Great oaks from little acorns grow, runs the old adage. And the same can be true in business as it is in nature. In the case of had materials in the United States, the "acorn" is a producers' association with the aim of growing bigger this year - its 50th anniversary.

The Cemented Carbide Producers' Association (CCPA) may be small in numbers but it is big in influence, numbering in its ranks most of the big hitters on the US hardmetals production scene.

Although the association's headquarters is in Cleveland, Ohio, member companies are located throughout the United States. However, the majority are based in western Pennsylvania - commonly known as the "carbide corridor".

Membership is open to any and every company that has been engaged in sintering, forming or pressing carbides in the US for at least a year. But now the CCPA is broadening membership to offer associate status to include powder suppliers and other interested parties.

The association's 50th anniversary meeting in Bermuda in May will reflect the newly expanded and integrated organisation.

The core aim of the CCPA remains the creation of a business environment where members can make and market safe, productive carbide products throughout the world. To accomplish its mission, the association:
• Fosters industry growth, competitiveness and technology;
• Supports the design and production of safe products;
• Supports and publishes legitimate technical research;
• Collects and disseminates industry statistics;
• Facilitates exchange of information and ideas;
• Encourages commitment to environmental protection;
• Represents the industry with national and international technical and regulatory groups to develop standards for product design and safety; and
• Develops programmes on training, marketing and business optimisation.

Allen P Wherry, then principal of J J Wherry Associates, founded the CCPA in 1954 and became its first Commissioner. His son, Jeff, is the current CCPA Commissioner and will preside over the May meeting in Bermuda.

More details of that meeting and of membership, contact Linda Hamill at the CCPA: leh@wherryassoc.com

AMTP on the way up!

UK-based A & M Tungsten Powders, (AMTP), are steadily increasing their presence as a supplier of pure tungsten powders.

Since the acquisition by the A & M Group four years ago, investment in equipment and personnel has lead to a steady improvement in output and capability.

"We are pleased with the progress we have made with the company", said the A & M Group's Managing Director, Jim McCombie. "And we intend keeping up the momentum."

A & M Tungsten Powders' main interest is in supplying pure tungsten powders, largely eschewing involvement in the tungsten carbide market. Their approach to this is innovative - producing several grades of powder tailored to particular tungsten market segments. These include powders specific for the high-density alloy, infiltration, mill product, lead replacement and tungsten hexafluoride markets. These different grades are produced using a combination of raw material quaity, reduction conditions and post reducion processing. This enables properties such as flow characteristics, green strength and impurity levels to be modified to suit the process in which the tungsten powder is to be used.

"We see ourselves as working with our customers to optimise the tungsten powder we supply to them", said General Manager Philip Wells. "They are finding that using AMTP powder can result in small but useful improvements in the efficiency of their processes."

The Company's tungsten powder production is based upon a traditional hydrogen reduction furnace, with testing facilities directed heavily towards characterisation of the physical properties. Current maximum capacity of the plant is 600 tonnes per year and modest investment could add substantially more.

See: www.tungstenpowder.co.uk

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