LAI International, Inc., a strategic supplier of precision components and sub-assemblies for original equipment manufacturers, is ramping up for production of aerospace components manufactured using new automated parts-handling technology.

Converteam, the leading global power conversion specialist, has been awarded a major orders by Fives Lille Industries Inc. and SMS Demag for the supply of the complete electrical and automation systems for ThyssenKrupp's Greenfield combined carbon and stainless steel plant to be constructed in Mount Vernon, Alabama.

Zyvex Labs announced the award of a $9.7M program funded by DARPA and Texas' Emerging Technology Fund to develop a new manufacturing technique to accelerate the transition of nanotechnology from the laboratory to commercial products.

ATA Engineering, Inc., a nationwide provider of innovative, high-value test- and analysis-driven mechanical engineering design solutions, was recently recognized as one of San Diego's 100 Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies.

Rio Tinto Alcan has completed its rehabilitation of the Pramont industrial residue disposal site in the Valais region, which is now integrated into a regional framework for environmental protection on the left bank of the Rhône River between Sierre and Granges, Switzerland.

R&D Magazine has announced the finalists for the 8th Annual Innovator of the Year and 43rd Annual Scientist of the Year awards, which recognize individuals who exemplify the ideals of R&D in academia, industry, and nationally sponsored research.

Zenergy Power plc, the specialist manufacturer and developer of commercial applications for high-temperature superconductive materials has entered into a five-year joint development agreement with Honeywell Specialty Products, a global leader in high-performance speciality material production.

Almost half of U.S. adults have heard nothing about nanotechnology, and nearly nine in 10 Americans say they have heard just a little or nothing at all about the emerging field of synthetic biology, according to a new report released by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies and Peter D. Hart Research.

Keepers of the Rivers, a Moscow-based environmental group along with Greenline, an independent environmental watchdog, has accused aluminum giant Rusal of dumping poisonous waste near its plant in Krasnoyarsk.

TM Industries Inc., a large-scale, high-precision machining company headquartered in East Berlin, Conn., has combined with Paradigm Precision Holdings LLC., a portfolio company of American Capital Strategies Ltd. TM Industries is a critical supplier to some of the largest defense, marine, aerospace and power generation U.S. Fortune 500 companies.

Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc. has released the Cross-Fuse(TM) Lateral Option System, a PEEK (poly-ether-ether-ketone) vertebral body replacement system designed to offer a less invasive surgical approach to the thoracolumbar spine.

The NASA Authorization Act of 2008, which cleared Congress on Saturday, provides much needed funding for space programs and aeronautics research and development and gives the next administration a clear sense of congressional support for the future of the agency, AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey said.

China Recycling Energy Corp. has signed a strategic partnership agreement with China Aviation Gas Turbine Co., Ltd. for technological research and equipment manufacturing related to electric power generation using waste gas at steel mills and coking factories in China.

Yves "FusionMan" Rossy successfully became the first man to fly across the English Channel from Calais, France, to Dover, U.K., using a homemade, single, jet-powered wing. FusionMan covered a distance of 23 miles in 13 minutes.

Boeing successfully completed a high-pressure test, known as "high blow," on the 787 Dreamliner static test airframe at its Everett factory today. The test is one of three static tests that must be cleared prior to first flight.

According to a metal analyst from tootoo.com, although the world's aluminum supply sees a surplus in 2008, in the medium term, aluminum will remain a favorable investment in China, due to power shortages in China and the abolishment of export tax rebates on aluminum.

Sentelligence, a developer of fluid monitoring and detection sensors for the automotive and commercial vehicle markets, will begin field testing its new emissions control fluid sensor in Europe and Japan.

CoorsTek introduced their newly redesigned MetaPlast II spring-energized seals designed for high-performance aerospace applications.

Rochester Medical Implants, a contract manufacturer of high-precision spinal and orthopaedic implants and instruments, has achieved ISO 13485:2003 certification through auditor NSF International.

General Motors will invest $370 million to build a new manufacturing plant for its global 4-cylinder engines in Flint, Mich. The plant will begin production in the U.S. in 2010.

Amerityre Corporation, a leading developer of polyurethane tire technologies, today announced that it has entered into a Phase I development program with a multi-billion dollar defense industry contractor that is a leader in aerospace composite technology. The objective of the Phase I development program is to establish the base line performance characteristics of Amerityre's polyurethane passenger car tire incorporating a "composite hoop" belt, as opposed to traditional tire belting material.

CME Group, the world's largest and most diverse derivatives exchange, today announced that it will launch US Midwest Domestic Hot-Rolled Coil (HRC) steel futures contracts for trading and clearing on CME Globex(R) and ClearPort(R), beginning on October 19 for the October 20 trade date.

The winner of the 2009 Acta Materialia Gold Medal Award is Professor Y. Austin Chang of the University of Wisconsin (Madison).

Ball Corporation is bringing its new, 16-oz. Alumi-Tek aluminum beverage bottles to market with Miller Lite. The sleek, resealable bottles feature a wide, 38-mm opening that provides a smooth flow, are quick to chill and are 100 percent recyclable.

The winner of the 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Materials & Society Award ( formerly the J. Herbert Hollomon Award) is Dr. Carolyn Hansson, P. Eng., who is currently Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, Canada.

A consortium of federal agencies, Ohio universities and private Ohio companies simulated a disaster today to demonstrate how the AerOhio1 Aerostat, a 75-foot long, high-tech blimp, can be used by emergency response teams to establish communication and provide visual contact during a crisis.

Alcan Engineered Products - a business unit of Rio Tinto Alcan and an international leader in engineered aluminium, lightweight materials and technology - presents its broad portfolio of innovative multi-material products and sustainability solutions at the ALUMINIUM 2008 fair in Essen, Germany from 23 to 25 September 2008.

Advance Nanotech, Inc. announced that the company's majority owned subsidiary, Owlstone Nanotech, Inc., was awarded a multiple unit contract for its Lonestar environmental monitoring sensor from a U.S. based commercial entity.

Airborne Systems, a world leader in parachute design and manufacturing, successfully completed a test drop of a precision guided cargo delivery system capable of carrying 42,000 pounds under a single ram-air parachute.

United States Steel Corporation and Worthington Industries, Inc. have signed an agreement to expand and modify their current Worthington Specialty Processing joint venture located in Jackson, Mich.

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) (NYSE: ADM) and PolyOne Corporation will collaborate on the development of bio-based plasticizers for use in polymer formulations.

Air Products has signed a long-term contract with Ann Joo Steel Berhad, a subsidiary of Ann Joo Resources, to supply onsite gaseous oxygen, nitrogen and argon to Ann Joo Steel's mill at Prai, northwest Malaysia.

Dow Corning Electronics' LED materials group has launched an "Optimized Manufacturing Process" program, partnering with capital equipment providers to develop integrated light-emitting diode (LED) overmolding processes designed to help LED makers reduce their overall production costs and achieve faster time to market.

Axion International Holdings, Inc., a technology company that converts recycled plastics into high value-added structural products used in commercial applications, today announced that the US Army has ordered another new bridge to be constructed using the Company's patented blend of recycled composite materials.

Essar Steel Holdings Ltd. held a groundbreaking ceremony for the first steelmaking facility in Minnesota's Iron Range. The $1.6 billion facility will be North America's first mine-based steel plant.

Scient'x, a privately held manufacturer of innovative spinal implant technologies, announced today the launch of the Tribeca Cage System which allows the surgeon to utilize a unilateral transforaminal approach to interbody cage insertion to minimize dural exposure.

The NanoSteel Company, a leader in nanostructured steel alloy surface technologies, announces the commercial availability of the newest addition to its patented portfolio of Super Hard Steel products, SHS 9800 weld overlay for use in extreme service environments. SHS 9800 is a premium alloy solution that features an ultra-refined crystalline nanoscale microstructure, up to a thousand times finer than existing solutions, resulting in very high hardness up to 71 HRc with exceptional resistance to severe sliding abrasion and impact.

KaZaK Composites, Inc. has placed on the 2008 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in the country. The Woburn, Mass. company integrates engineering design and low-cost manufacturing to produce high performance composites for the aerospace, military and commercial markets.

A software grant that could lead to orthopedic surgeons being able to immediately gauge the effectiveness of implanted joints has been announced by LifeModeler, Inc.

Mechel OAO, one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, has upgraded the machine tool equipment base in the Casting and Mechanical Workshop at its Southern Urals Nickel Plant OAO subsidiary.

The company was chosen for its leadership in developing innovative, clean energy projects, specifically for the advanced technology R&D and commercialization efforts for lithium-ion hybrid vehicle batteries.

The opening of a state-of-the-art virtual manufacturing center that creates three-dimensional models of aerospace products still in the design phase will launch the state of Ohio into the 21st century and drive innovation in the aerospace industry.

Addressing basic human needs of the 21st Century - energy, transportation, housing, water, health, resource recovery and recycling are challenges that require materials science and engineering solutions.

Exousia Advanced Materials, Inc. has received an initial purchase order for its newly developed Insulative Coating, produced at the company's AEGEON blending facility in Texas. The initial order is for just under $100,000 with additional anticipated orders between $40 and $50 thousand monthly for the next six months.

The United Steelworkers hailed the announcement by Allegheny Technologies to invest more than $1 billion in its Flat-Rolled Products segment.

Specialty metals and steel companies Allegheny Technologies, Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Ampco-Pittsburgh provide proof that some of the region's fastest-growing companies are hardly rust belt relics….
They may not be the industrial titans in same sense that Gulf Oil and Westinghouse Electric were long ago, but then again, maybe they shouldn't be. These are their more modern, efficient incarnates that raise the question of whether this region as a whole should be so ready, if it is, to discard the Steel City moniker. Indeed, these growth stars give new meaning to the old-school moniker, making Pittsburgh home to a new breed of industrial firms with a decidedly new-economy approach -- smaller, faster and better.

Welcome to the New 'Steel City'
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
March 20, 2007

Cermet Lab Company is manufacturing and distributing a patented nano-particle ceramic conditioner that is the first product of its kind formulated for cost-effective ceramic treatment of engines and other mechanisms, without engine disassembly or related downtime.

State-of-the-art waterjet machining workstations have been installed at LAI's manufacturing plant in Westminster, Md., allowing the facility to handle larger material sheet sizes and doubling the number of cutting heads. Additional intensifier units, high-pressure lines and water purification equipment have been installed to increase capacity for advanced waterjet machining.

Custom-milled final abutments have become a popular choice in Europe due to heightened patient and dentist awareness of the aesthetic and functional advantages offered by this abutment type.

Particle Sciences, Inc. has been issued a patent for a proprietary coating technology that allows for the processing of powdered metals in a way that decreases needed injection forces, decreases lubricant requirements and results in structurally superior end-products.

When you think of ceramic materials, what do you think of? Most people think of a coffee mug they made in pottery class, or fine dinnerware, or some decorative ceramic tile.

Renowned medical experts and business professionals will describe the use of nanoparticles for drug delivery, treatment and imaging of cancer and other diseases at the upcoming NanoMedicine Summit, to be held next week in Cleveland, September 25-26.

TPI Composites, a leading provider of blades to the wind energy movement, held the grand opening ceremony of its 316,000-square-foot Newton production facility. The newly-built plant will manufacture high-performance wind turbine blades for distribution to the U.S. wind energy market.

Master Magnetics, Inc. proudly introduces the Magnetic Carabiner Hook, featuring Neodymium Magnets, the strongest magnet material in the world. This powerful magnetic assembly has up to 45 lbs of pull strength.

NASA for the first time last week used microgravity research flights aboard commercially-owned aircraft to test hardware and technologies. These flights, on an airplane operated by the Zero Gravity Corporation, simulated the weightless conditions of space.

CAP-XX Limited announced that Design News has named its H series supercapacitors as a finalist in the 2008 Golden Mousetrap Awards for a technology advancement that extends operating voltage to 5.5V and temperature rating to +85 degrees C.

You don’t have to be Indiana Jones to realize that materials help to define us. It’s how we know about past civilizations, from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age to the Iron Age. And centuries from now, the materials that we have created and applied will speak eloquently about the challenges we faced, the technological advances we achieved and the progress we made as a society.

A new economic study issued today by Navigant Consulting, Inc. shows that more than 1.2 million employment opportunities, including 440,000 permanent jobs, and $232 billion in investment would be supported in the U.S. by the solar energy sector alone through 2016 if Congress extends the solar investment tax credit for 8 years.

Arch Aluminum and Glass Co., Inc. has developed innovative new mirror manufacturing techniques to meet the demand for lower cost and more efficient concentrator photovoltaic units in the burgeoning renewable energy industry.

John C. Mankins, former manager of NASA's Exploration Systems Research and Technology Program and expert on space solar power, will announce today a milestone demonstration of the critical technology enabling SSP: long-distance, solar-powered wireless power transmission.

With its technology, the iCrete System produces a stronger, more cost effective, environmentally safe concrete for the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center in New York City.

BioGold Fuels Corporation has entered into a long-term development agreement with ICM, Inc. to engineer, design, and build BioGold's municipal waste-to-energy plants.

LyondellBasell Industries will feature its world-class polyolefins technology, production, and marketing offerings used in pipe solutions at the XIV Plastics Pipes Conference in Budapest, September 22-24, 2008.

CDT Systems, Inc. has invited expressions of interest in the use of its proprietary carbon aerogel material to generate a hydrogen/oxygen mix as a fuel source for small engines.

NASA engineers are exploring the possibility of nuclear fission to provide the necessary power that will be needed when astronauts return to the moon and establish a lunar outpost.

NASA has taken a major step toward building the nation's next generation launch vehicle with Wednesday's successful completion of the Ares I rocket preliminary design review.

The Boeing Company has completed its acquisition of Insitu Inc., a pioneer in the unmanned air systems market and leader in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance, low-cost UAS used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Widespread use of nanoscale silver will challenge regulatory agencies to balance important potential benefits against the possibility of significant environmental risk, highlighting the need to identify research priorities concerning this emerging technology, according to a new report released today by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies.

Nerites technology provides a surface coating for dental waterlines that repels cells and macromolecules, preventing bacteria from attaching and colonizing to form biofilms.

Manufacturers of vehicles, office furniture, juvenile products (such as car seats and strollers) can enhance the look, feel and performance of padded components - such as armrests, door bolsters, seat cushions and backs - while significantly reducing their costs over the current technologies employed to produce these products.

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne completed a series of successful tests on a gas generator for the J-2X rocket engine. The engine will power the nation's new Ares I and Ares V second-stage launch vehicles scheduled to send United States astronauts to the International Space Station and back to the moon by 2020.

ATK manufactured the four GEM-40 solid propulsion strap-on boosters that ignited with the Delta II first-stage main engine at liftoff. The composite cases for the boosters were made of graphite epoxy material.

VIASPACE Inc. announced that a key Caltech direct methanol fuel cell patent for an organic fuel cell and methods of operation thereof and methods of manufacture thereof was granted in Europe, specifically Germany, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands and Sweden.

Bekem Metals Inc. announced that it has completed initial pilot testing of various technologies for processing nickel ore from its Kempirsai deposit. The testing was conducted in the United Kingdom, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Resin Systems Inc. a technology innovator that develops advanced composite material products for infrastructure markets, is pleased to announce that it has entered the telecommunication tower market with its RStandard(TM) modules.

General Motors announced a commitment to make half of its major global manufacturing operations landfill- free by the end of 2010. More than 80 of GM's manufacturing operations will become landfill-free over the next 28 months.

Arthrosurface, Inc., the developer of less-invasive joint resurfacing systems, announced that it has received approval from the U.S. FDA to begin its pivotal investigation for its line of focal knee resurfacing implants.

Ladish Co., Inc. completed the merger of Chen-Tech Industries, Inc. with a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladish on September 4, 2008.

LyondellBasell's new RM2073 resin provides extremely high clarity as a cost-effective alternative to polycarbonate in injection molding applications or as a substitute for glass or for other amorphous, transparent polymers, such as polymethyl-methacrylate or styrene acrylonitrile.

Parker Hannifin Corporation has acquired Lingk & Sturzebecher of Stuhr, Germany, a manufacturer of light weight carbon fiber high pressure cylinders and actuators including those based on composite technologies, for aerospace, mobile and industrial markets.

ZKM Forging, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladish Co., Inc. has shipped the first structural components to Goodrich Corporation for the landing

SAFC Hitech, a focus area within SAFC, a member of the Sigma-Aldrich Group, announced that it has made significant progress in developing Germanium Antimony Telluride (Ge(x)Sb(y)Te(z)) precursors for use in high volume manufacturing phase change memory applications.

This presentation will provide examples of how new remote cathodic protection systems are helping energy and pipeline companies address the growing issue of the ageing pipeline infrastructure and reduce their costs while optimizing their operations.

LyondellBasell Industries has commercialized a family of newly patented Lupolen high density polyethylene resins that offer improved resistance to bio-diesel and may therefore be of interest to manufacturers of automotive plastic fuel tanks.

DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions is a leading global supplier to the photovoltaic industry, offering a broad and growing portfolio of innovative solutions for both crystalline silicon and thin film modules designed to help deliver clean, sustainable energy to enhance people's lives.

General Steel Holdings, Inc., one of China's leading non-state owned steel products producers, has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire 80% of Yantai Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. of Laiwu Iron & Steel Group.

Global Alumina Corporation, a corporation participating in a joint venture to develop an alumina refinery, mine and associated infrastructure in the bauxite-rich region of the Republic of Guinea, announced the approval of an extension and increase to the interim Project budget through September of $30.9 million (including $5 million in additional commitments) of which Global Alumina will be responsible for its one-third share.

Bosch plans to acquire the brake friction business of the Morse Automotive Corporation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.The Morse Group develops, manufactures, and markets pads for disc brakes and linings for drum brakes, as well as brake calipers, for the North American market

Thermacore, Inc., a global leader in thermal management technology and solutions, has purchased substantially all of the assets of the Electronics Cooling subsidiary of Modine Manufacturing Company, thus restoring the company as an independent, privately held small business.

China Sun Group High-Tech Co. has successfully completed registration with the PRC's State Intellectual Property Office for a patent related to China Sun Group's proprietary methodology for preparing high-crystallinity lithium cobalt oxide.

The fifty-fifty joint venture "SB LiMotive Co. Ltd." of Bosch and Samsung SDI started operations on September 1, 2008. The objective of the new company is to develop, manufacture, and sell lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications.

Samuel Manu-Tech Inc. has sold its Nanticoke, Ontario steel pickling operations to U.S. Steel Canada for $37.5 million, subject to normal closing adjustments.

Industry's first comprehensive cell-to-module solar architecture couples semiconductor manufacturing methods with optimized photovoltaic cell design.

The Lincoln Electric Company successfully completed modernization of the Continuous Cast Aluminum Rod Mill at its Canadian subsidiary, Indalco Alloys Inc., the world's only fully integrated aluminum welding wire producer.

Saft, Conergy and Tenesol have announced the launch of SOLION, a Franco-German project dedicated to the development of a new concept in energy conversion and storage for grid connected photovoltaic (PV) systems. This project will introduce large lithium-ion batteries into PV systems on the largest scale ever tested in Europe

Ricardo, a leading independent provider of technology, product innovation and engineering solutions to the world's automotive, military, transport and new energy industries, is increasing its commitment to the rapidly expanding Chinese automotive market with a major two-phase expansion of its Shanghai-based operations.

The Composites Division of Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation introduces COHRlastic(R) R10400 M, a high-consistency rubber, closed-cell, silicone sponge that improves on liquid silicone rubber products in virtually all areas of mechanical performance while still meeting the crucial UL 94 V-0 standard for flame retardance

As part of the company's ongoing commitment to help improve the community by developing young technical talent, Robert Bosch LLC associates are donating their time and expertise to fuel a group of Detroit high school students' interest in science.

Small or large companies entrepreneurs that want to bring nanotechnology products to world markets can access technical and business services at a new leading-edge center, The Alberta Centre for Advanced Microsystems and nanotechnology Products (ACAMP). The center is supported by $11.5 million in total funding with contributions of $8 million from the Alberta government and $3.5 million from Canada's Western Economic Diversification.

Pratt &Whitney and Aviall Services, Inc. have reached an agreement for the exclusive worldwide distribution of JT9D spare parts.

Nucor Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiary, The David J. Joseph Company, has acquired substantially all the assets of the American Compressed Steel operations of Secondary Resources, Inc. American Compressed Steel employs 112 people and processes nearly 180,000 tons annually.

GCL Silicon will supply Suntech with 9,420 MT of polysilicon and 1.1 GW of silicon wafers from 2008 to 2012.

Aerojet, a GenCorp company, announced that its boost motor passed the final qualification static test firing for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) program.

Carbon Motors Corporation announced today its plan for the Carbon Motors 'E7' law enforcement vehicle to be the world's first car with a 100% paintfilm thermoplastic exterior developed with Fluorex(R) Paintfilm from Soliant, LLC.

Nucor Corporation plans to begin steel bar production at its previously idle rolling mill in Kingman, Arizona. Initial annual output of straight-length rebar, coiled rebar and wire rod should be about 250,000 tons.

Nucor Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiary, Harris Steel, Inc., has completed the acquisition of the stock of Ambassador Steel Corporation, based in Auburn, Indiana, for a cash purchase price of approximately $185 million. Ambassador is a fabricator and distributor of concrete reinforcing steel and related products.

Kennametal Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Tricon Metals & Services, Inc., a leading provider of custom wear solutions specializing in consumable proprietary steels for the surface and underground mining markets, including hard rock and coal. Solutions include cladded products, wear pins, shafting and custom fabricated replacement components.

FLABEG, global leader in high-tech glass and mirror applications, is to establish production capacity for high-precision parabolic mirrors which are used to help generate electricity at large-scale solar power plants at a facility in the Clinton Commerce Park near Pittsburgh International Airport.

According to the American Automobile Association, millions of motorists are stranded every year with dead or underperforming car batteries, mostly due to the breakdown of the lead-alloy plates inside. OPTIMA(R) batteries combat this disadvantage with patented SPIRALCELL(R) technology, allowing them to last up to two times longer than their flat-plate counterparts.

VIASPACE Inc., a company that transforms proven space and defense technologies from NASA and the Department of Defense into hardware and software solutions, has entered into an agreement with WonATech of Korea for VIASPACE to sell and distribute WonATech's fuel cell test stations outside Korea.

Buildings are the key to phasing out conventional coal and reducing oil imports by 86% by the year 2030, according to Edward Mazria, founder and executive director of Architecture 2030.
Buildings Key to Success

The honor of Fellow of the society was established to provide recognition to members for distinguished contributions in the field of materials science and engineering, and to develop a broadly based forum for technical and professional leaders to serve as advisors to the Society.

Chrysler LLC's Hybrid Electric Vehicles began rolling off the assembly line this week at its Newark (Delaware) Assembly Plant. Chrysler is offering the two-mode hybrid powertrain on both vehicles built at the plant, Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen.

Progress Energy Carolinas and SunEdison have signed an agreement under which SunEdison will build, own and operate a 1.2-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant on the site of the Progress Energy L.V. Sutton Plant near Wilmington and sell the energy produced to the utility for distribution to customers.

Leadership Days 2008 sponsored by ASM Chapter Council returned to Cleveland, OH & Materials Park after a successful trip to Salt Lake City in 2007. 

Northrop Grumman views any delay to the amended request for proposal for the tanker replacement program as harmful to the warfighter and that a delay will result in a direct escalation in cost to the government thereby harming American taxpayers.

A vigorous SAE J1321 Type II fuel consumption test, performed by an independent testing company, has verified the ability of a ceramic nano-technology product from CerMet Lab to increase fuel economy in a heavy-duty truck.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joined with the CEO and other officials from advanced lithium-ion battery developer EnerDel to announce a set of performance-based incentives associated with major expansion plans at the company's Indianapolis manufacturing facilities.

Millennium Research Group's Latin American Markets for Orthopedic Devices 2008 report series, which includes coverage of Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia, indicates that reconstructive joint implants represent the largest and fastest-growing orthopedic device segment across all four countries.

Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1000G demonstration engine has completed the first phase of flight testing on a company-owned 747SP flying test bed. A joint Airbus and Pratt & Whitney flight test program will begin in the fourth quarter.

The inability of the Consumer Product Safety Commission to carry out its mandate with respect to simple, low-tech products such as children's jewelry and toy trains bodes poorly for its ability to oversee the safety of complex, high-tech products made using nanotechnology, according to a new report released by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies.

Less than three months after announcing a strategic investment into thin-film photovoltaics, Masdar, the Abu Dhabi renewable energy company, broke ground on its first photovoltaic production plant in Ichtershausen, Germany.

Air Products has acquired Harvest Energy Technology, Inc., a leader in the development of hydrogen generation technology for industrial and energy applications, to enhance its overall global hydrogen product offerings.

A. Schulman, Inc. is expanding its North American Polybatch(R) manufacturing operations with a new plant in Akron, Ohio. The company is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins used in a variety of consumer, industrial, automotive and packaging applications.

Two additional mill stands were mounted on the mill and new equipment for water descaling, a product tipping device, and new mill rolls were installed. The improvements coincide with Metallurgist Day, celebrated in Romania on the second Saturday of August.

SCI Engineered Materials, Inc., a manufacturer of ceramics and metals for advanced applications such as photonics, solar, thin film batteries, and semiconductors for select growth markets in the physical vapor deposition industry, has been awarded a two-year contract by the U.S. Department of Energy for Phase II of a SBIR project titled "Flux Pinning Additions to Increase Jc Performance in BSCCO-2212 Round Wire for Very High Field Magnets."

After two years of biomass gasification testing Nexterra Energy Corp. has confirmed that renewable synthesis gas, or "syngas", has the ability to displace at least 60 per cent of fossil fuels used in lime kilns. The system could be used in multiple industrial applications including pulp mill lime kilns, power boilers, rotary dryers and calciners commonly found in mineral processing, mining, cement and ethanol production industries.

Nissan's hydrogen-fuel-cell research vehicle, along with several fuel-cell vehicles from other manufacturers, made a stop today at Nissan's Smyrna Test Track as part of an historic two-week cross-country trip. Guests were able to witness the safe and easy refueling process for FCVs.

ETEX Corporation, an advanced biomaterials company has launched an innovative orthobiologic, EquivaBone(TM). EquivaBone(TM) is a bone graft substitute that remodels and is replaced with new bone during the healing process.

Millstone Medical Outsourcing recently expanded its inspection services division by adding state-of-the-art equipment, increasing inspection staff, and hiring a new inspection manager. Millstone Medical Outsourcing is a leading provider of customized outsourcing solutions to the medical device industry.

Goodrich Corporation is providing an advanced, fully integrated landing gear system for the Cessna Model 850 Citation Columbus large cabin intercontinental business jet. The weight-efficient system includes main and nose landing gear, wheels and carbon brakes, and electronic control and steering systems.

Zenergy Power, has commenced a major extension of its manufacturing facility based in Rheinbach, Germany that will increase the production capacity of its ground-breaking HTS induction heater.

Medical International Limited, a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices worldwide announced today that Mindray will be attending the Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Unplugged Conference in New York, NY on September 8th & 9th, 2008.

Immediately prior to the Aerospace Coatings Symposium coming to Hartford, Connecticut this October, the ASM Thermal Spray Society (TSS) will hold a special pre-conference short course on Materials and Processes for High-Temperature Gas Turbine Components.

A long-awaited clarification of rules governing the export of civil aviation items will be a shot in the arm for the aerospace industry and American exports, AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey said.

Exousia Advanced Materials, Inc. received its first coatings purchase order in China from Greenview Products. This 5,000-gallon order for Marine Coatings will exceed $100,000 and will be the first industrial coatings produced in Exousia's plant in Tianjin, China.

By the end of 2008, the world headquarters of Merck & Co., Inc. in Whitehouse Station, N.J., will have the largest ground-mounted solar power tracking system in the eastern half of the United States. A 1.6-megawatt SunPower solar tracking power system, comprising approximately 7,000 solar panels, will cover seven acres of Merck's 1,000-acre site.

Ladish Co., Inc. has entered into an agreement to merge with Chen-Tech Industries, Inc. of Irvine, California. Chen-Tech's expertise is in forging nickel-based and titanium components for smaller jet engines serving single aisle, regional, and business aircraft.

Goodrich Corporation and Rolls-Royce have signed a Letter of Intent proposing the formation of a joint venture company, which would develop and supply engine controls for Rolls-Royce aero engines.

Lockheed Martin Corporation has acquired the government business unit of Nantero, Inc., a privately-held Massachusetts-based company that has developed methods and processes for incorporating carbon nanotubes in next-generation electronic devices.

Metaldyne, an Asahi Tec company, has been awarded more than $50 million in contracts from multiple automakers to supply powder metal forged connecting rods for 4- and 6-cyl. engines used globally in 2009 and 2010 cars, crossover vehicles and minivans.

NASA awarded a total of $97,000 in prizes at the 2008 General Aviation Technology Challenge. The challenge asked competitors to demonstrate innovations that would lead to aircraft that are safer, more affordable, easier to fly, and have less negative impact on the environment and on the communities that surround airports.

Air Products' mobile hydrogen fueler technology is fueling the hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles of multiple automakers as part of the national Hydrogen Tour '08, which is designed to demonstrate that hydrogen vehicle and fueling technologies are approaching commercial availability.

Laser Energetics, Inc. successfully completed its Proof-of-Concept contract worth $481,268 with ITT Corporation. The contract supports the U.S. Army's initiative to develop an all solid-state laser for the next generation of chemical warfare agent sensor.

A new report shows Ohio is No. 1 in the nation for renewable and advanced energy, bringing in more new facility projects than any other state between 2005 and 2007.

The Future Steel Vehicle Program releases early styling images for alternative powertrain vehicles using advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) body structures.

The Company expects this acquisition to significantly improve its ability to service customers in the municipal markets in the Northeastern United States by allowing it to package fabricated steel gratings with its iron casting products, thus offering a more complete array of street drainage products to the marketplace.

The BMW Hydrogen 7 -- the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan -- joins an unprecedented cross-country journey featuring hydrogen-powered cars by the world's leading automakers in the 2008 Hydrogen Road Tour.

Founded in 2007, O'Neill Innovations is revitalizing the market for everyday products by using novel material science to eliminate problems customers despise but have resigned themselves to accept.

Dresser-Rand Group Inc., a global supplier of rotating equipment to the oil, gas, petrochemical, and process industries, announced that its affiliates have entered into acquisition agreements with Arrow Industries, Inc. and Enginuity LLC.

The Tatanka Wind Farm, comprised of 59 turbines in South Dakota and 61 turbines in North Dakota, will generate enough clean energy to power more than 60,000 homes. The plant went online July 25, 2008.

Ionfinity's was awarded a contract to develop a novel chemical agent sensor through a joint collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, General Dynamics, Sionex, and Imaginative Technologies.

The new process can generate H2S04, the world's most widely used chemical, on site at a substantial savings to the current spot market price without the risks and costs associated with transporting bulk liquid acid.

In the second stop on its U.S. tour, Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. brought exiderdome, a traveling technology expo of its productivity solutions to Detroit, the epicenter of automotive manufacturing in the United States.

An advanced acrylic latex sealant, Tilt-Seal™ provides the movement necessary for concrete panels while saving labor and time with no mixing, a fast cure time, and easy clean-up with water.

NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center has awarded a multi-year contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems Division of San Diego for engineering and technical services in support of the center's planned operation of two Global Hawk aircraft.

Glaston Corporation’s glass processing unit will close down its working machine and special automotive glass business.

NaturalNano announced that Noble Polymers, a division of Cascade Engineering, has purchased the Company's innovative HNT material to produce ten tons of its nanocomposite, Pleximer(TM).

Honeywell will design and install the core process and safety systems for a new plant under construction by Hoku Materials that will produce polysilicon for solar panels.

Having received regulatory clearances, Outokumpu has completed its transaction to acquire the SoGePar Group, an Italian distributor of stainless steel from its owners, the Borromeo family.

Highlighting new technology in thermal spray for the aerospace industry, the ASM Thermal Spray Society will hold its Aerospace Coatings Symposium this Oct. 15-16 in Hartford, Conn.

TSS produces the free e-mail service “Spray Tips” for anyone with interest in thermal spray technology and applications.

If a deal is reached, the smelter would be the Alcoa’s first aluminium smelting plant in China, which could help it expand production in the world's biggest market of the metal used in construction, packaging and auto sectors.

The order is for modular supplemental armor protection as part of the family of Ballistic Plates for Body Armor Load Carriage Systems (BALCS) to be shipped beginning in August 2008 to February 2009.

The International ANSYS Conference brings together engineers, analysts and management from all disciplines of simulation to learn about the future of engineering design simulation and analysis.

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.

A joint venture between DuPont and Russkie-Kraski opened a new technical center in Russia for the development of high-performance automotive coatings.

China plans to build a comprehensive aerospace industry by 2015, according to the country's Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

French building materials giant Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA said it would slash 6,000 jobs as part of a euro435 million ($682 million) cost-cutting plan to adapt to worsening global economic conditions.

A new safety document developed by the ASM Thermal Spray Society is available free of charge from the TSS website.

General Automotive Company announced a joint venture with SenCer Inc. to develop, commercialize and market SenCer's groundbreaking UltraTemp(TM) ceramic composite materials fuel cell technologies.

The ASM Cincinnati Chapter is the first to benefit from ASM’s Global Community!

General Motors. has joined with more than 30 utility companies across the U.S. to help work out electricity issues that will crop up when it rolls out new electric vehicles in a little more than two years.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions launched its patent-pending Turcon(R) Variseal(R) PS, a PEEK-energized seal with extremely low leach-out in semiconductor wet processing applications.

Zenergy Power Inc. successfully installed and implemented of the world's first commercial full scale HTS induction heater for Weseralu GmbH & Co., an aluminum profile extrusion company, in Minden, Germany.

GE Energy’s fuel-flexible turbine technology has been selected for the expansion of the COREX combined-cycle power plant at the Baoshan Iron & Steel Company (Baosteel) complex in Shanghai, China.

Deadline for application is February 1, 2009

Nanocomposite coatings provide higher performance at lower cost compared to hard chrome and nickel plating or carbide thermal spray coatings in aerospace, oil and gas, and heavy equipment markets.

Insitu, Inc., a global leader in the unmanned systems market, has agreed to be acquired by The Boeing Company, the world's largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft.

Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens asked Congress on Tuesday to "clear the path" for his plan to boost use of wind and natural gas for U.S. energy needs.

3M Co. Tuesday has agreed to acquire EMFI S.A. and SAPO S.A., makers of polyurethane-based structural adhesives and sealants headquartered in Haguenau, France.

AK Steel Corp. plans to invest $21 million more into its Butler plant to expand production capabilities for grain-oriented electrical steels that are in strong demand in both the United States and global markets.

ICP Solar Technologies Inc. is developing a solar charger that will help reduce the related costs and will avoid strong 12V battery drain using the power of the sun.

During recent testing at Peterbilt's Texas headquarters, the Delphi SOFC provided power for the Model 386's electrical system and air conditioning and maintained the truck's batteries -- all while the Model 386's diesel engine was turned off.

Changsha Lyrun Material Co., Ltd. set up a joint venture with EVB Technology Ltd. to produce nickel-hydrogen battery pack and automotive engineering energy pack for hybrid electric vehicles.

NASA has begun unofficial negotiations with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency on purchasing the H-2 Transfer Vehicle, an unmanned cargo transfer spacecraft developed in Japan, as the successor to its space shuttles, which are to retire in 2010.

Kennecott Utah Copper is preparing to take advantage of the current demand for molybdenum by building its own Molybdenum Autoclave Process facility.

The Boeing Company signed an agreement to sell 15 777-300ER and 30 next-generation 737-800 jetliners to Air China.

Five lecturers have been selected to participate in a cooperative program between ASM International and the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM).

Suzuki is to test the hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicle shown at the recent G8 summit on public roads.

The new aluminum-intensive bus body is approximately 46 percent lighter than a traditional bus and, therefore, requires less fuel and emits fewer greenhouse gases.

Airbus chief executive Tom Enders and Boeing chief executive Scott Carson shared a platform as the industry defended its record on the environment at the Farnborough Air Show.

Members recognized for their distinguished contributions to materials science and engineering.

Alcoa is the recipient of a Global Innovation Award from Nissan Motor Company for its proprietary vacuum die casting process and new, advanced alloys used on the GT-R, Nissan's new flagship, high-performance sports sedan.

General Motors Corp. researchers are working on a windshield that combines lasers, infrared sensors and a camera to take what's happening on the road and enhance it, allowing drivers with vision problems to see more clearly.

Entegris, Inc has introduced a broad portfolio of substrate handling and contamination control product lines used in photovoltaic fabrication.

Alcoa has reached agreement with the Chelan PUD on a new, clean-energy hydropower contract to supply its Wenatchee, Washington aluminum smelter 2011-2028, providing enough energy to enable the start-up of a third potline at the smelter in 2012.

Novelis Inc. has been selected by BMW to supply aluminum sheet for the lightweight hoods of its all-new X6 crossover SUV.

DurusWhite, FullCure430 addresses a broad range of applications requiring polypropylene-like toughness, strength, and flexibility, such as food packaging, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, etc.

When fully operational, the center is expected to process an average of 1,000 metric tonnes (1,102 tons) of composite scrap annually and add approximately 75 jobs to the regional economy.

The Centre for Process Innovation, based at Wilton on Teesside, has become the UK’s only research organization working on the European Union’s Framework Seven Programme (FP7).

QuEST Manufacturing is setting up a dedicated sheet metal fabrication facility for aerospace in its 300 acre Special Economic Zone in Belgaum, Karnataka, India.

GE-Aviation and SAFRAN announced a new joint venture company to cooperatively develop, produce, and support engine nacelles for the next-generation single-aisle commercial airliners.

Steel group ArcelorMittal said it agreed to buy out Primex of Germany from the Uginox Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited joint venture owned by the two groups in Turkey.

Pratt & Whitney announced the launch of PurePower engines -- a new family of next-generation commercial and business jet engines that offer double-digit improvements in fuel burn, environmental emissions, engine noise and operating costs.

Due to "economic and structural changes in the North American light truck and SUV market demand," Alcoa’s electrical and electronic systems business have begun restructuring operations.

The Geared Turbofan engine will be a product unique in the aircraft industry, bringing double-digit reductions in fuel burn, environmental emissions, engine noise and operating costs.

Award carries with it an $800 honorarium to be used for travel expenses within India.

Ladish Co., Inc. has acquired complete ownership of Aerex Manufacturing, Inc., a precision-machining enterprise serving the aerospace and commercial airplane industries located in South Windsor, Connecticut.

Plate output is expected to hit 9.35 million tons in 2009 and 11.65 million tons in 2010, while the market will need 8.96 million tons and 10.4 million tons in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

Asia's consumption of nickel continues declining as major stainless steel manufacturers in China and Japan attach more importance to producing 200 series stainless steel and 400 series stainless steel, which have a much lower nickel content compared to 300 series stainless steel.

Kobe Steel Ltd. will shut its U.S. steel powder operations by selling Kobelco Metal Powder of America Inc. to Sweden's Hoganas AB.

Anglesey Aluminium Metal Ltd. is in the process of restarting production on the non-operating portion of the first of two potlines at the smelter and expects to be back to full production on this first line by the end of July or early August.

Applications include the inspection of windmills, pipelines, gas turbines, steam turbines, aircraft engines, automotive engines, underground sewer lines, steam generators or heat exchangers to detect any damage or defects without disassembly.

A federal judge rejected a request by Boston Scientific Corp. for a new trial in a patent-infringement case that ended with a $501 million judgment against the medical-device maker.

Ceradyne's number one ranking is derived from four categories: return on invested capital, earnings momentum, asset management, and financial health.

High demands regarding the quality of welded joints are being made that must satisfy the required ultimate strength values in underwater structures. In deep water, computer numerical controlled welding equipment for high-quality and reproducible weld seams is necessary.

Indalex Inc. has been awarded a contract by Permasteelisa North America to supply painted extruded aluminum components that will be used in curtain wall to clad twin hotel towers in Revel Entertainment's new resort in Atlantic City, N.J.

Ceradyne, Inc. will acquire SemEquip, Inc. The acquisition will expand Ceradyne Boron Products' business and will significantly extend market opportunity in the semiconductor industry.

General Electric Co.'s commitment to its operations in Schenectady was on display Tuesday as more than 300 people packed a downtown hotel conference room to hear about the company's steam-turbine business.

GM’s factory in Zaragoza, northern Spain, will be clad in 183,000 square meters of solar panels in a 50 million euro project to provide a quarter of the factory's power at peak times.

Cleantech innovators from 120 academic institutions representing nearly every region of the world and a total of $158 billion (euro 100 billion) in research dollars are signed up to present their cleantech wares to 4,000 industry executives, including representatives from Siemens, Boeing and Toyota.

The cost and weight-saving objectives of aircraft/engine OEMs will drive the application of composites in the aerospace industry.

A new 5,500 ton hydraulic press, handling systems, and ancillary equipment will be installed at Bonnell's new 70,000 square ft. manufacturing facility in Carthage, Tennessee. It is expected to start-up fourth quarter 2009.

Rotrex has developed a fully variable electrical driven supercharger targeted for mild and full hybrids for normal combustion engines, whether based on gasoline, diesel, or bio-fuels, for automotive and transportation markets.

The Rolls-Royce corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant located on a 42-acre site near the English city of Chichester is a paragon of green thinking.

Rolls-Royce is in the early planning stages to build a $100 million plant to assemble and test aircraft engines in Prince George County, VA. The investment could reach $500 million and create 500 jobs within several years.

Twenty hydrogen fuel-cell cars are expected to provide zero-emission transportation services for VIPs, officials, and the media at the Beijing Olympic Games.

The U.S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, a $20.7 million contract to provide ongoing Lead Yard Services for the DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class AEGIS destroyer program.

Alcan Packaging, a division of Rio Tinto Alcan, will invest euro 17 million (approximately US$27 million) in the Central European flexible packaging market. The new state of the art facility will supply the emergent food market.

Global demand, inflation, and a weak U.S. dollar have forced steel prices skyward, causing sticker shock for developers and disrupting the delicate dance they do with architects, contractors, lenders and tenants.

Gov. Joe Manchin urged the West Virginia Supreme Court to clarify whether DuPont has a right to have an appeal heard on $196.2 million in punitive damages, about half of a jury settlement awarded last year in a civil suit claiming health threats at a former zinc smelting plant.

Managers and employees at the Golden Aluminum Extrusion plant are pleased with the progress being made by the new owners of the processing and manufacturing plant purchased from Alcoa almost nine months ago.

AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. has received its first purchase order to supply solar silicon melting and crystallization furnace systems valued in excess of $90 million.

An export permit is needed to export host scrap metal products and the government is considering measures to limit the export of scrap metal.

CPI Aerostructures Inc. has landed one of its largest-ever contracts, a $70-million award from Boeing Co. to build parts for the Air Force's A-10 Thunderbolts.

Two Chinese steel companies combined to form the world's fifth-largest producer, the latest in a series of government-orchestrated deals aimed at creating globally competitive suppliers amid booming demand.

Resin Systems Inc., announced that its composite roller tubes have been selected to replace existing steel roller tubes in a bulk potash material handling load-out facility.

ArcelorMittal, the world's leading metal and mining company, is investing in China to establish a new steel joint venture expected to produce 1.2 million tons of automobile steel sheet annually,

To some, U.S. Steel no longer looks like the Big Steal it was when it was trading below $100. But if you look at the prospects for rising demand -- and the market price the metal fetches -- you would disagree, says Gene Marcial.

Malaysia offers the opportunity for leading automotive companies particularly those producing hybrid vehicles to locate their operations in the country.

The joint venture, which will be set up subject to regulatory approval, will produce cold rolled steel, galvannealed steel and pure zinc galvanised steel, mainly for automotive applications.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plans to invest at least $1 billion annually through 2010 to expand and improve plants and will focus more on international growth markets such as China, Russia and Brazil.

Francie Rehwald will be the only person on her block living inside a house built from the recycled parts of a Boeing 747 airliner.

The Sohar Aluminium smelter in the Sultanate of Oman has produced its first 'hot metal.' The new greenfield project features the world's largest, most technologically advanced potline, a carbon plant, an ingot metal casting facility, and a port facility for storage and ship loading and unloading.

A project to linking seven Alcoa refineries on four continents to one core process control system, Honeywell’s QUASAR, was awarded Engineers Australia's 2007 National Project Excellence Award in Automation, Control and Instrumentation.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates pledged direct involvement in moving forward a disputed $35 billion tanker contract after congressional investigators detailed numerous mistakes the Air Force made in awarding the deal to Northrop Grumman and its European partner over Boeing Co.

Caterpillar Inc. will invest $200 million over four years to boost manufacturing capacity of off-highway trucks used for coal and other mining jobs and to add production of the Caterpillar 3508 engine used primarily in off-highway trucks.

Researchers at the DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory used scanning near-field ultrasonic holography to view nanoparticles residing within the cells of laboratory mice that had inhaled single-walled carbon nanohorns.

U.S. steel pipe manufacturers, who have been battling a surge in imports from China, won a major victory Friday when the International Trade Commission cleared the way for the imposition of stiff penalty tariffs for the next five years.

Aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. is considering taking a minority stake in a prospective Vietnamese bauxite mine and alumina refinery.

The Pentagon has been losing the people most skilled at managing military projects and fewer young engineers, software developers, and mathematicians are replacing them. The breakdown in engineering management has made huge cost overruns and long delays the norm.

Glass, chemical, and steel manufacturers are developing completely new production techniques because of the rise in prices for fuel and raw materials, scrapping methods that go back more than a century.

A $19 million expansion of Kaiser’s Tennalum facility in Jackson, TN will increase capacity and capabilities through the addition of an extrusion press, heat treat furnace, drawbench, and other ancillary equipment.

The weak U.S. economy has made domestic steel a bargain in countries with stronger currencies while domestic consumers struggle with the rising costs of steel. Since January, the price of hot rolled steel has risen from just over $500 to about $1,125 a ton.

As part of the MIT Energy Initiative, MIT and Bosch have announced a new energy research collaboration aimed at exploring new materials and concepts for efficient energy-conversion and energy-storage systems.

Alcoa announced it will temporarily idle half the production at its Rockdale, TX aluminum smelter effective today as a result of ongoing supply issues with Luminant's onsite power generating unit, Sandow Unit 4, and the resulting market power prices being uneconomical.

3D Systems, a provider of 3-D printing, rapid prototyping and manufacturing solutions, will demonstrate a newly developed polypropylene-based material on its Sinterstation Pro SLS System at the Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo (DMS) from June 25-27, in Tokyo, Japan.

United States Steel Corporation rewarded shareholders with income that is higher than the industry average, currently yielding 0.6%. In late April, the company posted first-quarter net income of $235 million, soaring past the fourth-quarter net income of $35 million.

The green hulk in Boston Harbor known as the Tobin Bridge is getting a $1 million early warning system to detect structural failures in the millions of tons of steel and concrete before it buckles and cars plummet into the Mystic River.

ATI 500-MIL(TM) armor steel is designed to meet the new U.S. MIL-DTL-46100E high-hard specifications for ballistic performance and is being qualified for NATO and other international standards. It protects against such threats as armor-piercing rounds while also offering good blast-resistance properties.

The welding consumables market in Europe is highly mature and confronts heavy competition from suppliers based in East Asia. However, increasing awareness of the improved productivity, higher metal deposition rates, and reduced fumes offered by wired consumables is driving the total consumables market in Europe.

Seeking a more cost-effective, energy-conscious, and safer way to train inmates in industrial skills, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation purchased 20 SimWelder(TM) units from SGI and VRSim. Inmates will learn a variety of specialized welding skills that will help them to secure jobs upon parole.

Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corporation signed an agreement to acquire On Time Machining Company (OTM) from Kennametal Inc. OTM, based in Wapakoneta, Ohio, is a manufacturer and supplier of indexable cutting tool products including drills, end mills, face mills, chamfer mills, aluminum cutting mills, counterbores and countersinks.

Reliance Steel & Aluminum plans to acquire the outstanding capital stock of PNA Group Holding Corporation whose subsidiaries include the operating entities Delta Steel, LP, Feralloy Corporation, Infra-Metals Co., Metals Supply Company, Ltd., Precision Flamecutting and Steel, LP, and Sugar Steel Corporation.

Every company making or using materials needs to be represented at the first presentation of a new course from ASM International. Meeting the Challenges to the Materials Industries Posed by Raw Materials Supply, Energy, Environmental Constraints, Global Competition, and New Technologies is a different breed of course and one that should be considered mandatory. Although the course is geared for the metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites industries, it actually applies to all industries in manufacturing.

Ernst Koch will supply and install a new straight-flow KGT 25/47 type drawing mill for the Vyartsilya Metal Products Plant. The straight-flow sevenfold drawing mill for low-carbon wire manufacturing of 2.0-7.0 mm in diameter will be making the product in coils up to 3 tonnes in weight.

Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) has awarded a US$10 million contract to Italian manufacturer, Società per Impianti Generali (SPIG), for the supply of its cooling towers. TheIEMAL productionEfacility in Taweelah, AbuIDhabi, is beingEbuilt in two phases and is set to become the world's fifth largest aluminum producer.

Using a new woven fabric technology, coupled with a new coating process, DuPont said it has found a way to deliver improved ballistic performance using its existing Kevlar aramid fiber.

Mexico's growing violence and insecurity has boosted the industry of armor-plating cars. In 1996 there were six companies in the sector compared with the 52 currently in business.

Hoku Scientific, Inc., a materials science company focused on clean energy technologies, has entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with UBS Securities LLC. The net proceeds from the offering will be used for engineering, procurement, and construction of a 3,500 metric ton polysilicon production facility in Pocatello, Idaho, as well as for general corporate purposes.

Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls, the world’s largest automotive seat manufacturer, is in the running to buy Plastech's interiors business, which makes plastic parts, such as door panels and consoles as Plastech moves into the final steps in its bankruptcy case. U