Metal Processing Services

Specialized metal processing services provided by Great Western Technologies Inc. are executed using the following technologies:

A note about Quality Control:
GWTI is an ISO 9001:2000-certified research and manufacturing facility with state-of-the-art engineering technology. GWTI facilities are maintained according to strict quality assurance standards and supervision.

Vacuum Induction Melting Furnaces

Two 1000-lb vacuum induction melting furnaces with dual-wing mold lockers are capable of running in a semi-continuous cycle at pressures of < 100 microns. These vacuum induction melting furnaces can produce well over 1,000,000 lbs. of specialty alloys per year, based on a three-shift operation. GWTI facilities also house a 500-lb. single-winged furnace that can be utilized for smaller batch melts.

Hydrogen Reactors

Three 4,500-lb. reactor chambers are each capable of accommodating various hydrogen-reactive materials. Vacuum/pressure hydrogen reactors are used to convert hydrogen-reactive materials into a powder form.

Crushing and Grinding

One crushing room and two grinding rooms are capable of producing particle sizes ranging from 1 micron up to 1/8th (0.125)" in size. Grinding rates may be varied to control the actual particle size of the final material. This equipment can also separate fine, from oversized, particles in order to produce a consistently sized end product. The grinding system can produce 325 lbs. of material per hour.

A specialized oxygen-depleted system is also available for processing highly reactive materials. GWTI is equipped to produce a variety of hydrogen-related materials for use in batteries and other hydrogen-storage systems.

Vacuum Annealing Furnaces

A 4,000-lb. high-vacuum annealing furnace is capable of 2400°F and operates at a vacuum level of 1x10-6 Torr and a pressure of 2 bar. This furnace is used for a variety of procedures, from crystalline structure growth and basic heat-treating procedures to production of various catalytic materials.

Leco and Maccor Analyzers

Leco analyzers are capable of providing analyses for the oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen content of materials produced at GWTI. Also available is an X-ray Spectrometer system designed for the elemental analysis of a wide range of alloy samples.

A Maccor Analyzer checks the charge capacity of hydrogen storage materials, as used in the metal hydride battery industry. This equipment can also perform a standard 1/2-cell test to determine the capacity of the battery material. A Microview optical measuring system can dimensionally check small parts that are used in production systems and perform a gross structural examination of material surfaces.

Other Lab Scale Equipment

Additional sophisticated processing equipment is used to meet the demand for processing advanced materials on a smaller scale. These include small-scale melting furnaces, ball grinders, hydrogen annealing equipment, and a vacuum-induction gas atomizer. Accessing this equipment allows for cost-effective and timely answers to various materials requirements.

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