Dec 16, 2010
First, let me clarify. I am not proposing this discussion because I have any first-hand knowledge on this subject. I am certain that if Mr. Claus were to commission someone to construct new runners for his sleigh, he would do so under an alias—like Nick O. Las from The Jolly Old Elf Distribution Company, for instance. Anyway, where would Santa get money to pay for such a thing? He would have to barter. On that note...
Dec 13, 2010
After a decline in the summer, stainless and raw material prices are increasing. The volatility comes from both the supply of materials like nickel, nickel pig iron, and the general state of the global economy. Currently the projected December surcharge for 304 and 316 is back to the May-June levels. Our outlook is a flat or slightly increasing January with a correction predicted for late spring...
Oct 21, 2010
Mixproof valve technology has truly revolutionized the sanitary flow industries. With a double-seat mixproof design, you’re able to stream two different products or CIP fluid through the same valve at the same time—without any risk of cross-contamination. Mixproofs.com is a new website which answers these questions: How does this technology work? For what...
Jul 6, 2010
Have you ever experienced weld puddle shift? Have you ever wondered why ASME BPE limits sulfur for tube and fittings to .005% to .017%? Take a look at these videos, and you’ll understand why. Clip 1 shows matched sulfur of .008% on both weld pieces. Clip 2 shows mismatched sulfur of .002% welded to .014%. Notice how the weld pool tracks off-center of...
Jun 14, 2010
Today literally hundreds of sellers offer food processing equipment, and many state claims such as ‘meets 3-A,’ ‘conforms to 3-A standards,’ or the equipment may include ‘3-A’ in a model name or designation. Unless the supplier is an authorized 3-A Symbol holder, the buyer is solely responsible for verifying whether the equipment meets the...
May 25, 2010
We’ve grown accustomed to judging the quality of a weld by its appearance. A good weld is shiny, smooth, and uniform in color, right? That may be the case when welding 304 or 316 stainless steel, but the rule doesn’t always apply when welding higher nickel alloys, such as AL-6XN. A typical AL-6XN weld will have non-uniform freeze lines and slag islands in...
