Ryerson

The adage 'time is money' in manufacturing couldn't be more fitting. However, for those in the industry who rely on speciality metals of high nickel or titanium alloys, it's not just time; it's lead time that equates to every precious dollar.

High-nickel and titanium alloys are renowned for their exceptional properties. Multiple grades with varying chemical and physical properties go into highly demanding aerospace, defence, and petrochemical applications. They also go into the mining equipment used for extracting these precious materials from the ground. The equipment used to remove these valuable minerals from the Earth must match the strength of the minerals they are mining.

This is where the ‘time is money’ adage truly takes hold. Current lead times for high nickel alloy and titanium alloy products are many months out, and special-order alloys are out even further.

The critical applications in which high-nickel and titanium alloys are utilized require that the base material is manufactured to exact specifications dimensionally and metallurgically. That means precision grinding and polishing become part of the process to remove any defects to the metal and achieve the necessary tolerances.

Given the long lead times for these metals, manufacturers at all stages of the supply chain get one shot to ensure the material is pristine. If not, they risk falling far behind schedule as they endure the extended timeframe to receive or replace the required material.

This means the value-added processes applied to these materials must be just as renowned as the metals themselves.

Precision Grinding: Fighting the Corrective Concern

Let’s take the example of a manufacturer that uses high-nickel alloy with a backlog of up to one year. If they, for example, have a plate with defects, and it can have a minimum gauge of X. They must be able to remove those defects but with an assurance that they won’t take the material down below the gauge required for their end customer.

If the defects are such that they cannot be removed, then they must decide whether any of the material can be salvaged and whether it will meet the end customer's demand. If they cannot recover the plate, they must make it again, which goes into the long lead time.

This is where speciality metal processing and grinding (SMP) can help your process shine. Part of the Ryerson Family of Companies, SMP has the largest capacity and most expansive capabilities of abrasive belt grinding, polishing, and surface conditioning under one roof.

Many aerospace, medical, and nuclear customers rely on SMP to grind thin sheets or heavy plates to tolerances as tight as +/- 0.003”.

SMP provides services using multiple finishing machines like vacuum chuck grinders, pinch roll machines, gantry grinders, and a forthcoming fully automated 60”-wide five-head grinding/polishing line.

Material Expertise

In addition to standard finishes, SMP can match or create custom finishes.

While other providers may be capable of servicing speciality metals like high-nickel and titanium alloys, SMP specializes in them. Since SMP only processes special metals such as stainless, titanium, aluminium, molybdenum, and high nickel alloys, there's never a concern about cross-contamination with materials like carbon steel.

This means that compromising the integrity of the raw material during the corrective grinding or polishing process is no longer a concern.

As lead times for high nickel and titanium alloys remain extended, you cannot afford any hiccups along the way. Working with a partner with expertise in material and processing methods can save time and cost. It’s the ultimate definition of time is money.