Al Fakhem
12th Feb 2009, 09:02
According to a circular published by VDMA (German Machinery Manufacturers' Association) on 9th February 2009, radioactively contaminated stainless steel has been found in stainless steel plates and semi-finished products in factories in Europe.
First detected at an Austrian manufacturing plant in August/September 2008, numerous similar cases have since been recorded in Germany.
In all cases, the stainless steel being processed contains Cobalt 60, a radioactive isotope. The circular identifies a number of steel mills, from where the stainless steel was initially sourced:
Vipras Castings; Bunts; Laxmi; SMK Steels; Pradeep Metals. All these suppliers are located in India. Whilst Vipras Castings has been positively identified, the others on the list are suppliers with a high degree of possibility in this regard.
Given the level of globalization, it is quite conceivable that radioactively contaminated stainless steel has made its way into aviation components at first glance sourced from suppliers located outside of India, but who source their raw materials or semi-finished goods from there.
More details are to be released on 16th February 2009 by VDMA.
First detected at an Austrian manufacturing plant in August/September 2008, numerous similar cases have since been recorded in Germany.
In all cases, the stainless steel being processed contains Cobalt 60, a radioactive isotope. The circular identifies a number of steel mills, from where the stainless steel was initially sourced:
Vipras Castings; Bunts; Laxmi; SMK Steels; Pradeep Metals. All these suppliers are located in India. Whilst Vipras Castings has been positively identified, the others on the list are suppliers with a high degree of possibility in this regard.
Given the level of globalization, it is quite conceivable that radioactively contaminated stainless steel has made its way into aviation components at first glance sourced from suppliers located outside of India, but who source their raw materials or semi-finished goods from there.
More details are to be released on 16th February 2009 by VDMA.