[ News ]China to reinvestigate anti-dumping case into stainless steel tubes from EU, Japan

China's Commerce Ministry said on Monday it would reinvestigate its anti-dumping case into imports of high performance, seamless stainless steel tubes from Japan and the European Union.

China lost an appeal ruling in October at the World Trade Organization in a dispute in which Japan and the European Union had complained about Chinese use of anti-dumping duties on the steel products.

stainless steel fabrication

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[ Info ] Steel: Higher, Faster, Deeper, Longer!

Innovation in steel makes it possible.

From the deepest depths of the sea to the stars in the universe, steel allows humans to push the boundaries of the possible! Our latest infographic shows how innovation in steel has helped our civilization smash through new barriers, strengthen our lives, and hit new heights.

[ Wiki ]HOW IS EXPANDED METAL MADE?

The process for creating expanded metal was first developed and patented in the 1880’s in Hartlepool, UK. Despite technological advancements, the modern process for expanding metal remains similar to the original technique.

WHAT IS EXPANDED METAL?

Expanded metal is plate or sheet that has been cut and stretched into a mesh. Stretching the metal results in a mesh with diamond-shaped spaces – although many other patterns can be created. Many types of metal can be expanded, including: stainless steel, hot rolled steel, cold rolled steel, aluminum and more.

The pattern of the mesh can either be staggered (providing the most open area) or in a straight pattern with all rows and columns aligned. The proportion of open area determines the amount of space for the passage of air, water and light, and will vary according to the intended application of the expanded metal.

BENEFITS OF EXPANDED METAL

There are several benefits to using expanded metal:

• Cost-effective: A small quantity of metal can be stretched into a large piece.
• Efficient Process: There is very little waste when manufacturing and processing expanded metal mesh.
• Good conductor: Because expanded metal is one piece, it can be excellent conductor of electricity, magnetic flux, and heat.
• Protective reinforcement: Expanded metal meshes can be combined with glass, concrete, and other materials for added strength.
• High strength: Expanded metals support weight and withstands stress better than woven metals or jointed welds.
• Low weight: Expanded metals are lighter than traditional metal sheets.
• Allows circulation: Expanded metal allows air and light to move freely.
• Acoustic properties: Specially developed meshes can enhance acoustics and provide soundproofing.

HOW IS EXPANDED METAL MADE?

Expanded metal is produced by an expanding machine, which turns solid metal sheets and coils into an expanded metal mesh. The expanding machine is fitted with a knife which determines pattern for the mesh. As the metal is fed through the expanding machine, it is cut and stretched simultaneously using a pressured slitting and stretching process. The slits created by the knife allow the metal to be stretched, which produces uniform holes. To ensure a consistent pattern, the expanding machine is programmed or operated manually as the metal is fed through. The finished expanded metal is then wound into coils or cut into sheets.

Depending on the intended application, different thicknesses of metal can be used and different mesh patterns can be chosen. L.W.D (Long Way Diamond) and S.W.D. (Short Way Diamond) are commonly used to indicate the desired length and width of the diamond shaped mesh holes.

TYPES OF EXPANDED METAL

The most common types of expanded metal are:

Standard Expanded Metal

Standard expanded metal is extremely versatile and economical. It comes in a variety of gauge and opening sizes. It’s often used to provide a rigid, raised, slip-resistant surface. In standard expanded metal the strands and bonds are set at a uniform angle. This provides extra strength and rigidity whilst allowing maximum air circulation.

Flattened expanded metal

Flattened expanded metal is produced by cold rolling expanded metal to flatten it. It is chosen when a smooth surface is required. The flattening process generally elongates the length of the sheet by 5%.

Hexagonal expanded metal

Hexagonal expanded metal has hexagonal openings instead of the usual diamond ones. The hexagonal shape gives the metal extra strength while allowing the passage of air, light, heat, sound and liquid. Hexagonal openings are preferred over diamond openings when the metal is heavily expanded.

Architectural expanded metal

Architectural expanded metal features the diamond pattern with added architectural features. The result is a design which combines good aesthetics, increased security and privacy, and improved ventilation. It’s suitable for functional and decorative purposes, or a combination of the two.

Micro expanded metal

Micro expanded metal features small openings in light gauge metal. The openings can be standard, flattened, hexagonal and square. This type of expanded metal is often used in filters.

[ Wiki ]THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROUND BAR, DRILL ROD AND SHAFTING

Metal can be produced in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. These shapes can often look similar – such as pipe and tube – but have very different attributes and applications.

This is also true for three round shapes: round bar, drill rod, and shafting.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROUND BAR, DRILL ROD AND SHAFTING

Round Bar

Round bar is exactly as it sounds; a long, cylindrical metal bar. Round bar is available in a variety of metals including hot rolled or cold rolled steel, stainless steel, aluminum, alloy steel, brass and more; and in many different diameters ranging from 1/4″ up to 24”.

Steel Round Bars

Steel round bars are available in hot rolled or cold rolled. Hot rolled round bar is typically used for applications like construction where finish and precise dimensions aren’t a priority. Conversely, cold rolled round bar is used for applications where a superior surface finish and exact dimensions are essential. Some common applications of steel round bar include frameworks, supports, braces, shafts, and axles.

Stainless Steel Round Bars

Stainless steel round bars are highly corrosion resistant. The stainless steel will tolerate high levels of acidity and can be used in chlorine bearing environments or alkaline solutions.

Aluminum Round Bars

Aluminum round bars possess light weight and strong corrosion resistance, while being easy to machine and cut. Common applications of aluminum round bar include supports, trim, shaft, braces, pins, and dowels.

Brass Round Bars

Brass round bars are used when strength, electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and spark resistance are important. Brass is easy to machine and has an attractive sheen when polished. Some examples of brass bar applications are marine hardware, instruments, fasteners and fittings.

Drill Rod

Drill rods are manufactured from tool steel that has been ground to a tight tolerance diameter. While typically round, drill rods may also be fabricated in square shapes. They are also often tempered prior to machining. This process involves heating the steel to relieve the hardness and to make the steel more workable. The steel is then air cooled before machining begins. Common applications of drill rods include drill bits, taps, dowel pins, shafts, and reamers. They are also used to manufacture hammers, files, and punches.

There are two basic types of drill rod: water and oil hardened:

Water hardened drill rods

Water hardened drill rods are not heavily alloyed, allowing the material to be more easily machined than the oil hardened variety. During the water hardening process, the rod is heated until glowing red then plunged into a vat of water to cool. The result is a hard, durable metal which is easily machined. However, it is not suitable for welding. Water hardened drill rods are used in the manufacturing of hammers and files.

Oil hardened drill rods

Oil hardened drill rods are easily welded and machined and are very tough and durable. During the oil hardening process, the rod is heated until glowing red then plunged into a vat of warm oil. This causes the surface to become extremely hard. Oil hardened drill rods are used for general tool making.

Shafting

Shafting, also known as ‘Turned Ground and Polished’ shafting, refers to round bars made with fine precision and high-quality steel. They are polished to ensure flawless and perfectly straight surfaces. The manufacturing process is designed for extremely close tolerances for surface finish, roundness, hardness, and straightness which ensures a long service life with reduced maintenance.

Shafting bars are commonly used often used in applications that require high accuracy, such as weather measuring devices, laboratory tools, high-speed motor shafts, drive shafts, pump shafts, and ball bushings. In these scenarios, the bar is often required to rotate at high speeds. Thus extreme straightness is critical to prevent unwanted vibration and wear on bearings.

Shafting is manufactured through induction hardening.

Induction hardening

Induction hardening is a non-contact heating process which uses electromagnetic induction to produce the required heat. The steel is placed into a strong alternating magnetic field which causes an electric current to flow through the metal, generating heat. During this process the core of the steel remains unaffected and retains its physical properties. The steel is then quenched in water, oil, or a special polymer which causes the surface layer to form a martensitic structure which is extremely hard.