NKE - Innovation in Powder Processing

At NKE, we have always been commited to innovative and novel production techniques in the field of Powder Metallurgy. lt is a continuous challenge for us to present products which correspond to latest contemporary technologies. Economic solutions, easy maintenance, environmental aspects and quality control are of core concern for us.
Our scientific and engineering capabilities the experienced skills of the staff and worldwide co-operation with institutes and partners help us to develop tomorrows' solutions. With our engagement in Powder Metallurgy, highly sophisticated plants have been designed and realized, as for example turn - key Press Plants or Hydrogen Decrepitation Plants for the permanent magnet industry.

Powder Compaction Systems

• We design and supply
  - complete, turn-key compaction plants based on hydraulic as well as mechanical processes
  - peripheral equipment for powder compaction
  - we modify and upgrade our customers existing presses to new standards of compaction efficieny
• The system comprises
  - povvder feed systern
  - tooling
  - automatic tool lubrication system
  - magnetic aligning circuits (parallel and transverse to press direction)
  - part removal and cleaning systems

It tolerates oxygen and moisture and bad rheological properties of the fine milled powder.Our standard systems have been used for compaction plants with pressing forces from 60 to 1400kN.

We design and supply tailor - made plants for isostatic pressing of large block Nd₂Fe₁₄B block magnet with the potential for highest energy products.

Process Development
We make technical and economic evaluations, feasibility studies of processes and experimental tests to help our customers to improve and optimize their production lines.
Our scientific know - how and deep technical experience enables to control novel complex processes.
Finite element calculations software development a pilot plant for hydrogen treatments are some of the methods we use.

Hydrogen Decrepitation
Our HD 200/300 plant is the result of long year research and development of hydride forming reactions of RE containing alloys superior results both with respect to economy as well as to the magnetic properties of magnets made with the application of the plant.
 

The plant consists of

- vacuum vessel
- vacuum pumping unit
- rotation drive unit with magnetic coupling
- gas supply system for H2, N2, Ar
- full safety interlock system for gas handling
- resistance heating elements
- recirculation gas cooling
- PLC process controller

 

The HD plant is operated fully automatically. Operating lemperatures upto 600 C are standard.The integrated heating system allows partial degassing after the hydrogenation step.
During the process the drum containing the material rotates yielding optimum homogeneity of the powder and a short total process cycle of about 7 hours.The standard size of the plants has been designed for a batch size of 200 kg. Higher loads or variation on specification are available for development and negotiation.