Experience tells as Metaldyne wins $50m rod orders METALDYNE, the Plymouth, Michigan-based world leader in powder forging technology and designer and supplier of powder metal-based components, have received six contracts from several automakers to produce powder-forged connecting rods for four and six cylinder engines. The parts will be used in cars, crossover vehicles and minivans scheduled for launch in Asia, Europe and North America in 2009 and 2010. The contracts are reported to be worth over $50 million and include a $25 million contract from an Asia-based automaker to supply machined connecting rod assemblies. “These contracts allow us to expand our global presence as a leading supplier of connecting rods and represent a growing trend by OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), who are designing
their next generation gasoline and diesel engines to take advantage of the inherent benefits of the technology,” said Metaldyne’s vice president of sales and engineering, George Lanni. Metaldyne’s powder metal forged connecting rod technology and materials aim to improve product strength, mass, and noise, vibration and harshness characteristics, while contributing to improved engine fuel efficiency. The near net shape forging process also reduces raw material waste compared to competing steel forging processes, reducing machining operations, steel scrap and overall costs to the customer. Metaldyne is a wholly owned subsidiary of Asahi Tec, a Japan-based chassis and powertrain component supplier in the passenger car/light truck and medium/heavy truck segments.
Ceratizit sets up shop in Turkey LUXEMBOURG-BASED hardmetals specialists Ceratizit SA has set up a new company in Turkey, based in Istanbul. Part of Ceratizit’s WNT sales and technical support organisation, WNT Turkey will be led by Hakan Sugur. Thierry Wolter, the Ceratizit board member responsible for cutting tools said: “Faced with the dramatic growth of the Turkish cutting tools market, we decided to open a subsidiary based on our successful ‘total tooling’ concept so that it can grow faster than its competitors. “Total tooling offers all machining tools necessary for individual application steps, as well as all service and consultation for practical support of the machine user.” Ceratizit is a 50:50 joint venture between Luxembourg’s Cerametal and Austrian hardmetal major Plansee formed
metal-powder.net
in 2002. Based in Mamer, Luxembourg, it is recognised as a world leader in some aspects of innovative hardmetal products for wear protection and cutting tools. Last year Ceratizit took 600 million in sales.
Nano investment by Powdermet CLEVELAND venture development organisation JumpStart has invested $350,000 in MesoCoat, formed last year to commercialise environmentally friendly nanocomposite coating materials and application technologies, according to Crain’s Cleveland Business. MesoCoat is a subsidiary of Euclid-based metal powder maker Powdermet.
September 2008 MPR
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