Specialty metals processing consortium to attack research problems, increase U.S. competitiveness.Specialty Metals Processing Consortium to Attack Research Problems, Increase U.S. Competitiveness Scientists from 10 companies are teaming with Sandia National Laboratories Sandia National Laboratories, which is managed and operated by the Sandia Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation), is a major United States Department of Energy research and development national laboratory with two locations, one in Albuquerque, New in a Dept of Energy (DOE) effort to increase U.S. competitiveness in the world specialty metals market. The newly formed group, the Specialty Metals Processing Consortium, Inc (SMPC SmPC Summary of Product Characteristics SMPC Society for Music Perception and Cognition SMPC Secure Multi-Party Computation SMPC Service des Matériaux Polymères et Composites (Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials) ), is the focus of an agreement for collaborative research signed recently in Washington, D.C. by DOE and SMPC representatives. The SMPC brings together industry representatives, universities and the DOE. Sandia, a prime DOE contractor with laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA, was instrumental in forming the partnership. Some 30-40 American companies develop and manufacture specialty metals (high-strength, high-performance steel, titanium alloys Titanium alloys are metallic materials which contain a mixture of titanium and other chemical elements. Such alloys have very high tensile strength and toughness (even at extreme temperatures), light weight, extraordinary corrosion resistance, and ability to withstand extreme , nickel-based alloys This is a list of alloys for which an article exists in Wikipedia (or is proposed but not yet written). They are grouped by base metal, in order of increasing atomic number. Within these headings they are in no particular order. and other high-tech metals) for use in aircraft, satellites, nuclear power reactors, high-speed drills and other products. Defense hardware that must work after being in stockpile stock·pile n. A supply stored for future use, usually carefully accrued and maintained. tr.v. stock·piled, stock·pil·ing, stock·piles To accumulate and maintain a supply of for future use. for years also depends on these materials. The formal signing of the agreement by DOE and SMPC culminates more than 18 months of trying to bring together members of this highly competitive industry. The consortium's goals include developing a focused industrywide in·dus·try·wide adv. & adj. Throughout an entire industry: sales that have decreased industrywide; industrywide cooperation. research and development effort, halting halt·ing adj. 1. Hesitant or wavering: a halting voice. 2. Imperfect; defective: halting verse. 3. Limping; lame. the erosion of the U.S. technology base, and meeting the challenge of expanding capabilities by European and Pacific Rim Pacific Rim, term used to describe the nations bordering the Pacific Ocean and the island countries situated in it. In the post–World War II era, the Pacific Rim has become an increasingly important and interconnected economic region. competitors. "The companies are pooling research dollars to work on generic process problems that are directly applicable to the industrial sector," said Robert J. Torcolini, SMPC president. "This is a vital industry where the U.S. maintains a competitive advantage. Through collaboration of the government labs, industry and universities, it is likely that we can keep or possibly even increase this edge." Each participating company in the consortium will contribute $50,000 annually for five years, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the cooperative agreement. The DOE will provide financial support over an initial five-year period after which it is expected that the program will be self-supporting. Funds will be used to conduct studies of mutual interest to participants. Projects will be selected by private-sector consortium members and supported by Sandia and university research. Although member companies share the research results, they will be free to apply this information to developing their own processes and products. Sandia's role will be to provide technical consultation with experienced materials researchers, to offer access to its metals processing equipment and to undertake associated research. SMPC membership will be open to qualified companies until Oct 31, 1990. Companies or organizations interested in joining should contact Robert J. Torcolini, Carpenter Technology Corp, 215/371-2301. |
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