The Metal Improvement Company (MIC) offers a range of services to enhance the performance of metals and other materials. We provide quality controlled and cost-effective surface treatments that improve the resistance of your metals against premature failure, allowing your critical components to reach their maximum potential. These include controlled shot Peening, peen forming, laser Peening, C.A.S.E isotropic finishing, engineered coating, Peenflex protective moulds, and Peentex architectural finishing.
MIC has a network of 68 dedicated international facilities, meaning customers have access to our services almost anywhere in the world. Most of our services can also be completed on-site, so you can call upon our experience and expertise wherever and whenever you require.
Our services have the approval of most international regulatory bodies, including FAA, AS9100, NADCAP, ISO 13485, and ISO 9001:2000. That's why organisations from a range of industry sectors trust MIC to enhance the quality and performance of their materials. We have worked in a number of fields, including aerospace, architectural, automotive, medical, chemical processing, general engineering, power generation, and oil, gas and petrochemical. We maintain quality process controls of the very highest standard to ensure that our services meet the latest industry specifications. Our engineers understand the challenges faced by many industries, so whatever your requirement, MIC has it covered! Give us a call today to discuss your requirements.
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Residual tensile stress induced during the manufacturing process can often result in component failure when the material is placed under severe working conditions. Typical examples of premature failure include corrosion fatigue, metal fatigue, stress corrosion cracking, intergranular corrosion, galling, fretting, spalling and general wear. Controlled shot peening is an effective, practical method of inducing surface residual compressive stresses which improves performance and extends the life of critical components in a wide range of applications.
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MIC also undertakes peen forming, a process that induces beneficial compressive stresses in order to create curvature and profile from welded or machined structures. It also corrects distortion from machined and heat treated metals. Peen forming offers numerous advantages, including an improved resistance to stress corrosion cracking and flexural bending fatigue. The process is completed at room temperature, without the need of forming dies. Peen forming is suitable for wing skins, aircraft components, large connecting rods, transmissions, crankshafts, and rocket structures.
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This process induces deep residual compressive stresses which enhance the fatigue strength of metallic components. It enables designers to surgically place residual compressive stress into key areas of components in order to prevent crack initiation and growth. For many years, laser peening has been used to improve the fatigue life of aerospace components, including turbine engines and aircraft structures. It is also now used to peen form wing skins for intercontinental aircraft, and has been used in automotive applications, power generation, nuclear waste disposal, medical implants and petroleum drilling. If you would like to find out more about how laser peening works, simply follow the link to the MIC website.
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This process is used for metals which require exceptional bending and contact fatigue strength, as well as enhanced surface properties for resisting heavy loads. C.A.S.E Isotropic finishing is undertaken after controlled shot peening is completed, thereby further enhancing the fatigue life of the component's surface. The process is ideal for surfaces which require mirror like finishes, finishes suitable for microbiological cleansing and sterilisation, increased lubrication retention, reduced lubricant temperature, and reduced contact fatigue. Isotropic finishing is often used on transmission and valve train gears in aerospace, automotive and earth moving applications. Surfaces that have been subjected to this process have been shown to be five times more resistant to pitting.
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E/M Coating Services (a division of MIC) are specialists in solid film lubricants and zinc rich coatings. We offer a range of coatings that protect materials from corrosion, improve wear life and performance, and reduce maintenance costs. Lubricants and coatings include: dry film lubricants (MoS2, PTFE, Graphite and WS2), zinc rich coatings for corrosion protection, impingement coatings, non-stick/release coatings for low coefficients of friction, dampening materials for rubbers and plastics to reduce noise and squeaking, coatings for EMI/RFI shielding to control electromagnetic interference, and much more. Our engineered coatings are used to enhance the performance of a variety of components, including pumps, valves, gears, bearings, gaskets, seals, bolts, locknuts, washers, and magnets.
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Peenflex mouldings protect component parts from damage and abrasion typically inflicted during the various stages of processing, moving, lifting, storage and despatch. Our damage review teams assess component requirements to produce mouldings that meet your needs, helping you to reduce the costs induced by damage and delays. They offer exceptional levels of wear resistance and can be recycled throughout the handling stages.
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MIC uses controlled shot peening to create a decorative textured finish that we call Peentex. It is used to improve the practicality and aesthetic appearance of surfaces in architectural applications. This process can be undertaken on a range of materials, including metal, glass, wood, and acrylic sheeting. We have been providing creative Peentex finishes to the construction and architectural design industries for over 60 years! The Peentex finish offers numerous benefits, including an enhanced damage and corrosion resistance, improved scratch prevention, resistance to graffiti and stickers, and an easy to clean surface. It has been used on street furniture, hand rails, metal and glass decoration, sculptures and monuments, countertops, reception desks and more!
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Wherever and whenever you need us, we'll be there to offer the same great material enhancing services on-site. Whether it's at your premises or in the field, our crews can be mobilized at short notice, anywhere in the world. This on-site service is ideal for treating equipment or plant that cannot be easily moved: for example, steam turbines, bridges, storage vessels, street furniture, mining facilities, and food processing equipment. If you would like any further information on our services and the types of applications they can be used for, please don't hesitate to give MIC a call!
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http://www.metalimprovement.co.uk
