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Metal finishing barrel operations are used most often for “bulk” finishing of large quantities of parts. They are the most efficient method for finishing b
This is it. 2009 is the year to get serious about climate change, the greatest challenge of our age. World leaders meeting in Copenhagen need to reach an a
Increasing demand for water and stringent new legislation to limit the discharge of effluent is taking place in many areas worldwide. Equipment innovations
Alan Harper, closed mould specialist at MVP Ltd, is a well-know expert in resin transfer moulding (RTM) technology. Reinforced Plastics asked him for his v
When budgeting for new finishing equipment or upgrading an existing line, it is important to note that each requirement is unique and must be carefully con
Sally Sinai, Technical Support Manager at ITW Plexus, discusses the issues that should be considered before designing joints that will be bonded together w
The renewable energy industry suffers from intermittent wind but the conditions can be cured. That, at least is the tenor of a number of recent studies and
COMPOSITES EUROPE 2009 took place in Stuttgart on 27-29 October. We review the show news.
knowledge spreads in the ‘flat world’ of global markets, so the leaders have to raise their game to maintain their competitive position. That is as true i
Most manufacturing processes generate scrap, and even though powder metallurgy is notable for its low scrap production, these days scrap is a valuable comm
Iron deficiency anaemia is one of the world's leading health problems causing personal illness and serious socio-economic consequences. A major iron powder
Plenty of rhetoric was in the mix in the review of PM in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific that was delivered in June at the Washington World Congress
Bigger loads of heavy powders for tungsten blends call for machinery to match…
The U.S. EPA has developed new requirements to reduce air pollution from plating and polishing facilities. Shaikh Tayeb and Tapan Das, from the Delaware De
– WEB EXCLUSIVE – Mike and Pam Brady report from the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Composites Conference and Exposition (ACCE) held in sub
Drew Amorosi, managing editor of Metal Finishing, recently caught up with Dr. Manik Roy and Dr. Janet Peace of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change to d
As we anticipate the long-awaited first flight of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, George Marsh reviews the history of this high-profile composites project.
In June of 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established national reactivity-based emission standards for 170 volatile organic compounds
The Australian renewable energy industry faces a colossal threat of sudden extinction. Last week, the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) price dived to AU$
If you are a foreign investor contemplating investment in the burgeoning wind energy generation business in the United States, beware of CFIUS!! No, this
Following the publication by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) of its annual statistical report, Reinforced Plastics interviewed lea
Steve Sawyer pieces together the frenetic events that took place in June in Egypt, which saw the official creation of the International Renewable Energy Ag
Almost like waiting for a bus, when one trade show comes into view in October, there's another one almost directly behind it. First up this month is EuroPM
The low-cost approach to combating the volatile pricing of steel alloy elements means real skill is needed in making sure powder metallurgy continues to me
It has been a little while coming, but this year the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA) has chosen arguably the coolest, most cosmopolitan, and
Given the competitive nature of business, especially when times are tough, product differentiation is often the real message behind the anodyne phrases tha
The hardmetal sector is arguably the most profitable in powder metallurgy. The tooling made from its products are expensive but, as Ken Brookes discovered,
And with one bound, Jack was free… Such was the good fortune of the comic-book hero of childhood when faced with insuperable odds. To find a parallel in th
During the 20th century cheap and abundant energy made corrosion a manageable problem. This era is coming to an end. Soon, industry will find there is less
As an early convert to renewable energy as a business, the founder of Ernst & Young’s renewable energy, waste and cleantech unit - and originator of the Er
Reinforced Plastics takes a look at what's happening at this year's show, which is being held in Stuttgart, Germany, on 27-29 October.
The 11th Renewable Energy Finance Forum, presented by Euromoney Energy Events in London, kicked off on 21 September 2009.
In 2008, when a barrel of oil cost $147 and a gallon of gasoline cost $4.25 (or more), many readers called or wrote to ask if there were more energy-effici
James Malcolm, Business Development Engineer at Belzona Polymerics Ltd, discusses the use of composites technology in the repair of steel pipes.
George Marsh looks at the composites expertise of Baltic Yachts.
The process reliability of pretreatment methods is the basis for high-quality products in the production of metal parts with special surface requirements.
A new generation of FRP products enable many construction repair and retrofit projects which are not possible with conventional laminates or the wet lay-up
Huntsman Advanced Materials GmbH, Switzerland, has developed a nano-hardened epoxy adhesive paste, Araldite EP1000AB, which is said to have outstanding mec
Could a small UK metal extraction company hold the secret to transforming titanium powder production – making it as low cost and high production as iron o
Direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS) technology may sound like something out of science fiction. But as its manufacturers and users report, it’s gaining gro
Ultrasonic cleaning—that is, cleaning with high-frequency sound waves—is not a miracle cure; it just seems like one. When properly used, adding ultrasonics
Turkey has a growing economy, a strategic location for international trade, and it is in negotiations to join the European Union. We take a look at the cou
Air blasting contributes to more productive cleaning and pretreatment by making short work of otherwise time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks. For many
From medical instruments and implants to more pedestrian applications, Danco Anodizing puts all of their knowledge, heart and soul into every part.
Andrew Gilpin, product development manager at AMAMCO Tool, discusses the factors to take into account when selecting a tool to cut and machine composite ma
A House committee has started the legislative ball rolling to develop a more coordinated, substantial US wind energy research program, reports Steve Barlas
A marine power technology company like Atlantis Resources Corp says governments should focus on supporting developers in the short term through offsetting
George Marsh investigates the use of FRP pipes in water and sewage applications.
The use of fluorescent materials to provide a non-destructive method for on-line inspection has been an area of increased importance to the coatings indust
Why do hardmetals have such high status in professional circles in Europe, whilst in North America cemented carbides are the metaphorical poor relation? It
An all British consortium has been given the green light to develop a unique vertical axis winged aero-generator turbine, with substantial funding from the
David Bieniak of Huntsman Advanced Materials, Australia, looks at the techniques available to prepare the surfaces of thermoplastic and thermosetting mater
The Winterev hard materials gathering is getting bigger and Ken Brookes mourns a slight loss of informality that is one immediate result…
Any process will have a chance in the market if it is efficient in comparison to alternative processes. Lutz Lackner from Dorst Technologies looks at how m
The credit crunch, plummeting car sales, and stagnant end-use markets have combined to create a significant slowdown in powder metallurgy. Contributing edi
The beaming children assaulting their teeth with sweets, just minutes away on Florida's Disneyland resort, may one day appreciate the work discussed at the
This paper details the use of electro discharge sintering (EDS) to sinter diamond containing segments to high density and strength from standard iron powde
Investing in the business—and its people—pays big dividends for C.R. Hudgins Plating, a 60-year-old operation based in Lynchburg, Va.
From electronics to aircraft parts, Master Metal Finishing of Patterson, N.J., finishes to spec—and beyond.
The countries of the former Eastern Bloc are using PM technologies developed during the Soviet era but combining and sharpening them by the use of imported
As the credit squeeze threatens many small companies in the PM supply chain, some are looking to pastures new, and hi-tech pastures at that, for inspiratio
As the performance criteria for plated components have become more demanding, directives to meet strict environmental considerations have forced sweeping c
Atotech's Björn Dingwerth discusses the benefits of an environmentally friendly trivalent chromium-based post-dip. This post-dip helps reinforce trivalent
BASF has developed new epoxy resin systems specifically to aid the production of composite rotor blades for wind turbines. These products allow for signifi
For more than 80 years, the plating industry has been dependent on the use of various zincate and/or stannate solutions to assist in the plating of metals
Surface coating is of major importance technically as well as economically. Aluminum surface finishing processes are used not only in traditional fields su
At every meeting I attend the wind advocates complain that the utilities do not understand the importance of wind to the economy and climate change. They f
José Luis Briceño, director of Industry and Technology at the Trade Commission of Spain gives us some facts and figures from Spain’s renewables sector
Modify employee health plans and adjust production shifts. Renegotiate lending terms with banks and payment schedules with customers to secure more favorab
S. Sundaram reviews the potential applications for composite materials in the large construction industry of the Gulf countries.
Corrosive fluids and the high pressures required for the extraction of geothermal water turn geothermal power generation into a technical challenge. To ens
German development services provider Bertrandt AG offers model and tooling making expertise to the automotive and aviation sectors.
Stefan Bachstein, Technical Director of the LAMILUXplan Fiber Reinforced Composites Division at LAMILUX Heinrich Strunz GmbH, discusses how reinforced plas
The global recession has caused quite a downturn in the fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) corrosion market. Since last year, backlogs have reduced dramat
Predicting real-time energy yields is critical to ensuring that urban wind turbines are designed, constructed and installed in the most viable manner. In t
Huber’s MoldX™ grades give the formulator new environmentally-friendly flame retardant (FR) choices for achieving higher loading levels without sacrificing
Paul Rhodes, Vice President, Marketing, IDI Composites International reports on a grade of bulk moulding compound (BMC) that has achieved the highest tempe
Steve Sawyer reports back from some notable events, including the second (of 6) negotiating sessions leading up to the UNFCCC cop 15 in Copenhagen, where t
Although boat fires are less common than fires on land, they can have devastating consequences when they break out. With the luxury superyacht industry dem