May 7 2008
Alloy Wire International Ltd, a world leader in the manufacture of precision cold drawn round wire, flat wire and shaped wire, is using a PC-controlled universal materials testing machine from Lloyd Instruments as part of its comprehensive quality assurance procedure. Every coil of wire is subject to tensile testing prior to dispatch.
Lloyd Instruments EZ50 50 kN twin column universal materials testing machine.
Alloy Wire International specialises in the production of high performance nickel, cobalt and titanium alloys for use in any environment that requires resistance to very high temperatures and corrosion but where the mechanical properties of the metal must be retained. The materials are frequently used in the manufacture of springs, seals, fasteners and many other applications, used in a variety of industries such as aerospace, petrochemical, medical and nuclear.
Tensile tests are performed using a Lloyd Instruments EZ50 50 kN twin column universal materials testing machine equipped with NEXYGEN™ MT control and data analysis software. NEXYGEN™ MT features a vast library of international standard tests for many different applications, including EN, BS and ASTM standards, however the system can also be configured to carry out user specified tests. Tests can be carried out on material both before and after heat treatment.
Alloy Wire International Quality Manager, Peter Lambe, said: “Our focus is on the production of comparatively small quantities of material with fast turn-round, manufactured to customer specification, so testing and certification of every coil is a vital part of the quality process. Materials testing is an important part of this procedure and we have been using equipment from Lloyd Instruments for around 19 years, with the 50kN EZ50 machine being the most recent addition. As well as tensile testing, we can also perform bend tests, elongation, torsion tests, wrap tests and proof stress tests as part of the certification, if required.”