Bodycote expands offerings in Japan

UK-based Bodycote plc, the world’s leading provider of thermal processing services, announces today that it is expanding its offerings to Japanese manufacturers. The sales office in Nagoya, Japan is now accepting orders for hot isostatic pressing (HIP), Kolsterising^®, K-Tech, and Boronizing.

HIP is the application of high temperatures and pressures and is used for the removal of porosity from titanium, steel, Ni base and Co/Cr alloy investment castings. DENSAL^® is a propriety HIP process offered by Bodycote for the densification of aluminium castings. Hot isostatic pressing can also be used to diffusion bond similar or different materials, as well as provide a process of HIP cladding whereby a powder layer is HIPped onto a solid substrate for enhanced chemical and wear resistance properties. The use of HIP for the densification of metal powders allows a wide range of simple or near-net-shape products to be manufactured often with shorter lead times than conventional manufacturing routes. Target customers for hot isostatic pressing in Japan would include sputtering target manufacturers, turbine manufacturers, aerospace parts manufacturers, and suppliers to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program.

Kolsterising^® is the surface treatment of choice for engineers in the food, marine, engineering, medical, chemical and nuclear industries attempting to cure wear and galling-related issues in austenitic and duplex stainless steel components.

K-Tech solves sliding wear and corrosion problems by using proprietary chemical processes to re-engineer the surface of metal components with thin, dense ceramic coatings and processes. The chemically-formed ceramic coatings can dramatically increase the useful life of machine parts by decreasing sliding wear attack and by sealing off the substrate and eliminating corrosive attack. Boronizing is a surface treatment in which boron atoms are diffused into a workpiece where they combine with iron or nickel atoms to form a hard boride compound layer. Exceptional wear resistance and corrosion resistance against acids make Boronizing well suited to serve the demanding needs of Japan’s agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers.

“Since establishing our sales office in the manufacturing heart of Japan in March 2008, Bodycote is pleased to provide our most advanced metallurgical technologies to all Japanese manufacturers,” said Mr. Daniel McCurdy, Managing Director – Asia. “Our engineers will also provide custom-designed solutions to meet the long-term requirements of customers who require the most sophisticated heat treatment processes.”

“Of the hundreds of thermal processing services in our portfolio, these four niche technologies are most greatly needed in Japan,” commented Mr. Julian Bashore, Representative Director – Japan. “While plans for Bodycote’s facility in Japan progress, our Nadcap-accredited facilities in North America and Europe will prioritize and process all Japan-based orders. In line with our 10-year strategy to grow and develop the business in the world’s second largest economy, we will expand our metallurgical services portfolio to our Japanese customer base considerably in 2010.”

Recognizing Bodycote’s unique position in the industrial supply chain, Bodycote Japan K.K. has awarded the logistics business to Kintetsu World Express (KWE), to deploy HIP, Kolsterising^®, K-Tech, and Boronizing services in a timely manner to Bodycote’s expanding customer base. KWE is one of the leading globally active freight forwarders, and best positioned in Japan to work with Bodycote.