Two heat treating furnaces expand the capabilities of a manufacturer of brick dies, textured stucco rollers, and extrusion equipment made for the construction industry. These furnaces are being used to meet the manufacturer’s immediate need for increased heat-treating capacity and provide a supporting role in the company’s die manufacturing process.
The L&L Special Furnaces Co., Inc. model GS2026 has internal working dimensions of 18” wide by 12” high by 24” deep. It has an operating voltage of 208, 220, 240 volts single phase, 60 or 50 hertz. The furnace also includes a spring assist vertical lift door that allows for effortless loading and unloading at high temperatures. The control is a Bartlett program control that can store multiple programs and includes overtemperature protection.
source: Carl Campbell at unsplash.comL&L Special Furnaces’ Model GS2026 Source: L&L Special Furnaces Co., Inc.
A leading Eastern European ammunition manufacturer expand their heat treat capabilities with a dual-chamber heat treating and temper furnace along with an oil quench tank. The equipment will play a supportive role in keeping key production equipment up-and-running with thermal processing of munitions projectiles.
The L&L Special Furnace Co., Inc. model QDS124 has two chambers: the top chamber rated to 2350°F is used for heat treating various steels and other non-ferrous materials. The bottom chamber, which is rated for 1250°F, includes a recirculation fan and baffle for tempering, stress relief, or pre-heating.
Shipped with the furnace was an accompanying QTO1224 oil quench tank. The quench tank has a working size of 12” high by 12” across by 24” deep and holds 65 gallons of oil. Included is a hinged safety lid, immersion-style heater with thermostat, and an agitator with explosion-proof motor for use with oil. The quench tank and furnace are NFPA86-compliant for safety.
A Midwest manufacturer expands their heat treat capabilities with a dual chamber furnace. With this furnace, the manufacturer will heat treat their small tool steel parts in-house in a timely manner.
The supplier, Lucifer Furnaces, identifies that the furnace, a Model RD8-KHE18, is a space saving dual chamber unit with working dimensions of 12”H x 14”W x 18”L in both upper and lower chambers. The upper hardening chamber is rated up to 2200°F while the lower convection oven tempers up to 1200°F.
This specific unit was customized with a programmable controller with an overtemp safety system for the upper chamber as well as a 7-day timer with alarm for audible event notification. Both chambers are lined with a multilayered 4.5″ combination of lightweight firebrick hotface insulation and mineral wool backup insulation for energy efficient operation. The firebrick is precision dry fit inside the chamber with staggered seams for reduced heat loss while allowing for thermal expansion.
Model FB666 for Aerospace Components Source: L&L Special Furnace Co.
A major aerospace manufacturer will receive a large, fiber-lined box furnace at their new facility located in the southeastern United States. The facility will be opening soon and will be a central part of a new heat-treating center for aerospace and military components.
The Model FB666 is a front-loading box furnace built by L&L Special Furnace Co. with a pneumatic vertical door. Its working dimensions are 60” x 60” x 60”. There are a series of cast-able piers and an alloy grid that supply a stable work platform for various part sizes and configurations.
The furnace has a high-convection, air-cooled fan for air circulation and uniformity at low temperatures. There is also a venturi cooling system to aid in the cooling of the furnace interior along with an external modulating case cooling blower that provides fresh air intake to keep the furnace case temperature low during operation.
The furnace was designed, built, assembled and tested at L&L’s manufacturing facility located just south of Philadelphia.
Heat treaters across North America in Georgia, North Carolina, and Ontario have requested that heat treat furnaces be used in the production of powertrain, suspension, and steering/linkage components for the automotive sector. The demand for new furnace equipment has been driven by both light weighting initiatives and a shortage of in-house heat treatment capacity.
Cast Link Belt Press source: CAN-ENG Furnaces Ltd.
CAN-ENG Furnaces International Ltd., a global furnace systems group based in Canada, has been contracted by multiple unique customers in the United States and Canada to deliver these different furnaces for the heating and heat treatment of both aluminum and steel closed die forgings. The furnace configurations -- either under construction in the company shops or in the early stages of commissioning -- include rotary hearth, chain conveyor, roller hearth, mesh belt and cast link belt.
All contracts will be in production by late Q1 2021.
Keith Boeckenhauer Managing Director SECO/WARWICK USA
A Virginia manufacturer of high-quality plumbing tube recently commissioned a new heat treat furnace, expanding the plant’s capabilities to include aluminum extrusions. This is the first new aluminum processing equipment installation at the plant.
The supplier, SECO/WARWICK, noted that the vertical orientation of the work being heat treated is what differentiates this from others. The design allows the customer to maintain an efficient, semi-continuous process with little downtime between batches by staging loads in the drywells. The major benefit of this design is that it will allow the manufacturer to drop extrusions into the quench within 10 seconds after heat treating and soak.
Keith Boeckenhauer, managing director of SECO/WARWICK USA, commented that the company "has patented many standard processes related to aluminum heat treatment and controlled atmosphere brazing, [and is able. . .] to apply innovative designs to custom requirements."
The furnace was designed and built in Pennsylvania.
An internationally recognized processor of safety critical automotive fasteners has purchased an industry standard 6000 lb/hr mesh belt furnace to be used in the design and commission of products.
The system includes a computerized loading system, controlled atmosphere mesh belt hardening furnace, oil quench system, post quench system, mesh belt tempering furnace, soluble oil system, and CAN-ENG’s PET™ SCADA System.
Dr. Arnd Köfler Chief Technology Officer (CTO) thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG
thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG, a global manufacturer in high-grade flat steel, has ordered a walking beam furnace. The furnace is designed for heating slabs and will be located at their plant in Duisburg, Germany. This furnace replaces an old reheating furnace. The scope of the contract includes engineering and the largely turnkey delivery of all equipment as well as the erection and commissioning including training.
The new furnace is designed to produce premium sheets, which will service the automotive industry. With a capacity of 380 t/h, it will be integrated in the existing hot rolling mill infrastructure. Additionally, it will be used for heating slabs made of alloyed or unalloyed steel and charged in one and/or two rows. Finally, the furnace features a combustion air pre-heating system to significantly reduce the energy consumption of the overall production. In the long term, it will assist the thyssenkrupp group with achieving their climate related emissions targets.
“The new plant [read: furnace] is scheduled to start operating in mid-2022,” commented Dr. Arnd Köfler, Chief Technology Officer at thyssenkrupp Steel.
Further, “The new plant [read: furnace] will ensure the high surface quality requirements of the automotive industry,” said Antonio Catalano, Executive Vice President of the Tenova Downstream BU, “and support our customer’s forward strategy.”
Tenova, with the companies Tenova LOI Thermprocess and Tenova Italimpianti involved in the project, will design and supply the entire walking beam furnace plant including the charging roller table and the charging machine as well as the related electrical, measuring and control systems. In addition, a sophisticated automation system developed by Tenova LOI Thermprocess will enhance the control and energy efficiency of the furnace.
The production start of the walking beam furnace is scheduled for July 2022.
A government military defense organization, located in the southeastern United States, bought a medium-sized high-temperature box furnace for military ceramic composite development. It will also help with research and development for various other components.
The furnace, built by L&L Special Furnace Co., Inc., has a working zone of 24” wide by 18” high by 36” deep and is rated for continuous operating temperatures up to 2500°F (1371°C). It is equipped with silicon carbide heating elements for high temperature operation and sealed from the inside out for use with inert “blanketing gas."
This furnace is controlled by a Honeywellprogram control and corresponding overtemperature protection.
Gallos Metal Solutions Inc., Milwaukee, WI (GALLOS) recently received a high capacity mesh belt heat treatment furnace line. The company specializes in continuous mesh belt atmosphere heat treatment, and this new line will be used primarily for demanding processing including carbonitriding and carburizing, while still allowing for neutral heat treatment with a production capacity up to 4000 lbs/hr.
This furnace line is part of GALLOS’ massive plant expansion and modernization project, which has more than doubled the existing plant square footage, increased capacity, and added automation. The benefits of the system -- including increased usable hearth area for high-volume processing while running products requiring carbon diffusion and lighter belt loading -- are aligned to the expansion-oriented plant plans.
Custom Engineered Continuous Atmosphere Heat Treating System (photo source: Can-Eng.com)
The supplier, Can-Eng Furnaces International, Ltd. (CAN-ENG), lists some the additional features of this furnace: a computerized controlled automated bin dumping and vibratory part feeder system, dunk and spray pre-washer, protective atmosphere controlled mesh belt hardening system, oil quench, dunk and spray post wash system, forced recirculation temper furnace, in-line post cooling system, and CAN-ENG’s PETTM Level 2 SCADA system.
GALLOS is a family-owned commercial heat treating company which is involved in the automotive, agricultural, aerospace, and medical industries.
Two heat treating furnaces expand the capabilities of a manufacturer of brick dies, textured stucco rollers, and extrusion equipment made for the construction industry. These furnaces are being used to meet the manufacturer’s immediate need for increased heat-treating capacity and provide a supporting role in the company’s die manufacturing process.
