GENERAL NEWS
ArcelorMittal announces € 300 million investment
ArcelorMittal has announced an investment of more than € 300m , with the support of the French government , to create a new production unit for electrical steels at its Mardyck site in the north of France . This investment will create more than 100 direct jobs .
With this new unit , which will specialise in the production of electrical steels for the engines of electric vehicles , and which complements ArcelorMittal ’ s existing electrical steels plant in Saint-Chély d ’ Apcher in the south of France , all of the group ’ s electrical steels will be produced in France , strengthening France ’ s electromobility sector .
The new production unit , which will be based on the existing ArcelorMittal site in Mardyck near Dunkirk , will produce the electrical steels used in electric motors in general ( including for industrial machinery ) and for electric and hybrid vehicles in particular .
These steels , which are used in engines in the form of stacks of very thin layers ( 0.2 to 0.35mm for the automotive industry ), are characterised by their magnetic and mechanical properties : high polarisation to maximise engine performance , low losses to promote vehicle autonomy and high yield strength to support engine rotation .
The new industrial unit in Mardyck will have a 200,000-tonne production capacity and is scheduled to start up in 2024 . It will strengthen the French electromobility sector , which is particularly well established in France , especially in the Hauts de France region and in Dunkirk where numerous industrial projects have been announced in recent months . As part of this contribution to the electromobility sector , ArcelorMittal ’ s electrical steels will contribute to achieving the European Union ’ s goals on the reduction of CO₂ emissions from mobility . This project is supported by the French government as part of France 2030 .
Eric Niedziela , Chairman of ArcelorMittal France and Vice President Climate Action ArcelorMittal Europe , commented : “ With this new production unit , ArcelorMittal will be able to support its customers in their developments , and support the development of electromobility . Keeping the capacity to produce the steels of the future in Europe and in France is an essential part of our economic sovereignty , and I am pleased that the French government is supporting us in this investment through France Relance .”
In 2021 , ArcelorMittal had revenues of US $ 76.6 billion and crude steel production of 69.1 million metric tonnes , while iron ore production reached 50.9 million metric tonnes . n
http :// corporate . arcelormittal . com
Fluid cell press for JINPAO Precision Industry
A high-pressure fluid cell press from Quintus Technologies will boost efficiencies and lower production costs for Thailand ’ s JINPAO Precision Industry , a specialist in the manufacture of structural sheet metal and machined parts . Reflecting JINPAO ’ s close association with the aerospace industry , the Quintus press model , QFC 0.7x1.8-1400 , was installed in the company ’ s vertically integrated fabrication facility in Samut Prakan , near the soon-to-be-expanded airport that serves metropolitan Bangkok , Thailand .
“ Thailand ’ s future in the aerospace sector is clear for all to see ,” observed Somsak Norvong , Vice Managing Director , JINPAO , referencing the nation ’ s commitment to boost its share of the growing Asia-Pacific aviation business . “ The market is stabilising after the COVID-19 pandemic ,” Mr . Norvong continued . “ With the aircraft purchase orders made by low-cost carriers , as well as the emergence of the MRO sector , it can be expected that the further infrastructure improvements required to accommodate the production of aircraft parts and aircraft-related products will be forthcoming .”
The Flexform™ press will be used for forming parts of the aerostructure , aerosystems and interiors for various types of aircraft , such as aeroplanes and helicopters . It features a sizeable work area of 27.6 x 73 inches ( 700mm x 1800mm ), which can accommodate 90 per cent of the forming parts requested by JINPAO customers , according to Mr . Norvong .
Operating at a high forming pressure of 1400 bar ( 20,000 psi ), the fluid cell press is
A 1400 bar ( 20,000 psi ) Flexform press was commissioned at the JINPAO Precision Industry manufacturing facility in Prakan , Thailand . suitable for applications requiring close-tolerance parts , with little or no need for secondary hand work . The advanced hydroforming process utilises a combination of a single rigid tool half operating in conjunction with a flexible rubber diaphragm under uniform high hydrostatic pressure , to form sheet metal parts with repeatability .
This technology introduces several production efficiencies by eliminating forming steps , intermediate heat treatments and manual pre- and post-forming operations . It also generates significant tool cost savings and speeds up tool production , especially for intricately shaped components .
“ In comparison to stamping , Flexform is a cost-saving solution ,” Mr . Norvong commented . “ We ’ re very glad that Quintus was able to deliver this high-quality press during this pandemic period .”
Founded in 1998 , JINPAO Precision Industry is a subsidiary of the Taiwanese company JPP Holding , specialising in the manufacture of structural sheet metal and machining parts for several industries .
Quintus Technologies designs , manufactures , installs and supports high-pressure systems . The company is headquartered in Västerås , Sweden , with a presence in 45 countries . n
www . jinpao . co . th
www . quintustechnologies . com
8 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR May 2022