In terna tional news

Corning issues technical literature on refractory products

New technical literature on its range of refractory products for glass making has been issued by the Advanced Materials Business of Coming Incorporated. A 6- page combined brochure and folder, designed to hold a series of technical data sheets, describes Corning’s total manufacturing capability for refractory blocks and shapes, many of which are fabricated to customer’s own designs and specifications. Applications include tanks for glass making, forehearths, feeders and other assemblies used in the high quality borosilicate and opal glass manufacturing segment of the glass producing market.

Coming refractory products are used extensively in the company’s own glass- melting operations as well as being supplied to glass makers in Europe, South America and the Far East. In this

respect, Coming differs from many other refractory producers in that all products are tested and approved inter- nally, in a manufacturing environment, before being supplied to outside customers.

Products are divided into five general compositions: zircon, alumina, silliman- ite, VycorB and fused silica. Unique products include tamp for monolithic tank bottoms and VycorB orifice rings. Vycor 8 is a high-purity, 96% silica refractory material developed by Coming and used in the manufacture of crucibles as well as orifice rings and other complex shapes.

All Coming refractory products offer high corrosion resistance and low thermal expansion. They are produced from high quality and specially selected raw material to avoid contaminants such as iron and titanium which promote ‘blistering’ and ‘seeding’ in borosilicate and opal glass production.

Copies of the new literature can be obtained from Corning Limited, ISPD Europe, I Roxborough Way,

Maidenhead, Berks, SL6 3UD. Tel: 01628 411416. Fax: 01628 412122.

EPSRC publishes first Annual Report

The first Annual Report from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council covering the year April 1994 to March 1995 has been published. Commenting on the report, EPSRC Chairman Dr Alan Rudge says ‘Major progress has been made during the year in ensuring that the EPSRC can nurture research not only for its excel- lence. but also for its relevance to those in industry, commerce and more widely in the community’. Copies of the EPSRC Annual Report 1994-5 can be obtained, free of charge, from Sue Johnston, EPSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon. SN2 IET, Tel: (01793) 444185, e-mail: sue.john- ston@epsrc.ac.uk.

Exploring and assessing the markets, business opportuni- ties, and technical outlook for cutting tools

The cutting tool industry is experiencing dynamic change. There have been mergers and acquisitions over the last five years; CVD diamond coated cutting tools are challenging traditional coated cemented carbide as well as PCDs; the automotive industry continues to decrease kerb weight in response to CAFE requirements at the expense of traditional materials such as steel and cast iron; metal and plastic matrix composites; and aluminium engine blocks continue to push the limits of established cutting tool materials.

These rapidly changing materials and processing requirements coupled with dramatic changes in the design of cars, aircraft, and aircraft airframes create significant opportunities, problems, and threats. A conference organized by The Gorham Advanced Materials Institute to be held on 13-15 March 1996 at Atlanta Airport Marriott, Atlanta, Georgia, will deal with these and other developments in the cutting tool indus- try.

With the annual worldwide cost of chipmaking pegged at $300-350 billion, and total globes sales of cutting tools estimated to be between $10 and $12 billion, cutting tool industry executives need a clear understanding of the complex and counteracting market forces that will affect their companies’

profitability and market share in the decade ahead.

Two trends in workpiece material use - more aluminium (and alloys) and more composite materials - may make diamond coated inserts the first choice in numerous applications. The increased use of aluminium alloys is increasing the implementation of diamond-tipped inserts.

The conference has been designed to help producers, users, and raw materials suppliers protect or improve their market position; identify and take advantage of profitable new products, new applications, and business opportu- nities; foresee and avoid pitfalls; and make informed decisions regarding market expansion, new product devel- opment, acquisitions, mergers, diversifi- cation, and capital expenditures. The conference will include the following sessions and panels:

Session Future Trends and Forecasts of Vital Importance to the Cutting Tool Industry

Session I Cutting Tool Industry President’s Forum: The Business Outlook to the Year 2000

Session III CVD Diamond Coated Cutting Tools: Applicat- ions and Markets

Session IV New PVD Coated High Speed & Cemented Carbide Cutting Tools: Applications and Markets

Session V Automotive Industry:

234 Materials & Design Volume 16 Number 4 1995

Session VI

Session VII

Session VIII

Applications and Markets Cutting Tool Demand and Requirements for Metal and Polymer Matrix Composites and Aluminium Alloys Land-Based, Aircraft, and Marine Gas Turbine Engines: Cutting Tool Requirements for Super- alloys, Titanium, and Metal Matrix Composites Industrial & Electrical Machinery and Equip- ment Industries: Cutting Tool Demand and Requirements.

The purpose of the conference is to bring together cutting tool industry senior executives, sales and marketing managers, technologists, and manufac- turing and product managers to focus on the future of the cutting tool indus- try; to identify and discuss barriers and stimulants to future growth; and to assess the emerging cutting tool materi- als, manufacturing technology, and applications that will fuel cutting tool industry growth into the 21st century.

A complete conference brochure detailing the speakers and session topics is available by contacting Deedra A. Manter, Conference Coordinator, Gorham Advanced Materials Institute, PO Box 250, Gorham, ME 04038, USA. Tel. +I (207) 892-5445. Fax: +1 (207) 892-2210