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PCC shuts pilot plant
H6ganis acquires Hettiger for PTA business
with high ductilities and good fatigue strength. The PM components, made of prealloyed powder, were hot isostatically pressed (HIPed) to full density in seamless Metalshell canisters surrounded by a ceramic fixture to prevent distortion. The process was said to offer high hopes to aircraft engine manufacturers. PCC, whose major business is in investment castings, has also agreed to purchase metal injection moulder Advanced Forming Technology Inc, of Longmont, Colorado, USA, for a reported $13 million. Formed in 1987, Advanced Forming employs about 100 people and has annual sales around $7 million. The company's m o u l d i n g d e p a r t m e n t consists of 12 moulding machines and three production vacuum furnaces.
Swedish iron powder producer HSgan~s has acquired a major interest in Hettiger Schwei~technik GmbH, of Erlenbach, Germany. Established in 1972, Hettiger claims to be Europe's only supplier of high capacity plasma transferred arc (PrA) surfacing systems, sales of which represent about 50% of the company's total business in special welding equipment. "HSgan~s has recognized PTA surfacing as a potential growth sector for gas atomized powders", says a company spokesperson. "The main reason for this optimism is the simultaneous development of high performance PrA equipment (HVrA) in both Europe and Japan. "But a new technology looking for a market needs a lot of support. As a powder supplier, HSganfis had limited potential to provide this support to the industry. Only a package including equipment, powder and service could possibly be of interest to a potential HPTA end-user. "By joining forces with Hettiger we have the possibility to create such a package and we are convinced that such a system approach is the only way to assure that the technology is correctly optimized for different applications". FrA is said to be a competitive hardfacing technique that combines the efficiency of traditional weld overlay cladding processes like MIG and TIG with the flexibility of thermal spraying using metal powders. Thin coatings can also be Reduced growth for applied with a minimum dilution of base material during surfacing. tantalum powder in With the introduction of new automated high performance equipment, the Japan application of PrA surfacing can be extended to large components. Franz Hettiger will remain as managing director of Hettiger. Hettiger Schwei~technik GmbH, An der R5the, D-8771 Erlenbach, Germany;, D e m a n d for tantalum powder tel: 093-914-086; fax: 093-917-689. in Japan during 1991 is likely
Dewax and sinter furnace system The Brew Division of Thermal Technology Inc, of Concord, New Hampshire, USA, has developed an automated dualchamber dewax and sinter furnace system. This comprises two furnaces sharing a common control system, organic binder
condenser, power supply and vacuum pump system. Each furnace has a working volume of 0.028 m 3 (1 cubic foot) with a graphite hot zone rated for continuous operation of up to 2300°C in an inert atmosphere. Excellent hot zone temperature uniformity is reported with a deviation of less than 5°C from setpoint. The system also features Brew's partial pressure binder
Highly automated, dual chamber, dewax and sinter furnace Bystem, from the Brew Division of Thermal Technology Inc.
4
MPR April 1991
to increase by around 4%, according to Roskill's Letterfrom Japan, bringing total demand to 151 tonnes. This is a substantial reduction on the 21% rise seen in 1990. The slowdown in growth is Thermal Technology Inc, Brew Division, 90 Airport said to be due to the increasing Road, Concord, NH 03301, use of microchips in capacitors which involves a reduction in USA. demand for tantalum. More than 90% of tantalum powder PCC shuts pilot is used in capacitor manufacplant ture, but by 1990 about 70% of capacitors produced had microchips. A steadier minerals market Precision Castparts Corp has also contributed to a (PCC) has closed its powder metallurgy (PM) pilot plant in slowdown in demand with Cleveland, Ohio, USA. This was current prices at $75 to $82/ opened in 1987 to make hollow kg ($34 to $37/lb) Ta205 30%. However, capacitor productitanium and nickel based superalloy components by a tion is expected to increase to patented P M Metalshell pro- meet the growing demand in car phones and household cess developed by Gerald Friedman, manager of the electrical goods, the latter hopefully boosted by interest pilot plant operation. Friedman said the plant in the Barcelona Olympics in was closed because the pro- 1992. The newsletter also reports cess could not be commercialized quickly enough to meet that Shinku Yakin (Vacuum financial expectations, accord- Metallurgical) was to take ing t o PM T e c h n o l o g y delivery of samples of CV1500 and CVI800 tantalum powder Newsletter. PCC made thin walled net- from TPI (Tantalum Producshaped aircraft engine parts tion Inc), the US-based tantaremoval technique which does not contaminate the furnace interior. Complete control of both retort and chamber pressures is provided.
with high ductilities and good fatigue strength. The PM components, made of prealloyed powder, were hot isostatically pressed (HIPed) to full density in seamless Metalshell canisters surrounded by a ceramic fixture to prevent distortion. The process was said to offer high hopes to aircraft engine manufacturers. PCC, whose major business is in investment castings, has also agreed to purchase metal injection moulder Advanced Forming Technology Inc, of Longmont, Colorado, USA, for a reported $13 million. Formed in 1987, Advanced Forming employs about 100 people and has annual sales around $7 million. The company's m o u l d i n g d e p a r t m e n t consists of 12 moulding machines and three production vacuum furnaces.
Swedish iron powder producer HSgan~s has acquired a major interest in Hettiger Schwei~technik GmbH, of Erlenbach, Germany. Established in 1972, Hettiger claims to be Europe's only supplier of high capacity plasma transferred arc (PrA) surfacing systems, sales of which represent about 50% of the company's total business in special welding equipment. "HSgan~s has recognized PTA surfacing as a potential growth sector for gas atomized powders", says a company spokesperson. "The main reason for this optimism is the simultaneous development of high performance PrA equipment (HVrA) in both Europe and Japan. "But a new technology looking for a market needs a lot of support. As a powder supplier, HSganfis had limited potential to provide this support to the industry. Only a package including equipment, powder and service could possibly be of interest to a potential HPTA end-user. "By joining forces with Hettiger we have the possibility to create such a package and we are convinced that such a system approach is the only way to assure that the technology is correctly optimized for different applications". FrA is said to be a competitive hardfacing technique that combines the efficiency of traditional weld overlay cladding processes like MIG and TIG with the flexibility of thermal spraying using metal powders. Thin coatings can also be Reduced growth for applied with a minimum dilution of base material during surfacing. tantalum powder in With the introduction of new automated high performance equipment, the Japan application of PrA surfacing can be extended to large components. Franz Hettiger will remain as managing director of Hettiger. Hettiger Schwei~technik GmbH, An der R5the, D-8771 Erlenbach, Germany;, D e m a n d for tantalum powder tel: 093-914-086; fax: 093-917-689. in Japan during 1991 is likely
Dewax and sinter furnace system The Brew Division of Thermal Technology Inc, of Concord, New Hampshire, USA, has developed an automated dualchamber dewax and sinter furnace system. This comprises two furnaces sharing a common control system, organic binder
condenser, power supply and vacuum pump system. Each furnace has a working volume of 0.028 m 3 (1 cubic foot) with a graphite hot zone rated for continuous operation of up to 2300°C in an inert atmosphere. Excellent hot zone temperature uniformity is reported with a deviation of less than 5°C from setpoint. The system also features Brew's partial pressure binder
Highly automated, dual chamber, dewax and sinter furnace Bystem, from the Brew Division of Thermal Technology Inc.
4
MPR April 1991
to increase by around 4%, according to Roskill's Letterfrom Japan, bringing total demand to 151 tonnes. This is a substantial reduction on the 21% rise seen in 1990. The slowdown in growth is Thermal Technology Inc, Brew Division, 90 Airport said to be due to the increasing Road, Concord, NH 03301, use of microchips in capacitors which involves a reduction in USA. demand for tantalum. More than 90% of tantalum powder PCC shuts pilot is used in capacitor manufacplant ture, but by 1990 about 70% of capacitors produced had microchips. A steadier minerals market Precision Castparts Corp has also contributed to a (PCC) has closed its powder metallurgy (PM) pilot plant in slowdown in demand with Cleveland, Ohio, USA. This was current prices at $75 to $82/ opened in 1987 to make hollow kg ($34 to $37/lb) Ta205 30%. However, capacitor productitanium and nickel based superalloy components by a tion is expected to increase to patented P M Metalshell pro- meet the growing demand in car phones and household cess developed by Gerald Friedman, manager of the electrical goods, the latter hopefully boosted by interest pilot plant operation. Friedman said the plant in the Barcelona Olympics in was closed because the pro- 1992. The newsletter also reports cess could not be commercialized quickly enough to meet that Shinku Yakin (Vacuum financial expectations, accord- Metallurgical) was to take ing t o PM T e c h n o l o g y delivery of samples of CV1500 and CVI800 tantalum powder Newsletter. PCC made thin walled net- from TPI (Tantalum Producshaped aircraft engine parts tion Inc), the US-based tantaremoval technique which does not contaminate the furnace interior. Complete control of both retort and chamber pressures is provided.