Alcoa Corp. Launches as an Independent Industry Provider Alcoa Corp. has completed the separation from its parent company Alcoa, Inc. (now named Arconic, Inc.) and has begun operating as an independent, publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Its portfolio comprises six businesses across the aluminum value chain, including bauxite, alumina, aluminum, cast products, rolled products, and energy. The company projects global aluminum demand growth of 5% in 2016 and has expected growth to double between 2010 and 2020. For the fifteenth year, Alcoa has also been named as one of the world’s top companies for sustainability on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. It was recognized as the Aluminum Industry Leader on the Dow Jones World Index. Pillar Induction Marks 50Year Milestone Pillar Induction, Brookfield, Wis., is celebrating 50 years of business serving the thermal processing industry. The company manufactures systems for many applications, including hardening, brazing, soldering, and forging. It is also part of the Ajax Tocco Magnethermic group of companies. Established in 1966, Pillar was based on the designs of Phil Landis, one of the founders. He is still with the company and actively involved in mentoring new design engineers. According to Landis, “Pillar’s success is credited to unique industry innovations, especially the development and application of solid-state technology for industry requirements, and a dedication to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.” TaylorWharton European Operations Starts New Identity and Mission Auguste Cryogenics SK s.r.o., Kosice, Slovakia, has acquired Taylor-Wharton International’s European Operations, including a cryogenic pressure vessel manufacturing facility, Taylor-Wharton Slovakia s.r.o., and the related warehouse/ office complex of Taylor-Wharton Germany GmbH. The newly restructured company’s mission will focus on reinvesting in nimble processes and smart innovation. The facilities will also continue to operate under the Taylor- Wharton brand while undergoing a name change to Auguste Cryogenics. All employees have been retained. The management team will be led by President Bobby Cushman, an industry veteran who has been working with the company since 2012, and General Manager Alex Soltis, who has been a leader in the company’s operation for more than 15 years. From the manufacturing hub of Taylor-Wharton Slovakia s.r.o., the company will continue to produce bulk/microbulk cryogenic storage vessels and modular piping skids serving the industrial gas and energy markets. ASTM International, ISO Unveil Framework for Global Additive Manufacturing Standards The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Geneva, Switzerland, and ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa., have jointly crafted the Additive Manufacturing Standards Development Structure. The new structure will help guide the work of global experts and standards development organizations in additive manufacturing standardization; identify standards-related gaps and needs in this industry; prevent overlap and duplicative efforts in additive manufacturing standards development; ensure cohesion among additive manufacturing standards; prioritize additive manufacturing standards areas; and improve usability/acceptance in the community. Based on this structure, standards can be developed at the following three levels: general standards, standards for broad categories of materials or processes, and specialized standards for a specific material, process, or application. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Redesignates 12 Manufacturing Communities U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker recently announced 12 diverse communities will be redesignated as Manufacturing Communities, as a part of the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative, until 2018. The communities are as follows: southwest Alabama, southern California, northwest Georgia, Chicago metro region, south Kansas, greater Portland region in Maine, southeastern Michigan, New York Finger Lakes region, southwestern Ohio aerospace region, Tennessee Valley, Washington Puget Sound region, and Milwaukee 7 region. “These IMCP-designated communities are doing their part to develop comprehensive strategies to strengthen the local manufacturing sector and to attract business investment that makes our nation more globally competitive,” Pritzker said. With support in federal economic development and technical assistance, plus matched/cluster funding from private entities, the 12 communities will continue to receive coordinated support for their strategies from 12 federal agencies. Heico Adds Costello/April Design to Its Portfolio The Heico Companies, LLC, Chicago, Ill., has acquired Costello/April Design, Inc., Dover, N.H., a designer and manufacturer of compact heat exchangers, CNC machined components, and electronic enclosure products utilizing vacuum and dip brazing processes. It joins Heico entities Wakefield Vette and Vette Technology (Dongguan), Ltd. BUSINESS BRIEFS 18 WELDING JOURNAL / DECEMBER 2016 WJ After five decades in the induction industry, Pillar remains focused on finding ways to utilize advances in power devices and controls. Pictured above is silver brazing of a tube and fitting.
Welding Journal | December 2016
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