F.A.S.T. Inc. started in 1997 when a powdered metal parts producer in Tennessee needed a moisture system on a new 24” continuous belt furnace they had just purchased. After just three days of processing, they were getting blistering of the parts on the edge of the belt due to the build-up of carbonaceous vapors in the preheat zone of the furnace. After installing a moisture control panel from F.A.S.T. Inc. they were able to sinter without having this problem. They, like many others, are now using the moisture system on many of their sintering furnaces, not only to eliminate blistering but to increase their belt and muffle life and to reduce the particulate materials in stack emissions well below those required by DEP.
This system is currently being used on numerous powdered metal furnaces throughout the country. With the addition of the new precise water metering pump, the panel could be used for any application where a precise and constant dew point is required on a 24/7 schedule. With the addition of the updated electrical system and the precise water metering pump these systems have become virtually maintenance free.
In 1999 after spending 40+ years as a metallurgist in the powdered metal industry, with both a powder metal manufacturer and an industrial gas company servicing the powdered metal industry, Mr. James Marsden Sr., FAPMI joined the company as a consultant. This gives us the opportunity to offer such services as furnaces analysis, in-plant training courses and consulting on sintering problems that some companies may not be able to solve internally.
James G. Marsden FAPMI now has over 50 + years experience servicing the powdered metal industry. Mr. Marsden got his diploma in ferrous and non ferrous metallurgy from Temple University and served as an Instructor in the Physical Metallurgy Laboratory at Drexel University. He has written and presented numerous technical papers and has published a book on sintering ferrous powdered metal compacts. He has received the MPIF “Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy” and the APMI “Fellow” awards from the powdered metals industry as well as three patents associated with the field of powder metallurgy.
James Marsden II, president started this business in 1997. Since then they have been engineering, assembling and servicing our Moisture Control Panels. James has also been providing such services as dew point and oxygen analysis, furnace trouble shooting and conducting in-plant training courses for powdered metal parts manufacturers.
