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Scrap parts go green
, PM
1992 POWDER METALLURGY
CONGRESS JUNE 21-261SAN FRANCISCO
:TECHNOLOGY
TRENDS
Scrap parts go g r e e n ecycling is a buzzword in many industries at the moment. Powder metallurgy (PM) is no exception. One company making a success of recycling metal powders is Arc Metals Inc. Geography plays a big p a r t in this, vice president Allen Heiberger told Metal Powder Report. Arc is situated in n o r t h central Pennsylvania with 31 PM p a r t s producers within 80 kin. The firm was formed five years ago to buy scrap green p a r t s or railings from the prod u c e r s a n d recycle t h e m to useable powder. Arc h a n d l e s ferrous, non-ferrous and some stainless steel material. The recycling p r o c e s s involves crushing the scrap in a
R
h a m m e r mill, screening it to -60 m e s h a n d magnetically separating it. The material is t h e n blended in 6800 kg lots and tested for chemical and physical properties. Once this stage is completed it is ready for resale to t h e c o m p o n e n t m a n u f a c turers. Heiberger says t h a t in some cases Arc may have to make additions to the powder to get the properties needed. Most of the recycled powder (90%) is used in c o m p o n e n t s for the lawn and garden market. It is not use(l to make automotive parts. "You can use 100% recycled p o w d e r to make parts", says Heiberger. However, it is not quite as good as new powder.
In particular, the green stredgth is lower. The use of additives can keep dimensional changes close to those experienced with the original powder. This e n s u r e s repeatability w h e n p r e s s e d in the same tools. Arc is currently selling some 360 t o n n e s / m o n t h of recycled powder. An i n c r e a s e of 62% c o m p a r e d to 1991 sales. The p r o d u c t sells at 48 c/kg compared to virgin powder which typically averages 84 c/kg. PM p a r t s p r o d u c e r s have tried recycling of railings and green p a r t s in-house in the past. But this is dusty job and m o s t p r o d u c e r s do n o t have t h e facilities to deal with the dust. The production of recycled powders accounts for some 40% of Arc's business. The remainder is c u s t o m blending of virgin powders. The firm employs 16 people full time a n d four p a r t time staff. In 1991 it had a turnover of $6.4 million, which it predicts will rise to $9 million in 1992.
sherritt understands the importance of a perfect powder 35 years of experience and dedication go into making consistent, high quality metal powders at Sherritt. A unique precipitation process enables Sherritt to supply metal powders with controlled particle size and surface morphology.
Applications powder metallurgy parts conductive inks conductive gaskets metal injection mouldings metal bonded diamond tools hardmetal binders
O
Sherritt Go Specialty IV Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada T8L 3W4
34 MPR July/August 1992
Telephone (403) 992-5026
Fax (403) 992-5030
Telex 037-2290
1992 POWDER METALLURGY
CONGRESS JUNE 21-261SAN FRANCISCO
:TECHNOLOGY
TRENDS
Scrap parts go g r e e n ecycling is a buzzword in many industries at the moment. Powder metallurgy (PM) is no exception. One company making a success of recycling metal powders is Arc Metals Inc. Geography plays a big p a r t in this, vice president Allen Heiberger told Metal Powder Report. Arc is situated in n o r t h central Pennsylvania with 31 PM p a r t s producers within 80 kin. The firm was formed five years ago to buy scrap green p a r t s or railings from the prod u c e r s a n d recycle t h e m to useable powder. Arc h a n d l e s ferrous, non-ferrous and some stainless steel material. The recycling p r o c e s s involves crushing the scrap in a
R
h a m m e r mill, screening it to -60 m e s h a n d magnetically separating it. The material is t h e n blended in 6800 kg lots and tested for chemical and physical properties. Once this stage is completed it is ready for resale to t h e c o m p o n e n t m a n u f a c turers. Heiberger says t h a t in some cases Arc may have to make additions to the powder to get the properties needed. Most of the recycled powder (90%) is used in c o m p o n e n t s for the lawn and garden market. It is not use(l to make automotive parts. "You can use 100% recycled p o w d e r to make parts", says Heiberger. However, it is not quite as good as new powder.
In particular, the green stredgth is lower. The use of additives can keep dimensional changes close to those experienced with the original powder. This e n s u r e s repeatability w h e n p r e s s e d in the same tools. Arc is currently selling some 360 t o n n e s / m o n t h of recycled powder. An i n c r e a s e of 62% c o m p a r e d to 1991 sales. The p r o d u c t sells at 48 c/kg compared to virgin powder which typically averages 84 c/kg. PM p a r t s p r o d u c e r s have tried recycling of railings and green p a r t s in-house in the past. But this is dusty job and m o s t p r o d u c e r s do n o t have t h e facilities to deal with the dust. The production of recycled powders accounts for some 40% of Arc's business. The remainder is c u s t o m blending of virgin powders. The firm employs 16 people full time a n d four p a r t time staff. In 1991 it had a turnover of $6.4 million, which it predicts will rise to $9 million in 1992.
sherritt understands the importance of a perfect powder 35 years of experience and dedication go into making consistent, high quality metal powders at Sherritt. A unique precipitation process enables Sherritt to supply metal powders with controlled particle size and surface morphology.
Applications powder metallurgy parts conductive inks conductive gaskets metal injection mouldings metal bonded diamond tools hardmetal binders
O
Sherritt Go Specialty IV Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada T8L 3W4
34 MPR July/August 1992
Telephone (403) 992-5026
Fax (403) 992-5030
Telex 037-2290