The ideal sectioning process in high-volume production environments is one that maintains cut quality while maximizing throughput. This is the focus of a free webinar hosted by Industrial Heating on June 28 at 2:00 p.m. (EDT). “Sectioning of Complex Components for High-Volume Metallographic Sample Preparation,” sponsored by Struers, will discuss the factors to consider when sectioning metallographic samples in a high-production environment.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE-NETL) selected the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Prairie Research Institute (PRI) for an award of $3,459,554 for research and development to support a front-end engineering design study on carbon dioxide (CO₂) removal technologies. The study will focus on the advancement of a direct air capture and utilization system (DACUS), which can remove 5,000 metric tons per year of CO₂ from ambient air and then permanently mineralize it in concrete products. If built, the designed system would be larger than any existing direct air capture system (DAC). The study will launch at U.S. Steel’s Gary Works in Gary, Ind., using DAC technology developed by CarbonCapture Inc. The technology will use the plant’s waste heat, energy and location, so energy and transportation costs can be minimized.

Vista Metals Georgia broke ground on a $30 million expansion project at its Adairsville manufacturing facility. The expansion follows the completion and launch of its sixth cast house in spring 2021 and represents the second phase of the company’s nearly $100 million long-range capital plan, which includes the installation of its seventh aluminum cast house, melting furnaces, homogenizing ovens and support equipment.

The Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA) announced its 2022-23 Board of Directors and Executive Officers. Serving as president is Jeff Valuck of Surface Combustion Inc.; vice president is Brian Kelly of Honeywell Thermal Solutions; and treasurer is Jeff Rafter of Selas Heat Technology Co. Scott Bishop of Alabama Power – a Southern Company assumes the past president position. Valuck has been an active IHEA member for nearly a decade and has served as the Government Relations Committee chair for many years. IHEA also welcomed Ben Gasbarre of Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems to the Board of Directors in 2022-23.

Alcoa Corp. announced a $51 million project to increase the production capacity at its Mosjøen smelter in Norway by 14,000 metric tons per year (mtpy). Alcoa’s Mosjøen location currently has a nameplate capacity of 200,000 mtpy, and the investment is expected to increase that capacity to 214,000 mtpy by the end of 2026. Amperage to the site’s two potlines will be increased via improved electrical infrastructure, including the installation of new high-voltage cabling and switching equipment. The planned investment will also improve the site’s existing anode production processes. Alcoa also recently announced that its Mosjøen facility is operating an induction furnace that uses renewable energy to melt and recycle scrap aluminum.

Italian ring and bevel gear manufacturer Molla has been evaluating forging presses from Schuler's subsidiary Farina to produce its products for use in trucks and construction and agricultural machinery. Following successful preliminary acceptance, a 10,000-ton line will be on its way to the company’s facility in Solbiate Arno this summer. Molla currently operates a 6,000-ton press and a 1,000-ton press. The three machines form a forging cell for preforming, deburring and finish forging of rings. This cell will increase Molla’s production capacity in preparation for future market requirements. 

L&L Special Furnace Co. Inc. received an order for two atmosphere-controlled retort box furnaces. They will be used for debindering ceramic composite matrix (CMC) parts, powder-metal processing and hot isostatic processing (HIP). The main function of the furnaces is to remove all organics and other materials used in the product prior to placing in a high-fire vacuum chamber. The debindering process is extremely important and allows for a finished product that is very strong and light. The furnaces have a work zone measuring 23 inches wide x 23 inches high x 36 inches deep. They have a single zone of control with a temperature gradient of ±20°F at 1100°F (595°C) using four zones of temperature control with biasing to balance any temperature gradients.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems purchased a vacuum titanium casting furnace from SECO/WARWICK for UPC Precision Castings, an investment casting foundry in Israel. According to the furnace manufacturer, this is the first furnace of this type on the Israeli market. The single-chamber furnace is equipped with a hot (ceramic) and cold (copper) crucible. Melting processes of up to 40 kg of superalloys, mainly nickel-based, can be carried out in the ceramic crucible. The copper crucible melts 10 kg of titanium at a time. The furnace’s three-stage vacuum system allows it to obtain high vacuum in the range of 10^-5 mbar. The solution is also equipped with a mold heater.

Watlow, a designer and manufacturer of complete industrial thermal systems, signed an agreement to acquire Eurotherm from Schneider Electric. Eurotherm provides temperature, power and process control, measurement and data management equipment, systems, software and services for global industrial markets. The company’s headquarters are in Worthing, United Kingdom, with core manufacturing operations in Lędziny, Poland.

IHEA has a new member company. MP Combustion is a regional leader in the supply and support of industrial combustion equipment for process-heating applications.