TMS 2002

news • surveys • profiles • people • products • contracts


USA based SecoWarwick acquire the UK company Camlaw
Hans-Dieter Honsel is our personality this month
Recent achievements of Ferrostaal AG, the Essen based Corporation
Wagstaff supplies its products to Aluminij d.d Mostar
TMS Exposition photo review and a quick look at Metef Exhibition
VAI upgrade foil mill in Armenia
Stein Atkinson Stordy at Hulett Aluminium
Inspection and Measurement products reviewed and John Ahlgren of LMI Selcom discusses non contact sensors
Extruding Aluminium Conference and Exhibition Catalogue
Plus Product Information, News, Contracts and People April/May 2002

Vo l u m e 4 N o 2

ISSN 1465-8240

Exhibition Report

TMS Exhibition and Conference attracted strong support The recent Annual Meeting and Exhibition staged by the US-based Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS) was held over 17-21 February at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, in Seattle, USA. The event attracted over 150 exhibitors, many, once again, from Europe. Unfortunately, Conference registrations appeared to be down on those recorded for 2001. As a result, a few exhibitors were heard to express their belief that an annual show was probably too ambitious under the present circumstances. It was suggested that there might be more support for an event which might alternate, for example, with the Essen-based Aluminium World Trade Fair and Conference. Nevertheless, the show proved to be a useful gauge as to the likely investment prospects within the US aluminium industry and many exhibitors received enquiries, which will be

followed up in the near future. A number of participants were displaying their products for the first time, and judging from the repeat orders for stands in 2003 in San Diego (2-6 March), it is likely that the exhibitors will be back again in force. Included in this item are a number of photographs taken during the course of the Exhibition.

The new Hycast SIR I-60 in-line melt refining unit was developed at Hydro’s Research and Development Centre at Sunndalsora, Norway, with input from the primary and secondary casthouses within Hydro. The features therefore include a number of customer suggestions, which Hydro Aluminium Hycast believes provide considerable advantages in the terms of performance.

Reader Reply No:905

Moltech displayed their metallic anode designed to operate in a 20 Ka aluminium cell. The company, based in Switzerland, develops a range of products for aluminium cells. Moltech’s brand names include TINOR, OPANOR, EXCELNOR and NOVANOR.

Reader Reply No:906

ALMEQ Norway AS displayed their range of crucible and tube cleaners, potliners and various electrical drying and preheating systems. Pictured from left to right are Jan D. Hansen, Knut Torgensen and Hans Christian Ly of ALMEQ Norway AS.

Reader Reply No:901

Metaullics Systems and EMP Technologies Limited, shared a joint stand at the TMS Exhibition. On display was their range of Tensor™ series pumps, Lotuss™ light-gauge melting systems and metal filters. The picture shows the T355D circulation pump with, left, Roger Howitt of EMP Technologies and right, Robert Franken of Metaullics Systems USA.

Reader Reply No:903

Pyrotek featured the FIF-50 automated injection system that utilises argon gas as the means of delivery. Mark Quackembush of Pyrotek, USA, explains that the unit injects Promag refining agent in a stream of argon, avoiding the use of chlorine.

Reader Reply No:907

The end of the show usually provides the first opportunity for exhibitors to visit each other’s stands. Here, David Whitehead, Marketing Director of Metallurg Aluminium (right), finds time to exchange views with staff on the stand of Anglo Blackwells.

Larry Stinson on the stand of Silver Needle Inc. The company exhibited their range of clothing including Aluminized and Vinex© versions, which offer protection from molten aluminium and metal splash.

Richard Evans, left, is the International Sales Manager for Granutec Saturn Systems, a company that supplies shredding, grinding and granulating equipment for the reduction of waste and scrap materials.

Reader Reply No:902

Reader Reply No:904

Reader Reply No:908

Aluminium Times

April/May 2002

21

Product Information

Filtration system

Safety clamps Certex UK, Limited, one of Britain’s largest suppliers of lifting products to the steel, welding and fabrication industries has acquired exclusive rights to market safety clamps developed by Inter product bv in the Netherlands. As a result, the company is offering the IPU10/A designed with an automatic locking clamp, guaranteed not to slip with even the heaviest loads and the IPTPU developed for transporting and turning large thin plates without danger of buckling. The IPU 10/A has an in-built safety locking device which automatically clicks on to the material as soon as the clamp is placed on the plate. The safety lock remains in position as the clamp closes, making it ultra

safe with heavy loads and in the most precarious lifting situations. Ideal for lifting requirements of up to two tonnes per load, the clamp also has a universal hinged hoisting eye allowing loads to be lifted, and turned, from any direction. The IPTPU range is especially constructed to keep large plates intact, even when turning through 180°. An advanced version — the IPTPUX — also has supporting profiles on both sides of the clamp. All models come with a universal hoisting eye enabling operators to lift loads safely from any direction and are available with a jaw aperture from 0-15 mm and working load limits of up to 3,000 kg Reader Reply No.84

Crucible drying station A Norwegian company, ALMEQ Norway AS, is seeking to promote its range of electric drying and preheating stations for crucibles. The company suggests that compared with conventional burner technology, electric drying and heating provides several advantages; extremely reduced energy consumption (up to 85%); increased lining life; reduced noise and air pollution; improved control of the drying process; and reduced maintenance costs.

The microprocessor-based controller and thyristor-regulator associated with the station provides an optimum temperature profile in accordance with the drying specification for the lining of an individual crucible – especially important where new monolithic refractories are being employed. The heating stations are fully automated, allowing the internal control system to shut down the programme should any failure occur. Reader Reply No.85

Potliner ALMEQ Norway AS are promoting their potliner for use in aluminium smelters. The machine can make large sidewall joints as well as narrow seam joints between the carbon blocks. The potlining unit compacts different types of paste and the operation is vibration free and noiseless. The operator moves the tool in all directions, controlled from the operating chair. One of the organisation’s recent customers, New Zealand Aluminium Smelter Limited (NZAS), made a detailed study of the ALMEQ potliners. As a result, they produced specific and detailed requirements for their new machine. NZAS sug54

gested a new way to arrange the automatic feeder. Instead of loading the hopper while on the machine, they suggested one should split the feeder and hopper into two separate parts. The hopper could then be filled on the floor to avoid spilling and lifted with the crane to be mounted on the feeder. They also suggested lowering the cross travel beam to allow the operator to enter the machine in an easier and safer way. All functions on the machine are controlled by the main plc. These, and other improvements, have been incorporated in ALMEQ’s new and innovative potliner machine. Reader Reply No:86

The Sivex® filtration system incorporating the Sivex filter box and the Sivex ceramic foam filter

Pyrotek has introduced the Sivex® filtration system for molten aluminium. The complete system comprises of two major components, namely the Sivex filter box and the Sivex ceramic foam filter. Suitable for the continuous or batch casting of aluminium with either single

or double filter seats cast into a monolithic liner, the Sivex filter box has a programmable logic control (plc) to operate the preheat filter box cover system and dams. This pre-heat system ensures that the Sivex ceramic foam filters are effectively and efficiently pre-heated across the entire surface of the filter, thus avoiding the common problem of hot spots. This is a critical stage of the filtration process that many professionals currently struggle to cope with. The system also has height adjustable legs to ensure that it can accurately match up toe existing launders. The Sivex ceramic foam filters are the other major component of the system. Extensive research and development has resulted in the precise control of the ceramic foam filter pore size. This is said to have enabled Pyrotek, Switzerland, to set new global standards for this type of technology. Reader Reply No:87

Oxygen-assisted rotary furnace technology Mechatherm International Limited and BOC are offering secondary aluminium and dross processors a combined furnace and combustion package to enhance the energy efficiency, productivity and environmental performance of their melting operations. Mechatherm is based in the UK and supplies furnace technology worldwide. BOC will combine its low emission swirl (LES) oxy fuel burner technology with Mechatherm’s oxygen-assisted combustion systems, technology and combustion expertise. Mechatherm’s tilting rotary furnace technology combines expertise in furnace design with modern process capabilities. Mechatherm’s furnace systems can offer very flexible operation

tailored to individual customers’ requirements, including excellent fuel efficiency, high melt rates, greatly reduced salt flux requirements, and reduced waste gas handling and emissions system sizing requirements. The BOC LES burner maximises heat transfer rates while minimising pollutants such as NOx, or nitrogen oxides. The burner uses a staged combustion approach, which allows the highly luminous, low-turbulence flame to operate at the peak radiant efficiency. In addition, the burner’s flame-shaping technology allows it to produce stable flames at various oxygen-to-air ratios and over a wide range of firing rates. Reader Reply No:88

Drilling and sawing systems Kaltenbach, Limited, have introduced a medium-sized three-axis value-engineered NCcontrolled drilling system known as the Kaltenbach APS. The machine has a maximum drilling capacity of 30 mm. The

company is also promoting the Sabre bandsaw range, with various semi-auto and auto-CNC options for cutting material up to 320 mm dia. Reader Reply No. 89

Aluminium Times

April/May 2002