Business

MFN page 24
MFN
Vol. 6, September Issue
Metal Finishing News
A Provider Of Abrasives
And Solutions
I
n the May issue of MFN, WHEELABRATOR ALLEVARD (WA)
presented its vision and philosophy
in the field of shot blasting. Regular surveys carried out by WA have identified
the main concerns of customers and
have enabled WA to provide appropriate structures, products and solutions.
They believe in understanding what a
customer needs and what makes them
choose a particular supplier. These
surveys show that customers require a
supplier who produces a quality product on time, a supplier who will help
reduce production costs, develop their
processes and train their personnel, and
who will answer questions concerning
blasting that are encountered on a
regular basis.
In this issue, a deeper insight into WA’s
expertise and their innovative approach
to service and support is given. It will be
explained how their customer-oriented
solutions have provided a tangible advantage for customers.
Tailor-made Industrial Tests
The first WA Test Centre was created
in 1971 in Le Cheylas, France, with the
aim of testing products and methods
to establish the best possible process
for customers. There are now three
successful Test Centres – in addition to
Le Cheylas, there is one in Japan and
another in the Czech Republic. There
are also plans to create one in Brazil in
the near future. WA’s Test Centres are
designed to reproduce real industrial
workshop conditions. The majority of
tests are carried out in the presence of
customers.
There are all types of shot blasting machines, allowing simulations to be made
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of any type of blasting operation. The
settings can be varied at all levels of the
process – whether operating mix quality, abrasive flow or projection speed,
angle and distance. On completion of
the tests, a technical report is written
and, if necessary, residual stress is
evaluated in the part after peening by
methods such as X-ray diffraction. The
best parameters can be defined for an
existing shot peening installation or the
specifications for a new installation can
be determined before any investment is
made by the customer.
WA collaborates closely with the principal blasting machine manufacturers
throughout the world who do not hesitate to visit WA with customers to avail
themselves of WA expertise and WA
Test Centres to produce specifications.
Customers are, of course, always seeking to improve their shot blasting performance and to this end, WA provides
comparison charts to help in the use and
performance of different products. An
added advantage of the Test Centres is
that customers can validate the studies
performed by WA without changing
their production schedule.
WA has performed more than 5400 tests
and the resulting database provides a
sophisticated benchmark for all industrial situations that require shot
blasting. The results of these studies
are shared with their customers so that
they can benefit directly. On-site tests
can also be carried out by a specialised
team.
Shot Peening Studies
Other studies of a more theoretical nature are performed regularly, of which
the most recent were in the field of shot
WAAT enables the measurement of
the intrinsic quality of steel abrasive
One of three industrial Test Centres
MFN
peening (figure 1). One such study concentrated on the effects of dual speed
peening (V1 and V2) to show the fatigue limit of 54Si CrV6 steel. This one
demonstrates the effects of varying the
projection speeds for a steel shot of
diameter 1400 µm.
For example:
If V1 = 69 m/s and V2 = 69 m/s, the
fatigue limit = 997 Mpa (V1 and V2 applied with the same blasting time)
If V1= 69 m/s and V2 = 33 m/s, the
fatigue limit = 1056 MPa.
This study was performed using shot
of different dimensions.
MFN page 25
Metal Finishing News
of the high precision (µm), customers
also use WA Pack ® to measure paint
thickness (dry films).
A further tool developed by WA is
the WARCS. This tool is a rotation
control system to check helical spring
behaviour during blasting operations. It
measures the number of rotations and,
as a result, the spring exposure.
Training – To Stay In Front
In addition to these tests and development, training sessions are also offered
at the Test Centres, because continuous
training of all personnel is essential for
shot blasting processes to be carried
A comparative shot peening study
out correctly with the best quality and
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(figure 2) has also been carried out on !
lowest costs.
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peened gears comparing effects of Delta
Shot of 300 µm at 900 HV1 and cut wire
WA training modules allow personalISO-Response Curves (V1+V2)
Figure 1
Fatigue Limit Evolution - Shot Ø 1.4mm
of 0.3 640 G3. The results were obtained
ized training objectives to be met. Train
using identical blasting parameters.
ing is available in air blasting,
wheel
or to perform an audit. Customers apblasting and shot peening. Customized
preciate this face-to-face approach and
training sessions can also be given on a
Sophisticated Tools For Quality Con- customer’s site for a group of employ- the opportunity to study the problems
in situ.
trol And Comparative Tests
ees. Follow-up of customers’ teams
is provided to ensure constant good
As in all industries, controlling risFor a long time, WA has been interresults, including machine operation
ing costs is a top priority for WA’s
ested in the measurement, evaluation
and maintenance, quality control, cost
customers. WA offer expert help to
and evolution of steel abrasive quality.
control, process management.
ensure the best service and products
The company develops tools to help
WA also collaborate with other training
at the most reasonable price. The costs
achieve this, one of the most interestestablishments to give training courses
are separated into the separate areas of
ing of which is the WAAT.
to meet market needs.
abrasive, energy, spare parts, waste, labour, equipment upkeep
This tool facilitates understanding of
Cost Control – WA Expertise
and
general
costs. Technical solutions are evaluated
the behaviour of all blasting media
in terms of result but also in terms of
currently available. It enables measureWA can send a team of experts to visit
cost. To help evaluate costs, WA has
ment of their intrinsic quality accordyour production lines – to resolve your
developed software that specifically
ing to the various blasting parameters,
problems, to recommend improvements
such as projection speed (140 m/s max)
and type of target (steel, iron, etc.). It
Residual
Residualstress
stress measurement
measurementson
onpeened
peenedgears
gears
Comparison
FH80
/ CW
0.30.3
-640
automatically provides results such as
ComparisonDeltashot
Deltashot
FH80
/ CW
- 640
HV
the lifetime of the media expressed as
g/tonne projected.
WA also provide a complete solution
for the measurement of shot peening
intensity. WA Pack® is a control tool
that consists of an electronic gauge to
measure the ALMEN arc height. WA
also offers special strips to measure the
coverage. The gauge can be connected
to a PC to download the readings,
which can then be used by specially
designed software.
One possibility of this software is the
plotting of saturation curves. As a result
Deltashot
FH80
FH80
CW
0.3-640HV
Figure 2
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MFN
calculates the financial impact of each
solution considered. It compares the
current cost with forecast costs using
new parameters. See figure 3.
Blasting costs can be calculated per m2
of surface treated, per kg/tonne of parts
treated or per part. The results so far
have been impressive, for example:
Vol. 6, September Issue
Metal Finishing News
Figure 3
MFN page 26
20% cost reduction in car brake pads
(foundry)
32% cost reduction in steel wire
(descaling)
17% cost reduction in surface preparation for metallic drums
14% cost reduction in gears shotpeening
8% cost reduction in car suspension
parts (shot peening)
An Innovator In The Field Of
Blasting
Innovation is at the heart of WA’s policy
as they have demonstrated by the production of Sablacier, HPG, Stanium
and Delta Shot and dedicated tools to
measure the quality of shot blasting.
Innovation often involves exceeding
customer expectations and to achieve
this, WA have developed extensive
services for their customers.
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WA make strenuous and continuous
efforts to meet customer requirements.
They value customers’ expertise and are
open to all ideas, whatever their origin,
in order to continue development in
shot blasting products, processes and
solutions.
Product quality is extremely important,
but WA also ensure that the quality
stays the same from one delivery to
the next. WA now have 13 production
plants and can provide the same high
quality steel abrasive anywhere in the
world. All WA production plants are
ISO 9001 certified and the majority meet
ISO 14001 standards.
WA – Dedicated To Serving Their
Customers
WA collaborate with and supply a wide
variety of industries such as aeronau-
Wheelabrator Allevard
has 13 production plants
all over the world
tics, automobile, metal construction,
ship and railway construction. Nowadays, the increasing demands in these
fields make it extremely important to
provide the most appropriate products
and solutions and to continue to give
customers added value. Wheelabrator Allevard achieves this without a
doubt!
Wheelabrator Allevard is an international
company with offices across the world.
Telephone Contacts:
Asia: +86.21.64 68 6677-227
USA: +1.540.586 0 856-119
South America: +55.11.5574 7272 ext 218
Europe: +33.4.76769292.60
E-mail: waeuro@wheelabrator.com
www.bestofblasting.com
www.wheelabrator.com