Koike Aronson acquires majority interest in Brazilian welding positions manufacturer
The subsidiary company of Koike Sanso Kogyo, Koike Aronson/Ransome (Arcade, NY, USA), now owns the majority of Biondi Maquinas Dispositivos e Ferramentas Ltda (Brazil). The latter is a manufacturer of welding positioners and similar jigs and fixtures. In other Koike news, the company's largest positioner, a 130 ton model, is now operational at Harbin Electric Corp. (Qinhuangdao City, China) for the welding and cladding of components up to 550,000 lbs during the construction of a new nuclear reactor in the locality.
Welding Journal, vol.92, no.1. Jan.2013. p.10.
Alcoa: aluminum demand to increase in 2013
Alcoa expects aluminium demand to increase 7% to 49.4Mt in 2013, up 1% from the 6% growth experienced in 2012, according to CEO Klaus Kleinfeld. The bump in global demand will be bolstered by an 11% expansion in demand from China, as well as strong growth from Brazil (3%), Russia (1%) and India (3%). The change in demand from North America and Europe should remain relatively similar to last year, with North America seeing a 4% increase in demand (equal to the 2012 growth figure) and European demand, which fell by 2% in 2012, declining by just 1% year-on-year in 2013. Globally, the company is looking at growth in all of its end markets this year. As a result of the expected demand growth, Alcoa is projecting a 200,000t alumina deficit and a 535,000t aluminium surplus in 2013. Alcoa reported a net profit of $242M for the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to a $191M net loss in 4Q11.
Stainless Steel World Weekly News Update 15 January 2013
Corrosion in drinking water pipes: the importance of green rust
Drinking water distribution systems in some countries often use iron and steel pipes that are subject to corrosion, causing economic and hydraulic effects, including water leaks, higher pumping costs, and the build-up of corrosion products. Analyses the characteristic and crystallographic compositions of corrosion scales and deposits suspended in steady water by X-ray diffraction and shows that it is necessary to examine the corrosion products under wet conditions, because sample drying before analysis significantly changes the crystallographic phases originally present in the corrosion products. In dry samples the unstable green rusts are converted into more stable phases such as goethite and lepidocrocite, while the content of magnetite and siderite decreases. Three types of green rust in wet materials sampled from tubercles are identified. Unexpectedly, in almost all corrosion scale samples, significant amounts of the least stable green rust in chloride form were detected.
Working With Water Weekly, 4 Jan. 2013. http://tinyurl.com/bgtgcvw
Global boom for MIM
Reports that metal injection moulding is experiencing a worldwide boom, with an estimated market worldwide of more than $1bn per year, and compound annual growth rates estimated to be as high as 20%. This demand is primarily attributed to the technology’s significant cost savings compared with the use of machining or electrical discharge machining. MIM technology is used to form a near net-shape metal part by consolidating metal powder in a special sintering process. The lack of raw material waste, as well as reduced cycle times, can reduce costs by more than 50%. Firearms and medical applications are the two main segments of MIM demand.
www.engineeringcapacity.com. 13 Jan. 2013 http://tinyurl.com/azxovze
Steel startup targets energy sectors
Bolton-based startup Steel Dynamics is aiming for multi-million pound growth by serving customers in the nuclear, oil and gas, and petrochemical sectors. The company, which started trading last September providing stainless steel, duplex and nickel alloys has received a £700,000 finance package from Yorkshire Bank to assist with cashflow and working capital requirements as it invests in stock, processing equipment and industry-leading information technology. The company operates from a 40,000 sq ft warehousing facility on the Bradley Fold Trading Estate, Radcliffe, complete with laser, water jet and high definition plasma cutting technology.
www.engineeringcapacity.com. 13 Jan. 2013 http://tinyurl.com/bkq4qvt
Changing our material future, layer by layer
Researchers from the Universities of Manchester, Cambridge and Lancaster, have been awarded €13.4M to form a 'Synergy Group' by the European Research Council. The group will aim to utilise two-dimensional substances, such as graphene, to engineer new types of materials which are just a few atoms thick, but nevertheless have the power to revolutionise the future development of devices such as solar cells, and flexible and transparent electronics. Beginning with one atom-thick substances which possess remarkable properties, the group will investigate ways in which they can be layered up to form ‘heterostructures’. These heterostructures will still be just a few atoms thick, but will combine the properties of the different two-dimensional materials which comprise them, effectively enabling developers to embed the functions of a device into its very fabric.
www.materialsviews.com. 28 Dec. 2012. http://tinyurl.com/b5h2h8n
Laser fusing with metals
Reports that additive manufacturing with metals is becoming increasingly important in the automotive industry. Time and cost reductions in production are making the technology increasingly attractive, with the primary focus being on aluminium alloys which provide the basis for lightweight automobile construction. For applications involving vehicle and engine technology, but also from other areas, Daimler is now consistently embracing the resource-efficient, generative metal laser melting of metals. In order to meet all future assignments, the company asked the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology and the LaserCUSING specialist Concept Laser to develop a new super laser melting machine X line 1000R whose build chamber size surpasses anything that was known previously. Daimler's aim was to replace costly sand-casting and die-casting applications in early phases of development.
www.engineerlive.com /Asia Pacific Engineer/Automotive Design, 9 Jan. 2013. http://tinyurl.com/a8hu6wc
Optimizing materials selection in automotive and aerospace structures
Discusses the future of composites in the automotive and aerospace industries. Says that, although cost is an issue at present, emerging technologies will see falls. With more competitive pricing, the total carbon fibre reinforced polymer marker will reach $36bn by 2020, with aerospace at $14.4bn and the automotive sector at $2.7bn. Notes, however, that there are developments in advanced metals which will still have a place in both sectors. In aerospace, predicts that carbon fibre and titanium will be increasingly used in ribs, stringers and bulkheads. For the automotive sector predicts that carbon fibre will take some of aluminium's share in powertrain parts that don't need high thermal stability.
High Performance Composites, Jan. 2013. pp.7-8. http://tinyurl.com/5tvnf5v
GE forges joint venture with welding expert
In order to enhance its supply chain to handle rising jet engine volumes and to secure 'critical skills in welding and fabrication', GE Aviation has established a 50-50 joint venture in Butte, Montana with one of its existing component parts suppliers, Seacast, to produce tubes, ducts, and small structural castings for GE jet engines. The move follows closely on a GE agreement to buy the aviation business of Italian engine components maker Avio from its private equity owner Cinven for $4.3bn (Item contains no further information).
Flight International, 15-21 Jan. 2013. p.27.
