Enroll in our Training Courses
*Certificate in Aluminum Metallurgy | Course 1
Aluminum Casting
March 1-5, 2027
- In Person
Course 1: Aluminum Metallurgy Program
March 1, 2027 – March 5, 2027
Course 1 of 4 in the Certificate in Aluminum Metallurgy program
Secat’s Certificate in Aluminum Metallurgy Class of 2027 will kick-off in March. Course 1, Aluminum Casting, will cover melting and casting of aluminum alloys and is segmented to provide detailed instruction related to both shape casting and ingot casting. In addition to instruction from Secat’s experienced staff, three experts will provide additional instruction related to their specific fields. Dr. Alan Luo of The Ohio State University will discuss high pressure die casting and integrated computational materials engineering (ICME). David Weiss of Vision Materials will present on sand and permanent mold casting. And Dr. Fazleena Badurdeen of the University of Kentucky will provide information on recycling and sustainability.
This course is applicable for process engineers, process technicians, supervisors, quality technicians, quality managers, metallurgists, and lab managers. The lessons will be delivered first in lecture format and then with hands-on demonstrations using laboratory scale equipment. The course will be held at Secat’s Lexington, KY and Nicholasville, KY facilities (30 minutes apart).
Course Objectives:
- Understand cast and wrought aluminum alloy systems
- Overview of melting including charging, filtration, and de-gassing
- Exposure to common methods of shape casting including, sand, permanent mold and die casting
- Learn about the direct chill ingot/billet casting
- Demonstrate the effects of cooling rate and grain refiners on casting microstructures and properties
- Hands-on exposure to common test methods for measuring hydrogen and inclusions in the melt
- Brief exposure to recycling, emissions, sustainability, and tools for computational simulations
Registration fee includes course materials and lunch each day
*Certificate in Aluminum Metallurgy | Course 2
Deformation Processing
June 21-25, 2027
- In Person
Course 2: Aluminum Metallurgy Program
June 21, 2027 – June 25, 2027
Course 2 of 4 in the Certificate in Aluminum Metallurgy program
This course will cover wrought processing of aluminum alloys with emphasis on rolling, forging, and extruding. In addition to instruction from Secat’s experienced staff, two experts will provide additional instruction related to their specific fields. Scott Goodrich of Constellium (Retired) will teach the rolling sections and Dr. Wojtek Misiolek of Lehigh University will present on extruding of aluminum. Secat’s new aluminum extrusion press will be used for demonstration and laboratory experiments.
Objectives:
- Learn about hot and cold rolling and how the microstructure evolves throughout processing.
- Understand forging processes and equipment
- Review the extrusion process and discuss metallurgical features that are unique to extruding
- Demonstrate the concept of flow stress and how it affects workloads on presses
- Experimentally show the evolution of microstructure during forging
- Show typical defects that are common for each wrought processing method and discuss their origins
- Brief discussion on stamping, drawing, joining and fabrication
*Registration fee includes course materials and lunch each day
This course is applicable for process engineers, process technicians, supervisors, quality technicians, quality managers, metallurgists, and lab managers. The lessons will be delivered first in lecture format and then with hands-on demonstrations using pilot scale equipment. The course will be held at Secat’s Lexington, KY and Nicholasville, KY facilities (30 minutes apart).
*Certificate in Aluminum Metallurgy | Course 3
Thermal Treatments
Sept. 13-17, 2027
- In Person
Course 3: Aluminum Metallurgy Program
September 13, 2027 – September 17, 2027
Course 3 of 4 in the Certificate in Aluminum Metallurgy program
This course will provide instruction on common thermal treatments for both cast and wrought aluminum alloys. This includes homogenizing, pre-heating, annealing, stress-relief, solution heat treatment, quenching, and aging. This course will be taught by Secat’s team of experts who have extensive experience studying the effects of thermal treatments on the microstructure and properties of aluminum alloys. In addition, Dr. Judy Runge from Apple (retired) will be presenting on common surface coatings and treatments for aluminum alloys.
This course is applicable for process engineers, process technicians, supervisors, quality technicians, quality managers, metallurgists, and lab managers. The lessons will be delivered first in lecture format and then with hands-on demonstrations using laboratory scale equipment. The course will be held at Secat’s Lexington, KY and Nicholasville, KY facilities (30 minutes apart).
Objectives:
- Review the temper designations for aluminum alloys
- Learn about the effects of homogenizing on the microstructure & understand how homogenization parameters can affect the properties in the final product
- Demonstrate how & when recovery, recrystallization, and grain growth occur during annealing
- Hands-on exposure to the effect of quench rate on distortion, residual stress, and properties
- Review the solution heat treatment process & specify processing windows for solution heat treatment
- Learn about the aging process and the effects of time & temperature on properties
- Understand coating process and the importance of surface microstructure on the quality of painted & anodized aluminum
*Registration fee includes course materials and lunch each day
*Certificate in Aluminum Metallurgy | Course 4
Testing & Properties
Nov. 1-5, 2027
- In Person
Course 4: Aluminum Metallurgy Program
November 1, 2027 – November 5, 2027
Course 4 of 4 in the Certificate in Aluminum Metallurgy program
This course will cover metallurgical tests used to evaluate and certify metal product forms. In addition to instruction from Secat’s experienced staff, experts will provide additional instruction related to their specific fields. Dr. Rudy Buchheit, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky will lecture on corrosion mechanisms in aluminum alloys and Dr. Calvin White of Michigan Technological University (Retired) will lecture on fatigue and fracture toughness.
This course is applicable for process engineers, process technicians, supervisors, quality technicians, quality managers, metallurgists, and lab managers. The lessons will be delivered first in lecture format and then with hands-on demonstrations using laboratory equipment. The course will be held at Secat’s Lexington, KY facility.
Objectives:
- Review of aluminum grades and tempers
- Measurement of chemical composition by use of optical emission spectroscopy
- Learn about mechanical properties of aluminum alloys with demonstration showing measurement of fatigue and fracture toughness
- Understand common metallographic (micro & macro) sample preparation techniques with demonstration of microstructural characterization by use of optical and electron microscopy
- Discuss and demonstrate how formability parameters such as tensile r & n value and forming limit diagrams are measured
- Review types of corrosion, corrosion mechanisms, and electrochemistry in aluminum alloys
*Registration fee includes course materials and lunch each day
Aluminum 101
March 25, 2027
- Virtual
Aluminum 101
March 25, 2027
The purpose of this training course is to introduce participants to aluminum, its characteristics, alloys, processes, forms, and applications. Participants gain a broad understanding of the manufacturing processes from bauxite mining to secondary melting and recycling. Participants will also learn basic alloys, tempers, designations and commercial factors.
The course instructor has a wide variety of experiences and will address day-to-day issues that are commonly faced in the aluminum industry.
This course is for: Technicians, Quality Engineers, Management, Purchasing, Sales & Marketing, and customer service professionals
In particular, the course is ideal for employees with careers in other industries who are transitioning into the aluminum industry.
The class will be taught in-person with an option for virtual attendance.
Fees include course materials and lunch for each day.
Aluminum Billet & Ingot Casting
April 7-8, 2027
- Virtual
Aluminum Billet & Ingot Casting Course
April 7 – 8, 2027
This two-day training course is designed for aluminum casthouse operators focusing on both ingot and billet production. The course equips participants with essential knowledge and tools to enhance the quality and efficiency of aluminum ingot and billet operations. Topics include best practices in melting operations, metal transport systems, degassing systems, grain refining processes, filtration and inclusion removal systems, DC casting operations (for both ingots and billets), quality inspections, homogenization processes, and more.
With reference materials provided, this course serves as a valuable resource for professionals in the aluminum industry. Our experienced instructor, who brings extensive practical knowledge, will address common industry challenges and solutions.
Ideal for Technicians, Quality Engineers, Management, Plant Operators, and Maintenance Personnel.
Course fees include all course materials and lunch each day.
Aluminum Metallurgy of the Can
Aerospace Aluminum Alloys
TBA
Virtual
Aluminum Rolling - July 20-22, 2026
More information to be shared soon.
Testimonials
“I am proud to share that I have completed my Certificate in Aluminum Metallurgy at Secat, Inc.
The Certificate in Aluminum Metallurgy covers a broad range of topics pertaining to the casting, forming, thermal treatment, and testing of aluminum. The four classes are each one week and include classroom and hands-on lab instruction. The course focuses on the changes that occur to the material during processing to help the students understand how changes to a process can affect the final quality of the material and potential causes for defects.
I also got to meet and train with a great group of people from the industry, and of course the amazing team at Secat. I highly recommend this course to anyone that is looking to learn aluminum metallurgy or expand their knowledge in the field.”
“I highly recommend these courses! Thank you Secat for helping advance learning in our industry. A great bonus was forming friendships, networking, and the cultural experiences while staying in Lexington.”