ALUMINIUM Newsblog

Largest single order ever received for Cognex SmartView Surface Inspection System

NATICK, Mass. July 28, 2008--Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) announced today that China Steel Corporation, a Taiwan-based manufacturer of integrated steel products, has placed an order for seven Cognex SmartView® surface inspection systems. This multi-million dollar sale represents the largest single order that Cognex’s Surface Inspection Systems Division (SISD) has ever received. The SmartView systems will be used to perform automated quality inspection at China Steel’s manufacturing plant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 

Cognex’s surface inspection systems use proprietary, high-performance machine vision hardware and software to automatically detect, visualize, and classify defects on a wide variety of high value-added materials, such as metals, paper, and plastics.  China Steel will use the Cognex systems to inspect steel at multiple stages of the manufacturing process, such as during pickling, galvanizing, annealing, and tension leveling, to ensure that the product meets rigorous quality standards.    

“Cognex offered a comprehensive solution for each of the very diverse and demanding inspection tasks we evaluated,” said Mr. Chih-Chung Wu, Assistant General Manager at China Steel’s Kaohsiung plant. “The line scan technology utilized in SmartView offers superior performance, especially in demanding applications, such as in galvanized steel, where we must meet the extremely high quality standards of automotive manufacturers.”

“Increasing demand for steel...particularly in Asia...is fueling new capital spending in steel manufacturing plants worldwide,” said Dr. Robert J. Shillman, Cognex’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Cognex is in an exceptional position to benefit from that demand due to both the excellent reputation of SmartView and to our company’s ability to provide products and services worldwide.”

About Cognex

Cognex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and markets machine vision sensors and systems, or devices that can "see."  Cognex vision sensors are used in factories around the world to automate the manufacture of a wide range of items and to assure their quality.  Cognex is the world's leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 400,000 machine vision systems, representing over $2 billion in cumulative revenue, since the company's founding in 1981.  In addition to its corporate headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, Cognex also has regional offices and distributors located throughout North America, Japan, Europe, Asia and Latin America.  Visit Cognex on-line at http://www.cognex.com.

Vist us at ALUMINIUM: hall 1, stand 1E10

Keronite PLC of Cambridge, UK, on February 2008 confirmed that a promising new partnership has been formed with Italtecno srl of Modena, Italy.  Italtecno will represent Keronite in the strategic Italian market, promoting the unique Keronite^® surface treatment technology both to manufacturers and to coatings companies seeking to get the best performance from light alloy components.

Home to many of the world’s leading machine builders, Italy is seen to be a key market for Keronite. “The mechanical engineering industry in Italy generated revenues of around Euros 40 billion last year”, reports Philip Lund, General Manager with Keronite in Europe. “40% of this came from companies involved in the oil and gas industry and a further 28% from the construction market, both of which can benefit enormously from the use of Keronite technology.” 

Italtecno already has a well established network of contacts in Italy with an interest in aluminium.  With help from Keronite, they hope to expand this by enabling more and more companies to switch from heavier or more expensive materials such as steel or ceramic to lightweight aluminium or magnesium.   The management at Italtecno is convinced that it is important for the future success of the business that they embrace new eco-friendly technologies such as Keronite as more and more of their customers are insisting on chrome-free alternatives to some of the more conventional surface treatments.

Keronite already has operating partners in the key markets of Northern and Central Europe: UK, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland, and is now seeking to develop business in the manufacturing centres of Southern and Eastern Europe.  Keronite CEO, Lars Olrik, believes that Italtecno will provide the key to the Italian market.   “The engineering team at Italtecno quickly grasped the fundamentals of the Keronite Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) technology, and I am sure that this understanding, combined with their in-depth knowledge of the aluminium industry will ensure rapid success for our new partnership in Italy.”

Fabio Vincenzi, Head of R & D and Technical Service at Italtecno understood immediately the ways in which Keronite could change the market for light alloys.  “Keronite ceramic surfaces are so robust that our customers find they are able to use light alloys in harsh environments where the use of such materials would previously have been unthinkable.”    He believes that the unique performance characteristics of Keronite will open up many new markets and applications for Italtecno, complementing well their extensive range of aluminium finishing technologies. 

In addition to the traditional automotive, aerospace and general engineering applications for Keronite’s hard ceramic surfaces, the company has recently found favour in the extreme conditions of the offshore oil and gas industry, marine components, architectural cladding systems and a growing range of consumer and electronics products such as sporting equipment, mobile ‘phone cases and semi-conductors.  The company is active not only in the European markets, but is rapidly building a network of licensed operating partners across Asia, the Middle East and North America.

Both parties in the new partnership are confident that the unique Keronite technology combined with Italtecno’s knowledge of the Italian market for aluminium will bring rapid success across a number of sectors. “As more and more applications are approved and moved into volume production, confidence in innovative surface solutions from Keronite is growing apace and the business is really starting to gather momentum.”   Olrik is delighted to report that “Italtecno has already experienced a great deal of interest in the Keronite technology from companies involved in the architectural, plastics moulding, electronics, automotive components and sports equipment industries in Italy”.

About Keronite

Keronite International Ltd was established in Cambridge, UK, in 2000 to provide technology services to industry, enabling manufacturers to reduce costs and improve performance through the wider use of aluminium and magnesium.  The patented Keronite surface treatment technology known as Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) is used to convert the surface of light metals into an extremely hard, crystalline ceramic oxide with outstanding properties in terms of resistance to corrosion and wear.  A chrome-free immersion process, Keronite is used to treat the inner as well as the outer surfaces of the most complex shapes and the technology is successfully being used across a whole range of industries from automotive, aerospace and oil and gas to electronics, architecture and a variety of engineering applications.  Keronite has its own manufacturing facilities for the production of processing plant and electrolyte solutions, and works through a network of experienced operating partners to deliver surface treatment solutions across Europe, Asia and North America.

About Italtecno

Founded in 1974, Italtecno is a company specialised in the research, production and marketing of equipment and chemicals relating to the surface finishing of aluminium and has developed an enviable reputation worldwide for expertise in this field.   The engineering division of the company works hand in hand with its customers to design, manufacture and install equipment for a wide range of surface treatment technologies including conventional anodising and powdercoating as well as more specialised processes.  The chemical division supports this by offering assistance with R & D, production and marketing activities.  

The work of Italtecno in the aluminium industry is widely promoted through Interall, the Group’s own in-house publishing company that produces the quarterly magazine “Aluminium Extrusion” and the electronic newsletter “Aluminium Finishing” as well as organising congresses and seminars such as “Aluminium Two Thousand” and “Alusurface”.  Interall ensures that Italtecno continues to be acknowledged as a leading light in the world of aluminium.

Visit us at ALUMINIUM: hall 4, stand 4A00
www.italtecno.com

By developing energy-efficient processes and products, also in solar technology, Norwegian aluminium company Hydro wants to increase its contribution to a better climate. “We will explain our approach in September at the Aluminium World Trade Fair in Essen,” says President and CEO Eivind Reiten.

Recently, Hydro has made significant investments in the expansion of recycling capacities. “Efficient remelting and the infinite number of life cycles at the same quality make aluminium a first-class renewable material. Therefore, we add more than 200,000 tonnes of capacity where it makes most sense, directly in the main market region Germany,” Reiten says. Currently, new furnaces are being built in Hamburg and Rackwitz. A third was inaugurated at the Neuss plant in September 2007, and a recycling center for the Alunorf joint venture with aluminium rolling company Novelis is approaching approval.

In solar technology, Hydro is engaged from silicon to wafer production and the development of aluminium building systems with integrated solar cells. “For more than 100 years we have made hydropower accessible, and now we are harvesting the power of the sun,” says Reiten. In June, NorSun’s new plant for silicon wafers was opened in Årdal, Norway, with Hydro holding an 18 percent share. At the trade fair in Essen, Hydro will also highlight its facade panels with integrated thin-film solar cells for energy–efficient buildings.

In many products, aluminium helps to save energy and CO2 emissions. “At the same time we are working on further upgrading the technology for primary production – which we regard as crucial in order to lessen the ecological footprint of our metal even further,” says Reiten.

On 11 June, Hydro started test operations of electrolysis with the amperage increased to 420 Ampere. The new HAL4e technology for primary aluminium production is more resource efficient, reduces specific emissions and, by its compact architecture, creates savings in building space and logistics. Further developments will add features for energy recovery, the concentration of CO2 in process gas to enable CO2 separation and nextgeneration process control.

The “ALUMINIUM 2008” will take place on 23-25 September in Essen. Hydro will be a major exhibitor, with 400 square meters by the main western entrance to hall 3 (stand A.20). President and CEO Eivind Reiten will be at the stand on Tuesday, 23 September.

During the 2nd International Aluminium Conference on 24 September at Messe Essen, Conference Center West, Hydro will contribute with lectures, including a keynote speech by Oliver Bell, President Rolled Products.  

www.hydro.com

Werth Messtechnik GmbH presents the Werth FlatScope scanner (patent applied for) for rapid, precise and reliable production inspection of flat workpieces on the shop floor (image). Its main application is the measurement of complex profiles (such as rubber, plastic and aluminum profiles), as well as films, circuit boards, laser cut and fine-blanked parts. The machine is, of course, traceable to the length standard of the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB – National Metrology Institute) (VDI/VDE 2617).

Highly developed, detailed mechanical design solutions are the basis of the outstanding features of this scanner, currently the most precise in the world. They provide extremely low measurement uncertainty.  The measurement range of this affordable and high value machine series is up to 650 mm.  Larger custom measurement ranges are available upon request.

The Werth FlatScope, equipped with an image processing sensor, is available with telecentric, fixed magnification optics, or with the patented Werth Zoom feature. The high-end optics and patented FlatLight illumination eliminate the previous necessity of extensive preparation of thin samples. Profile sections up to 100 mm thick can be measured without a problem.

The image processing software is custom designed to meet the needs of dimensional measurement.  It allows fully automated measurement of complex workpieces with extremely low contrast by using transmitted and incident light.  In raster scanning mode, the entire measurement area can be scanned in a short time with all geometric features determined and evaluated.

WinWerth^â Measurement Software combines modern, intuitive user guidance with exceptional features.  This makes measurements with the Werth FlatScope particularly easy and allows the machine to be used even by unskilled operators.

Visit us at ALUMINIUM 2008, Hall 2, Booth 2A23

www.werthmesstechnik.de

BRUNO PRESEZZI SpA based in Burago Molgora (Milano, Italy) has signed a contract with the Al Hamad Group of Dubai for the supply of engineering, construction, delivery and commissioning of a complete plant to be dedicated to the production of aluminium strip.

The new greenfield project is ALUMILLTECH GULF and, after entering into full production in 2009, one of its main targets is to increase the production capacity in the following 2-3 years. These further steps will therefore allow the company growth in the Gulf booming area.

The scope of supply includes two complete twin-roll continuous casting lines (also including melting and holding furnaces, degassing and filtration equipment), one 4HI cold rolling mill and one annealing furnace.

The casters will be PRESEZZI type TT600 with rolls having the already well known PRESEZZI Patented configuration.

The contract also foresees the carry-out of a technical/technological assistance program for a minimum of one year.

ALUMILLTECH GULF will produce aluminium strip and cold rolled coils for the civil construction business (roofing profiles, sandwich panels, etc).

BRUNO PRESEZZI SpA is an engineering and manufacturing company already well introduced inside the international business related to machinery for the production of aluminium strip through its “TT” twin-roll continuous casting lines. Five of these machines (TT1000 size) are installed in Profilglass (Fano, Italy) and one (TT800) is working in AK Aluminyum (Konya, Turkey).

The company has also been for over 30 years a worldwide, reliable supplier of cores and shells for twin-roll casters, in both PRESEZZI Patented and traditional configurations.

BRUNO PRESEZZI SpA

aluminium.dept@brunopresezzi.com
www.brunopresezzi.com

Visit us at ALUMINIUM, stand no: 3K20

With the products of the FAV 1330 series, Foster Chemicals  GmbH introduces a new, high quality, chromium-free conversion for light alloy wheels and aluminium strip. The application of these products is typically carried out at room temperature as a no-rinse process. The produced conversion layers improve paint adhesion and increase greatly corrosion resistance. The FAV 1330 series products are completed by various degreasers and pickling agents designed for optimum performance required for each aluminium alloy.

www.foster-chemicals.de

Positive response to the Tube exhibition gives further impetus
The Tube taking place every two years always gives an impression of the atmosphere prevailing in the international tube and steel processing branch. The response that RSA noticed in about 500 discussions during the exhibition is positive without exception. “In particular the European steel producers as well as the further processors meanwhile found excellent ways and means to make themselves stand out through quality against the cut-price imports from the Far East”, Dipl.-Ing. Rainer Schmidt, business manager of RSA Entgrat- und Trenn-Systeme, reports.
If the focus is on machines for the pre-production, RSA is playing a decisive part. The company is a manufacturer of sawing centers for sawing, deburring, facing and chamfering, checking, cleaning and stacking of various workpiece geometries and nearly all kinds of steel qualities and alloys. According to the company, 70 out of every 100 purchase orders for sawing centers are placed in favour of an RSA sawing center. According to the customers, this is mainly due to the optimum service in the first place, followed by a high production output as a result of short ancillary times. According to the customers, the third most important advantage is the long lifetime of the machines due to a robust construction and the modular expandability. “Our analysis on how customers can gain competitive advantages is logically leading to the competitive advantages of our products”, Rainer Schmidt comments on the feedback of the customers.

Visitors to the exhibition respond extremely positively to the new developed sawing center

An example of the progress in the field of the cutting technology through high performance circular saws is the new development of the RASACUT XXL, RSA presented at the Tube exhibition for the first time to a wide public. The remarks of the visitors to the exhibition give an impression of the advantages the new saw is offering to customers: “It’s really fast”. “The saw even copes with solid bars up to 170 mm diameter!”. “I’ve never seen before such a good cut surface”. “Sawing, deburring, and cleaning in one operation process is exactly what we require”.

These representative reactions are not surprising. The output performance of the new RASACUT XXL is 10 times higher than the output of band saws which are normally used for this diameter range. Here are some examples. Round tube with 121 mm diameter, 11 mm wall thickness, material S355 and a fixed length of 560 mm: Output 327 pieces per hour including ancillary times.A second example: Square tube, material S235, dimensions 110 x 100 mm, wall thickness 4 mm and a fixed length of 127 mm: Output 514 pieces per hour including ancillary times.

A third example: Solid bar, material 42CrMo4, with a diameter of 130 mm and a fixed length of 11,5 mm: Output 201 pieces per hour including ancillary times.

RSA expects 2008 to even surpass the previous record year

“The new developed sawing center RASACUT XXL will help the pre-producers to open up new methods for the sawing of solid bars not only with regard to output, but also to the cut quality. For example, forging blanks can be cut exactly to the gram”, Rainer Schmidt reports. “In this way we open up new market niches for our company, and as a result our positive development will increase further.“

For the second time in succession, RSA was able to achieve a growth in annual turnover in double figures to more than 20 million Euros in 2007. According to the company, also the first quarter 2008 has started very well – with regard to the invoiced turnover as well as the significant increase in receipt of orders. “Due to the fact that there was a smooth transition of development from the record year to the first quarter 2008, we are confident to realise our ambitious turnover planning even this year. Turnover will grow again in double figures”, the head of the company RSA describes the planned targets of his company for the current year.
The foreign demand is increasing further since RSA takes an active part in developing the market, and the domestic demand is stable on a high level.

The new developed sawing center RASACUT XXL that was presented at the Tube exhibition for the first time, will open up new chances for the pre-production of tubes and solid bars up to 170 mm diameter.

Dipl.-Ing. Rainer Schmidt sees the upturn of his company continuing and signals further product developments.

www.rsa.de

For the last 15 months Kawi BV in Soest, the Netherlands, have been producing Duratec-XP, a specialised product primarily developed for high strength and high temperature electrical applications.

The first successful application of Duratec-XP was in components for induction melting furnaces and billets heaters. The material is also particularly suitable for use as electrical insulation for arc chute applications in high-tension switchgear.

Duratec-XP is a fibre-glass-reinforced calcium aluminate sheet which can be used in applications up to 700⁰ C, and in specialised applications even as high as 900⁰ C for short durations.

Properties of Duratec-XP:

• Very high toughness, comparable with many engineering plastics
• Strong at high temperatures
• Non-brittle/flexible behaviour
• Electrically inert
• Available in large dimensions
• Easily machined to very close tolerances
• Good insulating characteristics

Kawi BV is also the acknowledged specialists in the machining of high density engineering calcium silicate and laminated densified wood (GPO3) materials. We have an extensive manufacturing installation dedicated to these products with equipment such as:

• Two 2,6x1,6 m flat bed  3D CNC milling machines
• 3 smaller milling machines
• 6 NC lathes
• Polishing/sanding machine
• 1 NC sawing machine
• 2 sawing machines
• 1 furnace firing to 1200⁰ C for specialist heat treatment
• 1 furnace firing to 800⁰ C for general tempering treatments
• 1 low temperature curing oven for use up to 200⁰ C oven
• Various drying ovens
• 1 guillotine shearing machine

So as you can see, Kawi BV are fully equipped to carry out any manufacturing, machining or other processing work you may require. e hope the above is of interest to you, and we would be delighted to speak with you personally to provide further information about our unique product.www.kawi.nl

The Dutch aluminium industry is attending again at ALUMINIUM 2008 with their traditional Holland Aluminium Pavilion in Hall 3 for the 6th edition. Over 15 companies amongst them companies like Buvo Castings, Huisman Non Ferro Metaal, Vostermans Alu Foundries or ZEELAND Metaal Handel will cover a wide range of the aluminium scope. Central meeting point is the Dutch Aluminium Centrum info desk. Interested in exhibiting? Please contact Mr Rudolf de Ruijter at artsant@euronet.nl.