Wauconda, Illinois- Magnesium is showcased in professional-grade appliances and electronics in The Pros Know: Magnesium Creates a Competitive Edge, the Spring 2011 issue of the Mg Showcase produced by the International Magnesium Association (IMA). Original Equipment Manufacturers, working together with metal forming experts, are incorporating magnesium for structural and mechanical properties unmatched by other materials to maximize performance in state-of-the-art professional products and equipment.

Long considered by professional chefs and cooks as the industry standard in countertop kitchen appliances, the KitchenAid® Professional 600™ stand mixer features a direct-drive transmission with all-metal construction housed in magnesium. Product engineers selected magnesium for the housing because it withstands higher temperatures and may be molded without any need for secondary machining operations. Magnesium’s stability, along with offering excellent manufacturing repeatability, are other advantages cited by the designers. In addition, the magnesium transmission housing can withstand higher loads and temperatures than the previous design using thermostat plastic.

Magnesium Injection Molding technology is the key behind the 15 different parts used in the Maintenance Support Device, MSD-V3 rugged convertible militarized laptop by VT Miltope. Magnesium meets and exceeds the most challenging conditions to form one of the most powerful, portable and configurable tactical computing systems. The rugged core computer and dock made of lightweight magnesium alloy, AZ91D, is molded into ultra thin-walled parts, including the computer and docking station chassis and covers, as well as various housings, doors and covers in the inner workings of the computer. “This device is a true showcase of our magnesium capabilities,” said engineering manager Eric Semingson from Phillips Magnesium Injection Molding, the company that supplied the magnesium components for the military-grade portable computer.

With an applied conversion coating, the magnesium housings and enclosures provide EMI shielding protecting the laptop from radiated and conducted emissions, electromagnetic pulses and radiation hazards. The MSD-V3 meets military specifications for withstanding the harshest environments and tactical situations, including extreme temperatures, solar radiation, shock, transportation vibration, humidity, dust and more. The U.S. Army relies on this tough, compact laptop for mission-critical support under extreme conditions in the field.

The latest issue of the IMA Mg Showcase also highlights a variety of camera and video equipment featuring magnesium in a crucial role to improve performance and lighten the load. Products featured include the JVC Everio GS-TD1, the world’s first high-definition three-dimension (HD 3D) consumer camcorder unveiled at the 2011 Consumer Electronic Show, the Sony® BVP-series professional video camera, and the Kodak® Professional DCS-series digital camera featuring Nikon’s F-5 family of optics and accessories.

In addition to the robust variety of professional products featured, Mg Showcase includes “A Closer Look: Eco-Magnesium Process Adopted by LG Electronics”, which explains how LG adopted a new die-casting process for its mobile phone components to align with its goal to become more environmentally responsible. A new type of clean magnesium alloy known as Environmentally Conscious Magnesium (Eco-Magnesium) was developed for LG by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), funded by the Korean government. The die-casting process used to produce the Eco-Magnesium components virtually eliminates the used of sulfur-hexafluoride (SF6) cover gases. LG projects a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by a factor of 24,000 during the die-casting process without affecting product quality. The company is considering expanding the use of Eco-Magnesium in the future for other portable devices, such as laptops and tablets, according to LG spokesperson Nanako Kato, offering potentially substantial environmental benefits.

Magnesium’s spectrum of new high-performance products is expected to grow globally, as manufacturers seek environmentally sound ways to form and produce magnesium for the future.

To view The Pros Know: Magnesium Creates a Competitive Edge, as well as past issues, visit www.intlmag.org and choose Mg Showcase under “Magnesium Resources” from the side navigation bar.

As part of its ongoing mission to be the global voice of magnesium, the International Magnesium Association has created the graphically rich and vividly descriptive Mg Showcase, a quarterly online publication that is used to inform readers about the value that magnesium brings to various market applications. Mg Showcase clearly illustrates magnesium's superior material attributes, performance, and design advantages. Market applications that have been featured in previous Mg Showcase issues include transportation, consumer electronics, furniture, medical/healthcare equipment, and more.

Founded in 1943, the International Magnesium Association is an international trade organization representing the producers, processors, fabricators, and marketers of magnesium, along with suppliers to the industry. The IMA’s membership spans more than 30 countries on 5 continents. For more information contact IMA at 1000 N. Rand Road, Suite 214, Wauconda, IL 60084. Telephone: 847/526-2010; fax: 847/526-3993; info@intlmag.org; www.intlmag.org.

###