AUTUMN 1999
Volume 5 • Number 3
AN
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY FOCUS: THERMAT PRECISION TECHNOLOGY
Thermat Precision Technology, Inc. of Corry, Pa., is a precision
metal injection manufacturing (PMIM) company. The company was
started less than four years ago by Dr. Karl Frank Hens and Thomas
J. Roche. Today, Thermat has 55 employees, three raw material
compounding lines, seven Engel Injection Molding Machines custom
build for PMIM applications, and four production-sintering furnaces.
Thermat has built more than 60 molds for mass production of precision
metal components.
The
raw material for the patented PMIM process is reaction compounded
and contains roughly 70% by volume of a metal filler which is
in the form of a super-fine powder in the 1 to 30 micron range
(10 micron equals 0.0004 inch). The compound is injection molded
into components, which are 70% metal and 30% plastic by volume.
A portion of the plastic is water soluble and leached out in a
hot water bath. The remaining plastic is thermally decomposed
into hydro-carbons and then burned off. By volume, the component
is then 70% metal and 30% super-fine pore structure (one or two
microns or about 0.00006 inch). The part is then heated to about
50° to 100° below the melting temperature of the metal. This fine
pore structure diminishes as the component densities. The resulting
components are about 13% linearly smaller than when they were
molded. Typically, tolerances of one thousandth of an inch can
be held to four sigma limits.
Materials
processed at Thermat include stainless steels, alloy steels, tool
steels, and cobalt-chrome based alloys such as Stellites for orthopedic
implants. The resulting materials exhibit mechanical properties
very similar to their wrought, investment cast, or forged and
machined counterparts. Due to the fine resulting micro-structure,
fatigue properties are actually superior to alternative manufacturing
processes. Strength properties of 300,000 psi for tool steels,
180,000 psi for stainless steels, with hardnesses of mid 60Rc
and ductilities of 20% can be obtained.
Thermat
produces surgical components, consumer products (watch housings
and other watch-related components), electrical/ mechanical components
and automotive parts. In addition to manufacturing raw material
and components, Thermat also sublicenses the PMIM technology to
companies all over the world, including Japan and Europe. Thermat
also provides the necessary technical support for its licensees.
For
more information on Thermat or on the PMIM process, contact Dr.
Karl Hens at (814) 665-843
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Article by Dr. Karl F. Hens
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PENNTAP
Issues Free Y2K Video & Workbook for Small Businesses
PENNTAP, the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program, has developed
a video to help small businesses deal with the Year 2000 problem,
"A Year 2000 Call to Action for Small Businesses." Created in
partnership with Pa2K (the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Y2K
outreach program) and AT&T, the video and its companion workbook
can help small businesses assess their computer hardware, software,
and date-sensitive equipment; prioritize non-compliant items;
take actions to address these items; and begin to develop contingency
plans. The workbook also includes many useful resources to help
with implementing the action steps.
PENNTAP,
an outreach service of Penn State, has made the video and workbook
available free to small businesses by calling 1-877-PA2K-NOW (1-877-722-5669)
or through the Pennsylvania Pa2K Web site at www.pa2k.org. The
Pa2K outreach program is designed to increase awareness and action
on the Y2K challenge, so that there will be minimal disruption
of business and essential services on January 1, 2000, and beyond.
PENNTAP
is a federal-state-university partnership for economic development,
serving Pennsylvania business and industry statewide since 1965.
PENNTAP helps Pennsylvania businesses improve their competitiveness
by providing free technology assistance and information to help
resolve specific questions or problems that can be addressed in
a limited amount of time. For further information about PENNTAP,
contact Jack Gido at (814) 865-0427 or penntap@psu.edu.
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KNOWLEDGE
PARK AT PENN STATE ERIE A REALITY
The
Knowledge Park at Penn State Erie is a research and development
area situated on the Penn State Erie campus, reserved to enable
knowledge-based organizations to locate closer to and take fuller
advantage of the college's intellectual and physical resources.
The Knowledge Park is being developed by Penn State Erie and the
Greater Erie Industrial Development Corporation.
The
basic philosophy of the park is to attract tenants that are likely
to form strong linkages with the college's faculty, staff, and
students, including such things as student internships and scholarships,
support for faculty and student research, and faculty consulting.
Through these and other linkages to the college's technology transfer,
applied research, education, and outreach services, the competitive
advantage of tenant companies and regional economic development
will be accelerated.
The
park is situated along a mile-long stretch of Penn State Erie's
campus on the north side of Interstate 90.
The property includes nearly 200 acres for potential park use.
The property's location on a ridge that gently slopes down to
the north provides picturesque views of Lake Erie. Glaciers have
created beautiful flowing streams and gorges whose beauty is accentuated
by a mature mix of deciduous and evergreen trees providing dramatic
building sites and exciting vistas.
Located less than 25 minutes from Erie International Airport,
the park is situated at Exit 9 of Interstate 90. It is within
five minutes of the terminus of Route 17 (Southern-Tier Expressway),
a direct link to New York City. The park is also within two hours
of Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.
The
land-use plan includes a divided road with a 25-foot forested
boulevard, walking and bike trails, picnic areas and wooden bridges
linking the park's facilities. Efforts are being made to preserve
and protect the native woodland setting.
The
park has more than 20, four-acre sites for buildings of 40,000
square feet or more. These sites are fully serviced by utilities,
with three sites available for immediate construction. The first
corporate multi-tenant building, completed in January 1999, is
a two-story 70,000 square foot structure. The park's first two
tenants, Aalborg Industries and GE Transportation Systems E-commerce
group occupy 53,000 square feet of this first corporate office
building.
Park amenities under development include: the Knowledge Center,
a 12,000 square-foot shared conference center with the latest
distance telecommunications and audiovisual equipment (completed
October 1999); and the Center for Advanced Technical Training,
a regional resource for technical training, which will facilitate
the consolidation and coordination of post-secondary advanced
technical training in the region. The building will include 40,000
square feet of laboratory, classroom, and computer rooms, including
high bay space (to be completed fall 2000).
The park is also a GTE SmartPark®, offering fiber optic
connectivity throughout the park, providing tenants with the most
advanced communications technology to meet all voice, video, and
data requirements. Specific tenant benefits include: a flexible
network that can evolve with tenant needs; minimal installation
lead times; high quality cost effective services; variable bandwidth
capabilities; timely access to the latest technological advances;
and protection from communications obsolescence.
For
further information about the Penn State Erie Knowledge Park,
contact Robert W. Light, Penn State Erie associate provost and
associate dean, at (814) 898-6160, or via e-mail at rwl2@psu.edu.
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