Since master-alloy plants elsewhere in the world were between 40 and 60 years old, Strategic Minerals and International Specialty Alloys realized that a new greenfield, state-of-the-art plant was needed to meet the increasing quality requirements of the aerospace industry. Such a plant is now producing a full line of master alloys in New Castle, Pa., using the combined expertise of these two master-alloy suppliers.

Emphasizing Quality from the Ground Up

Throughout design and construction, the driving force behind the new master-alloy plant was quality. Every piece of equipment is either brand-new or completely refurbished. This quality commitment - from personnel training to records documentation - is evident today in the plant's operations.

Separate Operations Eliminate Cross-Contamination

The new master-alloy facility is two separate plants in one. Since vanadium must be kept free of contamination by other products, vanadium production is completely isolated from operations that produce molybdenum, columbium, chromium, and other alloys. This eliminates possible cross-contamination.

Multiple Inspections Verify Product Quality Depending on customer needs, products are thoroughly checked to make sure they meet strict chemistry and quality standards. A state-of-the-art laboratory can measure the analysis of over 50 elements. A 100% white-light, black-light, and x-ray inspection of critical-quality products assures customers that every shipment meets their quality requirements.

Black-Light Inspection

One Source for All Master Alloys

The new plant has the flexibility to produce every size and chemistry needed by titanium and superalloy customers - even customized products. Sizing equipment can be cleaned and switched from one size to another quickly. Vacuum-induction furnaces supplement aluminothermic processing, so the plant can produce the exact chemistry required by customers.

Vertically-Integrated Key Raw Material

Since the quality of the finished product depends on the purity of the raw materials being processed, only the highest-quality raw materials are used. In vanadium production, Stratcor vanadium oxide - the highest-purity vanadium raw material in the world - is used to produce vanadium-bearing master alloys.

An Experienced, Quality-Driven Team

Both Strategic Minerals and the management that formed International Specialty Alloys have brought decades of experience to the new partnership. Since they knew what the titanium and superalloy industries were demanding, they designed and built a plant that meets these requirements. For example, all ISO procedures used to produce Stratcor vanadium-aluminum have been approved and are monitored by both partners. Similar attention to detail has been built into the production of other master alloys.

For more information contact: Stratcor, Inc.

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