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EQI Acquires Ferralloy, Expanding Thermal Capabilities

The EQI team is excited to announce that we’ve recently acquired Ferralloy, Inc., a leading global supplier of heat-resistant alloy products, forgings, production castings, and specialty raw materials. Over the past few years, EQI expanded its capabilities by acquiring Pro-Tech, a prominent supplier of metal products to the thermal processing industry. Together, Ferralloy, Inc., and Pro-Tech will add scale to EQI operations and diversify EQI products, services, customer base, and supply chain.

Established in 1984, Ferralloy, Inc. is based in Cleveland, Ohio. When the company was founded, it focused on heat-resistant alloy castings and fabrications used primarily in the thermal processing industry. Ferralloy Inc. has experienced substantial growth in the years since, expanding its offering to include closed-die and rolled-ring forgings, investment castings, machined bar stock components, exotic superalloys, and refractory alloys in all standard shapes and sizes.


Ferralloy, Inc., serves multiple end markets, including metal processing (heat treatment, fabrication shops, machine shops), automotive, aerospace, mining, and heavy equipment. Through commitment to process improvement, quality, and customer satisfaction, along with ISO 9001 certification, Ferralloy, Inc., has established a world-class customer base, including Caterpillar, Ford, Owens Corning, Mack, Whirlpool, and more. The company has also cultivated valuable supply relationships in China, India, and the US, enhancing the EQI global network.ssurance, testing, and logistics and inventory management services.


We are confident that the acquisition of Ferralloy Inc., which will operate as a division of EQI, will enhance the company’s ability to deliver the highest level of quality and service to its customers. Their expertise and capabilities in thermal processing and their focus on quality will drive innovation at EQI and better equip us to deliver exceptional value to our customers.

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For more information about Ferralloy, Inc. please visit ferralloy.com. For additional details on how EQI’s new capabilities can assist you, please contact us below or give us a call at 616.850.2630.

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What’s the Best Metal for Your Casting Project?

EQI has been a leading supplier of metal castings for decades. Castings allow for the cost-effective creation of complex, three-dimensional parts to meet almost any application’s requirements. While all casting processes begin with molten metal, a variety of specialized molding processes are best suited to specific materials and part attributes.

Investment
Casting


Uses a wax pattern coated with a refractory material. Then, the wax is melted out and the mold is filled with molten metal.

Techniques:

  • Silica sol process
  • Combination process with silica sol – sodium silicate

Sand
Casting


Uses sand as the main mold material.

Techniques:

  • Vacuum process sand
  • Green sand casting
  • Resin-bonded air or gas set sand casting
  • Thermal set sand casting (shell molding)
  • Lost foam

Die casting / Permanent Mold /
Semi-Permanent Mold


Uses metal molds and high pressure to force the molten metal into a mold.

Techniques:

  • High-pressure casting
  • Low-pressure casting
  • Gravity pour casting

When selecting metal for a casting project, EQI will work with you to consider characteristics such as strength, hardness, machinability, corrosion resistance, and cost. With these factors in mind, EQI offers a broad range of iron, steel, and aluminum castings across nearly every casting manufacturing process.

Iron


Grey Iron

Known for its color, which comes from the graphite flake structure that develops during the solidification process. Grey iron is a popular choice because it’s cost effective.

Qualities

  • Good machinability
  • Great damping capacity
  • Good thermal conductivity
Uses

  • Pump housings
  • Gears and valves
  • Hydraulic parts
  • Machinery bases

Ductile Iron (Nodular Iron)

A cast iron with spherical graphite structures in the metal that increase ductility and broaden the range of suitable applications. Stronger than grey iron, ductile iron can be alloyed to boost specific properties such as thermal resistance, strength, and elongation. Due to its high carbon content, ductile iron is a good candidate for various heat treatments to modify the microstructure and material properties further.

Qualities

  • High tensile strength
  • Superior ductility and improved impact resistance
  • Excellent wear resistance
Uses

  • Heavy-duty machinery components
  • Critical structural and load-bearing components
  • Hydraulic parts
  • Machine tooling
  • Fittings

Steel


Carbon and Alloy Steel

Steels can be tailored for many applications by selecting the appropriate carbon and alloy content. Heat treatment can provide a wide range of strength, ductility, and hardenability. Carbon steel is versatile and economical, making it ideal for general machine and structural applications. It can also be easily welded up to specific levels of carbon equivalence.

Qualities

  • High tensile strength
  • Great ductility
  • High machinability
Uses

  • Industrial equipment
  • Construction components
  • Machinery parts

Stainless Steel

A ferrous alloy that is highly resistant to oxidation and corrosion due to added chromium that forms a protective oxide layer. There are over sixty different grades of stainless steel, and unique compositions are regularly added to the spectrum.

Qualities

  • Corrosion resistance
  • High strength
  • Toughness
  • Excellent thermal resistance
  • Suitable in harsh environments (heat, cold, acidic) and hygiene applications
Uses

  • Chemical processing equipment
  • Pumps & valves
  • Impellers
  • Housings

Nickel-Based Alloys

These alloys are often deployed in extreme working environments. The nickel matrix and alloying additions perform exceptionally in high-temperature and corrosive applications, often in the thermal processing, chemical, and petroleum industries.

Qualities

  • Thermal resistance
  • Corrosion resistance
Uses

  • Industrial furnaces
  • Water treatment components
  • Marine parts
  • Chemical processing equipment

Aluminum Alloys

Aluminum alloys have a desirable strength-to-weight ratio, making them ideal for applications where weight is an issue.

Qualities

  • High strength-to-weight ratio
  • Good corrosion resistance
Uses

  • Transportation parts
  • Industrial components
  • Marine applications

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EQI is ready to help you determine which metal alloy best suits your needs. Get started with help from our metal casting experts.

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The Truth About Tariffs



Why EQI is uniquely positioned to handle any type of supply chain risk.

 

 

We’ve all heard the news about the tariffs, and many of you have come to us with concerns. How will these tariffs affect us? Where is the right place to do business?

Our answer to these questions is simple. Tariffs are just another type of supply chain disruption, and we at EQI are the most effective company in the world at mitigating risk for your metal components.

From the pandemic to environmental crises, government sanctions, and beyond, we have swiftly navigated every type of challenge you can imagine–including tariffs implemented by previous administrations.

We thoughtfully evaluate each customer’s challenges and create custom solutions, matching them with the best capabilities and partners for each project. To achieve this, we leverage our global manufacturing network, which empowers us to produce a diverse array of line-ready metal components that fulfill unique product needs.

 

 

 

Let’s take a look at a few more reasons why EQI is uniquely capable of mitigating risk:

  • Top-three global counterweight provider with years of experience managing risk.
  • A leadership team that brings decades of experience in production, procurement, logistics, supply chain management, and more.
  • Spent over 20 years developing an extensive supply chain in China and have maintained strong relationships with production partners there. China continues to produce high-quality, lower-cost products, even with the tariffs.
  • Developed strong partnerships with suppliers in India, Vietnam, and North America, doubling our capacity and enhancing our ability to swiftly source outside of China as needed.
  • Established global logistics and shipping partners. Other competitors in this market don’t have the same type of access to large-scale options. For example, EQI ships over 8,000 containers per year.
 

When you partner with EQI, you gain access to a comprehensive range of capabilities. We will expertly handle your shipping and logistics and offer value-added services such as coatings, warehouse and inventory management, machining, and assembly.

This extensive range of services simplifies supply chains and provides certainty, transparency, and resiliency in the face of any type of risk.

 

 

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Interested in learning more about our risk mitigation capabilities? Contact us today.

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