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AHT to launch specialist mobile heat treatment service

Heat treatment specialist Alloy Heat Treatment is to launch a pioneering new process to capitalise on opportunities emerging as part of Industry 4.0.

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The new AHT process

The Dudley firm, the UK’s first and only specialist in the heat treatment of aluminium alloys, has developed an innovative mobile heat treatment service.

The firm, a member of manufacturing alliance Made in the Midlands, is targeting the new service in support of the additive layer manufacturing market – especially in the aerospace and motorsport sectors.

The additive layer manufacturing market – more commonly referred to as 3D printing - has undergone rapid development in recent years and is set to have a huge impact on the future of the whole manufacturing industry.

Ian Perks, Sales Director at Alloy Heat Treatment on Grazebrook Industrial Park said: “The proposed service is currently being designed to be transported on the back of a fix-bed lorry.

“We aim to fill a gap in the additive layer manufacturing market, as we feel that this innovation will provide a great benefit to aerospace, F1 and Moto GP organisations.”

With the global metal addictive manufacturing market predicted to be worth more than US $6.6 billion by 2026, the firm is hopeful the service will attract plenty of interest.

As such, it is aiming to steal a march on the competition and become the recognised market leader for the technology.

While opportunities abound in the UK, the firm is not restricting itself to these shores and is looking at markets in Europe for additional growth.

Alloy Heat Treatment would load the service on to the lorry and then drive to a customer’s designation location to enable them to offer rapid heat treatment processes to tight schedules.

Ultimately, it would offer clients in the aerospace, F1 and Moto GP sector the capability of accessing immediate heat treatment services to ensure a regulated replacement of parts.

Mr Perks concluded: “Our company is AS 9100 accredited, which gives us a preferred supplier status to many aerospace primes. It would be fantastic to support these industries to coincide with the growth of additive layer manufacturing. Companies desire easy access to high quality services including heat treatment and we really want to form an integral part in the growth of this market.”

Alloy Heat Treatment has specialised in the heat treatment of aluminium alloys for the aerospace industry for more than 40 years. Its ability to work to the specific requirements of a prime contractor, whilst additionally offering bespoke advice and guidance at the design stage is what sets it apart from the competition.