As much as it pains us to admit it, it was the English who first came up with this process to create modern steel. Metalmite uses alloy steel along with stainless steel in our CNC manufacturing processes today to make parts that make the world go around! After getting your history lesson below, take a look at our 5 axis machining and see how a modern machine shop can make parts fast and efficiently!
The Americans were close behind of course! Wikipedia tells us that Englishmen, Sir Henry Bessemer (1813-1898) invented the first process for mass-producing steel inexpensively in 1855, essential to the development of skyscrapers. An American, William Kelly, had held a patent for “a system of air blowing the carbon out of pig iron” a method of steel production known as the pneumatic process of steel making. Air is blown through molten pig iron to oxidize and remove unwanted impurities. Modern steel is made using technology based on Bessemer’s process. Bessemer was knighted in 1879 for his contribution to science. The “Bessemer Process” for mass-producing steel, was named after Bessemer. The current-day company that was the first to use the Bessemer Process is GKN. See here
Note: “Dowlais (Current day GKN) was keen to adopt new methods and became the first British company to acquire a licence to produce steel using the Bessemer process in 1856. However, it was to take the best part of a decade of experimentation at Dowlais, under the guidance of William Menelaus, before a truly industrialised method for the production of steel was perfected.”
How Stainless Steel came about:
Wikipedia again tells us that Harry Brearley (18 February 1871 – 14 July 1948) was an English metallurgist, usually credited with the invention of “rustless steel” (later to be called “stainless steel” in the anglophone world). Virtually all research projects into the further development of stainless steels were interrupted by the 1914-18 War, but efforts were renewed in the 1920s. Brearley had left the Brown Firth Laboratories in 1915, following disagreements regarding patent rights, but the research continued under the direction of his successor, Dr. W. H. Hatfield. It is Hatfield who is credited with the development, in 1924, of a stainless steel which even today is probably the widest-used alloy of this type, the so-called “18/8“, which in addition to chromium, includes nickel (Ni) in its composition (18wt% Cr, 8wt% Ni). Then later, argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) is a process primarily used in stainless steel making and other high grade alloys with oxidizable elements such as chromium and aluminum. After initial melting the metal is then transferred to an AOD vessel where it will be subjected to three steps of refining; decarburization, reduction, and desulphurization. AOD was invented in 1954 by the Lind © Division of The Union Carbide Corporation.
Metalmite is a full-service machine shop located in Rochester, Michigan, we manufacture, modify, and repair prototype and production parts for a wide variety of clients. What makes us different? For over 45 years we’ve pursued manufacturing perfection with a precise mix of quality, service, delivery and price! This winning combination has helped us earn certification as a Prime contractor for the United States Government, as well as a trusted supplier in many other industries. We use 3,4,5 and 6 axis CNC machining to keep us on the cutting edge of the market. With in-house Wire EDM and CNC grinding we are able to offer full service completion of your project. We are a true single source vendor and one stop shop if you need us! Call today at 248-651-9415