Monthly Archives: March 2020

MEE’s Response to Covoid 19

posted March 2020

The Covoid-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented disruption to everyone’s sense of normal.Throughout the past few weeks, we have been continuously monitoring the news and CDC recommendations for protecting the health and safety of our staff and any visitors to the facility.We remain open at this time with strict cleaning and safety measures implemented at our facility following CDC and MN Department of Health guidelines. Engineers have been working from home when possible, and laboratory staff are on staggered shifts to maintain social distancing while in the facility. Our commitment to providing the highest quality professional services to our clients has not changed. We are available to assist you with your product issues and concerns. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

Filed under: Materials testing laboratory,

Dick Kielty

posted March 2020

It is with deep sadness that we share the news that friend and past employee of MEE, Dick Kielty, passed away this week. 

For nearly his entire career, Dick worked Twin City Testing (now Element) providing metallurgical engineering consulting services to local industries.  He retired from Element but was he was not the retiring kind of engineer. Dick began working for MEE at age 73. His intent was to work part time with us for two years but two years turned into eight years and he officially retired at age 81.  We so enjoyed having him around that he remained on our staff email list and would join us at staff lunches after his retirement.

His technical expertise and years of experience were valuable assets to our team. He was a great mentor to the other engineers on staff and enjoyed sharing his knowledge whether it was done one on one or presenting staff training lectures. I think all of us in the materials science and engineering fields can agree that Dick was the role model as someone who was truly dedicated to the profession.

Dick Kielty presenting staff lunch and learn.

 

Filed under: About MEE, Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory,

Nitinol Seminar

posted March 2020
Kurt Schenk and Neal Hanke

Kurt Schenk and Neal Hanke, P.E.

Kurt Schenk and Neal Hanke attended a one day seminar about Nitinol and how its unique properties apply to medical devices and designs. The primary topics for the seminar included structure, processing, mechanical properties, corrosion behavior, and fatigue life of Nitinol. MEE has been helping medical device manufacturers to successfully use Nitinol in their products for almost 25 years. Even with years of experience, MEE staff continually seeks out educational opportunities to keep up with the latest research on this intriguing material.

Filed under: About MEE, Fatigue Failure, Materials Characterization, Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory, medical device manufacturing, Nitinol,

Metallurgical Engineering Intern

posted March 2020

Welcome to MEE’s new intern, Kelsy Holtgrewe.  Kelsy received her Bachelor’s in Metallurgical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology in December. She’ll be starting work toward a Master’s at Colorado School of Mines this fall. She has previous work experience in the materials labs of two large industrial companies so she is familiar with many of the processes and procedures in our metallographic and SEM labs.

MEE understands that internship programs are beneficial to both the student and the company.  Our busy materials science laboratories will provide Kelsy with a valuable real-world engineering experience this summer and our technical staff appreciates the opportunity to mentor new professionals in the field of metallurgical engineering.

Kelsy in the one of SEM labs at MEE.

Filed under: About MEE, Materials Science Engineers, Materials testing laboratory, metallography, scanning electron microscope,