Author Archives: Staff

Induction Hardening Depth – Some Basic Principles


Posted by Staff

As an engineer is designing a part to be used for a purpose, they must take many things into consideration. One consideration may be the properties of hardness desired. As they design a piece they may realize that there is surface area that will be subject to wear or abrasion, but the engineer may not be 100% certain of the heat treat properties they desire.

So, the engineer might call out the heat treat characteristic as needing a higher surface hardness but with few other details. Or, perhaps it is wear surface but also important for strength. This requires additional consideration beyond just the surface hardness; the depth is also important. With some of the information potentially missing or perhaps incomplete, an engineer will often wonder “how deep can we go?”

The depth of hardness is most dependant on material chemistry, with a few other factors also that need to be considered. The depth of hardness or hardenability of the material is determined for different material using the Jominy Test.

For example certain alloys of material are ideal for shallower depths but harder surfaces. Typically low alloy but high carbon materials will be suitable for such applications. Other material will allow much deeper case depth to be achieved and will typically have both higher carbon content as well as other alloying agents.

The hardness of the depth can also be affected by part geometry. Features such as shoulder or holes that result in thin wall areas will be affected differently than straight wall shafts. A hollow tube may harden deeper or even through harden compared to solid shaft of the same dimensions.

A quality induction hardening provider can help answer the question “How deep can we go?” via industry expertise, listening and learning about your application and by utiliozing published industry data.


Research and Markets: A Capacity and Opportunity Analysis of OLED Lighting Manufacturing 2011


Posted by Staff

DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “A Capacity and Opportunity Analysis of OLED Lighting Manufacturing” report to their offering.

This report analyzes the current state of the art in OLED lighting fabrication and forecasts how facilities for manufacturing will evolve over the next decade. It is the latest report in NanoMarkets’ ongoing coverage of the OLED lighting industry and is based on our company’s insider knowledge of how this industry is growing.

This report answers vital questions that for executives throughout the entire OLED lighting industry:

  • Who is installing facilities to manufacture OLED lighting and what kind of processes are they using?
  • What will be the roadmap for scaling up today’s OLED lighting fabs to full-scale production?
  • How will OLED lighting manufacturing technology develop over the next few years to meet the need for high-volume, low-cost output?
  • Will it be possible to make extensive use of solution processing?
  • Will OLED lighting foundries emerge to meet the needs of OLED lighting firms that choose to adopt a fabless business model?
  • Will the availability of the manufacturing capacity in any way be a brake on the expansion of the OLED lighting industry?
  • How will the materials supply chain evolve as OLED lighting manufacture ramps up and which materials firms will benefit?

We believe this is the first report of its kind and that it will provide invaluable insights for firms that make fabrication equipment as well as those that are building the OLED lighting itself. It explores the development of OLED lighting manufacturing technology and infrastructure and shows how that will lead to profitable opportunities for businesses ranging from materials suppliers to OLED makers. As with all NanoMarkets reports this one includes an eight-year forecast. In this case, these projections are of OLED lighting manufacturing capacity, with breakouts by type of manufacturing technology utilized, world region and business model.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

Chapter One: Introduction

Chapter Two: Notable OLED Lighting Manufacturing Facilities

2.1 Asia

2.2 Europe

2.3 United States

Chapter Three: Manufacturing Technology and Materials Supply Chain Evolution for OLED Lighting

3.1 Analysis of potential for solution processing in OLED lighting manufacture

3.2 The future of vacuum processing in OLED lighting manufacture

3.3 Evolution of patterning technology for OLED lighting

3.4 Materials supply chain evolution

Chapter Four: Eight-Year Forecasts of OLED Lighting Manufacturing Capacity

4.1 Forecasting methodology

4.2 Analysis of capacity by type

4.3 Forecast of capacity by geographical region

4.4 Summary of eight-year forecasts of OLED lighting capacity

Companies Mentioned:

  • AUO
  • Kaneka
  • LG
  • Lumiotec/Rohm
  • Pioneer
  • Samsung
  • Visionox
  • Ledon
  • Osram
  • Philips
  • PolyPhotonix
  • GE
  • Moser Baer/UDC

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/904d27/a_capacity_and_opp

Source: NanoMarkets

 

Contacts

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager,
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716


Corning Announces Increased Dividend and $1.5 Billion Stock Buyback


Posted by Staff

CORNING, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Corning Incorporated’s (NYSE:GLW) Board of Directors today declared a 50% increase in the company’s quarterly common stock dividend. Corning’s quarterly dividend will rise to $0.075 per share of common stock held, versus $0.05 per share previously. The fourth-quarter dividend will be payable on Dec. 16, 2011 to holders of record Nov. 16, 2011.

“The company has turned into a consistent cash generator and we are confident in our ability to sustain a higher dividend payout to our shareholders. With the announcement today, our dividend yield will be approximately 2.5% based on our current share price.”

The board also authorized a stock repurchase program for purchasing up to $1.5 billion of the company’s common stock from time to time through open market or private transactions. The stock repurchase authorization expires at the end of 2013.

“We are taking action consistent with the long-term outlook and strength of our businesses,” Wendell P. Weeks, chairman, chief executive officer and president, said. “The company has turned into a consistent cash generator and we are confident in our ability to sustain a higher dividend payout to our shareholders. With the announcement today, our dividend yield will be approximately 2.5% based on our current share price.”

“In our opinion, the company’s current stock price represents a significant discount to the real value of Corning’s businesses. We understand the short-term concerns relative to the recent macro events, such as a slowing worldwide economy, and specific concerns about the display supply chain’s recent short-term correction. The board’s decision to repurchase shares reflects our belief that the long-term value of our businesses is substantially greater than our current share price,” he said.

“We believe our future free cash flow prospects are excellent, driven by business performance and lower capital spending starting in 2012, as some major projects are finished. Corning’s board also is committed to using the company’s free cash flow going forward to enhance shareholder returns,” Weeks explained.

“The board’s actions are consistent with the company’s financial priorities that we outlined for investors in 2006,” Weeks added. “The first priority is always to protect the corporation. The second priority is to invest in our growth opportunities, internally and externally, to deliver shareholder value. The third priority is to return money to shareholders either as dividends or through share repurchases, to enhance shareholder returns.”

James B. Flaws, vice chairman and chief financial officer, said the company expects to begin the repurchase program during the fourth quarter.

Corning will announce its third-quarter financial results on Oct. 26. “As discussed at recent investor conferences, our display business is experiencing a significant supply chain correction, as well as some loss of share, primarily in Korea. This is likely to result in equity earnings that are at least 30% lower sequentially,” Flaws said.

The company expects the display industry supply chain to remain cautious, due to the uncertainty in the worldwide macro environment. As a result, Corning’s weaker display glass volume may continue in the short term, which could increase pricing pressure.

“This cautiousness contrasts with the continued strong retail environment for LCD products,” said Flaws. “In many ways, the supply chain behavior is similar to the 2008 correction, when inventory was dramatically reduced despite continued consumer demand. However, this time around, Corning is in a stronger position due to the emergence of Corning® Gorilla® Glass, which can significantly help us manage glass tank utilization. And, as in the past, we have additional levers available to us if further capacity management is required.”

Corning also said the performance of its Telecommunications, Environmental Technologies, and Life Sciences segments remained strong during the third quarter.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

About Corning Incorporated

Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on 160 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions for a number of industries including semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy and metrology.