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Bodycote Powdermet and Rauma cooperate on HIP
Tooling project aims to cut parts production costs
GKN Sinter Metals to acquire Laurel Manufacturing
RESEARCHERS at the Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA, USA) are embarking on a three-year programme to create a computer-based method of designing powder metallurgy (PM) tooling and tool motions. The project, which has received a three-year National Science Foundation grant, aims to produce an analysis tool that can deliver final parts to specification the first time. The research will determine the process settings required to attain specified manufacturing outcomes, for production of steel (FeCu-C). Techniques employed will include production of sample components, ultrasonic density analysis, and computer modelling. The resulting models will then be used to generate advice for industry relating to component design and manufacture. The system will be used to predict the effects on density gradients on dimensional precision associated with a given design feature. The aim is to enable
GKN Sinter Metals, the world’s largest producer of powder metallurgy (PM) components, plans to continue its expansion with the acquisition of small parts specialist Laurel Manufacturing Inc of Dubois, PA, USA. The purchase price for the sale, which is subject to review by the appropriate governmental agencies, has not been disclosed. Laurel Manufacturing makes bearings and other small PM parts for the lawn and garden, hand tool and domestic appliance industries. Its major customers include Frigidare, WhirlGeneral Electric, Pool, Raytheon and Bosch, with its annual sales totalling US$16.2 million in 1996 and $18.3 million in 1997. Net assets at the end of 1997 were $3.1 million. Seifi Ghasemi, president and CEO of GKN Sinter Metals, says Laurel will give the company an important presence in the US bearings market. “We are the leading manufacturers of PM bearings in Europe and this acquisition will give us the global presence
improvements in quality and reductions in lead times and costs, through the optimization of component design, materials selection, and processing conditions. This programme brings together leaders in several engineering fields: Prof. Randall M. German will use his extensive PM background as the base for this research; Prof. Joseph Rose will deliver expertise in ultrasonic sensors to provide density mapping through ultrasonics; Prof. Renata Engel brings her significant finite element computer knowledge to model compaction processes; and Dr Lyndon Smith, from previously the University of the West of England, Bristol, rounds out the expert team with his skills in computer- and knowledge-based engineering. The researchers are currently looking for industrial collaborators to join the project. Penn State P/M Lab; tel: +l-814-863-8025); fax: +l-814-863-8211.
our customers demand,” he says. Dennis Heindl, owner of described GKN Laurel, Sinter Metals as the ideal purchaser for the business. “With its stated strategy of growth GKN will expand Laurel and our employees will benefit from being part of the industry leader,” he says. “This will in turn benefit the people of Dubois where Laurel is a major employer.” If approved Laurel will be GKN Sinter Metals’ third acquisition this year, following the purchases of BorgWarner Automotive’s powder forged connecting rod business and Metallurgica Lugan SA in Argentina. The activity reflects the company’s stated aim of doubling its size in the five years to 2002. To achieve this, Ghasemi has estimated the company will need to acquire companies with combined annual sales of around $300-400 million, with the 1998 purchases contributing around $60 million of this amount. GKN Sinter Metals; tel: +l-248-371-0802; fax: i-l248-371-0808.
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Bodycofe Powdermet and Rauma cooperate on HIP BODYCOTE Powdermet AB of Surhammar, Sweden, has formed an alliance with Finnish company Rauma Materials Technology to promote the use of machine parts produced from hot isostatic pressed (HIP) powdered materials. Rauma will be responsible for marketing and product development of the parts, while Bodycote Powdermet will handle design work and production. The partnership will benefit from Bodycote near-net Powdermet’s shape production expertise. The company is part of Bodycote International’s Metals Technology Division (see MPR, February 1999) that operates five HIPing 4 MPR October
1998
plants in Europe and four in North America. Bodycote Powdermet is the group’s specialist in PM applications, regularly producing a range of PM parts including massive valve bodies for the offshore industry, steam turbine disks, thick wall compound casings and tubes. It operates two HIP systems one of which,, with an operating diameter of 1.2 m and a height of 3 m, is among the largest in the world. Rauma Materials Technology is two-thirds owned by the Finish metals and engineering group Rauma Corp, with the remainder the Finnish held by National Fund for Research and Development (SITRA).
A number of Rauma Corp’s business groups produce equipment for industries that operate in demanding environments, such as pulp and paper, rock crushing and timber products, making them good targets for components produced from advanced HIP materials. In other news, Bodycote IMT suffered a failure in one of its HIP systems at is plant in Andover, MA, USA, on 25 July. None of the operatives were injured after a pressurized steel vessel failed at the plant, although the incident caused considerable damage and disruption to the plant. Bodycote says it is too early yet to ascertain the
cause of the incident, which is being fully investigated. The piece of equipment involved, however, is of a unique size and design which is not operated elsewhere in the Bodycote group. says The company smaller equipment of this design has been successfully operated for many years throughout the world, but as a precaution all equipment of similar construction within Bodycote will be fully re-inspected. Bodycote considers that it has full insurance cover for the plant and the consequential loss of profits. Bodycote Powdermet: tel: +46-220-34800; fax: +46-220-33118.
GKN Sinter Metals to acquire Laurel Manufacturing
RESEARCHERS at the Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA, USA) are embarking on a three-year programme to create a computer-based method of designing powder metallurgy (PM) tooling and tool motions. The project, which has received a three-year National Science Foundation grant, aims to produce an analysis tool that can deliver final parts to specification the first time. The research will determine the process settings required to attain specified manufacturing outcomes, for production of steel (FeCu-C). Techniques employed will include production of sample components, ultrasonic density analysis, and computer modelling. The resulting models will then be used to generate advice for industry relating to component design and manufacture. The system will be used to predict the effects on density gradients on dimensional precision associated with a given design feature. The aim is to enable
GKN Sinter Metals, the world’s largest producer of powder metallurgy (PM) components, plans to continue its expansion with the acquisition of small parts specialist Laurel Manufacturing Inc of Dubois, PA, USA. The purchase price for the sale, which is subject to review by the appropriate governmental agencies, has not been disclosed. Laurel Manufacturing makes bearings and other small PM parts for the lawn and garden, hand tool and domestic appliance industries. Its major customers include Frigidare, WhirlGeneral Electric, Pool, Raytheon and Bosch, with its annual sales totalling US$16.2 million in 1996 and $18.3 million in 1997. Net assets at the end of 1997 were $3.1 million. Seifi Ghasemi, president and CEO of GKN Sinter Metals, says Laurel will give the company an important presence in the US bearings market. “We are the leading manufacturers of PM bearings in Europe and this acquisition will give us the global presence
improvements in quality and reductions in lead times and costs, through the optimization of component design, materials selection, and processing conditions. This programme brings together leaders in several engineering fields: Prof. Randall M. German will use his extensive PM background as the base for this research; Prof. Joseph Rose will deliver expertise in ultrasonic sensors to provide density mapping through ultrasonics; Prof. Renata Engel brings her significant finite element computer knowledge to model compaction processes; and Dr Lyndon Smith, from previously the University of the West of England, Bristol, rounds out the expert team with his skills in computer- and knowledge-based engineering. The researchers are currently looking for industrial collaborators to join the project. Penn State P/M Lab; tel: +l-814-863-8025); fax: +l-814-863-8211.
our customers demand,” he says. Dennis Heindl, owner of described GKN Laurel, Sinter Metals as the ideal purchaser for the business. “With its stated strategy of growth GKN will expand Laurel and our employees will benefit from being part of the industry leader,” he says. “This will in turn benefit the people of Dubois where Laurel is a major employer.” If approved Laurel will be GKN Sinter Metals’ third acquisition this year, following the purchases of BorgWarner Automotive’s powder forged connecting rod business and Metallurgica Lugan SA in Argentina. The activity reflects the company’s stated aim of doubling its size in the five years to 2002. To achieve this, Ghasemi has estimated the company will need to acquire companies with combined annual sales of around $300-400 million, with the 1998 purchases contributing around $60 million of this amount. GKN Sinter Metals; tel: +l-248-371-0802; fax: i-l248-371-0808.
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Bodycofe Powdermet and Rauma cooperate on HIP BODYCOTE Powdermet AB of Surhammar, Sweden, has formed an alliance with Finnish company Rauma Materials Technology to promote the use of machine parts produced from hot isostatic pressed (HIP) powdered materials. Rauma will be responsible for marketing and product development of the parts, while Bodycote Powdermet will handle design work and production. The partnership will benefit from Bodycote near-net Powdermet’s shape production expertise. The company is part of Bodycote International’s Metals Technology Division (see MPR, February 1999) that operates five HIPing 4 MPR October
1998
plants in Europe and four in North America. Bodycote Powdermet is the group’s specialist in PM applications, regularly producing a range of PM parts including massive valve bodies for the offshore industry, steam turbine disks, thick wall compound casings and tubes. It operates two HIP systems one of which,, with an operating diameter of 1.2 m and a height of 3 m, is among the largest in the world. Rauma Materials Technology is two-thirds owned by the Finish metals and engineering group Rauma Corp, with the remainder the Finnish held by National Fund for Research and Development (SITRA).
A number of Rauma Corp’s business groups produce equipment for industries that operate in demanding environments, such as pulp and paper, rock crushing and timber products, making them good targets for components produced from advanced HIP materials. In other news, Bodycote IMT suffered a failure in one of its HIP systems at is plant in Andover, MA, USA, on 25 July. None of the operatives were injured after a pressurized steel vessel failed at the plant, although the incident caused considerable damage and disruption to the plant. Bodycote says it is too early yet to ascertain the
cause of the incident, which is being fully investigated. The piece of equipment involved, however, is of a unique size and design which is not operated elsewhere in the Bodycote group. says The company smaller equipment of this design has been successfully operated for many years throughout the world, but as a precaution all equipment of similar construction within Bodycote will be fully re-inspected. Bodycote considers that it has full insurance cover for the plant and the consequential loss of profits. Bodycote Powdermet: tel: +46-220-34800; fax: +46-220-33118.