American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Central Michigan Section - District B
Serving members throughout central lower Michigan including Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Jackson.



Home Section Leadership Newsletters Past Events Student Section Bylaws Section History Jobs Board
ASME Home Page Local Universities Jobs Board Honors & Awards First Robotics Team Local History & Heritage Links Section Scholarships

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is a 120,000 member professional organization focused on technical, educational, and research issues of the engineering and technology community. ASME conducts one of the world's largest technical publishing operations, holds numerous technical conferences worldwide, and offers hundreds of professional development courses each year. ASME sets internationally recognized industrial and manufacturing codes and standards that enhance public safety.  The vision of ASME is to be the premier organization for promoting the art, science, and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences to our diverse communities throughout the world.

 

Our Credo: Setting the Standard... in Engineering Excellence... in Knowledge, Community & Advocacy ...for the benefit of humanity.

 - Announcements -




Click HERE for a link to the event poster --for more information and reservation form




The 31st Annual Engineers Week Dinner Presents

Interstate Traveler Company
"Building the World Wide Hydrogen Super Highway"

February 16, 2010

Announcing the 31st Annual Engineers Week Dinner, held on Tuesday evening from 5:30-9:00pm, February 16, 2010, at the Western Michigan University Fetzer Center. Our topic this year is "Building the World Wide Hydrogen Super Highway…," featuring Justin Eric Sutton, the Founder and Managing Partner of the Interstate Traveler Company.

Click HERE for a link to the event poster

Click HERE for a link to the event webpage for more information and reservation forms






SPECIAL EVENT - Saturday, January 23, 2010

Time: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Image of MacSteel - Jackson

Gerdau MACSTEEL

A rare opportunity to tour an operating "state of the art" steel plant. This opportunity is limited to the first TWENTY (20)  people to sign up!
The program will start promptly at 9:00AM with a safety briefing and welcome video - MacSteel and Central Michigan Section will have donuts and coffee.

Location: Gerdau MACSTEEL
3100 Brooklyn Road
 
Jackson, MI 49201
Near the intersection of US 127 and MI 50  Link to Google Map

For Reservations Contact: Dean A. Cross, P.E. at (517) 702-6443 W, dac@lbwl.com

For carpool from the Lansing, MI area, contact Dean Cross
For carpool from Kalamazoo, MI area, contact Peter Ried 

Who is Gerdau MACSTEEL?
Gerdau MACSTEEL is an engineered bar producer headquartered in Jackson, Michigan with worldclass steel manufacturing plants in Jackson, Michigan, Monroe Michigan, and Fort Smith, Arkansas. Steel processing plants are located in Huntington, Indiana and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Gerdau MACSTEEL utilizes electric arc furnaces, ladle furnaces refining, vacuum arc degassing, advanced rotary continuous casting and modern continuous static casting, direct twist-free rolling, turning and grinding, and heat treating to produce engineered SBQ carbon and alloy hot rolled and bright cold finished SEAM-FREE steel bar products to direct end applications.

Gerdau MACSTEEL Philosophy
Gerdau MACSTEEL believes in high quality customized steel bar manufacturing and processing with fast responsive service to all customer needs. Gerdau MACSTEEL maintains few management layers, and a highly involved and empowered workforce that uses an honor system with no time clocks and rewards innovation, free-thinking and forward planning. High quality products and service have developed strong customer loyalties that will nurture mutual growth well into the next millennium.

Customer-Made TM  Steel Bars
Gerdau MACSTEEL promises to engineer steel bars directly to your application. Each order receives the best combination of the Gerdau MACSTEEL advanced processes to meet the most restrictive requirements for safety and other critical part applications. Gerdau MACSTEEL customizes each heat of steel to specific end applications. Gerdau MACSTEEL provides restrictive requirements for safety and critical part application. Gerdau MACSTEEL produces engineered carbon and alloy steels to: Aircraft Quality (AMS-2301,2304); Bearing Quality (ASTM A295,A485, A534, A535) Gun Barrel Quality; Cold Working Quality (cold extrusion); AISI, SAE, German (DIN), Japanese (JAS & JIS), International Standards (ISO), and EURONORM Standards (EN).

$24,000,000 Capital Improvement Increases MACSTEELCapacity from 420,000 to 485,000 tons per year
  • MAC-MI increased capacity from 140,000 tpy to 180,000 tpy
  • Phase I moderinization achieved its objective of allowing us to make bearing quality steels meeting ASTM A295 and A534.
  • Gerdau MACSTEEL was also capable of producing steel to the world class standards for total oxygen of less than 15 PPM.
  • Gerdau MACSTEEL was first to produce aluminum deoxidized bearing quality steels in the USA and sequence cast several heats.
  • All grades of steel were enhanced due to the Ultra-clean steel practices and this has been widely recognized by gear, camshaft producers as well as cold forger's.
  • Not only internal quality but also surface quality improved due to Phase I refinements.
  • Ultra-sonic testing capability has enabled Gerdau MACSTEEL to penetrate new markets, especially the European export market and domestically the foreign transplants.
  • Our inspection capability certifies the quality of our product.
  • Gerdau MACSTEEL has made the strategic investments to ensure that we can produce engineered steel bars to world-class levels.
  • These investments have given our customers steels that have enabled them to push the envelop in cold forging, impact extrusion, near net shape forging and precision forging.
  • Our steel has enabled product warrantees to increase; wheel bearings from 100k to 150k miles, camshafts to 1M miles and smaller CV joints that can carry higher torque, smaller bearings that can carry higher loads.
  • The precision and repeatability of our steel has permitted customers to invest in more sophisticated computerized machinery to compete in the global market place..

  • The program will continue with lunch after the tour at the Ella Sharp Museum of Art & History

    Cost: Select lunch from menu. A lunch beverage is complimentary with the purchase of a museum entry.
    Click on image for a link to the Ella

    meetella.gif


    LINK TO GOOGLE MAPS




    SPECIAL EVENT - Thursday, October 22, 2009

    Time: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

    Technical Program and Tour of Solar Array at Lansing Board of Water and Light

    Location: Downtown Lansing, LBWL Water Reservoir across from John Dye
    Water Conditioning Plant at 148 S Cedar St.

    Parking: Lot just south of the corner of Michigan and Cedar.

    Speaker: Mr. Jan G. Nelson, P.E.

    Contact Person: Dean A. Cross, P.E. at (517) 702-6443 W, dac@lbwl.com

     

    BWL powers up Michigan's largest solar array



    Solar-generated electricity began streaming into the Lansing Board of Water & Light's power grid December 23, 2008, as Michigan's largest solar array became operational.


    BWL General Manager J. Peter Lark "threw the switch" at the Cedar Street Solar Array, formally signaling the BWL's entry into solar generation. "We have now added solar to our portfolio of renewable energy sources, which I believe is a powerful statement of our commitment to remain Michigan's leader in 'green' energy," Lark said. "This solar array is just the beginning. We intend to build others in the future. Additionally, we are expanding our renewable energy portfolio with electricity generated by landfill gas, hydro, wind and biomass."


    The solar array, located near downtown Lansing, consists of 432 solar panels. They will provide electricity sufficient to power about 50 Lansing-area homes. The panels are manufactured by a Michigan company, and are capable of generating electricity even when skies are overcast.


    In 2007, the BWL became the first utility in Michigan to adopt a Renewable Portfolio Standard. This policy sets a goal for the BWL to acquire 7 percent of its generation from renewable energy by 2016.
    A 2008 Michigan law now requires all state utilities to have 10 percent of their energy originating from renewable sources by 2015. "Our early commitment to acquiring renewable energy puts the BWL ahead of the curve," Lark said. "I am confident the BWL will meet or exceed the state's 10 percent renewables mandate."

    The program will continue after the tour at the local coffee shop for
    those interested in further discuss of alternate energy.

    Cost: None


    Great Lakes Chocolate & Coffee Company Locations LANSING, MICHIGAN
    Location:
    Stadium District
    500 E. Michigan, Ste. 190
    Lansing, MI 48912
    Phone: 517.999.3405

    LINK TO GOOGLE MAPS



    SPECIAL EVENT - Thursday, May 28, 2009

    AIAA/ASME Joint Dinner Meeting & Tour
    GE Aviation

    Mouse click here for event poster:



    SPECIAL EVENT - Tuesday, May 5, 2009

    The ASME Central Michigan Section is pleased to announce an upcoming tour event at the Bradford White Manufacturing facility at 7 PM on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. The Bradford White Manufacturing address is 200 Lafayette Street, Middleville, MI 49333.


    Bradford White has a history dating back to 1881. Today it is one of the most technologically advanced manufacturers of water heating, space heating, combination heating and water storage products in the world. The 800,000 square foot manufacturing operation in Middleville, Michigan, builds all of its products strictly for wholesale distribution. Bradford White products for residential, commercial and industrial applications are designed for installation by plumbing and heating professionals.



    The Middleville facility is the largest employer in Barry County and participates in many ways to support the local and statewide community as a good corporate citizen. Bradford White has an ongoing commitment to provide water heaters to Habitat for Humanity throughout the region.


    For tour reservations, please contact Jerry Dahl at dahlj1@asme.org or by telephone at 269-353-7276 with the name of attendees. Security requirements dictate that all tour attendees be preregistered and identified prior to entrance to the plant. Registration for the plant tour closes on Tuesday April 28th, so please plan accordingly to respond.


    Local dining selections are limited, so please plan to have eaten before the tour begins.

     


    SPECIAL EVENT - Thursday, March 26, 2009

    Keynote Speaker:
    Mr. Jim Medsker,
    Keystone Product Development

    "There is Good News Out There:
    a Michigan company perspective."

    Western Michigan University's Student Chapter of ASME presents the
    Annual Junior/Senior Meeting at the College of Engineering.

    With Graduate Speaker:
    Mr. Ryan Clark
    "Onboard Monitoring of Engine Oil" Undergraduate Speaker:

    Mr. Jeff Terry and WMU Formula SAE
    "Preparing for the future:
    Student Designed Formula-Style Race Car"

     

    Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 6:30PM
    Western Michigan University,
    College of Engineering
    Room D-201

    Mouse click here for event poster:



    Calendar of Meetings/Events

    Newsletters 2008 - 2009


    Mouse click below for latest section newsletter:

    Newsletter -- November 2008 (.PDF)
    Newsletter -- November 2008 (.DOC)




    SPECIAL EVENT - Tuesday, November 18, 2008

    An Evening with Sarah Fisher in Kalamazoo

    Sarah will share her IndyCar driving experiences and
    her new venture as an team owner.

    Tuesday, November 18, 2008
    Fetzer Center
    Western Michigan Univ.

    Follow this link for more information and early registration. (CLICK HERE)

    Learn more about Sarah Fisher @ Her Official Website: http://www.sarahfisher.com/faq/faq.html

    Sarah Fisher's profile on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Fisher



    Newsletter -- October 2008 (.PDF)
    Newsletter -- October 2008 (.DOC)


    Newsletter -- February 2008 (.PDF)
    Newsletter -- February 2008 (.DOC)


    January Dinner Meeting & Tour - January 16, 2008

    Benteler Automotive Corp. Manufacturing Plant
    Galesburg, Michigan

    Mouse click below for latest section newsletter:
    Newsletter -- January 2008 (.PDF)
    Newsletter -- January 2008 (.DOC)

    Tour of Benteler Automotive Corp.Manufacturing Plant
    Date: January 16, 2008
    Location:
    Dinner: Time Out Lounge
    400 E. Michigan Avenue
    Galesburg, MI (mouse click HERE for map)
    Cost:
    Order from restaurant's menu
    5:30 PM Registration and social Hour
    6:00PM Dinner
    7:30PM Tour -- (For those who are planning to attend the tour only, please plan to be at the Benteler plant by 7:15PM. Please use the front entrance by the flag poles.
    Guest parking is located in front of the building)

    RSVP by Monday, January 14, 2008.
    (Indicate member's name, guest and company or student and school)
    RSVP Contact: John Lobo (269) 342-3342 or JohnCLobo@Eaton.com


    Benteler Automotive - Galesburg The Galesburg facility is one of fourteen Benteler Automotive plants located in North America. Automotive chassis weldments are produced on 13 production lines for use by GM, Ford and Chrysler LLC. Products range from trailing arms to front and rear subframes. The plant employs over 250 associates.

    Our tour guides are Ted Robinson, Quality Engineer and Doug Dubai, Engineering Manager.

    Benteler Automotive is part of Benteler AG, a privately held global automotive, steel and distribution company with sales of 5.6B Euros operating at 150 locations in 34 countries with a workforce of over 22,000 associates. Strong emphasis is placed on Continuous Improvement principles thru lean production and efficient processes.


    ARCHIVES:

    Newsletters 2006 - 2007

    Newsletters 2005 - 2006

    Newsletters 2004 - 2005

    Newsletters 2003 - 2004

    Newsletters 2002 - 2003




    © Copyright 2008 by ASME Central Michigan Section. All rights reserved.

    Last updated: 30 January, 2010

    Contact: