Sunday, July 18, 2004

Dana's revolutionary, proprietary technology that harnesses highly efficient microwave energy

Dana is leading the way in innovation.This is from their press release on 24 May 2004.Promises to be a boon for manufactring industry.I really wonder how much will the technology and materials cost.

For answers please visit the the website.

Dana Corporation (NYSE: DCN) announced today that it is deploying a revolutionary, proprietary technology that harnesses highly efficient microwave energy to accomplish dozens of processes, including the heat treating and coating of metal and ceramic parts. It also enables the creation of advanced materials.

Dana’s Microwave Plasma Technology, which operates at atmospheric pressure, has been shown to dramatically slash processing times, cut operating costs, and improve part quality over conventional techniques.

Microwaves historically have not been used to process metals because metals don’t absorb microwaves, and the reflection can damage the microwave source. However, Dana scientists solved this problem by surrounding the metal with microwave-absorbing plasma at atmospheric pressure.

Dana’s method of creating and sustaining plasma is simple and cost-effective, and it enables a variety of metal processing applications – such as brazing, sintering, carburizing, annealing, tempering, nitriding, and coating.

Dana Chairman and CEO Michael J. Burns said, “This is an important breakthrough in manufacturing technology. The potential cost savings are significant, but even more exciting are the possibilities this technology offers in terms of licensing opportunities, as well as new product development.”

The company is scheduling internal production lines for the deployment of microwave plasma technology, but Dana is also in discussions with several other companies about external commercialization opportunities.

“Dana is known as a leader in new and innovative vehicle technologies, but MPT provides an excellent example of our advanced process technologies – an area where we also excel, said Mike Laisure, president of Dana’s Automotive Systems Group. “Although the initial focus is on metal processing and coating, Dana is also exploring a variety of non-traditional applications for its technology, such as exhaust treatment; surface engineering, including decrystallization; formation of carbon nano-structures; and hydrogen production.”

Dana Corporation is a global leader in the design, engineering, and manufacture of value-added products and systems for automotive, commercial, and off-highway vehicles. Delivering on a century of innovation, the company's continuing operations employ approximately 45,000 people worldwide dedicated to advancing the science of mobility. Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, Dana operates technology, manufacturing, and customer-service facilities in 30 countries. Sales from continuing operations totaled $7.9 billion in 2003. Dana’s Internet address is

http://www.dana.com

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