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Iron powder plant under construction in India
PM part aids cancer fight A POWDER metallurgy (PM) feed plate, made by US company The Wakefield Corp, has found application in a microtome used to perform biopsies in the light against cancer. The microtome unit is part of a machine that allows surgeons to perform biopsies as soon as they encounter questionable tissue, rather than previous methods that have required removing tissue, closing the patient up and sending the sample out for examination. The microtome itself is the part of the machine that sections tissue for microscopic examination. It is capable of providing thin sections of tissue for continuous examination and updates, with the PM feed plate delivering the tissue to the blade for slicing. PM was chosen to produce this part because of its low cost, compared with alternatives such as investment casting and machining. It also
The
Wakefield
Corp’s
meets the precise dimensional demands, with the process producing a diameter with 0.01 mm tolerance and 0.008 mm TIR. The feed plate is made from Wakefield 23 alloy, a bronze material specified for its corrosion resistance. The Wakefield Corp of Wakelield, Massachusetts, is a producer of standard and engineered PM components. It has become one of the first PM companies to make use of the Internet and now has a World Wide Web (WWW) site as well as an e-mail address. Its WWW site (http:/ www.tiac.net/users/twc/) includes a description of the PM process, a design guide, comparisons with other fabrication processes, several case histories and material data and physical properties. The Wakefield Carp; tel: + I-617-245-1828; fax: + l617-245-3598; e-mail: twc@ tiac. net.
feed p/ate
used
in a microtome.
Iron powder plant under construction in India A 4000 tonnes/year iron powder atomization plant is under construction in Gadchiroli, India, and is expected to come on stream in early 1996. Tirupati Allo-Metal Powders Ltd has commissioned the plant, whose design and construction is being overseen by UK company Atomising Systems Ltd of Sheffield. Tirupati Allo-Metal Powders is a recently established firm headed by two young entrepreneurs - Abhay Shastri, a chartered accountant and consultant, and, Sanjay Sonawani, a successful author, publisher and consultant. The partners have already completed a first stage project using electrolysis to produce up to 1800 tonnes/year of iron powder for use in a wide range of industries. This commenced operation early in 1995. Now they are raising a further 460 lakhs of rupees ($1.4 million) in order to expand capacity to in excess of 5000 tonnes/year by using the latest water atomising technology. Gadchiroli, which is in the east of Maharashtra state, is strategically situated in the heart of India and close to sources of the high quality scrap vital for optimum economy and quality of production. Shastri says the Indian market for iron powders has a very different structure from that found in advanced industrial economies, where the automotive industry often accounts for more than SO% of demand. In India, welding, cutting and chemical applications currently considerably outweigh sinter-
PM”TEC ‘96 World Congress gearing up A ‘CALL-FOR-PAPERS’ has been issued for the 1996 World Congress on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials (PM”TEC’96 World Congress). Sponsored by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF) and APMI International, the event will take
4
MPR September 1995
place on 16-21 June, 1996, in Washington D.C., USA General technical sessions will review developments in powder metallurgy (PM) parts and products, metal powders and production techniques, in addition to the latest trends in particulate
materials. More than 400 technical papers are expected in addition to concurrent special interest programmes, poster presentations and seminars. Individuals interested in participating in the technical sessions, poster and special
ing. Shastri says there is little doubt, however, that the sintering industry is poised for substantial growth as the automotive industry gears up for a massive expansion. Shastri says India’s automotive producers have lagged behind European, American and Japanese firms in technology in the past, but this is set to change following the government’s decision to lift many of the regulations that obstructed the importation of advanced technology and equipment. This includes the reduction of import duties on machinery from over 100% to less than 30%. He says this is leading to a number of modernization. and expansion schemes in the automotive industry, with many leading names in the world automotive industry linking up with local firms. This can be confidently predicted to lead to an increase of sintered parts consumption per vehicle from the current very low level of about 1-2 kg/car in older models to levels of 3-5 kg/car, as is common in Japan. Atomising Systems will provide specifications and technical support for the project from its Sheffield headquarters, which will allow almost all of the equipment to be made in India. The company has considerable experience of supplying major iron powder atomizers, ranging from a 150 kg pilot plant to units producing 20 000 tonnes/year, and has been involved in other projects in India. Atomising Systems Ltd; tel: + 44-114-2767910; fm: + 44-114-2731977; or: i%irupati Allo-Metal Powders; tell fm: + 91-212-457019.
programs should send an abstract of loo-150 words to the Technical Program Committee by 29 September, 1995, on computer disk using an offrcial abstract submission form. Metal Powder Industries Federation; tel: + l-609-4527700; +
The
Wakefield
Corp’s
meets the precise dimensional demands, with the process producing a diameter with 0.01 mm tolerance and 0.008 mm TIR. The feed plate is made from Wakefield 23 alloy, a bronze material specified for its corrosion resistance. The Wakefield Corp of Wakelield, Massachusetts, is a producer of standard and engineered PM components. It has become one of the first PM companies to make use of the Internet and now has a World Wide Web (WWW) site as well as an e-mail address. Its WWW site (http:/ www.tiac.net/users/twc/) includes a description of the PM process, a design guide, comparisons with other fabrication processes, several case histories and material data and physical properties. The Wakefield Carp; tel: + I-617-245-1828; fax: + l617-245-3598; e-mail: twc@ tiac. net.
feed p/ate
used
in a microtome.
Iron powder plant under construction in India A 4000 tonnes/year iron powder atomization plant is under construction in Gadchiroli, India, and is expected to come on stream in early 1996. Tirupati Allo-Metal Powders Ltd has commissioned the plant, whose design and construction is being overseen by UK company Atomising Systems Ltd of Sheffield. Tirupati Allo-Metal Powders is a recently established firm headed by two young entrepreneurs - Abhay Shastri, a chartered accountant and consultant, and, Sanjay Sonawani, a successful author, publisher and consultant. The partners have already completed a first stage project using electrolysis to produce up to 1800 tonnes/year of iron powder for use in a wide range of industries. This commenced operation early in 1995. Now they are raising a further 460 lakhs of rupees ($1.4 million) in order to expand capacity to in excess of 5000 tonnes/year by using the latest water atomising technology. Gadchiroli, which is in the east of Maharashtra state, is strategically situated in the heart of India and close to sources of the high quality scrap vital for optimum economy and quality of production. Shastri says the Indian market for iron powders has a very different structure from that found in advanced industrial economies, where the automotive industry often accounts for more than SO% of demand. In India, welding, cutting and chemical applications currently considerably outweigh sinter-
PM”TEC ‘96 World Congress gearing up A ‘CALL-FOR-PAPERS’ has been issued for the 1996 World Congress on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials (PM”TEC’96 World Congress). Sponsored by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF) and APMI International, the event will take
4
MPR September 1995
place on 16-21 June, 1996, in Washington D.C., USA General technical sessions will review developments in powder metallurgy (PM) parts and products, metal powders and production techniques, in addition to the latest trends in particulate
materials. More than 400 technical papers are expected in addition to concurrent special interest programmes, poster presentations and seminars. Individuals interested in participating in the technical sessions, poster and special
ing. Shastri says there is little doubt, however, that the sintering industry is poised for substantial growth as the automotive industry gears up for a massive expansion. Shastri says India’s automotive producers have lagged behind European, American and Japanese firms in technology in the past, but this is set to change following the government’s decision to lift many of the regulations that obstructed the importation of advanced technology and equipment. This includes the reduction of import duties on machinery from over 100% to less than 30%. He says this is leading to a number of modernization. and expansion schemes in the automotive industry, with many leading names in the world automotive industry linking up with local firms. This can be confidently predicted to lead to an increase of sintered parts consumption per vehicle from the current very low level of about 1-2 kg/car in older models to levels of 3-5 kg/car, as is common in Japan. Atomising Systems will provide specifications and technical support for the project from its Sheffield headquarters, which will allow almost all of the equipment to be made in India. The company has considerable experience of supplying major iron powder atomizers, ranging from a 150 kg pilot plant to units producing 20 000 tonnes/year, and has been involved in other projects in India. Atomising Systems Ltd; tel: + 44-114-2767910; fm: + 44-114-2731977; or: i%irupati Allo-Metal Powders; tell fm: + 91-212-457019.
programs should send an abstract of loo-150 words to the Technical Program Committee by 29 September, 1995, on computer disk using an offrcial abstract submission form. Metal Powder Industries Federation; tel: + l-609-4527700; +