A U.S.-based cooling systems manufacturer is adding in-house aluminum brazing capabilities for the production of large heat exchangers, a move designed to increase production flexibility, shorten response times to market needs, and reduce dependence on external suppliers.
SECO/WARWICK will supply its universal CAB batch furnace and supporting equipment to the manufacturer’s plant in Pennsylvania. The system will primarily be used for aluminum brazing of large plate-and-bar heat exchangers for the heavy-duty segment and aftermarket.
The new line will include the universal CAB batch furnace for aluminum brazing, a dryer, a final cooling chamber, and an external transport system. A continuous thermal degreasing furnace will also be supplied to prepare components before fluxing and brazing.
The configuration will allow the brazing process to be carried out in a controlled nitrogen atmosphere with repeatable process parameters. The system incorporates convection heating and cooling, high nitrogen atmosphere purity, temperature uniformity, and a control system designed to support heat exchanger production.
“For many heat exchanger manufacturers, investing in their own aluminum brazing capabilities means moving to an entirely new level of process control. This partner will gain technological independence, greater production flexibility, and the ability to respond faster to market needs,” said Piotr Skarbiński, vice president of the Aluminum and CAB Products Segment at SECO/WARWICK.
The furnace is designed primarily for brazing large plate-and-bar heat exchangers in the recommended vertical position. Its design also allows for brazing standard fin-and-tube heat exchangers and plate heat exchangers, giving the manufacturer the ability to process different product geometries on the same system.
The universal CAB batch furnace can also be upgraded from a batch system to a semi-continuous configuration to increase production capacity as requirements change. Supporting equipment will cover successive stages of the production process. The continuous thermal degreasing furnace will prepare components before fluxing, while the dryer will prepare the load before brazing. The final cooling chamber will stabilize the final stage of the process, and the external transport system will move products between stages of hte line.
The contract was completed through cooperation among SECO/WARWICK’s U.S. operation, Retech, and SECO/WARWICK engineers in Poland.
Press release is available in its original form here.
