Post n. 009 - Meet ...

Meet Eddie Howell, Founder and Owner of a Carbide Tool Manufacturing Company in the UK called Quickgrind.
Eddie has been in the Aluminium Extrusion Die Industry for 47 years and has been directly involved in supplying grinding tools to 67 Die Shops world wide.


He is one of the people in the Industry you want to know if you work in a Die Shop: we always has a unique point of view of seeing things.
Have a question you want to ask him? Let me know and I will for you or you can send an e-mail info@quickgrind.com.


Further information about Quickgrind, go to: http://www.quickgrind.com/

Post n.008 - News

German aluminium industry enters new decade in confident mood.

GDA expects steady aluminium demand in H1 2011 / strong demand for rolled aluminium products / extrusion business at good level.

09.12.10 - 

The German aluminium industry was extremely dynamic in 2010 and is now enjoying a steady upswing. “The ever stronger upward trend that started in the middle of 2009 continued in the first nine months of 2010 so that the industry’s expectations have been clearly exceeded in certain areas this year,” reported Friedrich W. Brökelmann, President of Düsseldorf-based Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie e.V. (GDA) at a recent press conference.
Domestic demand has stabilised and demand from abroad has also become firm. It is possible that in some areas of aluminium processing output will already return to pre-crisis levels this year.
The sector is expecting the good economic trend to continue in the first half of 2011, too. The improved level of business activity in the aluminium sector is being driven by the economic recovery being enjoyed by domestic carmakers and the capital goods industry. In addition there is the stable situation in the building industry and the recovery in private consumption. The booming solar industry has also helped improve the level of capacity utilisation in the sector.
Read more here: http://www.aluinfo.de/index.php/gda-news-en/items/german-aluminium-industry-enters-new-decade-in-confident-mood.html

 

Post n.007 - Fact

Basic Aluminum Facts

Aluminum is the most abundant mineral in the earth's crust.

In nature, however, it typically does not appear in its pure form. There is evidence of its use from as early as 300 B.C., but it was not until 1888 that an economically feasible process was developed for modern, commercial production of aluminum.

Post n.006 - Glossary

Die Weld: A region in extruded hollow profiles created by two streams of metal within the die joining them in the weld chamber around the mandrel of a hollow type die.
Die welds are generally present in all extruded hollow profiles and in most cases are not visible.

Post n.005 - Design/Methodology/Manufacturing

Dielife is one of the most important factors affecting productivity and profitability in hot extrusion of metals.
It has been reported that extrusion dies most often fail by fatigue fracture. Experimental studies have shown that cracks preexist in dies due to various factors including heat treatment, machining, and surface hardening.
High levels of repeated mechanical and thermal loads result in crack propagation leading to ultimate fracture failure.

Post n.004 - Future

The JV of Abu Dhabi Basic Industries Corporation (ADBIC) and Gulf Extrusions plans to develop an aluminium extrusion plant at Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone in Taweelah.

The plant is part of ADBIC's metals cluster being developed between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. 
The plant will produce 50,000 t/y of aluminium extrusion and extrusion-based niche-oriented products, such as high-end architectural systems and automotive and engineering extrusions.
Molten aluminium and aluminium billets, the main feedstock, will be sourced from Emirates Aluminum (EMAL) smelter. 

Post n.003 - People and Inventions

Joseph Bramah (13 April 1748 – 9 December 1814), born Stainborough Lane Farm, Wentworth, Yorkshire, England, was an inventor and locksmith.
He is best known for having invented the hydraulic press.
The hydraulic press depends on Pascal's principle, that pressure throughout a closed system is constant.
The press had two cylinders and pistons of different cross-sectional areas. If a force was exerted on the smaller piston, this would be translated into a larger force on the larger piston. The difference in the two forces would be proportional to the difference in area of the two pistons.
In effect the cylinders act in a similar way that a lever is used to increase the force exerted.
Bramah was granted a patent for his hydraulic press in 1795.
Bramah's hydraulic press had many industrial applications and still does today. At the time hydraulic engineering was an almost unknown science, and Bramah (with William George Armstrong) was one of the two pioneers in this field.
The hydraulic press is still known as the Bramah Press after its inventor.