The Future is Forming

The Tool and Die Authority May 2010 Newsletter contained these articles:

Linking to the Alternative-Energy Supply Chain, Part 2 : Joe Brown
Increasing Press Speed and Efficiency: Peter Ulintz
Tool and Die Futures Initiative—Brutal Facts, But Hope Lives On!: Bob Quinn
Effective Error Proofing: Drew Stevens

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Problem-Solving Techniques: The Five-Whys (or, How to be a Wise Guy)

You've got good people in your organization, yet you still run into problems that impact production and profitability. When solutions are obvious, your people on the floor can solve problems without any extra help. But what happens when a problem arises that can't be fixed right away?

The Five-Why technique presented here is a method used to determine the root cause of a particular defect or problem. It involves tracing the chain of causality in direct and discrete increments, by questioning why the particular problem or observation occurred. The technique then leads to discovering the initial discrepancy or issue that started the process leading up to the failure.

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Labels: blog, EQS, Five Whys, quality control, troubleshooting

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 5:15 PM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority April 2010 Newsletter contained these articles:

Keeping U.S. Manufacturers Linked to the Alternative-Energy Supply Chain: Joe Brown
Die Damage at Coil Change: Peter Ulintz
Lean Misperceptions: Bob Quinn
Proper Documentation for Troubleshooting and Cost Justification: Drew Stevens

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Specimen Shapes Shown in Sheet-Steel Specifications (or, Know Where the Numbers Come From)

When you order steel, you define the grade by ordering to a certain specification, such as ASTM A653 when asking for hot dipped galvanized drawing steel. The specifications include details of the properties that must be met, such as composition and mechanical properties, along with thickness and flatness tolerances. The specification also includes a description of how these parameters are measured. Here we address the dimensioning of tensile test specimens.


Dogbone Dimensions

Historically, tensile-test specimen dimensions have been defined by the country or regional standardization organization from which the specifications were published. These include ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards), EN (Europäischen Normen), BS (British Standards), DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) and SEW (Stahl-Eisen-Werkstoffblätter).

One of three standard test-specimen shapes typically find use for tensile tests; all have a basic dogbone shape so that failure occurs in the reduced-width section.

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Labels: ASTM, blog, DIN, dogbones, EQS, JIS, Lubricant Testing, tensile

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:13 AM | Permalink |
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@DannyEQS will be live-tweeting from the Great Designs in Steel Seminar sponsored by AISI on May 5, 2010. I'll be using the hashtag #autosteel!

Talks on Advanced High Strength Steels from General Motors, Ford, BMW, universities, consultants, government organizations and more!

It's an annual event sponsored by AISI - and there's no charge to attend!

Nearly all of the presentations dating back to 2002 are on their website - you can see the tremendous scope and detail that gets presented every year.

And, no, I don't work for AISI. I'm just really impressed with what they provide the steel user community.

Labels: #autosteel, Advanced High Strength Steels, AISI, blog, EQS, GDIS, Great Designs in Steel, Steel

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:04 PM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority March 2010 Newsletter contained these articles:

How Detroit “Won the War”: Joe Brown
Tool Repair by Welding: Peter Ulintz
Compound Innovation: Bob Quinn
Preventing Nuisance Faults, Part 3: Drew Stevens

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Loose Change Management Can Be Costly (or, Poor Record Keeping Can Lead to Costly Actions)

As a part evolves during the normal development cycle from CAD model to soft tool to hard tool to production-ready tooling, there can be many changes to the blank thickness, dimensions and shape, and sometimes even the type of material. It is imperative that a complete and detailed record of these changes be kept to document what was used at each step of the process, especially when the parts are involved in crash tests.


Here's the story of an important safety component — the windshield header for a convertible...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Labels: blog, change management, EQS, quality control

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:08 AM | Permalink |
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Sara Morgan, owner of Custom Solutions, LLC and founder of the No Limits blog, sent out a solicitation for real world uses of technology geared towards Small Business Owners. She was kind enough to put my entry first on her growing list. Here's what I had to say...

You probably attend many meetings, conferences, and exhibitions specific to your business. By sending out tweets, you can position yourself as an expert in the field. You don't need to add commentary - just report the facts. Then, when people are searching for the well-known speakers, you'll come up on the search page as well. Visibility is critical to compete with the bigger players in your field.

Recently, I attended an industry conference on Sheet Forming of High Strength Steels. (You couldn't possibly be more specialized than that!) Rather than taking notes on paper, I tweeted them from my Blackberry - making sure each tweet had a specialized hashtag and some reference to the author and title. This left me enough characters for a brief comment. After the conference, I posted the tweets on my blog and my LinkedIn account.

Now, when people Google pertinent terms, I have a chance of coming up on the same page as the author. Will this additional recognition lead to business? I hope so, but it's been only a few weeks since the conference. However, being an independent consultant in a highly specialized field, I'll take any advantage I can get.

Labels: EQS, interview, Schaeffler, Small Business Owner, Technology Tip

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 6:50 PM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority February 2010 Newsletter contained these articles:

Marketing Makes a Difference for Manufacturers — Part 2: Joe Brown
Tool Damage Caused by Sharpening: Peter Ulintz
Can Robotics Help a Tool and Die Shop? Part 2: Bob Quinn
Preventing Nuisance Faults, Part 2: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
What is Steel? … Part 4: Dual Phase Steels (or, The Shape of Things to Come)

Since the early to mid 1990s, dual phase steels have been available in Europe and Japan, and have been used in their bill of materials for vehicle production. Concurrent with the wider adoption of this family of higher strength steels, the overseas divisions of auto OEMs were forging closer ties with their US counterparts, and OEMs were pushing for common grades available worldwide. At the same time, fuel economy standards were getting more challenging to meet, and crash/rollover requirements were being raised. About 10 years ago, as a result of this perfect storm, domestic car companies pushed the North American steelmakers to develop and commercialize dual phase steels.




“Dual Phase” describes the steel microstructure – these grades have two phases: islands of hard martensite within a matrix of soft ferrite. As the martensite content increases, so does the strength. The most common dual phase steel grade has a minimum yield strength of 350MPa and a minimum tensile strength of 600MPa. In this alloy, there is about 10% martensite in the microstructure, with the remainder comprised of ferrite.

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Labels: Advanced High Strength Steels, AHSS, blog, Dual Phase, EQS, Steel

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 12:03 PM | Permalink |
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... authored by Katherine Helmetag, Henkel Corp.; Elizabeth Siebert, Henkel Technologies

• Lubricant Testing-Henkel: modified LDH-short stroke (no split, 200mm/min. Stamping forces lube into surface roughness

• Lubricant Testing: used Autoform Sigma to determine friction. Want to ID deformation/pressures to simulate real world

Labels: 2010-01-0990, Advanced High Strength Steels, Henkel, Lubricant Testing, SAE

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 4:27 PM | Permalink |
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...authored by Dajun Zhou, Chrysler Technology Center; John Siekirk, Chrysler Group LLC; Bernard S. Levy, Colorado School of Mines; Changqing Du, Chrysler Group LLC; Xiaoming Chen, US Steel; John McGuire, Chrysler Corp.

• Sheared Edge Stretching Failure Limit-Chrysler, US Steel,Colorado School of Mines: measure thickness easier than grid

• Sheared Edge Stretching Failure Limit- uniaxial tensile strain at edge. Higher stains give crosshatched necking bands

• Sheared Edge Stretching Failure Limit- in DP600, FLCo is 2x thinning limit. In TRIP700, it is 3x. For the data shown

• Sheared Edge Stretching Failure Limit-previous post-laser cut edge comparison: thinning limit about 10% in both grade

• Sheared Edge Stretching Failure Limit-shearing rather than laser cut drops thinning limit by about 3%

Labels: 2010-01-0986, Advanced High Strength Steels, Chrysler, Colorado School of Mines, SAE, US Steel

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 12:16 PM | Permalink |
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… authored by Dan Zeng, Z. Xia, Ford Motor Co.

• Extending Tensile Curves beyond Uniform Elong Using Digital Image Correlation-Ford; post unif stress strain data

• Using Digital Image Correlation for Post Uniform Tensile Elongation; full field, small gauge length, hi accuracy

• DIC for Post Uniform Tensile Elongation: smaller gauge length gives longer valid range of stress strain curves.

Labels: 2010-01-0981, Advanced High Strength Steels, Ford, SAE

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 2:19 PM | Permalink |
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... S. Sriram, ArcelorMittal Global R&D; Hong Zhu, ArcelorMittal Global R&D ; Benda Yan, ArcelorMittal Global R&D

• Experimental Determination of the Yield Locus for AHSS-ArcelorMittal- no experimental evidence: costly, complicated

• AHSS Yield Locus: considered tension shear &plane strain test. Balanced biaxial: cruciform,bulge,stacked compression.

• AHSS Yield Locus: stacked compression method used. Friction at interface between platen & specimens was insignificant

• AHSS Yield Locus: yield behavior up to 4% plastic strain is well represented by Von mises yield surface.

Labels: 2010-01-0976, Advanced High Strength Steels, ArcelorMittal, SAE

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:07 AM | Permalink |
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... authored by Hong Zhu, S Sriram, Benda Yan, Patrick Duroux, ArcelorMittal Global R&D

• AHSS Springback Predictions-ArcelorMittal: predicted springback is highly dependant on material model chosen.

Labels: 2010-01-0980, Advanced High Strength Steels, ArcelorMittal, SAE

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 3:02 PM | Permalink |
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... … authored by Jagdeesh Bandekar, Dow Automotive Systems; Michael R. Golden, Dow Automotive; Greg Meyers, Dow Chemical; Benda Yan, ArcelorMITTAL; Jeffrey L. Fenton, Dow

• Bonding Fracture Toughened Adhesives & GA Steels-Dow/ArcelorMittal- perception is FTA isn't needed b/c Zn layer delam

• FTA-GA Steel Bonding: orig study was 20 yrs ago on EDDS (weak grain boundaries). Not with AHSS-it's cohesive failure.

• FTA-GA Steel Bonding: Fracture Toughened Adhesive has better energy absorption/impact than typcal hem flange adhesive

Labels: 2010-01-0434, Advanced High Strength Steels, ArcelorMittal, Dow, SAE

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:57 AM | Permalink |
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... authored by Raj Mohan Iyengar, Severstal North America Inc.; Frank Jenner, Ohio State Univ.

• Video Extensometry during High Temp Tensile Testing of Al Coated Boron Steel: OSU/Severstal- props not directional

• High Temp Tensile Tests of Boron Steel: surface roughness increases with coating diffusion time and saturates

• Hi Temp Tensile Tests of Boron Steel: challenge- gripping specimen, thermal expansion, hard on equipment, non-contact

• Hi Temp Boron Steel Tensile Test: used multiple reference markers for hi speed camera tracking (used welding wire)

• Hi Temp Boron Steel Tensile Test: low accuracy at low strains. Strain rate dependence more significant at hi temps.

Labels: 2010-01-0436, Advanced High Strength Steels, Ohio State University, SAE, Severstal

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 4:53 PM | Permalink |
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... authored by Vesna Savic, Louis Hector, Keith Snavely, Jason Coryell, General Motors.

• Tensile Deformation of TRIP590 Steel from Digital Image Correlation-GM: 1.5mm thick, 500 frames captured per test.

• Using DIC for TRIP590 tensiles: up to 10% difference in true strain at UTS depending on orientation re: rolling dir

• Using DIC for TRIP590 tensiles: How much of variation in flat sheet properties make a difference in final vehicle?

Labels: 2010-01-0444, Advanced High Strength Steels, General Motors, SAE

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 7:13 AM | Permalink |
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... authored by Raj Sohmshetty, Rakshit Ramachandra, Ford Motor Co.

• Forming Effects to Product Attribute Coupled CAE Process-Ford: forming changes props, so used these props in CAE.

• Incorporating Forming Effects into CAE: 2mm thick- big difference (14%) by using forming effects in crush testing.

• Incorporating Forming Effects into CAE: Even if full forming sim isn't used, putting in a uniform 2% prestrain helps.

• Incorporating Forming Effects into CAE: differences between using and not are more prominent in DP600 than HSLA350

Labels: 2010-01-0448, Advanced High Strength Steels, Ford, SAE

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 11:29 AM | Permalink |
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... authored by David W. Anderson, American Iron and Steel Institute; Justin Hunt, AET Integration, Inc.; Yan Sang, AET Integration Inc; Chonghua Jiang, AET Integration Inc.

• Fatigue Performance of 2mm DP780 and Mild Steel GMAW Lap Joints: AISI and AET Integration: 4 weld geometries tested.

• GMAW Fatigue: DP780 has 4x higher fatigue life and higher run-out load using optimized production-intent geometry.

• GMAW Fatigue: 10x fatigue life improvement possible in DP780 by optimizing geometry and eliminating gaps.

• GMAW Fatigue: weld geometry must be considered when comparing weld fatigue life of various steel grades.

Labels: 2010-01-0449, Advanced High Strength Steels, AET Integration, AISI, SAE

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 6:25 AM | Permalink |
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... authored by Pankaj K. Mallick, Univ. of Michigan-Dearborn; Ioan Hociota, Martinrea Industries Inc.

• Boron Steel Bumper Beams- U of M & Martinrea- Assumed forming takes place w/in 0.5 second of 13 second cycle.

• Boron Steel Bumper Beams- forming T 800degC. At this temp, 110MPa YS; 138 MPa TS. Failure criteria: thinning>16%.

Labels: 2010-01-0433, Advanced High Strength Steels, Martinrea, SAE, UM-Dearborn

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 4:38 PM | Permalink |
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authored by Joseph A. Ronevich, John G. Speer, David K. Matlock, Colorado School of Mines.

• Hydrogen Embrittlement of AHSS- Colorado School of Mines. Just a few ppm of hydrogen in steel decreases elongation.
  

• DP, TRIP, TWIP, martensite studied, all 1 to 1.2mm. Cathodic charged w/ DC power supply.
  




• 1-3ppm of H typ dropped elong by 50% for all AHSS except for TWIP, where elong is relatively insensitive to hydrogen.
  




• Hydrogen charging changed fracture mode from ductile void to cleavage.
  

Labels: 2010-01-0447, Advanced High Strength Steels, Colorado School of Mines, SAE

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 3:37 PM | Permalink |
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... authored by Constantin Chiriac, United States Steel Corp.

• DP780 Sheared Edge Extension- Chiriac at US Steel- 1mm GA with flat bottom punch. FMTI grid analyzer with 1mm grid.
  

• Conical punch gave 10% greater hole expansion. Conical simulates flanging, but flat punch is better for stretch edge.
  

Labels: 2010-01-0441, Advanced High Strength Steels, SAE, US Steel

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:59 PM | Permalink |
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... authored by Li Wang, Weijun Feng, Baosteel Group Corp.; Wenjuan Li, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ.

• Quench + Partition Steel- Baosteel built new line that can make grade. Normal CAL or CGL cannot get thermal profile.
  

• Q+P: 1000 MPa tensile combined with 25% elongation. Line can produce 1280mm wide.
  

Labels: 2010-01-0439, Advanced High Strength Steels, Baosteel, SAE

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:33 PM | Permalink |
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#SAEsteel Will be tweeting from SAE conference on Wed and Thurs - Advanced High Strength Steel Applications talks. First live tweets from steel mtg?
- Danny Schaeffler, Engineering Quality Solutions, Inc. Phone: (248)539-0162

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:15 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority January 2010 Newsletter contained these articles:

Marketing Makes a Difference for Manufacturers — Part 1: Joe Brown
Breaking Speed Limits, Part 2: Peter Ulintz
Can Robotics Help a Tool and Die Shop?: Bob Quinn
The Sensor that Cries Wolf—or, Eliminating Nuisance Faults: Drew Stevens

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
The 20-Percent Maximum Thinning Rule (or, How Much is Too Much?)

Everyone likes to have a “Rule of Thumb” to use as a quick and easy guide. To make the best use of these maxims, it helps to understand where they come from, and what the limitations are in their use.


When it comes to taking the right steps to ensure a robust stamping process, a surface-strain analysis using a forming-limit diagram (FLD) is recommended. The forming limit curve (FLC) should be generated from the minimum allowable thickness and the lower mill production limit (or the -3σ value) for the strain-hardening exponent (n-value). To bypass some of the work involved in generating this information, some companies have chosen to use a rule of thumb that calls for a maximum 20-percent thickness reduction on a formed part compared with the initial flat-blank thickness. In some cases, this is an acceptable substitution, but in many cases, using this 20-percent threshold only confuses the proper course of action.

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Labels: blog, EQS, quality control, strain analysis, surface strain, thinning strain

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:21 AM | Permalink |
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New data released by WorldSteel.org shows that worldwide steel production fell by 8% in 2009 compared with 2008. However, steel production in China increased by 13.5%, and now represents just under half of all steel produced worldwide.

Steel Production in Million Metric Tons (from www.WorldSteel.org)
Region	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
EU 27	192.5	202.5	195.6	207.0	209.7	198.0	139.1
Other Europe	21.3	23.9	25.0	28.2	30.6	31.8	29.2
Former USSR	106.5	113.4	113.2	119.9	124.2	114.3	97.5
United States	93.7	99.7	94.9	98.6	98.1	91.4	58.1
Other NAFTA	32.5	34.3	32.7	33.2	34.5	33.1	24.2
South America	43.0	45.9	45.3	45.3	48.2	47.4	37.8
Africa	16.3	16.7	18.0	18.8	18.8	17.1	15.2
Middle East	13.4	14.3	15.3	15.4	16.5	16.6	17.2
China	222.3	282.9	353.2	419.1	489.3	500.3	567.8
Japan	110.5	112.7	112.5	116.2	120.2	118.7	87.5
Other Asia	109.5	116.9	129.8	137.0	147.0	149.3	140.1
Australia/New Zealand	8.4	8.3	8.6	8.7	8.8	8.4	6.0
Total (rounded)	970	1071	1144	1247	1346	1326	1220

Labels: blog, China, production, Steel

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:08 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority December 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

Reflecting on the Glory Days of the Tool and Die Industry: Joe Brown
Breaking Speed Limits: Peter Ulintz
A Beacon of Light for the Tool and Die Industry: Bob Quinn
Creative Part-Out Detection, Part 2: Drew Stevens

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Root Cause Defect Analysis: Working with Your Supplier (or, It's Your Problem Even When It's Not Your Problem)

If you're involved in metal stamping, you've surely encountered material defects. In order to get some response from your supplier, it helps for the two of you to speak the same language. By being able to provide some specifics, you might improve your chances of convincing your supplier to take responsibility for the defects.


First and foremost, save a sample or two that illustrates the defects. If it's something that shows up only after you've performed some processing operation, such as stamping, painting, or heat treatment, save samples from the incoming material from the supplier as well as post-processing samples that show the defect. This will simplify troubleshooting, particularly if you can also include identification information such as shipping number, lift number, coil number, and heat number.

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Labels: blog, defect analysis root cause analysis, EQS, information, Steel

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:16 PM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority November 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

Using Social Media to Overcome the Misperceptions of Manufacturing: Joe Brown
Die-Setting Practice, Part 2: Peter Ulintz
The One-Minute Transfer-Die Feasibility Checklist: Bob Quinn
Creative Part-Out Detection, Part 1: Drew Stevens

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Online Steel Resources (or, Steel Crazy After All These Years)

This newsletter and MetalForming magazine are great resources to improve your knowledge base and learn how others approach problems similar to those that you face. Also available to help metalformers increase their knowledge base are several steel-industry websites loaded with useful information, and many offer free e-newsletters. Numerous links are provided here for General Steel-Supplier News as well as in-depth Technical Information.

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Labels: blog, EQS, information, resources, Steel, websites

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 2:48 PM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority October 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

Who’s Moving Along with the Winds of Change?: Joe Brown
Die-Setting Practice : Peter Ulintz
Transfer Systems—What Can They Do for You?: Bob Quinn
Detecting Feed in Thick Materials : Drew Stevens

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Steel Mills are Heating Up (or, the Law of Unintended Consequences)

Last summer, the capacity-utilization rate for North American steelmakers was just about 90 percent. This meant that 90 percent of the sum total of all of the steelmaking capacity we have in North America was making steel. Then, as the economy tanked late last year, furnaces were shut off and allowed to go cold. Rather than flood the market with what would have been inexpensive steel, the capacity-utilization rate dropped to 32 percent at U.S. Steel; industry-wide, it fell to near 40 percent.

Recently, there’s been news of numerous furnaces coming back on line, due in part to the Cash-for-Clunkers program, as well as to the need for inventory restocking at the nation’s service centers. During the second week of September 2009, the steelmaking capacity-utilization rate in North America climbed to just short of 60 percent. What effect will this have on the price of steel? ...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Labels: capacity utilization rate, steel mills

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 7:33 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority September 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

Oakland University Creates an Open Forum …for Die Makers, their Customers and Other Key Stakeholders: Joe Brown
A Split Decision—Part 2: Peter Ulintz
How Does Tooling Price Impact Piece Price?: Bob Quinn
Creative Error Proofing: Drew Stevens

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
The Sound of One Hand Clapping (or, Are You Really an Author if No One Reads What You Write?)

For the year that Tool & Die Authority has been published, I’ve been writing about topics I thought would interest you. But if I’m talking about surface issues and you’re dealing with sourcing advanced high-strength steels, I’ve managed to waste your time, and mine.

So, here’s a proposal for an experiment. We are going to move you from the sidelines as a passive reader of Tool & Die Authority to an active participant in the article-writing process. Now you get to choose the topics of future articles. Just e-mail me with your ideas, and I’ll do my best to meet your expectations...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:35 AM | Permalink |
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“Social media” is a generalized term that applies to how people interact online, and can include blogs, podcasts, and webinars. Traditional newspapers, magazines, and books do not allow for the audience to share their viewpoints (aside from a Letter to the Editor) and engage in a dialogue for real-time feedback. That’s what I’m hoping this site will evolve into (with your help of course!)

As I’m reading up on Web 2.0, a book by Paul Gillin called The New Influencers: A Marketer's Guide to the New Social Media was recommended to me. It’s a great read, and I recommend it to anyone, especially companies thinking about blogging. In there, Gillin provides a discussion on one of the original blogs on the sheet metal industry, The Tinbasher, run by Paul Woodhouse and Butler Sheetmetal in the UK. (Fantastic to see a mainstream shout-out to someone in the industry!)

In addition to The Tinbasher, I follow Steel Strip World run by Steve Sawford of BSS SteelStrip and Steel on the Net by Metals Consulting International for steel industry information. For tool & die blogs, I read Eric Kam’s Self Proclaimed Die Expert, Die Guy by Tim Stephens, and Tool and Dieing by Joe Brown of Lintrio.

These blogs all have a distinctive style and voice, and provide timely information and insight.

Labels: blog, Die Guy, Paul Gillin, Self Proclaimed Die Expert, Social Media, Steel, Steel on the Net, Steel Strip World, Tinbasher, Tool and Die, Tool and Dieing

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 3:51 PM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority August 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

The Future Tooling-Talent Pool: Misperceptions Demand Attention: Joe Brown
A Split Decision: Peter Ulintz
Tooling Costs Compared—Offshore vs. On: Bob Quinn
Value-Added Operations, Part 1—Putting Stuff Together: Drew Stevens

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Limitations of Hardness Testing for Deep-Drawing Applications (or, How to Make a Good Impression)

You’ve probably noticed that hardness is sometimes reported on your sheetmetal certs (and that if you see it, you likely are paying for it, probably a few dollars per ton). If you form mild-steel sheet in the range of 0.060-in. thick, hardness probably will fall near 75-78 HRB. But what does this really mean?

Simply put, hardness provides a measure of the material’s resistance to indentation. Of course, hardness will vary with the type of material being tested. But the test results also depend on the type of indenter being used (size/shape/material) and the amount of force used to push the indenter into the sheet. These two test parameters determine the scale used by the testing facility when reporting test results ...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:19 PM | Permalink |
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Dual phase steel: The front and side frame rails, under-floor structural beams (“sled-runners”), side roof arches, and lateral floor reinforcements.

Martensitic steel: Roof pillars, door intrusion beams

Other Ford North America vehicles using ultra high strength steel:

• Ford Flex (A-pillar)

• Ford Taurus, F-Series Crew Cab and Lincoln MKS (B-pillar)

• Ford Focus and Mustang (bumper)

• Ford Transit Connect (front crossmember)

For more info:

http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=30781

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Boron.pdf

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 5:36 PM | Permalink |
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In 2008, Chinese steel production of 502 million metric tonnes was about the same as sum of the total production of the next 8 countries combined. Japan was second on the world producers list with 119 million metric tonnes, and the United States was third with 92 million metric tonnes.

Rank 2008	Rank 2007	Steel Company	Production 2008	Production 2007
1	1	ArcelorMittal	103.3	116.4
2	2	Nippon Steel	37.5	35.7
3	5	Baosteel Group	35.4	28.6
4	4	POSCO	34.7	31.1
5	-	Hebei Steel Group	33.3	31.1
6	3	JFE	33	34
7	11	Wuhan Steel Group	27.7	20.2
8	6	Tata Steel	24.4	26.5
9	8	Jiangsu Shagang Group	23.3	22.9
10	10	U.S. Steel	23.2	21.5
(production is in million metric tonnes)

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 2:54 PM | Permalink |
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High strength steels, including Boron-alloyed (shown in red), polyphase (orange), and micro-alloyed (yellow) are used to create an ultra-stiff passenger safety cell. The voluptuous rear fenders are very deep draw stampings, which meant they had to be steel (green). At the front is an aluminum subframe (blue) designed to manage front impact loads. The hood, rear hatch, and fenders are also aluminum, as are the doors, which have ultra-lightweight magnesium frames (turquoise).

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:21 AM | Permalink |
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Great article in the New York Times on the new grades of steel that go into today's automobiles. It covers the advanced high strength steels like dual phase and transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels, and even gets into some metallurgy. The article touches on the impact of federal regulations, like the new roof-crush requirement of needing to withstand 3 times the vehicle weight during a rollover - double the current standard.

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 6:47 AM | Permalink |
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POSCO (South Korea) will increase its overall steel capacity to 40 million metric tonnes by 2011.
Hyundai Steel (South Korea) will increase its overall steel capacity to 20 million metric tonnes by 2011.
Baosteel (China) and Wuhan Iron and Steel (China) are each is building 10 million metric tonnes per year (MMtpy) plants to be completed in 2011.
China Steel (Taiwan) is building 2 plants, each with a 2.5 MMtpy capacity; one to be completed in 2010, the other in 2012.
Tata Steel (India) and JSW Steel (India ) are each building 3 MMtpy plants to be completed in 2011.
(from Reuters)

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 3:41 PM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority July 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

“L’unione fa la forza”—In Union There is Strength (Italian Proverb): Joe Brown
Solving Deep-Drawing Problems, Part 2: Peter Ulintz
GD&T and Other Part-Print Issues that Inflate Costs: Bob Quinn
Value-Added Operations—Part 3: Locating Parts for In-Die Welding: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Stronger and Thinner for Summertime

It may sound too good to be true, but it is possible to get a high-strength steel that is lightweight, while continuing to use the same raw material you’ve been using. How? By stretch forming your panels instead of draw forming. OK, that’s easier said than done, but when setting up a die process for a new part, you may want to consider the merits of stretch forming.
It’s been shown that the yield strength of a formed panel can be accurately estimated from the strain path and the steel’s as-received (flat sheet) mechanical properties. ...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:19 AM | Permalink |
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As reported on SteelGuru, POSCO (Korea) has developed exposed-quality galvannealed steels having a minimum tensile strength of 590MPa (85ksi). This follows the 2006 commercialization of their 490MPa (70ksi) minimum tensile strength exposed-quality galvannealed steel.

These higher strength steels allow for the use of thinner gauges for automotive skin panels while maintaining or improving in-process and on-car dent resistance. The thinner panels help reduce the overall vehicle weight, improving vehicle fuel efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint.

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 1:40 PM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority June 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

Understand the Significance of the Tooling Industry, or Else: Joe Brown
Solving Deep-Drawing Problems, Part 1: Peter Ulintz
Yesterday’s Standards = Today’s Waste: Bob Quinn
Value-Added In-Die Operations, Part 2: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Sampling Sheet Surfaces for Successful Stampings

The sheetmetal supplier says that nothing has changed with the coils of material. The stamper says nothing’s changed with the process. But something must have changed, since now the part is splitting! In reality, something is different—it’s just not being measured. Here, the influence of surface characteristics will be highlighted using a real-life example.
Consider a relatively complex part being stamped from galvanized high-strength steel. For a little more than a year, the stamper experienced a consistent 1-percent scrap rate (40 split parts out of 4000 stamped per month). Over a three-month period, problems increased dramatically, and the new scrap rate reached 375 split parts out of 4000, or nearly 10 percent. The stamper and steel supplier went back and forth blaming each other for the additional scrap, and of course disagreed on the chargeback amount. ...

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Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 1:20 PM | Permalink |
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As reported on SteelGuru, Angang (China) has commercialized production of TRIP780, a Transformation Induced Plasticity advanced high strength steel having a minimum tensile strength of 780MPa (110ksi).

What are TRIP steels, and how are they different from Dual Phase Steels? Visit us at www.EQSgroup.com.

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 12:39 PM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority May 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

An Exclusive Interview with the Mastermind Behind the Tooling Proposal: Joe Brown
Surface Coatings for Draw Steels—More Reasons Why You May Not Need Them: Peter Ulintz
America Can Compete, With a Little Innovation: Bob Quinn
Value-Added In-Die Operations, Part 1: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Troubleshooting Sheetmetal Problems—Part 2

Let’s take a trip back in time. When you first started production, your part was perfect, or at least acceptable in terms of no splits or necking, fitting the fixture, dimensionally in tolerance, and meeting the required characteristics of strength/stiffness/weldability/paintability/etc. To achieve this, you used the right steel, optimized press settings, the right type and amount of lubricant, and a perfect die surface.
Fast forward to today. You’ve got splits or wrinkles, maybe both. What happened? ...

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Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:35 AM | Permalink |
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Both POSCO's Mexico CGL plant (400,000 ton annual production capacity) and WISCO's Wuhan, China plant (coil width up to 2070mm [just under 81.5 inches]) started shipping prime product this month.

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 10:05 AM | Permalink |
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Thanks to Joe Brown's Tool and Dieing blog for the heads up!

Video of GM Chevy Volt Stamping Prototype

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 7:57 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority April 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

Here’s How We Got Here. Spread the Message! Part 1: Joe Brown
Surface Coatings for Draw Steels—You May Not Need Them: Peter Ulintz
Job Tracking and Quoting Systems— A Deeper Look: Bob Quinn
Part Measurement On the Fly, Part 3: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Troubleshooting Sheetmetal Problems

Most stamping problems can be traced back to some characteristic of the process or material that is out of whack compared to what was used in the past. The list of usual suspects includes the sheetmetal, die, lubricant and press. Of course, there are dozens of other possibilities, but let’s start by going after the low-hanging fruit.
It’s easy to check the sheetmetal—along with the material delivery should come a report detailing the composition of the alloy and its mechanical properties such as yield and tensile strength, elongation and n-value. Or, metalformers can send material samples to a local laboratory for testing, for just a few hundred bucks. Too much to spend? Maybe not, considering the cost of scrap, the other profitable jobs your press could be used for, and all of the better ways your press operators, technicians and engineers could be spending their time. ...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 7:35 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority March 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

Lien on Me: Joe Brown
New Business Producing Existing Parts: Peter Ulintz
Closing the Loop—To Measure or Not to Measure?: Bob Quinn
Part Measurement On the Fly, Part 2: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
What is Steel? Part 3: Steel Microstructures and Phases

Remember that pure iron is extremely soft, and that the iron atoms can be thought of as a 3D lattice of stacked billiard balls. Steel simply is an alloy of iron and carbon, and its properties depend on the amount of carbon in the alloy and where the carbon winds up within the structure. When a very small fraction of the gaps (interstices) between the iron lattice are occupied by carbon atoms, this interstitial-free (IF) steel is said to have a microstructure of ferrite. Ferrite has a body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal structure (Fig. 1a), and is a microstructural phase that is soft, ductile and similar to pure iron.
There is a limit to the amount of carbon that can fit in the gaps in the ferrite structure (0.02 percent C at 723 C, which drops to 0.006 percent C at room temperature). The gaps are a little larger in a phase known as austenite, which has a face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure (Fig. 1b). At around 1150 C, up to 2 percent C can fit into the austenite microstructure. As the steel slowly cools and carbon is forced out of solution, the austenite transforms into a combination of ferrite and another phase called cementite or iron carbide (Fe3C) and an orthorhombic crystal structure. ...

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Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:15 AM | Permalink |
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There is a review article on Hot Stamping available from FMA on TheFabricator.com.
The article addresses these questions:

What Is Hot Stamping?
How Does the Process Work?
Why Hot Stamp?
Which Components Are Hot-Formed?
What Are the Unique Press and Tooling Requirements?
How Does It Affect Downstream Processes?
What Are Other Capability Considerations?
What Are Hot Stamping's Limitations?
How Do I Compare Costs?
What Is the Future of Hot Stamping?

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 3:33 PM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority February 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

U.S.-Korea Trade Imbalance, Part 2: Joe Brown
Avoiding Punch- Head Breakage: Peter Ulintz
How About a Little ‘Coopetition’ to Ride out the Storm: Bob Quinn
Part Measurement ‘On the Fly’—Part 1: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
What is Steel? Part 2: Medium-Strength and Conventional High-Strength Steels

A good rule of thumb: The transition from mild steel to high-strength steel occurs at a yield strength of about 30 KSI (210 MPa). For yield strengths between 30 and 50 KSI, metalformers typically provide a simple carbon-manganese (C-Mn) steel, unless other restrictions are placed on the order. The composition of these steels approaches that of low-carbon mild steels, except that C-Mn steels contain more carbon and manganese to increase strength to the desired level. No special alloying or thermal treatments are needed at the mill, making these alloys relatively inexpensive. Unfortunately, this approach usually is not practical for yield strengths greater than 50 KSI, due to a drop-off in elongation and weldability. This limits the use of C-Mn steels to those parts without complex requirements for shape, strength or weldability. ...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:52 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority January 2009 Newsletter contained these articles:

U.S.-Korea Trade Relationship Points to Reasons for Auto, Tooling Troubles: Joe Brown
Failure Analysis: Punch-Head Breakage: Peter Ulintz
Time-Saving Alternatives for the Toolroom—Part 3: Bob Quinn
The Perils of Reverse Tonnage and Improper Counterbalance Settings: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
What is Steel?…Part 1

I’m sure for some of you, the answer to the question—What is Steel?—is, “really expensive!” That discussion is best left for another column. Here we are going to get back to basics. And most simply, steel is just iron plus no more than about 2.1 percent carbon. (If you have more than 2.1 percent carbon, it’s called cast iron.) For this article, we’ll cover low-carbon steel, where carbon content tops out at around 0.1 to 0.2 percent. ...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:45 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority December 2008 Newsletter contained these articles:

Strange Times Call for Strange Bedfellows: Joe Brown
Failure Analysis for Stamping Dies, Part 2: Tool-Steel Heat treatment: Peter Ulintz
Time-Saving Alternatives for the Toolroom—Part 2: Bob Quinn
Error-Proofing Proactively with Proper Setups: Drew Stevens


and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)
The Case for Thinning Strain Analysis

The past two editions of this series discussed circle grid strain analysis and the potential errors that improper technique can induce in your results. The easiest way to check your measurements is to compare the thickness calculated from your circle-grid surface-strain measurements to thickness measurements made using an ultrasonic thickness (UT) gauge. But, there is so much more information you can get from your part and process with just thickness measurements!
Thinning strain analysis (TSA) is easier to perform than circle grid analysis (CGA), and requires very little operator training. TSA can be performed on any formed part, without special preparation of the blank or tools before stamping, and it requires less stamping-plant involvement and assistance. Production stamping schedules are less likely to be disrupted when a TSA is needed, and TSA can be used when is it not practical to place circle grids on a blank— such as for parts stamped on a progressive die or in the central portion of a very large blank. ...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:05 AM | Permalink |
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Salinity is a measure of the total amount of dissolved solids present in water.

• The salinity of fresh water is less than 0.05% by weight.
• The salinity of ocean water typically ranges from about 3.3% to 3.7% (3.3 to 3.7 parts per hundred) by weight.
• Marine geologists normally use units of parts per thousand (abbreviated as ‰), so the salinity of ocean water is about 35‰, compared to less than 0.5‰ for fresh water.
• Units of parts per million are sometimes used: the salinity of ocean water is about 35,000 ppm, while the salinity of fresh water is typically less than 500 ppm.

As determined initially by Dittmar in 1884 on samples collected during the Challenger Expedition (1872-1876), the ratios of the various ions in sea water are nearly independent of salinity and location in the ocean.

• The Red Sea, for example, with a salinity of close to 40‰, has more ions than “average” seawater. However, here and elsewhere around the world, the relative proportions of all ions are the same. Worldwide, the ratio of chloride ions to sodium ions in seawater is 55.1 / 30.6 = 1.8.
• The “Rule of Constant Proportions” applies only to seawater and not fresh water (i.e., river water). Note the magnitude of the ionic concentrations in fresh water – a slight change of a few parts per million either higher or lower will significantly change the ratios.

The ionic concentrations in this table are approximations compiled from numerous literature sources. The specific values in your particular sample may be different from what is shown, but in the case of seawater, the ratios of the ions will be the same.

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 11:12 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority November 2008 Newsletter contained these articles:

Time for Tooling Industry to Step Up and Train: Joe Brown
Failure Analysis for Stamping Dies—General Procedures: Peter Ulintz
Time-Saving Alternative to Six-Sided Grinding—Part 1: Bob Quinn

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)
Circle Grid Strain Analysis—Confirm that Ellipse Measurements Make Sense

Last month, we learned that the measurement technique used to determine the dimensions of a deformed ellipse is critical, and that the proper method is to measure from the center-width position of the line that makes up the circumference around the circle.

In this month’s column, I’ll discuss a simple method to confirm that your ellipse measurements make sense. A flat sheetmetal blank has known length, width and thickness dimensions. Since material formability is not exempt from the laws of physics, the total amount of material must maintain a constant volume before, during and after forming, even though the specific values of length, width and thickness will change as a result of forming. This allows for calculation of a thickness strain (et), since the major (eMA), minor (emi), and thickness strains in that volume of material multiplied together must equal 1 ...

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:00 AM | Permalink |
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The Tool and Die Authority October 2008 Newsletter contained these articles:

We Need Apprenticeship Programs, or Soon the Die May be Cast: Joe Brown
Quick Fixes for Slug Pulling: Peter Ulintz
The Basics of Efficient Die Making: Bob Quinn

and from Danny Schaeffler of Engineering Quality Solutions (EQS)...
Measuring Accurately During Circle Grid Strain Analysis

For several decades, sheetmetal stampers have used strain analysis to make their parts and products more robust to handle the natural and inherent variation in mechanical properties of the sheetmetal they order. But have you ever thought about how much your technique can influence the results?

Visit the Precision Metalforming Association website to learn how to subscribe!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 2:23 PM | Permalink |
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In the inaugural issue of the Tool & Die Authority, Danny Schaeffler of EQS discusses "Measuring Accurately During Circle Grid Strain Analysis".

Read the introductory issue here!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 7:32 AM | Permalink |
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From Brad Kuvin's Editorial in the September 2008 issue of MetalForming Magazine:

It’s not often that a new publication is launched aimed at the manufacturing community. But when an opportunity is recognized to provide useful, practical knowledge in an area where change occurs so quickly that keeping up becomes challenging, if not impossible, then a new publication is in order. That’s why MetalForming and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) are launching Tool & Die Authority, with the tag line: Exclusive technical information and timely news by industry experts for tool and die professionals.

Tool & Die Authority is an electronic-only publication, delivered to the e-mail inbox of paid subscribers each and every month. It will carry no advertising–only page after page, article after article of hard-core tool and die knowledge and insight. In addition, we’ll include an industry-specific job-listing service,where metal formers and tool and die shops can post their job openings.

To launch this new publication, we have lined up an impressive array of industry experts to provide a well rounded editorial package. Note: Subscribers to Tool & Die Authority not only will receive our exclusive technical and practical knowledge and information, but also will have online access to continued dialog on the topics covered in the newsletter.Our authors will provide ongoing discussions of their newsletter columns online, using URLs created exclusively for Tool & Die Authority subscribers.

Meet our lineup of expert columnists:
• Joe Brown, creator of the blog,Will the Tool & Die Industry Ever Recover? Joe’s column in Tool & Die Authority will deliver timely, insightful news of the tool and die industry that you won’t find anywhere else. More importantly, his commentary on the issues of the day will provide a fresh look at the industry with a unique perspective that readers will appreciate.
• Pete Ulintz, a 30-year veteran of the tool and die trade with an impressive background that includes tool and die making, tool engineering, engineering management, advance process planning and product development. Pete has been speaking at PMA seminars, roundtables and METALFORM symposiums since 1996, focusing on topics such as transfer and automation systems, tool and die design, deep-draw technology, metalforming simulation, and problem solving in the press shop. For Tool & Die Authority, Pete will discuss practical, real-life tool room challenges related to all of the above topics, and offer solutions to overcome those challenges.
• Danny Schaeffler, president of Engineering Quality Solutions. Danny brings to Tool & Die Authority expertise in material properties of new sheet steels and other metal alloys.His column also will address the practical application of forming-limit diagrams and circle-grid analysis, and topics such as tooling buyoff and cost-reduction strategies.
• Bob Quinn, president of RCM Inc., a tool and die shop with expertise in progressive and compound dies, fourslide tooling, detail machining, surface grinding and wire-EDM, as well as CAM-system development. Bob’s monthly insights will help tool and die makers tackle the day-to-day production challenges that impact productivity and quality in the tool room, to make sure that the presses–whether they are your presses or those of your customers–keep going down and up, stamping high-quality parts.

The tool and die industry, perhaps more than any other manufacturing discipline, continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, and keeping up with technology is a must. Tool and die designers and makers must learn not only new skills related to operating new manufacturing equipment, but also must become more knowledgeable in material properties–of sheet steels and tool steels.

This is the type of information that our electronic publication, Tool & Die Authority, will feature. To start receiving Tool & Die Authority, log on to www.metalformingmagazine.com/toolanddie.

The first issue is available to everyone by clicking here!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:39 PM | Permalink |
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Have a look at our website - www.EQSgroup.com. You'll see that we changed a few things around and added links for you to get more info about Advanced High Strength Steels (like dual phase, transformation induced plasticity, martensitic, and complex phase steels), as well as basic descriptions of low carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum grades. You'll also find the section titles of a "how to do thinning and circle grid strain analysis" article we wrote for the ASM International Metals Handbook on Sheet Metal Formability. All you need to do is contact us, and we can send you more of that article. Let us know some of the things that interest you!

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:35 PM | Permalink |
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For daily news updates about steel and the international steel industry, you may want to look at Steel Guru.

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:47 AM | Permalink |
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The 45th Annual "Metallurgists’ Day" was celebrated in India on January 10, as reported by Steel Guru.

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 9:40 AM | Permalink |
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The SeverCorr and US Steel videos highlight two steelmaking approaches: a minimill that uses an electric arc furnace (SeverCorr) and a blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace at an integrated mill (US Steel).
The Novelis video mainly describes the company, and contains some aluminum rolling information.

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 3:14 PM | Permalink |
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As reported by MEPS, the 2007 global steel output is estimated to be 1.350 billion metric tons, an 8% increase over the 1.249 billion metric tons produced in 2006. The 1 billionth metric ton is projected to have been produced on September 27, 2007, the 270th day of the year. This is about 7.5 weeks earlier than in 2005. Furthermore, MEPS projects the worldwide output in 2011 to be 1.6 billion metric tons, with 60% of this increase coming from China. To produce this much steel, it is estimated that China will need to import more than half of its iron ore demand. Wonder what that means for raw materials costs???

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 8:03 PM | Permalink |
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With a recently completed blast furnace repair, POSCO now has an annual capacity of 33 million metric tons, making it the world’s second largest steelmaker behind ArcelorMittal (117 million metric tons) and just ahead of Nippon Steel at 32.7 million metric tons. -- from Steel Guru

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 4:26 PM | Permalink |
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Reuters reports that ThyssenKrupp will provide Hyundai Steel with a range of steel-making technologies from blast furnaces to hot-rolled steel products. Also, Hyundai Steel and Hyundai Motor Group have agreed to buy more steel products from ThyssenKrupp for its U.S. and European auto plants. After their first blast-furnace mill comes on line in 2011, Hyundai Steel will have a capacity of 8 million metric tons.

Posted by Engineering Quality Solutions at 4:20 PM | Permalink |
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