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 Hydros 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.

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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. Moltechs brand names include TINOR, OPANOR, EXCELNOR and NOVANOR.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The end of the show usually provides the first opportunity for exhibitors to visit each others 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.

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Product Information

Safety clamps
Certex UK, Limited, one of Britains 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
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Filtration system
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.
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The Sivex filtration system incorporating the Sivex filter box and the Sivex ceramic foam filter

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.
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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

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 Mechatherms oxygen-assisted combustion systems, technology and combustion expertise. Mechatherms tilting rotary furnace technology combines expertise in furnace design with modern process capabilities. Mechatherms 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 burners flame-shaping technology allows it to produce stable flames at various oxygen-to-air ratios and over a wide range of firing rates.
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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 organisations 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 ALMEQs new and innovative potliner machine.
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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.
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Aluminium Times

April/May 2002