<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Metals Unlimited North Blog</title><link>http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/</link><description>This is the Metals Unlimited North Blog</description><copyright>Copyright (c) 2012 </copyright><pubDate>2/22/2012 6:03:29 PM</pubDate><lastBuildDate>2/22/2012 6:03:29 PM</lastBuildDate><ttl>5</ttl><item><title><![CDATA[ Budget Cuts ]]> </title><description><![CDATA[  
Looming behind the strong demand forecasted over the next few years for the commercial aircraft industry is uncertainty surrounding the proposed budget cuts in our defense spending. "The negatives out there are the possibilities of the defense cuts, but quite frankly, if you really step back and look the the amount of metal the defense area drives compared to commercial airline, it's relatively small, so I don't view that as a major threat," says Dennis Oates, president and CEO of Universal Stainless &amp; Alloy Products, Bridgeville, Pa.
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Defense is all about affordability and uncertainty. Defense budgets are coming down, but we don't know how much and how quickly or specifically which programs will be terminated or downsized. Many companies are aggressively seeking cost reduction throughout the supply chain, including raw material suppliers. Nobody is quite sure what metals will be affected. You could probably take a pretty good guess these metals will include stainless, aluminum, titanium, nickel, etc. The major alloy's used in production of military equipment. The current projection in reduction of defense spending is roughly 10 percent over the next decade. There will be a significant decline in the demand for metals used in defense equipment.&nbsp;
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While the commercial airline industry is expected to increase production over the next few years, what kind of impact do you think this decrease in defense spending will have on our industry all the way down to the raw material suppliers? ]]> </description><link>http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/blog/posts/budget-cuts.html</link><pubDate>12/1/2011 11:33:00 AM</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Aluminum Forecast ]]> </title><description><![CDATA[ When you take a look at the aluminum market, the view may appear pretty dim. Most of the growth in this market exist in the transportation industry. Aluminum appears to have the slowest recovery out there. In our type of industry, we provide the raw materials and we must rely on the economy to pick up to show any growth in this area.
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Doing some research on aluminum on the internet, Paul-Henri Chevalier of Jupiter Aluminum, Schiller Park, Ill, says "The aluminum market is tied to consumer confidence and spending." This is interesting because simply take a look around you and you'll see how many of the day to day items you use are compromised of aluminum. Everything from housing to cars and soda cans. Consumer spending on aluminum has dropped from $74 per day to $68 per day from July to August 2011 and still shows signs of decline. Aluminum isn't really entering any new markets, it's simply growing within existing segments within existing markets.&nbsp;
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The key to boosting this industry is consumer psychology. Think about the uses for aluminum and you will find the pro's out weigh the con's. Just to pick out a few pro's, aluminum is easy to work with and form, you can paint it, you can anodize it, etc.&nbsp;
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What are your thoughts on this material? I believe it is a staple of America's producers and consumers. Aluminum is just as American as muscle cars and apple pie. Worldwide production of craft beers and breweries using aluminum cans is on the rise. How can we shun a material that is a vessel for transporting our precious beer?&nbsp; ]]> </description><link>http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/blog/posts/aluminum-forecast.html</link><pubDate>11/29/2011 10:19:00 AM</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Boeing 747-8 Freighter First Delivery Set. ]]> </title><description><![CDATA[  Boeing will deliver the first 747-8 Freighter to launch customer Cargolux Sept. 19 at Paine Field in Everett, Wash. Cargolux will put the airplane into immediate service. Cargolux carrier has a total of 13 of the airplanes on order, expecting the second delivery on Sept. 21.&nbsp;&nbsp;747-8 Intercontinental Airliner. Image courtesy of Boeing, Inc.   ]]> </description><link>http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/blog/posts/boeing-747-8-freighter-first-delivery-set-20.html</link><pubDate>9/7/2011 9:14:00 AM</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Here's to the Future ]]> </title><description><![CDATA[  
 
 
There is a cloud of uncertainty looming over American businesses. It is important we keep our financial houses in order. Many companies in the metal industry are feeling the current upswing in business, yet remain guarded and due to a certain feeling of apprehension. Remain responsible and steady. &nbsp;  

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&#8220;Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our
time, that in our time we did everything that could be done. We finished
the race; we kept them free; we kept the faith.&#8221;&#8194; Ronald Reagan ]]> </description><link>http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/blog/posts/here-s-to-the-future.html</link><pubDate>9/7/2011 9:28:00 AM</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ F-35 Authorized to Return to Flight ]]> </title><description><![CDATA[ @import url(http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/CuteSoft_Client/CuteEditor/Load.ashx?type=style&file=SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/style/style.css);
The F-35 Joint Program Office authorized the return to flight operations for F-35 developmental test aircraft.  

An Air Force Safety Investigation
Board continues to review the circumstances that led to the failure of
an Integrated Power Package (IPP) aboard an F-35A conventional
takeoff and landing variant assigned to Edwards AFB, Calif., on August 2.
Personally, I favor the F-18 Super Hornet. Comments? What is your preference in a fighter and why? 

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  
 ]]> </description><link>http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/blog/posts/f-35-authorized-to-return-to-flight.html</link><pubDate>8/22/2011 12:05:00 PM</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Boeing to Deliver First 787 Dreamliner in September ]]> </title><description><![CDATA[ @import url(http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/CuteSoft_Client/CuteEditor/Load.ashx?type=style&file=SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/style/style.css);

Boeing Co. expects U.S. regulators to approve its new 787 aircraft this month, expecting delivery to customers in September, a senior executive at Boeing said
Thursday. 
&nbsp;
How do you feel Boeing can compete against the new Air Bus A-380?&nbsp;
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&nbsp; 

Image courtesy of Boeing  ]]> </description><link>http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/blog/posts/boeing-to-deliver-first-787-dreamliner-in-september.html</link><pubDate>8/12/2011 9:42:00 AM</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Aging Aircraft Safety Act of 1991 ]]> </title><description><![CDATA[ The Aging Aircraft Safety Act of 1991 passed by Congress in 1991, and 
later accepted by the FAA, requires airlines to ensure repairs or modifications made to their airplanes are damage-tolerant. 
As part of the requirement, airlines must have a damage-tolerance-based 
maintenance program in place by December 20, 2010. This includes the 
development of an FAA-approved Operator Implementation Plan that 
contains the processes and timelines the operator will use for obtaining
 and incorporating maintenance actions to address the effects of repairs
 and alterations.&nbsp;Aging Aircraft Safety Act of 1991&nbsp;&nbsp; Even though this is mandated to be in place, what confidence do you have in airlines to strictly adhere to this and why?   ]]> </description><link>http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/blog/posts/aging-aircraft-safety-act-of-1991.html</link><pubDate>8/12/2011 9:55:00 AM</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Nickel ]]> </title><description><![CDATA[ Due to it's resistance to corrosion, Nickel is used in many industrial and consumer products, including stainless steel, magnets, coinage, rechargeable batteries,
 electric guitar strings, microphone capsules, and special alloys. It is
 also used for plating and as a green tint in glass. Nickel is 
pre-eminently an alloy metal, and its chief use is in the nickel steels 
and nickel cast irons, of which there are many varieties. It is also 
widely used in many other alloys, such as nickel brasses and bronzes, 
and alloys with copper, chromium, aluminium, lead, cobalt, silver, and 
gold.




&nbsp; ]]> </description><link>http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/blog/posts/nickel.html</link><pubDate>7/12/2011 11:59:00 AM</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Titanium Alloy ]]> </title><description><![CDATA[ Characteristics of titanium alloys include high tensile strength to density ratio, high corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, high crack resistance, and ability to withstand moderately high temperatures without creeping. Titanium alloys are used in aircraft, armor plating, naval ships, spacecraft, and missiles. For these applications titanium alloyed
 with aluminium, vanadium, and other elements is used for a variety of 
components including critical structural parts, fire walls, landing gear,
 exhaust ducts (helicopters), and hydraulic systems. About two 
thirds of all titanium metal produced is used in aircraft engines and 
frames. An estimated 59 metric tons (130,000 pounds) are 
used in the Boeing 777, 45 in the Boeing 747, 18 in the Boeing 737, 32 in the Airbus A340, 18 in the Airbus A330, and 12 in the Airbus A320. The Airbus A380 may use 146 metric tons, including about 26 tons in the engines. In engine applications, titanium is used for rotors, compressor blades, hydraulic system components, and nacelles. The titanium 6AL-4V alloy accounts for almost 50% of all alloys used in aircraft applications.
 ]]> </description><link>http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/blog/posts/titanium-alloy.html</link><pubDate>6/29/2011 1:20:00 PM</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Stainless Steel ]]> </title><description><![CDATA[ Stainless steel&#8217;s resistance to corrosion and staining, low maintenance and familiar lustre
 make it an ideal material for many applications. There are over 150 
grades of stainless steel, of which fifteen are most commonly used. The 
alloy is milled into coils, sheets, plates, bars, wire, and tubing to be used in cookware, cutlery, hardware, surgical instruments, major appliances, industrial equipment (for example, in sugar refineries)
 and as an automotive and aerospace structural alloy and construction 
material in large buildings. Storage tanks and tankers used to transport
 orange juice and other food are often made of stainless steel, due to its corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties. This also influences its use in commercial kitchens and food processing plants, as it can be steam-cleaned and sterilized and does not need paint or other surface finishes.&nbsp;  ]]> </description><link>http://www.metalsunlimitednorth.com/blog/posts/stainless-steel.html</link><pubDate>6/29/2011 1:40:00 PM</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
