Weifang Hengtong Radiator is increasing their efficiency and quality of their aluminum plate and bar heat exchangers with a semi-continuous controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) furnace at their in-house heat treat operations.
Piotr Skarbiński Vice President of Aluminum and CAB Products Segment SECO/WARWICK
The SECO/WARWICK furnace was specifically designed for the production of plate & bar heat exchangers. The semi-continuous CAB system is based on a multi-stage cycle division. The line includes: a drying furnace, an entry washing chamber, a convection preheating and brazing chamber, an intermediate air seal cooling chamber, and a final direct cooling chamber. The semi-continuous mode ensures that even large-sized components are evenly heated during the proper process time.
“The semi-continuous Universal CAB System ensures shorter cycle time, lower investment costs, and higher process efficiency of each batch. These are the main advantages of the CAB system compared to vacuum brazing furnaces,” says Piotr Skarbiński, vice president of the Aluminum and CAB Products Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.
The furnace is characterized by high flexibility, allowing the brazing of exchangers of various masses and dimensions in subsequent cycles while maintaining process parameters.
Press release is available in its original form here.
Two intensive furnace projects are poised to bring heat treating to the automotive brake rotor and marine propulsion systems industries. An FNC furnace has been completed which will process approximately 600,000 brake rotors per year for the automotive industry. An additional pit nitriding furnace has a capacity of 40,000 lbs and will be utilized for the production of large marine gears.
Brake Rotor Furnace
Mark Hemsath President Nitrex/UPC-Marathon Source: Linkedin
“In August our Team received Final Acceptance on two of the most difficult projects in Nitrex history…Our most sophisticated brake rotor semi-continuous FNC furnace is installed at a subsidiary of a major auto maker in Europe. Again, our team worked tirelessly to meet customer demands. I am so proud of our team and what they accomplished,” remarked Mark Hemsath, president of Nitrex/UPC Marathon.
The scale of the brake rotor furnace highlights its uniqueness. The furnace processes approximately 600,000 rotors per year, or about 1.6 metric tons per hour. If run continuously, output could approach nearly a million rotors annually.
The brake rotor furnace integrates a post-oxidation (ONC®) process, allowing control over both the color and oxide layer. This feature sets it apart from furnaces currently in use for brake rotors.
The standard load size of the brake rotor furnace is: 1200 mm x 1200 mm x 1800 mm, with a gross load capacity of up to 4 metric tons. Nitrex was able to offer an extended charge size to 2400 mm deep, which could raise throughput to about 2 metric tons per hour.
Brake rotor furnace Source: Nitrex
Pit Furnace
Nitrex’s largest pit nitriding furnace Source: Nitrex
The pit furnace represented another leap forward with a capacity of 40,000 lbs. — double the weight of Nitrex’s standard largest pit furnace. Engineering efforts centered on maximizing productivity while maintaining the precision nitrided layers expected from smaller systems.
This furnace presented significant logistical challenges due to its sheer size and complexity in transport and installation.
Mark Hemsath remarked: “I am so proud of the effort our entire team exerted to meet schedules, quality demands and design improvements. Our largest ever precision Nitrider (4.5 meter diameter!) for deep-case nitriding of large gears was built on-site with no prior testing.”
The pit furnace is built to handle extremely large gears, typically for marine propulsion systems in very large ships where double-helix gears are standard. These gears, which can weigh 20,000 lbs, require 12 days to nitride, not including heating or cooling — a stark contrast to the two-hour cycle time of the semi-continuous rotor furnace, which is for high volumes in automotive settings.
The furnace stands at 4.5 meters (177 inches / 14.75 feet) in diameter and 3.5 meters deep (11.48 feet), marking one of the largest precision nitriding capacities ever built with a retort lining.
Project Highlights
These projects were collaborative, drawing expertise from across the organization.
In Canada, Janusz Szymborski came out of retirement to contribute design enhancements. Lead Designer Kamil Szczudlo and Chief Engineer Marcin Doroszko from Nitrex’s Poland facility drove the design, automation, and gas flow systems, while plant manager Robert Sokolinski coordinated production and logistics. Karl Michael Winter, vice president of Engineering in Germany, worked on advanced brake rotor layer formation.
Heat TreatToday original press release, last updated on 09/10/2025 at 6:04am.
Busch Vacuum Solutions, part of the Busch Group, a global company in vacuum and overpressure technology, has announced the development of its newest U.S. facility. As a key regional hub, the facility will specialize in the repair, service, and overhaul of vacuum pumps, vacuum systems, and overpressure equipment including turbo molecular pumps, leak detectors, valves, and accessories. The almost 60,000-square-foot facility will be located in Tempe, Arizona.
Turgay Ozan President & CEO Busch Group USA
The state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to open in October 2025. This expanded capability brings greater flexibility, technical expertise, and responsiveness to customers across the semiconductor, industrial, medical, and environmental sectors. The Tempe Service Center will provide faster turnaround times, expert support, and more efficient service delivery tailored to the unique operational needs of those across the U.S.
“This investment represents more than just added square footage. It’s about proximity, partnership, and performance. With the launch of our Tempe location, we’re better positioned to deliver unmatched value…on advanced vacuum technologies in high-performance environments,” said Turgay Ozan, president & CEO of Busch GroupUSA.
Corey Woods Mayor Tempe, Arizona
The mayor of Tempe, Corey Woods, commented, “We’re excited to welcome Busch Vacuum Solutions…Their decision to invest here speaks to the strength of Arizona’s semiconductor ecosystem, diversity of thriving industries located here, and the spirit of innovation that defines our community. The new Tempe Service Center will create skilled employment opportunities, strengthen business partnerships, and keep Tempe at the forefront of high-tech growth and excellence.”
In addition to semiconductor and industrial markets, Busch’s vacuum technology supports automotive, food and beverage, packaging, metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and large-scale distribution. These capabilities enable more localized production and increase operational resilience across essential supply chains.
Press release is available in its original form here.
An auto parts manufacturer headquartered in the U.S. is receiving an aluminum chip recycling preparation system. The system will be installed in the plant’s casting house to manage in-house scrap generated from the company’s bank of machining centers.
Earl Good President and Managing Director Retech
Retech, a SECO/WARWICK Group company, will provide this equipment. The chip recycling system features a patented ReMelt Thermofuge® chip dryer.
“Thanks to acquiring the ReMelt company and its know-how we can now offer specialization in material handling, waste processing, and system integration. It allows us to offer an even broader spectrum of metallurgy solutions to our customers,” said president and managing director of Retech, Earl Good.
Traditional thermal dryer systems heat the chips to temperatures that remove both the moisture and the residual oils, which generate considerable volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Alternatively, many casting houses truck their aluminum chips off-site to a 3rd party toll-melter for recycling, but all the additional handling required comes with a variety of costs as well. Retech’s new chip recycling system will only remove the moisture, leaving the oil on the chips. The oil is left to combust in the furnace’s side well, creating an oxygen depleted environment which provides a significant increase in aluminum yields.
The Thermofuge system has its own thermal oxidizer (afterburner) to mitigate any incidental fumes, but because the Thermofuge process has been classified by the EPA to be in a lower risk category compared to traditional thermal dryers, it is subject to far less strenuous regulatory compliance, oversight, and mitigation. The afterburner is equipped to recuperate its waste heat, which is reapplied to preheat the incoming materials, reducing energy consumption and emissions. A traditional thermal dryer could have an annual operating cost of $150k, while a comparable capacity Thermofuge system will cost just $45k per year to operate.
Retech will be customizing the chip dryer to work with the plant’s existing chip conveyor and coolant filtration system.
Press release is available in its original form here.
A new reheating walking hearth furnace has been commissioned for Wieland Rolled Products North America. The new furnace has a processing capacity of up to 110 metric tons per hour and will support Wieland’s expansion plans in the production of high-grade copper products.
Greg Keown President Wieland Rolling & Recycling Source: Tenova
Wieland Rolled Products North America was delivered the furnace by Tenova, which is integrated with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) deNOx emissions control system. The equipment will enable Wieland to expand the production of high-grade copper products, essential for several key industrial sectors. This installation is a key element of Wieland’s broader investment to upgrade and expand its East Alton, Illinois facility.
“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Tenova as we enter the next phases of this expansion project. Their technology and project management expertise are expected to support our production goals and sustainability efforts,” said Greg Keown, president of Wieland Rolling & Recycling.
Francesco Memoli remarked, “This project is particularly meaningful for us because it integrates advanced combustion and fume treatment technologies to meet both performance and environmental targets. It’s a clear example of how we tailor heat treatment solutions to the unique requirements of non-ferrous production.”
Francesco Memoli President & CEO Tenova Inc. Source: Tenova
The furnace, engineered by Tenova Italimpianti, has a processing capacity of up to 110 metric tons per hour. Powered by a natural gas combustion system, it features Tenova’s proprietary TR Flat Flame Roof burners equipped with integrated recuperators and post-combustors. The configuration ensures a substantial 90% reduction in NOx emissions. This technology has already delivered positive environmental performance in both reheating and heat treatment applications.
Wieland’s expansion project includes a new hot rolling mill designed to increase production capacity for copper and copper alloy components used in electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging networks, and renewable energy systems.
Press release is available in its original form here.
Cleveland-Cliffs has announced the commissioning of its new vertical stainless bright anneal line at its Coshocton Works facility in Coshocton, Ohio. This $150 million investment is now completed and will supply premium stainless steel for high-end automotive and critical appliance applications.
Lourenco Goncalves Chairman, President & CEO Cleveland-Cliffs
The new annealing line uses a 100% hydrogen atmosphere, replacing the conventional acid-based processing, and includes a hydrogen recovery unit to recycle hydrogen and use a 50/50 mix of new and used hydrogen in the process.
Lourenco Goncalves, chairman, president and CEO of Cliffs said: “By using hydrogen and advanced automation, we’re dramatically improving the quality and productivity of this critical product that our customers rely upon Cleveland-Cliffs for.”
To mark the opening, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday, July 2 at 11:00 a.m. ET at Cliffs’ Coshocton Works facility. The event was attended by key elected officials along with Cleveland-Cliffs’ executives, employees, and key customers.
Cleveland-Cliffs is a leading North America-based steel producer with focus on value-added sheet products, particularly for the automotive industry.
Press release is available in its original form here.
Three endeavors are underway to deliver advanced roller hearth furnace technology, featuring large-scale atmosphere quench and temper, annealing, and solution treatment systems to support the automotive and energy industries.
CAN-ENG Furnaces International, Ltd. is engaged in providing three separate systems amounting to over 450 feet of roller hearth furnace capacity.
Tim Donofrio Vice President of Sales Can-Eng Furnaces International, Ltd. Source: Can-Eng Furnaces International, Ltd.
The first of the three undertakings is a high capacity, roller hearth lamination annealing system. Produced for the transformer manufacturing industry, it will be supplied to one of North America’s largest transformer core manufacturers with operations in the USA, Canada, Mexico and China. The lamination annealing process is applied to transformer cores to enhance their magnetic properties and reduce core loss, ultimately improving efficiency and performance. The system integrates a pre-heat system, high temperature annealing furnace with integrated protected atmosphere-controlled cooling and accelerated cooling chamber. It is more than 300ft long and is capable of producing over 14,000 lbs/hr of atmosphere protected electrical steel core laminations used to manufacture high voltage transformer stations needed in the development of North America’s electrical distribution infrastructure.
“This project is being carried out largely to satisfy the demand for improving America’s aging and overburden power distribution network. As part of improving the nation’s power distribution network, consideration is being made to increase access to electric vehicle charging stations of which transformer cores are a critical part,” shared Tim Donofrio, Vice President of Sales, Can-Eng Furnaces International, Ltd.
The second endeavor is a roller hearth solution treatment furnace system for a tier one supplier of cast aluminum automotive components. The furnace will be used as part of a continuous T-6 heat treatment system for the manufacturing of cast aluminum, safety critical suspension components, and will serve to supply for one of America’s largest Japanese-based automotive manufacturers. These suspension components are to be integrated into future hybrid and electric automobiles produced in America by the manufacturer.
The third project is a roller hearth atmosphere mesh belt furnace system for a tier one supplier of safety critical, high value fasteners. This system is used to atmosphere, quench and temper high value, safety critical fasteners used in automotive manufacturing. The system is rated for processing over 6000 lbs/hr, and is being supplied to an existing customer with four similar roller hearth furnaces. The system supports the ongoing demands for domestic-supplied, high volume, heat treatment capacity.
A company in the automotive industry is expanding its hardening plant and has ordered a new vacuum furnace. The furnace introduces a heat treatment strategy for large die processing.
Maciej Korecki Vice President of the Vacuum Segment SECO/WARWICK Source: SECO/WARWICK
The Vector vacuum furnace produced for Isoflama by SECO/WARWICK Group will help to achieve an effective solution for the heat treatment of dedicated parts – the hardening of very large dies for large presses used in the automotive industry. It is also equipped with an efficient cooling system and a large working zone with increased load support beam capacity, enabling work with very heavy dies.
“The customer wanted to shorten the heat treatment cycle time. We have used a number of modifications in this furnace, which are a response to the commercial heat-treating plant’s specific needs.” commented Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.
Łukasz Chwiałkowski, sales manager for this project, adds, “This time too, we have created a unique furnace based on a standard solution. We have reinforced the support beam under the hearth to increase the process load rating by more than 60%. This was a key modification which will allow this Brazilian commercial heat treater to process heavy and large dies for the automotive industry.“
Press release is available in its original form here.
After 15 years of collaboration, a new CAB furnace designed for production of heat exchangers for delivery vehicles, trucks, and cars is set to begin operating in Monterrey Mexico.
This 15-year collaboration between SECO/WARWICK and their Asian partner began in 2010 when the two began working together on solutions for heat exchanger production for trucks, passenger cars, and new energy technologies. The new CAB line that will operate in Mexico is equipped with a thermal degreasing furnace, preheating chambers, a radiation furnace, a deicing furnace, a final cooling chamber, and an advanced control system. These features are designed to meet the requirements of the automotive industry, as well as ensure long-term and reliable operation.
Liu Yedong Managing Director SECO/WARWICK China.Piotr Skarbiński Vice President of Aluminum and CAB Products Segment SECO/WARWICK
“We can say that this is the jubilee 15th order, exactly on the 15th anniversary of our cooperation beginning,” said Piotr Skarbiński, vice president of the Aluminum and CAB Products Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.
“The CAB line with a 1,400 mm wide belt ensures excellent temperature uniformity across the entire width, which translate into the final product quality,”Liu Yedong, managing director of SECO/WARWICK China added.
Press release is available in its original form here.
A major automaker announced a $20 billion investment in United States-based manufacturing.
Hyundai‘s investment, which the automaker described as a pledge to increase localized production in the United States, will create over 1,000 jobs. As part of the pledge, the company will open a $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana.
This near-shoring move by Hyundai is one among many automakers who are currently planning major U.S. investments, including Stellantis, which promised $5 billion to U.S manufacturing and Honda, which is expected to produce new Civic hybrids in Indiana.
Press release is available in its original from here.
