discussion will focus on choosing a mechanical vacuum...

Jet impingement furnace for aluminum heat treating.(Heat Treating)
November 1, 2006... Due to its high strength-to-weight relationship, aerospace manufacturers have historically utilized aluminum. Automotive manufacturers, likewise, have been making the move to greater aluminum content. As more aluminum is being heat treated, the...

Vacuum degassing for the steel industry.(Melting/Forming/Joining)
November 1, 2006... Vacuum degassing, which involves exposing the liquid steel to a low absolute vacuum, serves several purposes from reduction of dissolved gases to carbon removal from high-chrome stainless-steel melts. Several different types of vacuum degassers...

Microporous insulation--a little goes a long way.(Ceramics & Refractories/Insulation)(Cover story)
November 1, 2006... The economics of furnace efficiency are simple. Energy in the form of combustible fuel or electricity is converted to usable heat inside of an insulated outer casing. The more efficient the insulation is, the lower the cost of operating the...

Website Locators.
November 1, 2006... Tired of wasting time searching for a company's website? We have it covered with our 2006 Website Locator. It's all here--the company you're looking for and where you can find them on the Internet, plus a screen capture of their website...

Vacuum furnaces & components.(LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
November 1, 2006... Vacuum Furnaces BMI--Vacuum Furnaces BMI designs and manufactures vacuum furnaces for heat treatment and thermo-chemical processes. BMI supplies standard and customized vacuum furnaces for gas and oil quenching, tempering, annealing,...

Heating elements / induction heating/melting systems & accessories.(LITERATURE SHOWCASEcooling-system )
November 1, 2006... Materials Testing Equipment Applied Test Systems Brochure gives an overview of ATS' extensive line of affordable yet uncompromising, materials testing equipment. ATS is large enough to offer an extensive line of standard products;...

Miscellaneous.(LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
November 1, 2006... Insulating Board BNZ Materials, Inc. New data sheet describes the OxyFuel Stop board for your fuel gas cylinder cart. Withstands extreme heat, fire and flame. Retro-fits existing carts. Fulfills OSHA requirements and is easy to...

Can-Eng Furnaces: global furnace systems group.(LITERATURE FEATURE)
November 1, 2006... Can-Eng Furnaces has released a beautifully designed 36-page color brochure that offers a detailed listing of their equipment. Since 1964, Can-Eng has been designing and manufacturing industrial heat-treating equipment for commercial and...

Direct Strength Method Design Guide.(TECHNICAL LITERATURE)
November 1, 2006... The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has published Direct Strength Method Design Guide by Benjamin Schafer, Ph.D. The guide provides practical and detailed instruction on the use of the Direct Strength Method. It includes a tutorial to...

Physical metallurgy of steels.(TECHNICAL LITERATURE)
November 1, 2006... ASM International (Materials Park, Ohio) released Steels: Processing, Structure, and Performance by George Krauss. This 613-page book is a guide to the broad, dynamic physical metallurgy of steels. This volume is an extensively revised and...

Metal Matrix Composites.(TECHNICAL LITERATURE)
November 1, 2006... Metal Powder Industries Foundation (Princeton, N.J.) released Metal Matrix Composites by Nikhilesh Chawla and Krishan K. Chawla. In the last few years, an increase in applications of MMCs has taken place, particularly in the areas of...

Nitriding/nitrocarburizing systems: Nitrex Metal Inc.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... Nitrex Metal Inc. introduces its multipurpose NX-400 series of nitriding and nitrocarburizing systems, an economical and dependable choice for use in small-scale processing and general laboratory and testing purposes. These furnaces have a...

Corrosion protective paint: Aremco Products Inc.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... Corr-Paint[TM] CP4000 is a single part, black-pigmented, ceramic-silicone based coating for protecting steel components and structures used in aircraft, automotive, chemical processing, foundry and power generation plants for applications to...

Heat exchanger: Des Champs Technologies.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... The Thermo-T tubular heat exchanger is designed to recover energy from industrial processes at temperatures up to 2000[degrees]F with up to 80% effectiveness. Built to handle high temperatures and corrosive environments, Thermo-T can be...

Infrared thermal imaging camera: Mikron Infrared.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... The Model M7500 infrared camera is configurable for mid-wave or long-wave imaging and four different temperature bands. Mikron's patent-pending "special tuning" technology enables the M7500 to image in the mid-wave bands of 3.9um (furnaces and...

Electric inert atmosphere furnace: The Grieve Corporation.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... No. 854 is a high-temperature, electrically heated, 2200[degrees]F inert atmosphere floor furnace. Workspace dimensions measure 24 inches wide x 48 inches deep x 24 inches high. 53kW rod overbend design heaters installed in heavy-gauge,...

Infrared temperature sensor: Raytek.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... Raytek has expanded the capabilities of its digital MI Series infrared temperature sensor. The MI sensor now features increased optical resolution, optimizing its performance in demanding process-control environments and allowing direct...

Oxygen sensor: Marathon Sensors.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... Marathon Monitors and Control Systems (Beijing) is manufacturing, marketing and distributing the "Carbonking" oxygen sensor for atmosphere heat-treating applications. This series of sensors is derived from the designs of Marathon Sensors Inc....

Induction heated lab furnace: Linn High Therm.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... Linn High Therm introduces a laboratory unit for the melting of different materials and the continuous pulling of quart glass capillaries up to 2000[degrees]C (3632[degrees]F) under protective gas. The furnace is heated by a 10 kW...

Shock-resistant silica composite: ZIRCAR Refractory composites.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... ZIRCAR Refractory sheet type RSLE-57 is a low thermal expansion, high-strength reinforced silica matrix composite. Designed for use as a high-strength insulator in induction hot-press applications, it is ideal for any application that requires...

Temperature transmitters: Yokogawa.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... Yokogawa's YTA series temperature transmitters have been certified by TUV NORD, a product quality certification organization in Germany, as being compliant with the requirements of the IEC61508 international safety standard for Safety Integrity...

Heavy-duty process thermocouples: Durex Industries.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... Durex Industries manufactures an extensive line of thermocouples for pollution control and process applications. These sensors can be protected from hostile environments with thermowells or protection tubes constructed of stainless steel,...

Flow Rate Controller: Burkert.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... For gaseous-media applications, Burkert's Type 8750 Flow Rate Controller covers a broad spectrum of control applications, from DN15 up to DN100, including a control valve and two pressure transmitters. The complete system is mounted on a pipe...

Distributed Graphic Recorder: Eurotherm.(PRODUCT REVIEWS)
November 1, 2006... The 6000XIO Distributed Graphic Recorder is a data acquisition product that allows users to view and archive data remotely from different operator displays around the plant. Its wide range of processes includes 21CFR Part II applications,...

Boeing making green planes.(PUBLISHER'S PAGE)
November 1, 2006... Not the color--the environmentally responsible "green." Could Boeing be selling more airplanes than Airbus because their planes are green? According to an article that appeared in the June 12, 2006, issue of B-to-B (www.btobonline.com),...

Perspectives.
November 1, 2006... Industry Retrospective from the Historic Pages of Industrial Heating 75 Years Ago In the production of aircraft, experience has shown that the problem of building a reliable structure having the combination of maximum strength,...

How to match furnace type with production needs.(FURNACES)
November 1, 2006... The issue of furnace type is one of increasing complexity as furnace builders continue to develop new technology that meets the ever-exacting needs of customers. This has led to a wide variety of furnace styles over the years, with some designs...

How to keep your production flexible with semicontinuous batch furnaces.(FURNACES)
November 1, 2006... The manufacturing environment is more competitive than ever. If you compete only on price, there is constant pressure from regions with lower production costs. The U.S. and Western Europe are pressured by Mexico and Eastern Europe. Mexico and...

How to choose the most energy-efficient furnace design.(FURNACES)
November 1, 2006... Like many industries, operating a heat-treat shop is a very competitive business today. Remaining profitable requires having the best equipment available so that the services you offer are the highest quality and provide the fastest turnaround...

How to maximize thermocouple life.(SENSORS/CONTROLS)
November 1, 2006... The life of a thermocouple depends on several factors--the better one knows the environmental conditions under which the sensor will be used, the better they can design the thermocouple. Consider that thermocouples generally are made with a...

How to maintain dewpoint sensors for optimum performance.(SENSORS/CONTROLS)
November 1, 2006... Dewpoint measurement in heat-treatment facilities is especially demanding. Unlike temperature sensors, which can be sealed in a protective sheath, dewpoint sensors must be exposed to the gas they are measuring. This means exposure to a variety...

How to save money and time with controls system upgrades.(SENSORS/CONTROLS)
November 1, 2006... In today's business climate, employees are asked to assume many additional responsibilities. Likewise, they frequently must maintain heat-treating equipment with outdated control systems while balancing the demands of increasing regulatory...

How to use modular design of induction heat-treat systems to benefit the customer.(INDUCTION)(Inductoheat Inc.'s InductoScan)
November 1, 2006... Quality and flexibility of induction heat-treat systems is the expectation of users the world over. As part of the Inductotherm Group, Inductoheat Inc. is uniquely equipped to meet or exceed customer's expectations. A recent example of...

How to select medium-frequency transformers.(INDUCTION)
November 1, 2006... Why are Transformers Required? The transformer's main purpose is to change one form of voltage to another, making it possible to operate a great variety of loads at their suitable voltages. The coils are usually wound on a core of...

How to best control temperature in induction heating.(INDUCTION)
November 1, 2006... In the manufacturing of high-tolerance parts such as rivets, fasteners, nuts, bolts and washers, induction heating provides a fast, consistent solution for bonding or changing the properties of metals or other electrically conductive materials....

How to determine your cooling-system requirements.(COOLING SYSTEMS)
November 1, 2006... Now that all of the justifications are in and your company has decided that they need that new piece of equipment (and it is your job to figure out how to cool it), this advisory will help you to doing it right. There are some fundamental...

How to assess pumping needs and performance.(PUMPS)
November 1, 2006... Estimating Flow in your System Check your pump discharge pressure and find your operating point on the manufacturer's pump curve. A given impeller diameter will operate along a curve, developing more pressure at lower flow rates and less...

How to select the right vacuum pump for the application.(PUMPS)
November 1, 2006... To select a vacuum pump, first thoroughly understand what you need your vacuum system to do. Just as important, you must also know the impact the selected vacuum system will have on the overall cost to produce your product. The pumping-system...

How to detect leaks in vacuum furnaces.(PUMPS)
November 1, 2006... All vacuum furnaces, whether they are hot zone, ion carburizing or low-pressure carburizing types, require the maintenance of a leak-free environment in order to control the transformation of materials to meet strict product-quality...

How to prepare a specimen.(MATERIALS TESTING)
November 1, 2006... Proper specimen preparation is crucial to revealing the true microstructure of your material. Preparation procedures should be established with your end results in mind. If you are looking to perform a simple Go/NoGo macro-indentation hardness...

How to select the correct Rockwell scale for your parts.(MATERIALS TESTING)
November 1, 2006... There are a total of 30 Rockwell and Rockwell superficial test scales. How do you know which one is best for your samples? * Always use the scale with the highest test force that your sample will support. Higher forces and larger indents...

How to select proper burner size for furnace heating needs.(BURNERS)
November 1, 2006... Many factors must be considered when determining the proper burner size for heating applications: 1. Gross heat input required for the process 2. Furnace type (batch or continuous) 3. Combustion air temperature (ambient or...

How to determine material selection with energy efficiency.(REFRACTORIES/INSULATION)
November 1, 2006... With energy prices steadily increasing, now is the time for owners and operators of high-temperature furnaces to reexamine their options with regard to energy efficiency. Aside from the obvious area of burner combustion efficiency, one other...

How to control your wash process.(CLEANING)
November 1, 2006... Removing oil from your wash processes can have a dramatic effect on cleanliness and maintenance requirements while remnant oil, even if emulsified into a cleaner residue that is left on the part, will negatively impact downstream processes. ...