Abstract: The invention relates to a method of casting a metal alloy ingot. The method includes providing an on one side open-ended mould having a mould cavity, positioning the open-ended mould such that the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards, providing a casting container with an upwardly positioned aperture, and filling said casting container with molten metal for one casting operation. The method also includes locating the casting container below the mould while the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards, and rotating the mould together with the casting container to a position whereby the mould opening points upwards such that the molten metal is conveyed into the open-ended mould until a desired thickness. Molten metal in the open-ended mould is cooled directionally through its thickness where the solidification front remains substantially monoaxial.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wrought 7xxx-series aluminium alloy product having a composition comprising, in wt. %., Zn 6.20 to 7.50, Mg 2.15 to 2.75, Cu 1.20 to 2.00, and wherein Cu+Mg<4.50, and wherein Mg<2.5+5/3(Cu-1.2), Fe up to 0.25, Si 0 up to 0.25, and optionally one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: (Zrup to 0.3,Crup to 0.3,Mnup to 0.45,Tiup to 0.25, Scup to 0.5, Agup to 0.5), the balance being aluminium and impurities.

Abstract: A method of producing an integrated monolithic aluminum structure including providing an 7xxx-series aluminum alloy plate with a predetermined thickness of at least 10 mm, and wherein the plate has been solution heat treated and stretched, heat-treating the plate product in a first of a plurality of artificial ageing steps required to achieve a final temper state, high-energy hydroforming the plate against a forming surface of a rigid die having a contour with a desired curvature of the integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the high energy forming causing the aluminum alloy plate to conform to the forming surface contour to at least one of a uniaxial curvature and a biaxial curvature, heat-treating the integrated monolithic aluminum structure through a remaining ageing step of the ageing steps to achieve a desired final temper, and machining the high-energy formed structure to a near-final or final machined integrated monolithic aluminum structure.

Abstract: A method of producing an integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an aluminum alloy plate with a predetermined thickness of at least 3 mm, wherein the aluminum alloy plate is a 2xxx-series alloy provided in an F-temper or an O-temper; (b) optionally pre-machining of the aluminum alloy plate to an intermediate machined structure; (c) high-energy hydroforming of the plate or optional intermediate machined structure against a forming surface of a rigid die having a contour in accordance with a desired curvature of the integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the high-energy hydroforming causing the plate or the intermediate machined structure to conform to the contour of the forming surface to at least one of a uniaxial curvature and a biaxial curvature; (d) solution heat-treating and cooling of the high-energy hydroformed structure; (e) machining and (f) ageing of the final integrated monolithic aluminum structure.

Abstract: A method of producing an integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the method includes the steps of: (a) providing an aluminum alloy plate with a predetermined thickness of at least 38.1 mm, wherein the aluminum alloy plate is a 7xxx-series alloy provided in an F-temper or an O-temper; (b) optionally pre-machining of the aluminum alloy plate to an intermediate machined structure; (c) high-energy hydroforming of the plate or optional intermediate machined structure against a forming surface of a rigid die having a contour in accordance with a desired curvature of the integrated monolithic aluminum structure, the high-energy hydroforming causing the plate or the intermediate machined structure to conform to the contour of the forming surface to at least one of a uniaxial curvature and a biaxial curvature; (d) solution heat-treating and cooling of the high-energy hydroformed structure; (e) machining and (f) ageing of the final integrated monolithic aluminum structure.

Abstract: A method of casting a metal alloy ingot, including the following steps: providing a one side open-ended mould including a plurality of sides and a bottom plate defining a mould cavity with a mould opening, the open-ended mould being pivotable around a horizontal rotational axis between a position so that the mould opening points upwards and a position so that the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; positioning the open-ended mould such that the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; providing a casting container with an upwardly positioned aperture; filling the casting container with molten metal for one casting operation; coupling the casting container to the open-ended mould so that the casting container is located below the mould while the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; rotating the open-ended mould together with the casting container around the horizontal rotational axis for approximately 90° to 180° from a position whereby the mould opening points side-wards or down-war

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing an 7xxx-series aluminium alloy plate product having improved fatigue failure resistance, the method comprising the steps of (a) casting an ingot made of an aluminium alloy of the 7xxx-series comprising (in wt. %): Zn 5 to 9, Mg 1 to 3, Cu 0 to 3, balance aluminium and incidental elements and impurities; (b) homogenizing and/or preheating the cast ingot; (c) hot rolling the ingot into a plate product by rolling the ingot with multiple rolling passes, characterized in that when the intermediate thickness of the plate is between 80 and 220 mm, at least a high reduction hot rolling pass is carried out with a thickness reduction of at least 25%, wherein the plate product has a final thickness of less than 75 mm. The invention is also related to an aluminium alloy plate product and an aerospace structural member produced by this method.

Abstract: An automotive outer panel made from a 6xxx-series aluminium alloy sheet product consisting of, in wt. %: Si 0.54% to 0.75%, Mg 0.57% to 0.80%, Cu 0.03% to 0.20%, Mn 0.06% to 0.20%, Fe 0.10% to 0.25%, wherein the ratio of Fe to Mn is in a range of 1.0 to 2.30 (Fe:Mn), Cr up to 0.09%, Zn up to 0.15%, V up to 0.04%, Ti up to 0.15%, other elements and unavoidable impurities each up to 0.05%, total up to 0.2%, balance aluminium.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aluminium alloy strip article of variable width by means of continuously casting an aluminium alloy strip article, typically in a gauge range of 3 mm to 40 mm, and including the steps of, providing a first continuously cast aluminium alloy strip article at intermediate gauge and at least a second continuously cast aluminium alloy strip article at intermediate gauge, each of the aluminium alloy strip articles to be welded have the same thickness and are of the same aluminium alloy; welding the first aluminium alloy strip article at intermediate gauge to the second aluminium alloy strip article at intermediate gauge to form a welded aluminium alloy strip article; and rolling in at least one further rolling step of the welded strip article to a final gauge.

Abstract: A method of storing and transporting a set of multiple coils of 6xxx-series aluminium alloy sheet material in a T4 or T4P condition, wherein the coils are stored and transported in a housing defining a storage area adapted and configured to receive and store the coils, and wherein the housing is formed by an intermodal container and includes a temperature control unit integrated with the housing operative to control the temperature within the storage area defined by the housing to a temperature in a range of 15° C. or less.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for establishing a packet connection between a first application running on a first electronic device located within a local area network (LAN) and a second application running on a second electronic device located outside the LAN. The method comprises: sending, by a messaging client located outside the LAN, a request message to establish a virtual private network (VPN); receiving, by a messaging agent located within the LAN, the request message; causing, by the messaging agent, a VPN client located within the LAN to negotiate, based on the request message, a VPN connection between the VPN client and a VPN server located outside the LAN; assigning, by the VPN server, a network address; provisioning the VPN client with the network address; and commanding the second application to set up the packet connection to the first application based on the network address.

Abstract: A method for continuously solution heat-treating aluminium alloy sheet by continuously moving heat-treatable 7000-series aluminium alloy sheet through a continuous heat-treatment furnace arranged to heat the moving aluminium sheet to a set soaking temperature (TSET) in the temperature range of 370° C. to 560° C., the continuous heat-treatment furnace has an entry section and an exit section, the moving aluminium sheet moves substantially horizontally through the continuous heat-treatment furnace, and the moving aluminium sheet is rapidly cooled on leaving the exit section, and before or near the entry section of the continuous heat-treatment furnace the moving aluminium sheet is pre-heated to a temperature of 5° C. to 100° C. below the TSET using an average heat-up rate as function of the sheet thickness of at least Y=?31·ln(X)+50, wherein Y is the heat-up rate in ° C./sec and X is the sheet thickness in mm.

Abstract: A system for adding molten lithium and inert gas in a molten aluminium or aluminium alloy melt including, a crucible defining a chamber for melting and storing molten metal, in particular molten lithium; the crucible having a sealed lid; an inert gas delivery system for maintaining chamber overpressure using inert gas; a conduit for withdrawing a portion of the molten metal from the crucible. The conduit arranged with respect to the crucible or the sealed lid so the conduit inlet can be moved below and above the molten metal surface level and arranged for feeding molten metal from the crucible to a separate holding furnace with the help of overpressure when the conduit inlet is below the molten metal surface level and arranged for feeding inert gas from the crucible to the separate holding furnace when the conduit inlet is above the molten metal surface level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming an AlMg alloy armor plate product, and comprising the steps of: (i) providing a plate product having a gauge of at least 10 mm and a chemical composition, in wt. %: Mg 2.5% to 6%, Mn 0 to 1.2%, Sc 0 to 1%, Ag 0 to 0.5%, Zn 0 to 2%, Cu 0 to 2%, Li 0 to 3%, optionally at least one or more elements selected from the group consisting of (Zr 0.03% to 0.4%, Cr 0.03% to 0.4%, and Ti 0.005% to 0.3%), Fe 0 to 0.4%, Si 0 to 0.25%, inevitable impurities and balance aluminum, and (ii) shaping said alloy plate at a temperature in a range of 200° C. to 400° C. to obtain a predetermined two- or three-dimensional formed structure.

Abstract: A method for continuously annealing aluminum alloy sheet at final thickness by continuously moving heat-treatable AlMgSi aluminum alloy sheet through a continuous annealing furnace arranged to heat the moving aluminum sheet to a set soaking temperature (TSET) in the temperature range of 500° C. to 590° C., the continuous annealing furnace has an entry section and an exit section, the moving aluminum sheet moves substantially horizontally through the continuous annealing furnace, wherein the moving aluminum sheet is rapidly cooled on leaving the exit section, wherein before or near the entry section of the continuous annealing furnace the moving aluminum sheet is pre-heated to a temperature of 5° C. to 100° C. below the TSET using an average heat-up rate as function of sheet thickness of at least Y=?31·ln(X)+50, wherein Y is the heat-up rate in ° C./sec and X is the sheet thickness in mm.

Abstract: A method of casting a metal alloy ingot, including the following steps: providing a one side open-ended mould including a plurality of sides and a bottom plate defining a mould cavity with a mould opening, the open-ended mould being pivotable around a horizontal rotational axis between a position so that the mould opening points upwards and a position so that the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; positioning the open-ended mould such that the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; providing a casting container with an upwardly positioned aperture; filling the casting container with molten metal for one casting operation; coupling the casting container to the open-ended mould so that the casting container is located below the mould while the mould opening points side-wards or down-wards; rotating the open-ended mould together with the casting container around the horizontal rotational axis for approximately 90° to 180° from a position whereby the mould opening points side-wards or down-war

Abstract: Methods of and systems for establishing a packet connection between a first application running on a first electronic device located within a local area network (LAN) and a second application running on a second electronic device located outside the LAN. The method comprises: sending, by a messaging client located outside the LAN, a request message to establish a virtual private network (VPN); receiving, by a messaging agent located within the LAN, the request message; causing, by the messaging agent, a VPN client located within the LAN to negotiate, based on the request message, a VPN connection between the VPN client and a VPN server located outside the LAN; assigning, by the VPN server, a network address; provisioning the VPN client with the network address; and commanding the second application to set up the packet connection to the first application based on the network address.

Abstract: A method for continuously solution heat-treating aluminium alloy sheet by continuously moving heat-treatable 7000-series aluminium alloy sheet through a continuous heat-treatment furnace arranged to heat the moving aluminium sheet to a set soaking temperature (TSET) in the temperature range of 370° C. to 560° C., the continuous heat-treatment furnace has an entry section and an exit section, the moving aluminium sheet moves substantially horizontally through the continuous heat-treatment furnace, and the moving aluminium sheet is rapidly cooled on leaving the exit section, and before or near the entry section of the continuous heat-treatment furnace the moving aluminium sheet is pre-heated to a temperature of 5° C. to 100° C. below the TSET using an average heat-up rate as function of the sheet thickness of at least Y=?31·ln(X)+50, wherein Y is the heat-up rate in ° C./sec and X is the sheet thickness in mm.

Abstract: A method of producing molten aluminum-lithium alloys for casting a feedstock in the form of an ingot, the method including the steps of: preparing a molten first aluminum alloy with a composition A which is free from lithium as purposive alloying element, transferring the first aluminum alloy to an induction melting furnace, adding lithium to the first aluminum alloy in the induction melting furnace to obtain a molten second aluminum alloy with a composition B having lithium as purposive alloying element, optionally adding further alloying elements to the second aluminum alloy, transferring the second alloy via a metal conveying trough from the induction melting furnace to a casting station.

Abstract: A method for continuously annealing aluminium alloy sheet at final thickness by continuously moving heat-treatable AlMgSi aluminium alloy sheet through a continuous annealing furnace arranged to heat the moving aluminium sheet to a set soaking temperature (TSET) in the temperature range of 500° C. to 590° C., the continuous annealing furnace has an entry section and an exit section, the moving aluminium sheet moves substantially horizontally through the continuous annealing furnace, wherein the moving aluminium sheet is rapidly cooled on leaving the exit section, wherein before or near the entry section of the continuous annealing furnace the moving aluminium sheet is pre-heated to a temperature of 5° C. to 100° C. below the TSET using an average heat-up rate as function of sheet thickness of at least Y=?31·ln(X)+50, wherein Y is the heat-up rate in ° C./sec and X is the sheet thickness in mm.