POWDER METALLURGY

Novomet is unique in the artificial lift industry because it uses superior powder metallurgy manufacturing to produce parts with exceptional precision and surface smoothness that improve efficiency in electrical submersible pumping (ESP) systems.

Compared to casting (typical manufacturing process for most ESP components), powder metallurgy manufacturing delivers superior surface smoothness that reduces fluid friction, produces less waste, and enables complex component design that is simply not possible using even the most advanced casting techniques.

We use powder mixtures that contain a variety of metals including iron graphite, stainless steel, and various alloys. All powder pressing takes place in the Novomet powder production workshop.

Pressing is carried out on hydraulic and mechanical press machines. The powder production workshop has 20 press machines with a force of 55,000 to 1.6 million pounds of force (25 to 750 tonnes). The equipment makes it possible to produce complex parts in diameters ranging from 0.4 to 5.1 in. (10 to 130 mm) and heights between 0.04 and 2.4 in. (1 and 60 mm). After being pressed, parts are assembled using an advanced adhesive composite. After sintering (temperatures top out at around 2,000°F (1100°C), the parts are fully hardened and are ready for machining after cooling. The real advantage of powder metallurgy is that we can manufacture parts with miniscule size tolerances compared to sand casting, enabling us to produce smaller parts with greater precision.