221 Westmoreland Drive Latrobe, PA 15650 USA
P.O. Box 388 Youngstown, PA 15696-0388 USA
Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research (WMT&R) understands the importance of a quick response. In the aluminum industry, manufacturers are faced with an ever-increasing demand for shorter turnaround times and WMT&R is doing its part to make sure these companies can get their product out the door and into the market as fast as possible. To address the unique testing needs of aluminum manufacturers, WMT&R created an Aluminum Center of Excellence, a Nadcap and A2LA accredited facility dedicated to testing aluminum-based materials. The facility features staff and advanced technology that are focused solely on the preparation and testing of aluminum specimens.
Fast turnaround requirements for production lot releases and the ever-increasing volume of aluminum testing requests were the key reasons for establishing an entire facility dedicated to aluminum. To keep the testing process as efficient as possible, WMT&R manufactures, inspects and tests aluminum specimens all under one roof. The faster the material is machined and tested, the quicker the manufacturer can get it to their customers.
Manufacturing Technology
The Aluminum Center of Excellence manufactures nearly all specimen types on site. The machine shop features a collection of semi-automatic saws - standard vertical saws, and horizontal saws, one of which has a 37-inch blade capable of cutting work pieces 45 inches wide and 30 inches high.
WMT&R’s aluminum facility also has CNC lathes and CNC mills of various sizes and styles, capable of making nearly all specimen types, including 30-inch by 54-inch CCT Fracture Panels. For the jobs requiring a more “hands-on” approach, WMT&R has vertical manual mills and manual lathes. Each CNC lathe is equipped with automatic parts loaders with robotic pickers to handle large lot-release turned parts.
Testing Capacity
The Aluminum Center of Excellence is equipped with an arsenal of servo-hydraulic and electro-mechanical test frames, ranging from 500 to 220,000 lbs. The Center has the capacity to handle large-scale, long-term testing programs, while still maintaining the ability to handle smaller, quick turnaround testing requests.
The lab is equipped to handle the following tests:
Project Engineering Services
Depending on the size and scope of the testing program, WMT&R provides project management services at the Aluminum Center. Project managers provide customers with dedicated support and a primary point of contact. Work scopes are reviewed and discussed in detail with customers, to ensure that all questions and concerns are addressed before any work is started.
Advanced Monitoring
Also unique to the Aluminum Center is an integrated Telemetry System. Developed and maintained by WMT&R, this monitoring system allows us to track temperature and humidity in the lab, with preset upper and lower tolerance limits. The system is designed to warn with emails, texts, and an alarm if limits are approached. Also integrated into this system are other key lab components such as chiller status and temperature, oil temperature, electrical component status, and generator status. This system is critical in addressing and preventing issues in a timely manner.
Building Lasting Partnerships
WMT&R and aluminum companies have enjoyed strong working relationships for many years. As customer requirements evolve, WMT&R discovers new ways to address the specific needs of these companies. The Aluminum Center of Excellence represents WMT&R’s philosophy of partnering with customers to develop the best testing solutions for their businesses.
Quote Request Info Request