ConMet’s facility in Monterrey, Mexico, which makes aluminum castings for the commercial vehicle industry, has found that switching to Pyrotek’s graphite shafts and rotors used in degassing processes has reduced maintenance downtime, allowed for more efficient stocking of supplies, and ensured customer orders are fulfilled on-time.
Pyrotek has maintained a strong relationship with ConMet Mexico for years and has recently been working to help the manufacturer improve permanent mold and low-pressure casting processes.
ConMet had been using shafts and rotors supplied by another vendor, and they were performing poorly, offering a short service lifetime. ConMet then tried one of Pyrotek’s graphite shafts, which ended up lasting nearly 200 percent longer than those from the other vendor, while maintaining the same metal density parameters.
ConMet Mexico has limited capacity for stocking graphite shafts and rotors. This made it critical that they start using products with greater service life. At times the poor quality from the other vendor and limited stocking space would result in shortages. Sometimes they would run out of shafts and rotors at the end of the week and would then wait until the middle of the next week for re-supply.
This resulted in downtime, low efficiency and high production costs because degassing wasn’t possible when needed. More frequent replacement of shafts and rotors was also time-consuming and labor intensive.
ConMet agreed to a more extensive trial of Pyrotek’s graphite shafts and rotors. The trial showed Pyrotek’s versions of these important products consistently lasted three times longer than those from the other vendor. They were in service around the clock, seven days per week.
Using Pyrotek’s graphite shafts and rotors reduced downtime and maintenance. Pyrotek also provides fast delivery of new supplies, eliminating work stoppages.
An examination of the previous vendor’s product by Pyrotek’s product experts showed the poor performance was due to high levels of porosity. Pyrotek’s graphite shafts and rotors, by comparison, showed a much better composition.
ConMet is now looking to expand its use of Pyrotek graphite shafts and rotors.
Posted in Location News, Case Study, Article, Feature, Product Spotlight, General News.
Tags: Aluminium, Foundry, North America, Mexico, Degassing.