CITATION CORPORATION
2 Office Park Circle, Suite 204
Birmingham, AL 35223
Contact: Stanley B. Atkins
205-871-5731
Fax: 205-871-5772
July 31, 2000
Citation Corporation announces an agreement with Ube Machinery
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Citation Corporation announces an agreement with Ube Machinery, Inc. of Ann Arbor, Mich. to install an 800 ton New Rheocast Casting (NRC) machine at the company's Southern Aluminum facility in Bay Minette, Ala., according to Vince Genise, vice president product engineering and development. There are currently only three machines of this type in the world. The Bay Minette facility will become Citation's research and product development center introducing the NRC process to customers who are interested in the semi-solid process.
"By partnering with Ube, Citation is leading the way in the development of semi-solid formed aluminum automotive and industrial components which require low mass and high mechanical properties," said Genise. "Applications include traditionally manufactured ferrous and non-ferrous components used in automotive vehicle powertrain, suspension, brake, and steering systems."
The Ube NRC semi-solid forming process features a liquid to semi-solid slug approach as opposed to the conventional heating of specially prepared billet. The casting cell in Bay Minette will be used for new product and alloy development.
The NRC process offers advantages over the conventional semi-solid process. It uses conventional ingot thereby eliminating the premium currently exacted on semi-solid billet. In addition, the offal, runners and biscuits, can be recycled directly to the furnace without any special treatment.
Citation Corporation is a leader in the design, development and manufacturer of cast, forged and machined components for the capital and durable goods industries, including automotive and industrial markets. Citation has close to 7,000 employees serving 17 divisions in nine states. The company produces aluminum, steel and iron castings, steel forgings, and machined and assembled components for automobiles, light, medium and heavy trucks, off-highway construction equipment, agricultural equipment, pumps, compressors, and industrial valves, machine tools, aircraft, oil tools and other durable goods. Annual sales exceed $800 million.