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Metso has received an order from Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS) for the supply of key crushing equipment for their concentrator plant at Simandou Iron Ore Blocks 1 and 2 in the Republic of Guinea. The value of the order exceeds EUR 10 million, and it is booked in Minerals’ 2023 fourth-quarter order intake.

Metso’s scope of delivery consists of 16 Nordberg® HP900™ secondary and tertiary cone crushers. Metso’s Nordberg® HP Series has over 10,000 installations worldwide in the aggregate and mining industries.

“We are pleased to be chosen as the supplier of the state-of-the-art crushing equipment for the Simandou iron project by WCS. We will leverage our global knowledge and resources to support the success of this project,” says Xun Fang, Head of Metso’s Minerals Sales in Greater China.

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Winning Consortium Simandou has been set up by the founders of SMB Winning Consortium, namely Winning International Group from Singapore, China Hongqiao, and UMS Guinea. WCS won the public tender to develop Simandou Iron Ore Blocks 1 and 2 in November 2019 and signed a Base Convention agreement with the Guinean Government in June 2020.

Read more about Metso’s offering for the mining industry on our website.

Metso is a frontrunner in providing sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. By helping our customers increase their productivity, improve their energy and water efficiency and environmental performance with our process and product expertise, we are the partner for positive change.

Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, Metso employs over 16,000 people in close to 50 countries and sales for 2022 were about EUR 5.3 billion. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. www.metso.com  

Konecranes will modernize the industrial cranes at Fortum Power & Heat’s turbine hall in Imatra, Finland to ensure a continued steady supply of electricity for over 50,000 households annually. The order was booked in November 2023, with deliveries and installation scheduled for October 2024.

The modernization of the two aging cranes at the Imatra Hydropower Plant, which started operations in 1929, will enhance performance and extend the cranes' service life. The project involves working within the confines of a protected historical building, adding an extra layer of complexity to the task.

"We leveraged advanced technologies such as our Crane Reliability Study and RailQ to assess the cranes' condition, providing Fortum Power & Heat with a comprehensive solution tailored to their needs," said Jari A. Koskinen, Sales Manager, Konecranes Industrial Service & Equipment, Finland.

Photo: Fortum Power & HeatPhoto: Fortum Power & Heat

"The heritage protection status of our facility meant there were significant restrictions on how to carry out the project. Konecranes played an active role in planning the modernization so the historical integrity of the power plant was preserved," said Petra Väisänen, Project Manager, Fortum Power & Heat.

Konecranes used a variety of advanced Consultation Services, such as a Crane Reliability Study and RailQ, coupled with a steel structure analysis to take a deeper look at the crane and its components. This analysis formed the basis for the modernization plan, addressing specific challenges posed by the aging cranes. The modernization includes the installation of two 87-ton hoists (SMT1925) and two 10-ton (CXT6022) auxiliary hoists, along with the replacement of electrical cubicles, cables and wiring.

A strong focus on customers and commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a lifting industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.

For a concise overview of Konecranes’ business, please click here. Konecranes’ leading solutions for the power industry can be found here. For a useful glossary of crane and lifting terms, please click here.

Konecranes is a global leader in material handling solutions, serving a broad range of customers across multiple industries. We consistently set the industry benchmark, from everyday improvements to the breakthroughs at moments that matter most, because we know we can always find a safer, more productive and sustainable way. That's why, with around 16,500 professionals in over 50 countries, Konecranes is trusted every day to lift, handle and move what the world needs. In 2022, Group sales totalled EUR 3.4 billion. Konecranes shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki (symbol: KCR).

April 2024 is all set to be a particularly exciting time for Unison Ltd, the inventors of all-electric tube manipulation; Nukon Lasers UK, and wire bending machinery manufacturer, Pneuform Machines Ltd.

These three innovative British companies make up the Unison family – and MACH 2024 will provide the first opportunity for their respective technologies to be presented side by side since Pneuform was acquired by Unison Ltd in 2023. At the same time, over at Tube Düsseldorf, the tube and wire bending capabilities of Unison and Pneuform machines will be showcased together.

On show and operational at Stand 550 in Hall 20 at MACH 2024, will be an all-electric Unison Breeze ‘Twinhead’ tube bending machine, a Unison Synergy hybrid dual-stack tube bender, and a Pneuform 3D wire bending machine. A highly powerful European-built Nukon Rex 6kW flat sheet metal fibre laser machine from Nukon Lasers UK will also be on display.

At Stand G27 in Hall 6 at Tube Düsseldorf, visitors will be able to discover the tube and wire bending technologies offered across the Unison and Pneuform machine tool ranges. One of Unison’s manually operated, CNC-controlled EvBend machines will also be on display. Highly affordable and specially developed for low-volume precision tube bending, EvBend models are widely used across the aerospace, MRO, motorsport and oil & gas industries.

Unison Synergy, hybrid dual-stack tube bending machine.Unison Synergy, hybrid dual-stack tube bending machine.

“We are incredibly pleased to be showcasing machines from all three Unison machine tool  companies at MACH 2024, and to be presenting technologies from Unison and Pneuform at Tube Düsseldorf,” comments Unison Ltd’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering. “With our world-class, British-built Unison tube bending machines, Nukon’s highly accessible premium-quality fibre laser machines, and our recent acquisition of Pneuform, we now offer what I believe is the most comprehensive choice of quality machine tool technologies for organisations and subcontractors wanting to provide precision tube and wire bending and/or laser cutting. We have also made significant enhancements to the Pneuform model range for 2024 and are proud to support Pneuform machines with our uncompromising levels of aftersales care.”

Unison Breeze ‘Twinhead’ machines

The UK’s leading manufacturer of tube bending machinery, Unison Ltd pioneered ultra-precise, all-electric tube manipulation and today offers the largest range of all-electric tube and pipe bending machines for diameters from 4 mm to 275 mm. Unison’s range of ‘Twinhead’ machines has been developed for the high-speed manufacture of symmetrical tubular shapes, such as those typically used in automotive, agricultural, transport and furniture applications. Models include a 5-axis machine with optional weld-seam detection, end forming, tube marking and barcode batch reading, and an 11-axis multi-stack, multi-radius option for more complex shapes.

Unison Synergy hybrid machines

Developed to make Unison quality and reliability accessible to organisations that typically carry out repetitive tube bending tasks and don’t require the rapid setup time and all-electric operation of Unison’s Breeze tube bending machines, Unison Synergy models combine electric control with advanced hydraulic operation. Available in 50 mm and 80 mm (maximum tube diameter) versions, Synergy models offer exceptional power and robust design with user-friendly touchscreen control and a choice of industry leading motors and drives. 

Pneuform wire bending machines

Pneuform was a pioneer of CNC 3D wire bending. Today its wire and small diameter tube bending machines have become the industry standard with many manufacturers of beer coolers, drink dispensers, HVAC equipment, and small diameter automotive parts. Pneuform’s range of wire bending machines includes rotary head models, flat rotary line bending machines and enamelled wire bending machines. Available in 2-axis and 3-axis versions, Pneuform machines cater for outside tube diameters ranging from 3 mm to 11 mm in stainless steel and 3 mm to 15 mm in copper.

Nukon Lasers UK

The Nukon Rex fibre laser machine that will be on display at MACH 2024 combines powerful 2D flat sheet metal cutting capability with optional pipe and tube cutting and marking features. Developed primarily for subcontractors and organisations cutting small batches of varying shapes and sizes, Nukon Rex machines have an extremely compact footprint and are available with power outputs ranging from 2kW to 6kW. Nukon Rex fibre lasers offer high-spec features that are standard across the wider Nukon range. These include advanced Lantek Expert CAD/CAM nesting software and American-made nLIGHT fibre lasers. Nukon Lasers UK is the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for Nukon’s European-built 2D, 3D and tube fibre laser cutting machines and loading & unloading solutions. Nukon fibre lasers combine high speed and high precision with exceptional value and build quality, as well as exceptionally low running costs.

www.unisonltd.com 

www.nukonlasers.co.uk      

www.pneuform.com

ABB Robotics and technology company Automated Architecture (AUAR) have won the prize for ‘Best Use of Robotics or Automation in Construction’ at the 2023 Robotics & Automation Awards. The winning initiative sees ABB robots being used by AUAR to transform the way homes are designed and built.

Automated Architecture (AUAR) aims to redefine building construction to make it suitable for robots, while also bringing it closer to communities and meeting the needs of users. The start-up’s innovative solution uses ABB robots to make standardised components that can be assembled into complete buildings at a network of community micro-factories close to construction sites.

The London-based company is already using ABB robots to build customised, robotically assembled dwellings. The resulting homes make efficient use of materials and radically reduce CO2 emissions across the entire supply chain compared to traditional construction.

AUAR was founded by two architects and associate professors at UCL, Mollie Claypool (CEO) and Gilles Retsin (CTO), who had been working for over 10 years on robotics, automation, construction and architecture. They have relied extensively on support from ABB to realise their vision, according to Retsin.

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“ABB understands that the construction market is the next place to go for robotic automation and we got incredible support from the very first email. ABB gave us a lot of engineering support to help us figure out our first robot cell, even giving us our own space at its Milton Keynes centre to play around and experiment,” he says. 

The concept of fabricated buildings is attracting growing interest as the building industry looks for ways to build sustainable homes faster and more cost effectively. Using automation enables this, whilst also addressing skills and labour shortages that are delaying project times. This is further enhanced by AUAR’s approach to establishing microfactories staffed with local contractors and suppliers to help in delivery of the finished structures.

“We are thrilled that our work with AUAR has been recognised with this award,” says Julian Ware, ABB Robotics UK & Ireland Sales Manager. “Their approach clearly shows how automated construction can transform the future of housing whilst helping the sector to tackle issues such as cost, labour shortages, flexibility and time to build. We are proud that ABB technology has played such a big role in helping AUAR to realise its vision.”

Run by Akabo Media, the Robotics & Automation Awards highlight innovation demonstrated by both British and international organisations in the application of robotic or automated systems across a range of industries.

ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation, as one of the world’s leading robotics and machine automation suppliers, is the only company with a comprehensive and integrated portfolio covering robots, Autonomous Mobile Robots and machine automation solutions, designed and orchestrated by our value-creating software. We help companies of all sizes and sectors - from automotive to electronics and logistics – become more resilient, flexible and efficient. ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation supports customers in the transition towards the connected and collaborative factory of the future. The business area employs approximately 11,000 people at over 100 locations in approximately 53 countries. go.abb/robotics

Registration opens for Emerson Exchange EMEA 2024, users to share best practices for achieving step-change operational and sustainability improvements.

Registration is now open for Emerson Exchange Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) 2024, which will take place at the Congress Center Düsseldorf, in Germany, from February 27-29. This will be the first Emerson Exchange in Europe to be held in-person since 2018, following the COVID-19 pandemic. With a theme of ‘Explore, Engage, Evolve’, the Emerson users’ event will highlight how industrial manufacturers exploring greenfield project developments or modernisation of existing sites can employ powerful software and advanced automation solutions to achieve step-change improvements in sustainability and operational performance.

Emerson Exchange is an industry-leading technical conference, where professionals from process, hybrid and discrete manufacturing gather to share ideas, collaborate on solutions and get expert advice on how to extract the most from their automation technology investments. Thousands of delegates from more than 50 countries are expected to attend the conference, where they can network with their peers and hear more than 150 users sharing their experiences and presenting solutions to some of their most challenging automation projects.

Emerson Exchange Europe, Middle East and Africa 2024 will take place at the Congress Center Düsseldorf, in Germany, from February 27-29.Emerson Exchange Europe, Middle East and Africa 2024 will take place at the Congress Center Düsseldorf, in Germany, from February 27-29.

“Emerson Exchange EMEA 2024 provides the perfect platform to present our latest advanced automation software and technologies designed to help organisations meet their operational, decarbonisation and sustainability goals,” said John Nita, president of Emerson Europe. “Attendees will have the opportunity to explore transformative ideas and gain inspiration and insights from industry leaders to accelerate their own improvement programmes.”

A highlight of the conference will be a summit focusing on the key topic of sustainability, where executives from leading global manufacturers will hold roundtable discussions about meeting decarbonisation targets. Emerson’s Women’s Impact Network employee resource group will host a summit focusing on the significant impact of women in business and providing valuable insights from inspirational women at the forefront of the engineering and tech industry. In addition, the event will feature a range of industry forums, with experts meeting to discuss the latest trends and technological developments in the chemical, energy, food and beverage, life sciences, LNG and metals and mining industries.

“The Emerson Exchange EMEA 2024 will be one of the largest gatherings of industry leaders exchanging ideas, forming collaborations and discovering innovations that will drive our industry forward,” said Mathias Schinzel, president of Emerson Middle East and Africa. “The remarkable level of interest we've seen from the Middle East and Africa serves as a clear signal that the region is not just keen to embrace the future of manufacturing and energy, but actively shape it by fully committing to advancing sustainability and decarbonisation journeys.”

Emerson Exchange delegates will share best practices and get expert advice on how to extract the most from their automation technology investments.Emerson Exchange delegates will share best practices and get expert advice on how to extract the most from their automation technology investments.

The 5000m² EXPO will be divided into zones focused on sustainability and decarbonisation, industries, technologies and expertise. Delegates will be able to hold in-depth discussions with industry experts about their specific applications and learn about Emerson’s portfolio of software solutions and its Boundless Automation™ vision for implementing a next-generation automation architecture across an enterprise, enabling significant business improvements.

The event will also feature the largest training programme ever held at an Emerson Exchange in Europe, with 600 places available on a range of certificated courses, giving delegates the chance to develop their skills as a means of enhancing their career. Further supporting talent development, the event will also include a STEM open day for university students.

For more information, go to EmersonExchange.org/EMEA.

About Emerson  
Emerson (NYSE: EMR) is a global technology and software company providing innovative solutions for the world’s essential industries. Through its leading automation portfolio, including its majority stake in AspenTech, Emerson helps hybrid, process and discrete manufacturers optimise operations, protect personnel, reduce emissions and achieve their sustainability goals. For more information, visit Emerson.com.

Konecranes will provide 16 cranes to Hybar, an environmentally sustainable scrap metal recycling and steel production company in the United States. These cranes, including ladle, charge, rolling mill, and shipping bay cranes, will be instrumental in supporting Hybar's steel rebar production. The order was won in September 2023, with deliveries scheduled in 2024 and early 2025.

A Konecranes ladle crane in action.A Konecranes ladle crane in action.Hybar’s first mill is currently being built to produce a full complement of high-yielding rebar for large industrial projects. Once operational, Hybar expects its greenhouse gas emissions to be the lowest among all North American steel producers, and likely the lowest in the world’s steel making community. Furthermore, it will be directly connected to an adjacent solar panel field to tap renewable energy. For this transformative initiative, Konecranes will deliver a diverse array of heavy-duty cranes that are engineered to withstand challenging conditions including high temperatures and dust.

The cranes offer unique features and technology tailored to Hybar's specific needs. For example, two Shipping Cranes are equipped with specialized magnets for the efficient handling of spooled rebar coils and long flat bundles, and two ladle/charge cranes come equipped with operator cabins designed for optimal visibility, ensuring safe and precise handling of molten metal.

“The team at Konecranes understands the complexities of moving steel,” said Ari Levy, Hybar’s Chief Financial Officer. “They also share our dedication to operational efficiency, environmental stewardship and, above all else, safety.”

"Hybar’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions aligns very well with our sustainability approach, which makes this order for high-quality steel mill cranes that support Hybar's financial and environmental initiatives a perfect fit for both companies,” said Juergen Gieske, VP of Process Cranes Sales, AME, Konecranes.

A strong focus on customers and commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a lifting industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.

For a concise overview of Konecranes’ business, please click here. Konecranes’ leading solutions for the metals production industry can be found here. For a useful glossary of crane and lifting terms, please click here.

Konecranes is a global leader in material handling solutions, serving a broad range of customers across multiple industries. We consistently set the industry benchmark, from everyday improvements to the breakthroughs at moments that matter most, because we know we can always find a safer, more productive and sustainable way. That's why, with around 16,500 professionals in over 50 countries, Konecranes is trusted every day to lift, handle and move what the world needs. In 2022, Group sales totalled EUR 3.4 billion. Konecranes shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki (symbol: KCR).

The technical and commercial tasks carried out by AFRY will contribute to have operational offshore renewable energy farms in Malta in coming years.

AFRY’s work for the state-owned company Interconnect Malta (ICM) is supporting the process of defining and awarding offshore renewables concessions in Malta’s exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean Sea.

The process of awarding offshore renewables concessions ensures that the development of clean energy sources is carried out in a well-regulated, sustainable, and beneficial manner, addressing energy needs, environmental concerns, economic growth, and climate change mitigation. The work will be delivered by AFRY Management Consulting together with AFRY’s Energy engineering team, and will cover two complementary aspects: Technical and Commercial.

2019 11 25 090513The technical tasks are helping the Maltese government to identify geographical areas, technologies, impacts on the network and development processes, to have operational offshore renewables farms in coming years. The commercial tasks will allow the Maltese government to evaluate the relationship between risk versus return and prices, enabling informed business decisions and ensuring optimal resource allocation as well as alignment with long-term objectives.

AFRY’s strong international team of experts will provide ICM several services along the whole offshore renewables value chain, from engineering to strategy, commercial and financial aspects.

“At AFRY, we are fortunate to have experts that cover all aspects of energy-related projects, providing us with a 360-degree view of our client projects that allows us to quickly gain an understanding of the optimal way forward. I am pleased that we can contribute to this exciting project with ICM and the Maltese Government and be part of Malta’s transition towards a clean energy future” says Bülent Mutlu, Head of the Expertise Cluster Power & Heat Generation at AFRY Management Consulting.

“We take pride in bringing our interdisciplinary skills to the forefront to support Malta’s transition towards sustainability. Our holistic approach, encompassing technical and commercial expertise, positions us as a valuable partner in this strategic project. It’s noteworthy that our recent acquisition of BLIX Consulting has significantly bolstered our offshore wind competencies with its unique and specialised expertise, further empowering us to play a pivotal role in Malta’s green energy transition”, says Peter Plug, VP and Global Head of Renewable Energy at AFRY.

“Malta is working to attain its forward-looking ambition to substantially increase the share of renewables in its energy mix, for increased environmental sustainability and energy security. In this regard, the Maltese Government is focusing on developing its offshore (floating) renewable potential, through the establishment of the necessary administrative and regulatory frameworks, enabling future deployment of larger-scale energy projects. In January 2021, Malta joined other EU member states in a non-binding agreement for the deployment of offshore renewables in the South and West offshore grid priority corridor, with our country aspiring to develop offshore floating clean energy installations in Malta's economic zones. We look forward to continue empowering the development of Malta’s renewable energy sector,” says Ismail D’Amato, CEO of Interconnect Malta (ICM).

Established in 2021, Interconnect Malta Ltd (ICM) is a government-owned company under the responsibility of the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise. It is entrusted with the development of major energy infrastructure projects, including Interconnector 2, the second electricity HVAC Cable link between Malta and Italy, the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) project at Marsa and Delimara, offshore renewables and the Melita TransGas Hydrogen-Ready Pipeline, which has been identified as a Project of Common Interest (5.19) by the European Union.

AFRY is a European leader in engineering, design, and advisory services, with a global reach. We accelerate the transition towards a sustainable society.

We are 19,000 devoted experts in infrastructure, industry, energy, and digitalisation, creating sustainable solutions for generations to come.

Making Future

Sulzer Services recently performed critical repairs on a completely failed 100-year-old 5MW turbine in West Java. The turbine repair served to both restore the renewable energy supply to the local community and wider grid and reduce expected downtime for the customer by seven months. The team of local experts drew on the support of Sulzer’s global network to implement the innovative repair that delivered a total cost savings of some CHF2.15 million in added uptime and saved replacement costs.

2022 05 17 104600The historic 5MW turbine that could power some 1’500 homes per year suffered a major malfunction that led to an energy shortfall for the local community and wider grid. Given the urgent need to reinstate the power service, Sulzer’s local team of turbine specialists delivered industry-leading mechanical design and onsite support to restore and return the turbine to operation – in less than 50% of the expected time needed for new components to be delivered by the original manufacturers.

To ensure reduced downtime for the complex repair project, the Sulzer Services team sourced parts locally and customized them to measure using laser scans and reverse engineering techniques. Relying on advanced technologies, state-of-the-art equipment and a good measure of ingenuity, the turbine was reassembled and extensively tested before being redelivered in just five months.

Services Division President Tim Schulten said: “Downtime for any business means lower productivity, lost revenues and reputational damage, but in critical industries, it also represents enormous hardship for the communities they serve. I am incredibly proud of the team and what they achieved, and am delighted that we could be of service.”

Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering and chemical processing applications. We specialize in energy-efficient pumping, agitation, mixing, separation, purification, crystallization and polymerization technologies for fluids of all types. Our solutions enable carbon emission reductions, development of polymers from biological sources, recycling of plastic waste and textiles, and efficient power storage. Our customers benefit from our commitment to innovation, performance and quality through our responsive network of 160 world-class manufacturing facilities and service centers across the globe. Sulzer has been headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since 1834. In 2022, our 12’900 employees delivered revenues of CHF 3.2 billion. Our shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SUN). www.sulzer.com

Anritsu Company is announcing enhanced functionality to the Field Master spectrum analyzer LTE and 5G measurement options. As the rollout and densification of 5G networks accelerates, degradation of network performance resulting from interference in the TDD uplink is becoming more prominent. The latest Field Master software release provides a dual display of the LTE or 5G Frame structure with automatic placement of gates on the Uplink slots alongside the RF spectrum of the gated time slots.

For 5G networks with a coastal or mountainous terrain, RF downlink transmissions readily become subject to atmospheric tropospheric ducting.  Signals can travel hundreds of kilometers, resulting in a time offset relative to the far-end base station. The result is downlink power masking the uplink signals from user equipment. It is also essential that there is a common frame slot format deployed on all operator networks in a country, and ideally at international borders. The new uplink interference measurement includes configurations for the common frame slot formats recommended by international standards organizations, including GSMA, ITU-R, and ECC/CEPT.

Anritsu’s Field Master spectrum analyzer with LTE and 5G measurement options are the preferred test instrument for regulators and operators globally. The addition of this uplink interference measurement enhances its value by providing detailed insights into the common causes of interference in new TDD networks.

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5G and LTE measurements are options for the Field Master Pro MS2090A covering FR1 and FR2 frequency bands and the new Field Master MS2080A for FR1 only networks. In addition to 5G and LTE measurements, a Real Time Spectrum Analyzer captures the detailed transmitter spectrum, and a cable and antenna analyzer accessory facilitates sweeping of feeder cables.

About Anritsu

Anritsu Corporation (www.anritsu.com), a global provider of innovative communications test and measurement solutions for 128 years. Anritsu’s philosophy engages customers as true partners to help develop wireless, optical, microwave/RF, and digital solutions for R&D, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance applications, as well as multidimensional service assurance solutions for network monitoring and optimization.

Anritsu also provides precision microwave/RF components, optical devices, and high-speed electrical devices for communication products and systems. The company develops advanced solutions for 5G, M2M, IoT, as well as other emerging and legacy wireline and wireless communication markets. With offices throughout the world, Anritsu has approximately 4,000 employees in over 90 countries.

By Matthew Bloise, Greene Tweed

For decades, various types of metals have been the go-material across most industries. In many applications, plastics are quickly replacing metals, and only what couldn’t be converted to plastic due to performance limitations has generally stayed metal. There is a material category that combines the strength of metal and the benefits of plastics. That category is composites, and we will explore three specific domains: aerospace, along with two applications in other industries, where thermoplastic composites are replacing metals in high-performance applications.

  • Thermoplastic composites for complex shape metal replacement on mobility platforms.
  • Thermoplastic composites for increasing the efficiency of industrial processing equipment.
  • Thermoplastic composites for surgical instruments providing radiolucency during orthopedic operations.

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Weight Reduction of Complex Shape Metal Replacement for Mobility

Some of the mobility platforms that are on the cutting edge include Commercial Planes, Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Drones, and mobile robotics (such as quadruped robots). These platforms benefit from weight reduction, scalable manufacturing for complex shapes, corrosion mitigation, and part consolidation. These benefits can be realized with a high-performance composite material combined with the knowledge and experience to manufacture components at production volumes.

Most productionized metal component manufacturing requires subtractive methods that have material waste from CNC operations. There is a cost for the material and the time/energy for the machining. Not to mention the capital cost of the CNC machine. Composite components only use the material needed to mold the final part, and with net molding techniques, there is very little material waste and minimum post-processing. With metal components, there is typically a need to have multiple components that connect with hardware and machined-in features. These can be eliminated in net-molded components where part consolidation can bring faster assembly time, smaller BOMs, and simpler design with fewer failure points.

Enter the complex shape metal replacement capabilities of Greene Tweed with our Xycomp® DLF® material and manufacturing capabilities. We can deliver thermoplastic carbon fiber-reinforced net/near-net compression molded components with increased performance against injection molded plastics and the same application performance as the metal incumbent. All this is done while being able to scale up manufacturing enabled by Greene tweed’s approach to being a full-service partner for collaborative non-metallic solution development (including design, FEA, testing, evaluation, and concurrent engineering), and our use of manufacturing automation throughout the process.

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Improving Efficiency and Reliability of Centrifugal Pumps

In centrifugal pumps, wear materials are used as a buffer between rotating and stationary parts. Historically, these components have been metallic in nature. Since 2003, non-metallic materials have been recognized by API Standard 610 as suitable wear materials for such applications. Composite wear components can be installed with a smaller dynamic clearance than metallic components. A smaller dynamic clearance has two distinct advantages.

First, the reduced clearance restricts the recirculation or escape of process media, thereby improving the throughput or efficiency of the equipment.

Secondly, the reduced clearance generates increased fluid pressure around the shaft, which has a centering effect that stabilizes the shaft and reduces system vibration thus improving the reliability of the equipment. 

Why do those advantages matter?

Well, centrifugal pumps are designed to operate under optimal conditions, including a fluid film between stationary and rotating elements within the equipment. However, unplanned incidents do occur, resulting in low levels of lubrication. These incidents can result in excess wear, damage to the pump shaft, galling of critical components, and even welding of shaft and metal wear components completely seizing the pump. Any of these outcomes can slow or even halt production.

Greene Tweed wear composites have excellent friction and wear properties that enable survival during such events and in extreme cases will mitigate the risk of damage to pump hardware by serving as sacrificial components. Proper dynamic clearance between rotating and stationary components is a critical factor in the performance and life of centrifugal pump components. Whether choosing a material for dry run, wear resistance, or erosion resistance, Greene Tweed has a portfolio of proven solutions for your application.

Radiolucent Surgical Instruments for Orthopedic Operations:

More than 2.8 million people are hospitalized with injuries annually, and accidents (unintentional injuries) were the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020 after heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19. Accidents can result in a broken bone, which would be categorized as orthopedic trauma (among other breaks, tears, fractures, etc.). When repairing large bones (such as the femur or pelvis) a surgeon will use a guide for the nails and screws used to set and secure the bone. During these surgeries, the surgeon will need to take interoperative x-rays (called fluoroscopy). The CDC defines fluoroscopy as “a medical procedure that makes a real-time video of the movements inside a part of the body by passing x-rays through the body over a period of time”.

When it comes to guides (which can include cutting guides, drill guides, nail guides), retractors, detractors, forceps, and other instruments there are challenges with fluoroscopy when the instrument is made of metal. Especially for instruments that are routinely in the field of view during trauma surgeries. These instruments block the view of the trauma site for the surgeon during fluoroscopy. This can lead to additional fluoroscopy and moving of the equipment and/or patient, which results in longer surgery times.

If the instrument is made from a material that x-rays and fluoroscopy pass through, then the instrument will not completely block the view. This material property is called radiolucency, and for some of the instruments it is critical. If a surgical guide is radiolucent and doesn’t need to be moved during fluoroscopy this can help reduce the overall time spent in the operating room.

Designing an instrument with radiolucent material can be difficult. Metals like aluminum can’t take the forces applied to these guides. Typical injection molded plastic materials can’t be steam-sterilized via an autoclave (the most typical sterilization for surgical instruments). The only alternative material to a machined stainless-steel instrument that has a long service life in steam sterilization is a carbon fiber reinforced PEEK composite like Greene Tweeds Orthtek® material. Greene Tweed can provide this material in plate form up to 2.5” thick. The thicker material allows for greater flexibility in instrument design and manufacturing. Greene Tweed also has the capability to manufacture semi-finished components and the final instruments incorporating metal hardware.

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