CASE STUDY: BLOOD ANALYZER HEATER
An OEM of blood analyzing equipment needed a method to heat and control the temperature of testing fluids. Initially, the customer designed an assembled block containing a coiled tubing and bonded silicon rubber heaters. This solu- tion resulted in fluid contamination and corrosion, as well as leakage through the fluid path. In addition, the bonded silicon rubber heaters on the aluminum plates had poor heat transfer, causing inadequate temperature control. The OEM needed a better way to control its temperature.
Cast Aluminum Solutions (CAS) converted the original
circulation heaters. Te CAST-X Circulation Heaters are available in multiple sizes and watt ranges from 1 to 60 kilowatts. CAS was purchased five years ago
by a small private equity group based out of Michigan. “Our ownership group under- stands manufacturing and value added opportunity, and has been very supportive in providing us the capital to grow and improve the overall business,” Ahern said. “A significant portion of our investments have been in new equipment such as state-of-
design to a one-piece cast-in aluminum component with tubular heating elements. This design significantly improved the heat transfer and eliminated the corrosion and leakage problems. Alodine, a protective external coating applied around the outside perimeter of the cast- ing, reduced contaminants from the surface. CAS also facilitated the subassembly, including the addition of sensors, switches, wiring harnesses and electrical enclosures, delivering a ready-to-use part to the customer.
the-art CNC machining centers. We needed improved machining capa- bilities due to demand for tighter tolerances and geometries. It gives us capacity, time and repeatability, and allows us to add tremendous value for the customer.” In 2015, the company was named
“Manufacturer of the Year” in its county based on complexity of product, markets, scope, local sourcing, intern program and participation in the Alli- ance for Illinois Manufacturing. “We’re also quite proactive with our marketing and finding new
opportunities,” Ahern said. He sees growth for CAS coming not just in next-generation equipment from existing OEM suppliers, but from opportunities in developing sectors, such as cryogenics, where subjecting materials to very low temperatures can be useful in electric power trans- mission, blood banking, and the study of atoms. “We try to stay in touch with the industries we serve and learn about ones we are not in. We are always asking ourselves ‘Where is the next great idea coming from, and how can we participate in it?’”
February 2016 MODERN CASTING | 31
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60