Metal Improvement Company
Encyclopedia
Metal Improvement Company (MIC) is a company specializing in metal surface treatments. MIC is a subsidiary
of the Curtiss-Wright
Corporation (NYSE: CW), a diversified supplier of engineered products and services to the aerospace, nuclear power, oil and gas, defense and other demanding markets.
Companies like this, in the same sector of MIC, work with several metal treatment techniques, which are usually required in some industries to enhance the performance of metal components, preventing premature fatigue and corrosion
failures.
of automobiles and military equipment companies produced before and during World War II
. Fuchs and Almen worked at the Research Laboratory of General Motors
Corporation before the start of the company.
Both of them would be recognized as pioneers in several shot peening
techniques. For example, the Almen strip
or Almen system, which is a well known tool for duplicating the shot peening process, was named after John Almen.
Fuchs started in his garage accompanied by his son-in-law with the idea of working in railways car suspensions and assemblies. Nevertheless, the shot peening
industry was beginning and the automotive sector was not showing much interest. So it was the aircraft
industry which first began to use the beneficial processes.
The company worked, for example, in the early 1950s with the famous Douglas DC-3
aircraft. In the mid-1950s, the company worked in the wind skins of all the Lockheed Super Constellation aircrafts.
In 1968, the company was acquired by Curtiss-Wright
which had begun an expansion program at its Buffalo extrusion facility, adding new forging and machining equipment for building aircraft
and aerospace
components.
In the 1970s, the idea of metal peening with light was explored in the company and in the metal treatment industry. However, it was Lawrence Livermore Laboratories at the end of the 1990s, and working in a government contract for a laser
to illuminate passing satellites, which was able to develop a process of peening
with light with enough power to use it also for commercial purposes. Metal Improvement Company, under a joint agreement with Lawrence Livermore Laboratories, began to develop this technology for commercial customers and in 2003 the company introduced the laser peening
to the market.
In 2006, NASA
worked with the company and together present an study called: “Effects of Laser Peening
, and Shot Peening
on Friction Stir Welding ”.
In the recent years, the strategy of this company, as a subsidiary
of the Curtiss-Wright
, seems to be focused also in the shot peening
outsourcing
services for enterprises, and the company claims that they are the leader in this area.
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of the Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....
Corporation (NYSE: CW), a diversified supplier of engineered products and services to the aerospace, nuclear power, oil and gas, defense and other demanding markets.
Companies like this, in the same sector of MIC, work with several metal treatment techniques, which are usually required in some industries to enhance the performance of metal components, preventing premature fatigue and corrosion
Corrosion
Corrosion is the disintegration of an engineered material into its constituent atoms due to chemical reactions with its surroundings. In the most common use of the word, this means electrochemical oxidation of metals in reaction with an oxidant such as oxygen...
failures.
History
This company was founded in 1945 in southern California by the engineer Dr. Henry Fuchs. Dr. Fuchs had been working with Dr. John Almen on new applications for shot peeningShot peening
Shot peening is a cold working process used to produce a compressive residual stress layer and modify mechanical properties of metals. It entails impacting a surface with shot with force sufficient to create plastic deformation...
of automobiles and military equipment companies produced before and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Fuchs and Almen worked at the Research Laboratory of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
Corporation before the start of the company.
Both of them would be recognized as pioneers in several shot peening
Shot peening
Shot peening is a cold working process used to produce a compressive residual stress layer and modify mechanical properties of metals. It entails impacting a surface with shot with force sufficient to create plastic deformation...
techniques. For example, the Almen strip
Almen strip
An Almen strip is a thin strip of SAE 1070 steel used to quantify the intensity of a shot peening process.Developed and patented by John O. Almen, the strip was originally supported by 2 knife edges; later improvements see it being supported on 4 small balls...
or Almen system, which is a well known tool for duplicating the shot peening process, was named after John Almen.
Fuchs started in his garage accompanied by his son-in-law with the idea of working in railways car suspensions and assemblies. Nevertheless, the shot peening
Shot peening
Shot peening is a cold working process used to produce a compressive residual stress layer and modify mechanical properties of metals. It entails impacting a surface with shot with force sufficient to create plastic deformation...
industry was beginning and the automotive sector was not showing much interest. So it was the aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
industry which first began to use the beneficial processes.
The company worked, for example, in the early 1950s with the famous Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
aircraft. In the mid-1950s, the company worked in the wind skins of all the Lockheed Super Constellation aircrafts.
In 1968, the company was acquired by Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....
which had begun an expansion program at its Buffalo extrusion facility, adding new forging and machining equipment for building aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
and aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
components.
In the 1970s, the idea of metal peening with light was explored in the company and in the metal treatment industry. However, it was Lawrence Livermore Laboratories at the end of the 1990s, and working in a government contract for a laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
to illuminate passing satellites, which was able to develop a process of peening
Peening
Peening is the process of working a metal's surface to improve its material properties, usually by mechanical means such as hammer blows or by blasting with shot . Peening is normally a cold work process...
with light with enough power to use it also for commercial purposes. Metal Improvement Company, under a joint agreement with Lawrence Livermore Laboratories, began to develop this technology for commercial customers and in 2003 the company introduced the laser peening
Laser peening
Laser peening, or laser shock peening , is the process of hardening or peening metal using a powerful laser. Laser peening can impart a layer of residual compressive stress on a surface that is four times deeper than that attainable from conventional shot peening treatments. A coating, usually...
to the market.
In 2006, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
worked with the company and together present an study called: “Effects of Laser Peening
Laser peening
Laser peening, or laser shock peening , is the process of hardening or peening metal using a powerful laser. Laser peening can impart a layer of residual compressive stress on a surface that is four times deeper than that attainable from conventional shot peening treatments. A coating, usually...
, and Shot Peening
Shot peening
Shot peening is a cold working process used to produce a compressive residual stress layer and modify mechanical properties of metals. It entails impacting a surface with shot with force sufficient to create plastic deformation...
on Friction Stir Welding ”.
In the recent years, the strategy of this company, as a subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of the Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....
, seems to be focused also in the shot peening
Shot peening
Shot peening is a cold working process used to produce a compressive residual stress layer and modify mechanical properties of metals. It entails impacting a surface with shot with force sufficient to create plastic deformation...
outsourcing
Outsourcing
Outsourcing is the process of contracting a business function to someone else.-Overview:The term outsourcing is used inconsistently but usually involves the contracting out of a business function - commonly one previously performed in-house - to an external provider...
services for enterprises, and the company claims that they are the leader in this area.
Processes
- Shot PeeningShot peeningShot peening is a cold working process used to produce a compressive residual stress layer and modify mechanical properties of metals. It entails impacting a surface with shot with force sufficient to create plastic deformation...
- Shot peen forming
- Laser PeeningLaser peeningLaser peening, or laser shock peening , is the process of hardening or peening metal using a powerful laser. Laser peening can impart a layer of residual compressive stress on a surface that is four times deeper than that attainable from conventional shot peening treatments. A coating, usually...
- Enginereed Coatings
- Heat Treating
- Anodizing
Inventions and metal technology
- C.A.S.E.
- Peenstress
- Peenflex
- Peenscan and Peenscan Pen
- Peentex
Other company facts
- The founder Dr. Henry Fuchs died in 1989. He was a Professor Emeritus of Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. Also, the Society of Automotive Engineers has an award named “Henry O. Fuchs” in honor of him.