AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS

New Vacuum Furnace Supports Aerospace Heat Treating at U.S. Facility

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, CARBURIZING NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, QUENCHING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer is expanding its heat treat capabilities for bearing components with the addition of vacuum heat treatment processes, including high-pressure gas quenching and low-pressure carburizing. The move supports increasing production capacity, process quality, and operational flexibility.

Image Credit: SECO/WARWICK

SECO/WARWICK has supplied a Vector vacuum furnace equipped with a 15-bar absolute high-pressure gas quenching system that has been customized to meet the client’s requirements by integrating the low-pressure carburizing (LPC) option. With a working zone of 900 mm x 900 mm x 1200 mm (36 in x 36 in x 48 in), the system is designed to process large loads, including parts with critical dimensions, while maintaining cleanliness and parameter repeatability.

The furnace configuration includes a cylindrical heating chamber that ensures temperature uniformity of ±5°C (±10°F). A convection heating system improves heat transfer at lower temperatures, while directional gas quenching enables better process control for components with more complex geometries.

Operating under vacuum conditions, the system helps limit sublimation of alloying elements from the load surface, while the gas quenching system provides a maximum quenching pressure of up to 15 bar abs. It is complemented by the LPC option, enabling precise surface hardening within a single, integrated technological cycle.

Maciej Korecki
Vice President of the Vacuum Segment
SECO/WARWICK Group

“In this project, the [client] was looking for a solution that would combine a large working area, a short delivery time, and an excellent price-to-performance ratio. Vector meets these expectations, and thanks to the LPC option and advanced quench control, it gives users great flexibility in processing a wide range of components,” emphasizes Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at the SECO/WARWICK Group.

The installation enhances the manufacturer’s ability to meet stringent aerospace requirements while increasing throughput for heat treated bearing components used in demanding operating environments.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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HIP Capacity Expansion Targets Aerospace Demand

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, HIPING NEWS

Wallwork Group is doubling its hot isostatic pressing (HIP) capacity with the installation of a second HIP system to support improved component integrity and performance for aerospace applications.

The expansion at its facility in the United Kingdom supports aerospace components requiring the elimination of internal voids and improved mechanical properties, including parts produced by casting and additive manufacturing.

The new system is supplied by Quintus Technologies, a global manufacturer of high-pressure systems with operations in North America. The installation complements Wallwork’s existing thermal processing capabilities, which include vacuum heat treatment, plasma nitriding, and vacuum brazing, enabling a broader range of metallurgical services under one roof.

HIP processing subjects components to elevated temperature and isostatic gas pressure to remove internal porosity and improve structural integrity. The added capacity is expected to support increasing throughput for aerospace clients, where consistency and material performance are tightly controlled.

The expanded operation positions Wallwork to provide integrated thermal processing services to aerospace manufacturers seeking consolidated supply chains. By combining HIP with other heat treatment and surface engineering processes, the company aims to streamline processing routes and reduce handling between suppliers.

Simeon Collins
Group Director
Wallwork Group

Wallwork will present its expanded HIP capability and single-source aerospace support offering at FIA2026. “Farnborough 2026 is the ideal platform to show how Wallwork is investing in the future of aerospace manufacturing,” said Simeon Collins, group director of Wallwork. “Our second Quintus HIP significantly expands capacity for our [clients], while our full range of accredited thermal processing, surface engineering, and brazing services gives manufacturers a dependable single-source partner.”

Press release is available in its original form here.

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AM Drives Hypersonic Engine Development Demand

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, HIPING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Aerospace firm Velontra is leveraging metal additive manufacturing (AM) technology to support hypersonic propulsion development. Their choice of laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) for rapid prototyping is an AM method that requires post-processing technologies — hot isostatic pressing (HIP) being key to bring these types of AM parts to their full potential.

The original source was published in Metal AM, and the following content has been adapted for our Heat Treat Today audience.

Aerospace firm Velontra is using metal additive manufacturing (AM) technology to advance hypersonic engine development, signaling continued momentum in high-performance propulsion and downstream demand for post-processing capabilities.

Velontra, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based startup, partnered with Innovative 3D Manufacturing, a rapid prototyping company in Franklin, Indiana, to produce propulsion system components using laser power bed fusion (L-PBF) technology from Renishaw. The approach enables rapid prototyping while addressing material use, dimensional tolerances, and cost constraints.

Joel Darin
CTO
Velontra

“Compact hypersonic propulsion systems are highly sought after by space companies, so, to remain competitive, we must develop parts quickly,” explained Joel Darin, CTO of Velontra. “In aerospace, we know that the best way to learn is by doing things, particularly if you want to be the first to launch a new technology.”

While the focus is on AM production, the resulting components require post-processing to achieve final material properties. Parts produced via L-PBF are typically subjected to stress relief and heat treatment to stabilize microstructures formed during rapid solidification. For high-temperature aerospace alloys, hot isostatic pressing (HIP) may also be applied to reduce internal porosity and improve structural integrity.

This requirement is consistent with broader industry findings for nickel-based superalloys used in propulsion systems. As noted in Dan Herring and Nikolai Alexander’s article published in Heat Treat Today’s Annual Aerospace Heat Treating magazine (March 2026) covering IN 718 processing, powder bed fusion methods often rely on post-HIP to heal cracks and homogenize the microstructure.

To learn more about why HIP is critical for AM superalloys, read this overview of IN 718 heat treatment.
Explore this look at emerging technologies to learn more about how HIP is scaling with AM.

As adoption of AM expands in aerospace applications, supporting technologies such as heat treating and HIP are expected to scale alongside it. Industry perspectives highlighted in Heat Treat Today’s Medical & Energy Heat Treat magazine (December 2025) indicate that HIP capabilities are evolving in response to increased demand from additive manufacturing and advanced materials development.

The integration of AM with post-processing underscores the role of heat treating in enabling next-generation propulsion systems, where component performance under extreme conditions remains a key requirement.

Press release is available in its original form here.
Main image shows the additively manufactured afterburner casing for the hypersonic propulsion system with several components combined into one part. | Image Credit: Renishaw

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$100M Expansion Targets Engine Component Production Growth

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FORGING NEWS

RTX’s Pratt & Whitney, a North American aerospace manufacturer headquartered in East Hartford, Connecticut, is investing $100 million to expand production capacity through advanced manufacturing processes, including heat treatment of forged engine components, to support increased output of commercial and military aircraft engines. The expansion is expected to strengthen supply for aerospace programs and improve throughput of critical engine parts used across global aviation fleets.

The investment will be made at the company’s facility in Rzeszów, Poland, where operations will be expanded to include additional processing capabilities and production capacity. The site supports manufacturing for several engine programs. including GTF™, F135, and F100 platforms, which serve both commercial aviation and defense applications.

Piotr Owsicki
General Manager
Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów

As part of the project, the company plans to add new capabilities focused on processing isothermally forged components, including heat treatment, sonic machining, and inspection operations. This expansion follows and supports the recently announced $200 million investment in a seventh isothermal forging press at Pratt & Whitney’s Columbus Forge facility in Georgia, U.S.

The expansion is intended to address growing global demand for aircraft engines and related components. “This investment reflects our continued commitment to increase production capacity for our [clients] and deliver more, faster,” said Piotr Owsicki, general manager of Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów. The capital project, expected to be fully operational by 2028, will enable a 30% increase in output of critical engine parts such as rotating compressor and turbine disks.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Custom VIM System Enhances Turbine Blade Production

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

An aircraft engine manufacturer has purchased a custom-built vacuum induction melting (VIM) furnace to support the production of equiaxed (EQ) turbine blade castings for aircraft engines. The furnace enables melting in a controlled vacuum environment, with unique and intuitive control systems that help improve metallurgical consistency.

A tailor-made vacuum induction melting (VIM) furnace | Image Credit: SECO/WARWICK
Earl Good
Managing Director, Retech
Vice President of Vacuum Metallurgy Segment, SECO/WARWICK Group

The system is a two-chamber 50 kg VIM induction furnace supplied by SECO/WARWICK, a global manufacturer of thermal processing equipment with operations in North America. It was engineered as a tailored solution with configuration and technical parameters adapted to the client’s production needs. “The furnace has a non-standard design in which the mold elevator was replaced with a special trolley that moves horizontally on rails. Thanks to this solution, the furnace fits perfectly into the available space without any impact on its performance,” said Earl Good, managing director of RETECH, a company within the SECO/WARWICK Group, and vice president of the Vacuum Metallurgy Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.

The system includes a control platform for casting processes, temperature control, and comprehensive data acquisition, delivering the repeatability and throughput essential to the aerospace industry. Its two-chamber design and pumping system allow for continuous operation, and the furnace can be equipped with a mold heater to maintain thermal conditions for the casting mold.

The use of VIM furnaces continues across aerospace applications, where vacuum metallurgy supports the aerospace industry’s constantly changing production needs.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Boeing Adds Vacuum Heat Treat Capacity

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Boeing is adding vacuum furnace capacity at its Tube, Duct and Reservoir Center in Algona, Washington, to expand in-house heat treating capability for aerospace tube and duct assemblies. The investment is intended to address production needs across commercial and defense aerospace programs.

Dave Farmery, president and COO of Vac Aero, speaks at the CP8A Poseidon ITB commitment event on April 2, 2026. | Image Credit: Bolour Studio, courtesy of Boeing
Al Meinzinger
President
Boeing Canada

The investment is part of Boeing’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) commitments tied to Canada’s CP8A Poseidon aircraft program, which includes a multi-million dollar investment in Vac Aero International to strengthen aerospace manufacturing capabilities in Canada.

“We are pleased to support Vac Aero with the purchase of this new equipment for our Fabrication facility, which serves our commercial programs and select space and defense work,” said Al Meinzinger, president of Boeing Canada. “This ITB investment underscores Boeing’s commitment to Canada following the CP8A Poseidon selection and to modern manufacturing and Canadian small businesses in our global supply chain.”

The expansion includes the installation of two vacuum furnaces for vacuum heat treating and annealing of complex tube and duct assemblies at Boeing’s Algona facility. The furnaces, sized at 60″ x 90″ and 60″ x 60″, will be dedicated assets supporting Boeing’s aerospace manufacturing operations for multiple airplane programs.

The furnaces will be co-located within a single heat treat area, a configuration expected to free up approximately 300 square feet of production space. The equipment is scheduled to be ready for use in April 2027.

Press release is available in its original form here. Additional details provided by Boeing.

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Heat Treating Supports Aerospace Components for Artemis II Mission

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, TITANIUM PROCESSING NEWS

Solar Atmospheres has provided thermal processing services for materials and components used in the Artemis II mission, supporting aerospace applications that require precise control of material properties and performance under extreme conditions.

Image Credit: Solar Atmospheres

The heat treater specializes in thermal processing of a range of materials, including raw stock, nickel-based tubing, and other aerospace components that play a vital role in bringing next-generation space technology to life.

Click on the image above to learn more about high-temperature materials used in space applications.

At the core of some of these components is the 6AI-4V titanium Launch Abort System (LAS), which is a complex safety system. The LAS aboard the Orion spacecraft functions as a rocket capable of outrunning another rocket in an emergency. In the event of a catastrophic launch anomaly, its manifold enables the abort motor to ignite and safely propel the crew module away from the rocket.

Components used in these applications must meet strict requirements for precision and reliability, with little margin for error in performance.

Press release is available in its original form here.

Heat Treating Supports Aerospace Components for Artemis II Mission Read More »

Large-Capacity Nitriding Furnace Enhances Processing Capabilities

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, NITRIDING NEWS, NITROCARBURIZING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Vacu-Braze, a commercial heat treater specializing in vacuum heat treating and brazing, has added a large-capacity nitriding furnace to support processing of oversized components requiring enhanced surface hardness, wear resistance, and fatigue performance.

The furnace features a working chamber of 48″ in diameter and 108″ in depth, more than doubling the company’s current processing volume. It can accommodate larger workloads while meeting AMS2759/6 requirements for aerospace nitriding applications that require strict control of compound layer formation, case depth, and process uniformity.

In addition to conventional gas nitriding, the new furnace enables ferritic nitrocarburizing, providing an additional surface engineering option in many alloy steels. Along with advanced pyrometry and temperature uniformity controls, these features ensure compliance with AMS2750 for critical applications.

With this addition, Vacu-Braze can process a broader range of part sizes while maintaining process control and consistency.

Press release is available in its original form here.

Large-Capacity Nitriding Furnace Enhances Processing Capabilities Read More »

Additional Vacuum Furnace Supports Heat Treatment of Aircraft Engine Blades

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, BRAZING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

An aerospace manufacturer has ordered a vacuum furnace to support heat treatment of high-performance alloys used in aircraft components, including engine blades. The system is designed to provide controlled atmosphere processing and precise temperature uniformity required for materials such as titanium, nickel alloys, and high-temperature steels.

The vacuum furnace was supplied by SECO/WARWICK, a global manufacturer of thermal processing equipment with locations in North America, to a Thai aerospace manufacturer expanding its production capabilities. The order includes a single-chamber Vector® vacuum furnace intended for heat treatment and vacuum brazing applications.

The furnace features a working chamber measuring 900 mm x 900 mm x 1200 mm, enabling the heat treatment of larger components. It is designed to support high vacuum processes while maintaining charge purity, with solutions that limit sublimation of alloying elements and reduce contamination within the hot zone — factors that are important in aerospace component production.

Lukasz Chwiałkowski
Sales Manager
SECO/WARWICK
Source: SECO/WARWICK

“It consists of two Leybold mechanical pumps, a Roots pump, and a diffusion pump. The round heating chamber ensures excellent temperature distribution (±5°C/±9°F), and the cooling system enables rapid gas cooling to a pressure of 6 bar abs. Additionally, the furnace provides precise control of partial pressure of argon and nitrogen, which is crucial for the quality of vacuum and brazing processes,” commented Łukasz Chwiałkowski, sales manager at SECO/WARWICK.

This is the second collaboration between the two companies in Thailand. The client already owns an identical SECO/WARWICK vacuum furnace that supports the production of titanium, high-temperature steel and nickel alloy aircraft engine blades. The addition of a second vacuum is expected to increase production capacity and provide operational flexibility for the aerospace manufacturer’s thermal processing operations.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Fringe Friday: Forging Manufacturer Acquired by Private Equity

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FORGING NEWS

We’re celebrating getting to the “fringe” of the weekend with a Heat Treat Fringe Friday installment: a private equity firm in the aerospace supply chain has acquired Forged Solutions Group, a manufacturer of high-specification forgings used in flight-critical engine and structural components. The company’s products, including aeroengine discs and shafts, are the kinds of advanced alloy components that typically move through multiple downstream heat treatment steps before entering service.

While not exactly heat treat, “Fringe Friday” deals with interesting developments in one of our key markets: aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, or general manufacturing.

J.F. Lehman & Company has completed the acquisition of Forged Solutions Group, a manufacturer of high-specification closed-die forgings for aerospace, defense, and space applications. The company produces components including aeroengine discs, shafts, and structural parts from advanced alloys such as titanium, nickel-based superalloys, steel and aluminum before moving through machining and materials testing as part of the production process.

Ben Hatcher
Managing Director
J.F. Lehman & Company

The company supplies components for commercial aerospace and defense platforms through its manufacturing facilities. J.F. Lehman & Company, a private equity firm focused on aerospace, defense, maritime, government, and environmental sectors, completed the acquisition as part of its strategy to invest in companies supporting critical industrial supply chains.

Ben Hatcher, managing director at J.F. Lehman & Company, said, “FSG’s expansive forging capabilities, diverse product portfolio, and meaningful available capacity form a compelling and critical solution to the broader aerospace and defense industry’s production requirements. We are excited to build upon FSG’s differentiated technical capabilities and scaled operational footprint to increase throughput in support of current and next-generation aeroengine and defense platforms.”

Press release is available in its original form here.

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