ASPEX Introduces Metal Quality Analyzer(TM) (MQA) for Steel, Establishes New Industry Protocol for Process Control

ASPEX today announced the release of its Metal Quality Analyzer(TM) (MQA), the steel industry’s first, all-in-one system for quickly identifying and characterizing harmful non-metallic inclusions that affect steel production. In conjunction with newly-developed protocols, the MQA(TM) allows plants to improve yields, realize tremendous energy-efficient cost savings, and recognize an annual ROI of over $1 million. Designed specifically for the needs of steel manufacturers, the MQA is fast, durable, and easy to use. Combining the optics of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with the elemental analysis capabilities of an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), the fully-integrated SEM/EDS system dynamically scans steel specimens collected from the ladle or final product, then counts, sizes, and identifies impurities that can lead to caster clogging, wasted material, and furnace downtime. Unlike traditional sample analysis conducted by expert technicians in remote locations, the MQA is rugged and reliable enough for “mill-site” installations and can be operated by any skill level. Because results are delivered in minutes, not weeks, data from the MQA’s automatically-generated reports can be used to continuously monitor and improve steel making practices. “Given the direct link between inclusion content and the production process, steel manufacturers demand a unique analyzer that can operate under conditions not traditionally found in a laboratory,” said Tom Powers, Director of Field Sales at ASPEX. “The MQA is the fastest analyzer on the market, and it is also the most durable. This system puts control in the hands of the manufacturer.” ABOUT ASPEX: ASPEX is the leading provider of integrated microanalysis solutions for a wide range of critical cleanliness, microcontamination analysis, product purity, contamination diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and other process control initiatives incorporating scanning electron microscopes and elemental analysis technologies. The company’s custom solutions are at work in a variety of application-specific tasks in the steel, forensics, pharmaceutical, and automotive industries. Its full-service headquarters are in Pittsburgh, PA. Additional information about ASPEX and its tools for particle size analysis is located at www.aspexcorp.com.

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