All of the latest News from Atomising Systems

Steward Advanced Materials Appointed USA and Americas Distributor for ASL Powders

Sheffield company Atomising Systems Ltd. has appointed Steward Advanced Materials LLC (SAM) to represent and distribute ASL's gas and water atomised powders  Steward Advanced Materials LLC. was founded in 2002 as a division of Steward, Inc. who have been family-owned for 130 years. They provide highly engineered specialty metallic and ceramic materials for global energy, industrial and consumer markets making them an ideal partner for ASL and our  powder portfolio of stainless steel  and alloyed powders.

SAM are based in Chattanooga TN with contact details:

https://www.stewardmaterials.com/products/atomized-powders/

Atomisation for Metal Powders course Manchester 2018

Atomising Systems Ltd and Personal Development Advanced Courses (PERDAC), a division of CPFResearch Ltd, will hold their popular short course on atomisation for metal powders for the eleventh time in 2018. The two-day course will take place from March 8-9 in Manchester, UK.

The course will consist of presentations from John Dunkley (Chairman, Atomising Systems Ltd), Dirk Aderhold (Technical Director, Atomising Systems Ltd), Tom Williamson (Research Engineer, Atomising Systems Ltd), Doug Millington Smith (Principal Applications Specialist, Freeman Technology) and Andrew Yule (Emeritus Professor, Manchester University).

Developed for engineers working in metal powder production and/or R&D, the programme combines up-to-date practical information with theory. On the agenda are all current atomiser types and uses, key instrumentation, essential theory and computer modelling, and plant design, operation and economics.

http://www.cpfresearch.com/courses/amp-course

Laboratory Apprentices at Atomising Systems

We have appointed two new apprentice technicians in the Laboratory due to significant increases in the order levels for metal powder.  With orders stretching way into 2018 and staff numbers at over 70, further plans are to construct an additional facility at the company's Darnall premises.

The new apprentices are joining the busy ASL laboratory where two of their colleagues have recently graduated from their own apprenticeships. The new starters are currently on a comprehensive induction course taking in all of ASL's production sections.

As part of a programme of continuous improvement, the laboratory has recently been extensively remodelled and expanded, both in size and with new equipment, to meet the increasing demands of ASL's growing customer base.

Dan Lodge - ASL's Quality Manager - says; "Being able to process samples through the laboratory efficiently and effectively is essential to ensuring the timely delivery of our high quality metal powders. Our former apprentices have set the bar high with their capability and critical attention to detail and I am convinced that our new team members will meet these excellent high standards."

EUROPM2017 CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION 1-4TH OCTOBER  MILAN, ITALY

ASL will be exhibiting at the European PM Exhibition on Stand No. 31

PM CHINA 2017 26-28TH APRIL  SHANGHAI, CHINA

ASL will be exhibiting at the PM show in Shanghai on stand B272. We look forward to seeing you in Shanghai.

WORLDPM2016 CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION 9-13TH OCTOBER  HAMBURG, GERMANY

ASL will be present at the WorldPM2016  exhibition. Visit us at booth No. 164

For more details please see www.worldpm2016.com

2017 ATOMISING COURSE IN MANCHESTER

The atomising course will again be run in Manchester, England, on the 23rd - 24th  February 2017.

www.cpfresearch.com/courses/amp-course

ASL Founder receives medal

MON 18 July

Dr John Dunkley, the founder of Atomising Systems Limited, recently received the prestigious Ivor Jenkins Medal from the Institute of Material Minerals and Mining in London. The medal recognises his significant contribution to the scientific, industrial and technological understanding of materials processing using particulate materials.   John greeted the award with the words, “I am delighted to have been chosen to receive this medal; it is very rewarding to have the approbation of colleagues whom you have worked with during a long career,”

John has spent over 40 years working on the atomisation of molten metals to make metal  powders, and founded Atomising Systems Ltd of Darnall, Sheffield, in 1992. ASL now employs over 60 staff and produces thousands of tons/year of metal powder.  As well as publishing over 30 papers and a book on atomisation, John edited the scientific journal, Powder Metallurgy, for 10 years.

ASL is now run by John’s son, Simon Dunkley, but John continues to work to help with the growth of the company in a technical role. “Problem-solving is what gets me out of bed in the mornings” he says.

Attached photo: JJD receiving medal from Mike Hicks, President of the Institute and former Global Head of Materials Engineering at Rolls-Royce.

PM CHINA 2016 27-29TH APRIL  SHANGHAI, CHINA

Tue 15 March

ASL will be exhibiting at the PM show in Shanghai. See us on booth A222

EURO PM2015 CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION 5-7TH OCTOBER  REIMS, FRANCE

Ultrafine Gas Atomised Powders Available From Atomising Systems

ASL's improved gas atomiser and expansion for QC laboratory

MON 14 March

ASL will again be present at the ever popular Euro PM  exhibition. Visit us at booth No. 82

ASL has undertaken significant R&D work on its gas atomiser to address the increasing market for ultrafine gas atomised powders.

Following the development of a greatly improved tundish system, the 200kg batch capacity gas atomiser has now been upgraded with a high power gas heater allowing much higher atomising gas temperatures to be achieved. This, coupled with extensive work on ASL's gas atomising nozzle system  enables the production of  stainless steels with median particle size of  less than 20 microns.

Further investment in uprated sieving and classification systems, allows ASL to  undertake powder separations from over 100microns down to less than 5 microns.

With these upgrades ASL has increased its production capacity for the finest grades more than twofold.

The QC laboratory has received a significant expansion with a new Malvern Mastersizer, a total oxygen determination instrument, a compaction press and tensometer for green determination of water atomised powders, and an XRF chemical analyser. All are now in operation, assuring the quality and consistency of the Ultrafine gas atomised powders.

This QC laboratory investment of well over £200,000, coupled with the recruitment of extra laboratory staff, ensures ASL can provide a QC service exceeding that expected of our demanding clients.

Simon Dunkley, ASL's Managing Director says; "While a massive increase in orders for water atomised powders has kept us very busy, we have not neglected to develop our capability to serve our gas atomised powder clients with new grades for MIM, AM , HIP and thermal spray processes amongst others. These investments are already proving to be extremely beneficial."

MAJOR EXPANSION OF ATOMISING SYSTEMS

Sheffield company Atomising Systems Ltd. reports that it has dramatically expanded its workforce to cope with a major influx of orders for metal powder.  Staff numbers at their Darnall facility have increased from 35 in September 2014 to over 60 in June to allow ASL’s two 500kW melting furnaces to operate at maximum output to service an order book stretching into 2016.

Four new apprentices have been taken on to join several that were hired two years ago and who are now finishing their training and making a major contribution to the workforce.  Before they start their college day-release courses in autumn, they will be working in production, quality control and maintenance to see which areas are of most interest to them.

As well as hiring enough staff to operate the existing plant at maximum output, ASL is investing heavily in new equipment. A £100k major upgrade of the gas atomiser is in hand, while a large new sieving station of similar cost has just been put into production on special steel grades.  In addition a new £25k instrument using laser diffraction to measure particle sizes as fine as one micron has been purchased and the QC laboratory is being expanded with the addition of a £30k oxygen analysing instrument.  As a family-owned company, ASL has always invested all its profits into equipment and R&D projects in order to continually grow the business.

Simon Dunkley, who took over management of the company from his father, Dr John Dunkley, in 2010 says; “After some tough times, it is very gratifying to see our investment in plant and research at last paying dividends.  It is particularly pleasing to be able to offer so many young people the opportunity to work in a leading-edge technical environment that allows so much scope for them to develop their talents.  Our recent investments should further allow us to fulfil the exacting demands of leading metal powder users around the world.”

ATOMISING SYSTEMS LTD: MAKING THE EQUIPMENT THAT MAKES THE POWDER FOR OVER 20 YEARS

Atomising Systems Ltd builds and installs metal atomisers throughout the world for a wide range of applications as well as manufacturing a range of specialist metal powders. Dr David Whittaker reports on a visit to the company.

Read full Article (Pages 39–43)