Forged Components Inc. (FCI) of Humble, Texas, announced the acquisition of Western of Texas Forge & Flange Co. (WTFF) in the fourth quarter of 2019. WTFF manufactures pipe flanges and forgings to standard and custom sizes to the oil and gas exploration and production, oil refining and processing, petrochemical, chemical, and power-generation industries. Kountze, Texas-based WTFF will continue to operate under its current name.

Part I of this article considered the technology of measuring temperature through the infrared radiation of a heated metal mass and some of the misconceptions and inaccuracies that may be present in or about the process. This article will explore ways to improve accuracy through proper calibration and to take temperature measurements of highly reflective bodies.

Why this hunger to add an Ethernet port/WiFi or 3G/4G functionality to any device? Well, a so-called dumb instrument can be now transformed into something much smarter.

The desired metallurgical properties of forgings are derived from having the right billet temperature when they are forged.

China’s AVIC Shaanxi Hongyuan Aviation Forging Co. Ltd. put what it says is the world's largest clutch-operated screw press into operation at its site in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. The SPKA-type clutch-operated screw press, which was supplied by SMS group, has a screw diameter of 1,330 millimeters (52 inches), a blow force of 365 MN, a gross power of 27,000 kJ and a weight of 2,900 tons. It offers flexibility when it comes to optimizing the forging process and requires far less stroke to achieve the preset ram speed than a conventional slipping-wheel screw press. This type of press is particularly suited for high-energy forging typically used for turbine blades or structural aircraft components.

Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp. completed the sale of its Canadian specialty steel subsidiary, ASW Steel Inc. (ASW), to Valbruna Canada Ltd., a subsidiary of Acciaierie Valbruna S.p.A., of Vicenza, Italy. With production facilities in Fort Wayne, Ind., and in Italy, Valbruna produces stainless steels, nickel alloys and titanium long products. It has an annual output of approximately 200,000 tons of specialty steels.

The cross-wedge rolling (CWR) technique was conceived at the end of the 19th century and was believed to be ahead of its time.

Western Superconducting Technologies Co. Ltd. (WST) successfully put a 63-/80-MN two-column open-die forging press into service. Supplied by SMS group, the high-speed push-down press has a maximum press force of 63 MN and an upsetting force of 80 MN. Due to the advanced hydraulic and control systems installed, the press is capable of forging highly demanding and temperature-sensitive materials such as titanium and titanium alloys with extreme precision.

For the third consecutive time, Cleveland played host to the biennial Forge Fair, which was held on the shores of Lake Erie May 21-23, 2019. Nearly 2,000 attendees and 169 exhibitors made Forge Fair 2019 the largest ever.