Solar Atmospheres of Western PA is commissioning a new water quench furnace designed to solution anneal large titanium components, adding capacity for rapid quenching of workloads serving aerospace, defense, medical, and other critical applications. The system is expected to enter production in November 2026.
The furnace, manufactured by Heat Treat Equipment Inc. of Canton, Michigan, is being installed at Solar Atmospheres’ Hermitage, Pennsylvania, facility. The system is designed to process titanium components weighing up to 7,500 pounds while maintaining temperature uniformity within ±5°F (±2.8°C) and achieving water quenching within seven seconds.
The furnace measures 14 feet long by 54 inches wide by 48 inches high and is positioned directly above an 11,000-gallon, multidirectional, highly agitated water quench tank. The configuration is designed to minimize transfer time between the furnace and quench tank to meet aerospace requirements for rapid quenching of titanium components. A closed-loop cooling system maintains the water quenchant at a temperature not exceeding 100°F (37.8°C).
President
Solar Atmospheres of Western PA
The system will allow Solar Atmospheres to thermocouple the actual workload for monitoring and control throughout the heat treatment process. An in-process camera will also monitor workloads while they are heated above critical beta transus temperatures.
“This equipment finally gives us the opportunity to solution anneal critical titanium alloys that our titanium [clients] have continuously asked for over the years,” said Bob Hill, president of Solar Atmospheres of Western PA.
Once operational, the furnace will add large-component titanium solution annealing and water quenching capabilities to the company’s existing vacuum and air heat treatment services.
Press release is available in its original form here.
