TPT March 2007

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20 March/April 2007
Industry News
MicroFuze International Plc has announced
the signing of a strategic cooperation
agreement with surface treatment specialist
Applied Thermal Coatings (ATC), USA, to
further develop and assist the commercial
roll-out of its Microwave Diffusion Treatment
(MDT) technology.
MDT is quick, cheap and clean, and can
make cheap steel nearly impenetrable,
providing a large number of potential uses
for parts, components and accessories
which require hardening, lubricity, wear
resistance and corrosion protection.
Industries that will benefit from MDT include
power generation, automotive, aeronautical
and general manufacturing.
MicroFuze International, through its 85
per cent owned US subsidiary, MicroFuze
Americas Inc, holds the sole licence to
commercialise the US Department of
Energy’s patented process for MDT.
Mr Harley Grant, CEO of ATC, said, “ The
MicroFuze MDT technology has exciting
prospects and, importantly, has immediate
application for the US energy sector and for
the power generation industry globally. ATC
has been assisting with the development
of MDT for some time and welcomes
the opportunity to proactively drive the
technology across other industries.”
MicroFuze and ATC will form MicroFuze
Energy LLC, which will be the vehicle to
license the technology for the energy sector.
The company is in the process of obtaining
independent test results on its finished
products, and is also testing multiple turbine
blades in the development microwave, with
reports that the diffusion of boron into hard
steel turbine blades continues to bring
encouraging results.
MicroFuze will own 90 per cent of the
company, and ATC will own the remaining
10 per cent. ATC, whose technologies
include conventional diffusion, thermal
coating, solution annealing and specialist
heat treatment, will dedicate the time and
expertise of its principals in lieu of cash as
its contribution to the joint venture.
The company is considering similar joint
venture structures in future to exploit other
industries and applications such as medical,
aeronautics, electronics, automotive and
defence.
Mr Doug Parrish, CEO of MicroFuze,
said, “We are delighted to formalise our
relationship with ATC, who will help drive
this platform technology to the next level
and provide market penetration in a shorter
timeframe.”
MicroFuze International plc – UK
Email:
Website:
Applied Thermal Coatings, Inc – USA
Fax: +1 423 267 0637
Website:
China’s Metals Fair returns in May
Metals Fair, the 3rd China International Metals Industry Fair 2007, will take place
from 18-20 May 2007 in Guangzhou International Convention & Exhibition Centre,
Guangzhou. As with the last event, Metals Fair will consist of three exhibitions – China
International Sheets, Tube & Wire Exhibition, Guangzhou International Stainless Steel
Exhibition, and China International Metal Recycling Exhibition.
Hosted by the China Iron and
Steel Association and China
Non-ferrous Metals Industry
Association, the event is
organised by the Metallurgical
Council of China Council for
the Promotion of International
Trade (MC-CCPIT).
Metals Fair is expected to
attract a large number of
exhibitors and visitors to the
region, with product display
and technology exchange
for the entire metals industry.
Exhibits will include iron and
steel, aluminium, copper, stainless steel, metalworking, foundry, forging, furnace and
heat treatment, ferroalloy, refractory products and metal recycle.
Organisers believe that this year’s show will reflect the rapid growth and development
of China’s economy. With enormous volumes of crude steel and non-ferrous metal
production, China is now at the centre of research and development for the global
metal industry. Ideally located, Guangdong Province can claim to be the biggest metal
consuming market and processing centre in China and southern Asia.
Metallurgical Council of China Council for the Promotion
of International Trade (MC-CCPIT) – China
Fax: +86 10 65248384
Email: • Website:
Cooperation agreement for microwave diffusion
treatment (MDT) technology
› Metals Fair will take place at the Guangzhou International
Convention & Exhibition Centre