(19)

(11)

EP 1 993 760 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 09.10.2008 (43) Date of publication: 26.11.2008 Bulletin 2008/48 (21) Application number: 07752123.5 (22) Date of filing: 28.02.2007

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  B22F 9/00(2006.01) B22F 7/00(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2007/005402 (87) International publication number: WO 2007/103193 (13.09.2007 Gazette 2007/37)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA HR MK RS (30) Priority: 02.03.2006 US 778814 P 03.08.2006 US 835262 P 26.02.2007 US 710688 (71) Applicant: SCM Metal Products, Inc. Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2166 (US)	(72) Inventors: VELOFF, Nicola Raleigh, NC 27612 (US) NADKARNI, Anil, Vasant Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (US) MURPHY, Thomas, Matthew Cary, NC 27502 (US) (74) Representative: Huygens, Arthur Victor  Octrooibureau Huygens P.O. Box 86 3400 AB Ijsselstein 3400 AB Ijsselstein (NL)