Carpenter strip modernization program reaches a major milestone
Carpenter strip modernization program reaches a major milestone
Keywords Carpenter,Finishing, Strip
Carpenter Technology Corp. has reached a major milestone in its $87 million dollar strip finishing modernization program with the installation of a new stretch bend leveler at its Reading, Pennsylvania, plant.
The multi-million dollar Ungerer unit, made in Germany, has been designed to improve the shape and flatness of products rolled on the company's strip mills. The leveler flattens strip through a combination of uniformly applied tension and the simultaneous application of selective stretching. The flattening process is computer controlled, based on measurements continuously taken by a shape measurement roll.
Strip flattened by the stretch bend leveler will have known controlled properties and flatness throughout the length of each coil. Improved flatness will permit customers to stamp parts with more predictable behavior. This is important to users who stamp magnetic laminations and manufacture parts from controlled expansion, stainless and high temperature strip products.
Addition of the new leveler enables Carpenter to double its capacity for this work. The company plans to process strip ranging from 0.001 inches to 0.050 inches thick, in widths up to 16 inches for the thinner gauges. Resistance, controlled expansion and other specialty alloys also will be processed on this equipment.
Several other major additions and upgrades are included in the modernization plan. A new batch-type bell furnace will be put into production in October, with the capacity to anneal 5,000 tons per year and handle furnace loads of up to 30,000lbs.
In addition to improving productivity, the bell furnace will enable Carpenter to perform specialized heat treatments to achieve unique magnetic properties for specific applications.
A new six-head, wet strip grinder with an in-line degreaser is expected to increase productivity and capacity significantly. The equipment provides an improved surface finish, and eliminates what had been a constraint in the plant's strip line.
Two existing slitters have been upgraded with new electronic controls and increased coil weight capacity,in another move to expand strip capacity. A key Z-mill also has been upgraded to improve thickness tolerances and increase productivity.
Planned for installation next year is a new strip rolling mill, with leading edge technology, that will enable Carpenter to double its current strip production capacity. It will incorporate new systems to measure by computer and automatically correct the shape of strip in process.
The company's strip modernization program, to be finished by mid-1999, will include the installation of new equipment, upgrading of existing equipment and process improvements that focus on cycle time reduction and improved process control.
Details from Carpenter Technology Corp. Tel: (1) 800 654 6543. Toronto Service Center. Tel: 1 800 268 4740.
