FEATURED PRODUCT

Allied Mineral Products Inc. and Special Shapes Refractory Company (SSRC) of Bessemer, Alabama have joined forces combining Allied Mineral’s refractory technology with SSRC’s manufacturing and application technology to offer new innovative shaped refractory to iron, steel, non-ferrous and glass applications.

PATHFINDER - Improved Ladle Gas Stirring Systems

Allied Mineral Products, Inc. is supplying Special Shapes Refractory Company with Allied Mineral's newest alumina-spinel refractory LCF 644A for SSRC to manufacture an improved ladle gas stirring plug and block.  Value added advantages of the LCF 644A include:
	1.	Less water required for casting.
	2.	Lower porosity in the dried shape.
	3.	Higher density and higher strength.
	4.	Better erosion resistance for longer service life.

Special Shapes Refractory Company has introduced the PATHFINDER – No Lance Ladle Gas Stirring Plug using the LCF 644A that features:
	1.	A combination of size controlled capillaries interconnected in a lattice web to improve stir reliability.
	2.	Very fine slits that resist metal infiltration serve as self-starting jets and reduce the need for oxygen washing of the hot face of the plug for improved productivity.
	3.	A LCF 644 pocket block for better resistance to corrosion and enhanced protection of the stir cone.

Pathfinder-No Lance Ladle Gas Stirring Plug

This new system raises the benchmark for performance providing steel makers and foundrymen improvements in:
	1.	Homogenization of temperature and chemistry.
	2.	Efficient additions of alloys and slag conditioners.
	3.	Floatation of inclusions for superior quality.
	4.	Longer service life for reductions in cost per unit of production.
	5.	Consistent and reliable service.
Allied Mineral’s Bill Porter and SSRC’s Gene Powell have coauthored a technical paper titled: "NO LANCE" Ladle Stir Plug Technology Improves Productivity and Stir Reliability.  This paper describes the features and benefits of the new system in detail.  Bill and Gene will present the paper at the Association of Iron and Steel Technology’s Conference September 2004 in Nashville, TN.
For an assessment of your ladle stirring needs and a determination of how the new PATHFINDER System might benefit your operation, please contact Frank Bittel or Gene Powell:

Allied Mineral Products, Inc. 2700 Scioto Parkway Columbus, OH 43221		Special Shapes Refractory Company 1100 Industrial Blvd. Bessemer, AL 35022
Phone:	614-876-0244	Phone:	800-805-9047
Fax:	614-876-3133	Fax:	205-424-3290
frb@alliedmin.com		gene@ssrco.com