Xtralloy Proves Its Worth To Crusher Operators For Two Decades
PORTLAND, OR - JULY 2008 - This year marks the 20th year anniversary for Xtralloy, a unique high carbon and manganese alloy from Columbia Steel that changed the way the aggregate and mining industries think about wear part life in tough, abrasive applications.
Although high carbon and manganese steel from Europe began making inroads in the States in the early 1980s, it wasn't until 1986 that high performance crusher wear parts significantly hit the market, when metallurgists at Columbia Steel developed a way to produce thick, heavy sections of the new alloy.
That process included an extensive field review of crusher operations throughout the U.S. in the early 80s by Columbia Product Engineer Chuck Hendrickson. "I visited 55 customers in 17 states in 21 days," recalls Hendrickson about the whirlwind tour. What he saw convinced Chief Metallurgist Phil Belding back at the Portland, Oregon, foundry that they were on to something.
"Heavy section cone liners were a casting type which had been universally avoided by all of the other premium manganese steel producers in this country," says Belding. By experimenting with both ingredients and processes - specifically heat treating - Belding and the Columbia Steel foundry found a solution to these problematic thick castings.
What was the first product made from the new Xtralloy alloy? "We started by manufacturing 7-foot Symons cone parts," says Chuck Hendrickson. "Nowadays we produce a large volume of different cones and jaws, as well as gyratory concave segments, and even rolls for shredders."
Columbia Steel is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The 86-acre facility is home to an on-site product design and engineering department and full-service steel casting foundry. They will be exhibiting at Booth 6075 in MINExpo's Central Hall in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 22 to 24, 2008.
All trademarks or product names are the property of their respective owners. Columbia, CS mark, and Xtralloy are trademarks of Columbia Steel Casting Co., Inc. All other names, trademarks and descriptions are used for reference purposes only.
Contact:
Alan George, Communications Manager
Columbia Steel Casting Co., Inc.
Portland, Oregon USA
alan_g@columbiasteel.com
www.columbiasteel.com
