Page 18 - MetalForming October 2012
P. 18
Tech Update
The story is equally intriguing at Metalwest, a metal service center in Garland, TX, where extreme temper- ature swings and high humidity can lead to severe condensation.
Rust on the firm’s material inventory would routinely cost it hundreds of thou- sands of dollars per year in scrap— until, that is, it installed large-diameter,
low-speed overhead fans. Now, four 20- ft.-dia. fans reduce condensation prob-
lems by moving stagnant warm air off of cold surfaces before the air can cool and leave telltale puddles and droplets behind.
Thoroughly mixing the air within the space also helps to more quickly raise the temperature of the stacked metal-alloy sheets and coils, shortening the season for condensation. As a result, conden- sation headaches disappeared, saving the company more than $250,000 in deval- ued inventory.
Big Ass Fans: 877/244-3267; www.bigassfans.com
Oil-Free
Multipurpose
Lubricant
Irmco Advanced Lubricant Technolo- gies, Evanston, IL, a manufacturer of syn- thetic lubricants, has introduced a new oil-free product that it describes as “affordable but that also can be used for multiple applications.”
Dubbed Irmco Fluids 323-M80, the medium-viscosity, highly dilutable prod- uct is easily removed with a plain water wash. Even at low concentrations, Fluids 323-M80 reportedly provides uniform wettability and superior corrosion pro- tection.
Typical applications include medium- to light-duty stampings using lighter gauge materials. The lubricant is best suited for ferrous alloys.
Irmco offers a complete series of formulations within the 323 product cat- egory, with medium to high viscosity and offering varying degrees of protection, for easily formed parts as well as chal- lenging draws.
Irmco Advanced Lubricant Technologies: 800/323-2933; www.irmco.com
16 MetalForming/October 2012
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