In one of the more stunning scientific achievements of the past decade, two robot vehicles, collectively known as the Martian Exploration Rovers, landed on the surface of the planet Mars. Dubbed the Spirit and the Opportunity, the Rovers were sent to the Red Planet to accumulate valuable information on its mineralogy and atmospheric composition, as well as collect data on potential sources of water in anticipation of possible future human settlement. In short, a lot was riding on a pair of solar-powered, six-wheeled robots, both of which were less than the size of a typical commuter car.

This February, the United States and Mexico finalized a long-discussed agreement that would allow for deepwater drilling in 1.5 million prime acres of untapped oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico. With the Middle East in political tatters, and with the potential for a catastrophic loss of oil shipments from that strategically vital region, the need for affordable domestic oil drilling operations is more apparent than ever. Along with the ongoing fracking boom in North Dakota and Alberta, the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most ready solutions to this looming crisis. It is vital to have the quality means available for the long-term extraction of the Gulf of Mexico’s petroleum riches.

Besides being a vital material in applications ranging from fighter jets to deep-space exploration, Nitronic 60, one of the premier alloys we supply at High Performance Alloys, has been making inroads into the medical industry. Prized on account of its resistance to wear, fretting, and galling, it is a class-3 composition (Austenitic stainless) with an ASTM F899 specification, which covers similar materials as those in ISO 7153/1-ranked stainless steel surgical instruments.

High Performance Alloys (HPA) of Tipton, IN got off to a quick start in 1984, when we realized there was a niche need for super alloys that was waiting to be filled by an enterprising company. We started out by providing companies with small quantities of the materials we supplied. We reasoned that many companies didn’t want to pay for a 12’ bar of, for example, INCONEL®, when all they required in fact was 6 to 8 inches of the material. To that end, we established a very low minimum order price-range for our inventory. Indeed, few companies today can claim to have begun with a minimum order of merely $50. All the same, our reasoning behind this low number was sound: we anticipated that many of the companies utilizing super alloys would soon be growing into larger companies, given the sorts of high-tech applications they were building. In our industry, a small business oftentimes means an ambitiously growing business, and it was our firm intention to grow alongside our clientele.

27 years further down the road, and we still maintain a very low minimum order. For $100, you can get a certain amount of our materials delivered to you in a hurry. Coming from a company that (by this point) has supplied NITRONIC ® 60 for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, as well as the Mars Rover, this is quite a fine offer. It’s all part of our commitment to supporting small business pioneers, allowing them the quality materials they need to develop their products, forging long-term friendships and alliances in the process.

By the way, when we say that we will deliver you material in a “hurry,” we do truly mean it. Another one of our company’s founding guidelines was that of same-day shipment. If you ordered a quantity of material that we currently had in stock, we would ship it to you that same day. That original maxim remains rock-rooted in place. Whether you are looking to build the next path-breaking fighter, bomber, or spacecraft, or whether you are seeking material for oil drilling operations and the like, HPA is ready to serve as your wingman all the way.

NACE could best be called, “The Mother of All Corrosion Conferences.” The conference and expo was held from March 11 – 15 in Salt Lake City this year, and featured a sum total of 350+ exhibitors and 5,000 leading industry experts from around the world. While we certainly looked forward to meeting new contacts and making new friends, we had other, longer-term reasons for attending beyond the requisite wining and dining (yes, as it turns out, you actually can order a beer on any given Sunday in SLC).

As of yet, the F-35 Lightning II is the world’s only supersonic, multi-purpose stealth fighter. Currently being developed and tested by such companies as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and BAE, the F-35 program – if pursued to its full extent – will equip a new generation of American and British fighter squadrons with upwards of 3,000 top-of-the-line aircraft. Intended to replace aging Cold War-era veterans like the A-10 Warthog, the AV-8B Harrier, and the F/A-18 Hornet, the F-35 (known commonly as the Joint Strike Fighter) will see its impact felt in most branches of the armed services, everywhere from the Air Force, to the Navy, to the Marine Corps.

We received our new ISO 9001-2008 certificate. If you require an updated copy, please contact Dave Morrow at 1-800-472-5569 ext 103. File can also be downloaded from our site at: http://www.hpalloy.com/iso/iso9001_2008.html

Article in Kokomo Tribune: Tipton company investing $5.1 million - seeks tax abatement

Windfall manufacturer a ‘Company to Watch’ » Local News » Kokomo Tribune; Kokomo, Indiana

Company provides high-tech alloys for aircraft, space shuttle