AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS

Manufacturing Investment to Increase Domestic HIP Capacity

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, HIPING NEWS

INTALUS, a U.S.-based advanced materials manufacturer, has secured financing to establish domestic manufacturing facilities and expand hot isostatic pressing (HIP) capacity. The investment will increase U.S. capabilities for densifying metal components, reducing internal defects, and improving material performance for defense, aerospace, energy, and other critical industries.

Rochefort Asset Management, a U.S. national security-focused investment management firm, announced the strategic financing for INTALUS. The funding will support U.S. facilities and machinery for two manufacturing technologies: HIP+ systems and Targeted Phase Infusion (TPI) systems.

The HIP+ systems use heat and pressure to close internal voids and reduce defects in metal components, improving their strength and reliability. The TPI systems incorporate INTALUS’ patented ceramic-metal technology into targeted areas of components to improve resistance to heat, wear, and corrosion.

Together, the technologies are intended to increase domestic capacity for metal component densification and ceramic-metal processing. Potential applications include actuators, fasteners, turbine and reactor components, and equipment used in maritime, space, energy, nuclear, and aerospace applications.

According to the announcement, limited domestic HIP capacity has created processing bottlenecks for U.S. manufacturers, with some companies relying on foreign providers for component densification. The investment is intended to bring additional processing capabilities onshore and serve the U.S. defense industrial base and broader commercial markets.

INTALUS’ technology has previously been used in demanding environments, including Formula One. The financing will help the company transition toward larger-scale domestic production of advanced metal-ceramic components.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Automated Heat Treat Line Equips Aerospace Forging Production

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, ATMOSPHERE AIR FURNACES NEWS, QUENCHING NEWS

A global aerospace manufacturer will install an automated heat treatment line combining atmosphere and vacuum processing for aerospace forgings. The integrated system will include 12 industrial furnaces and multiple cooling and quenching stations, with precise process control and load-transfer timing supporting production of parts currently manufactured in the United States.

SECO/WARWICK will supply the line for a new production facility under construction in Poland. The atmosphere section will include 10 chamber furnaces, six equipped with cooling systems, along with an oil quench tank, spray washer, and five cooling stations. Two single-chamber Vector vacuum furnaces will also be installed, each equipped with high-pressure gas quenching system operating at up to 20 bar absolute.

Piotr Skarbiński
Vice President of the Aluminum and CAB Products Segment
SECO/WARWICK

An automated transport system will connect the equipment and maintain specified transfer times between the atmosphere furnace and quench tank. The system will include a material handling unit traveling on an external track, a robot for positioning loads onto process fixtures, and two roller conveyors with turntables.

“The interdependencies among the individual units are crucial in this project. Reaching the correct process temperature is not enough. We must also ensure the required cooling dynamics in the vacuum furnaces, repeatable parameters, and a strictly defined load transfer time between the atmosphere chamber furnaces and the quench tank,” said Piotr Skarbiński, vice president of the Aluminum and CAB Products Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Large Vacuum Furnace Supports Aerospace Titanium Heat Treatment

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, TITANIUM PROCESSING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A large high-vacuum furnace has been ordered for the heat treatment of titanium alloys used in aerospace applications. Designed for loads approaching 10,000 pounds, the system will provide a carbon-free processing environment and controlled thermal conditions for large aerospace components.

Aichelin ST Vacuum GmbH, a joint venture of the Aichelin Group and Sistem Teknik, will supply the furnace to an international aerospace company. The system will feature a usable work zone measuring 1,500 x 5,000 x 1,500 mm (59 x 197 x 59 inches) and accommodate loads up to 4,500 kg (9.921 lb).

The furnace will operate at temperatures up to 2282°F (1250°C) and achieve vacuum levels in the 10⁻⁶ mbar range. A molybdenum and stainless steel insulation and heating system will provide the carbon-free environment required for processing titanium alloys. The system will also provide quenching pressures up to 1.49 bar and is designed to meet AMS2750 requirements.

Aichelin ST Vacuum develops and manufactures vacuum heat treatment systems for applications including aerospace, energy, automotive, medical, and commercial heat treating. The broader Aichelin Group also has a North American vacuum heat treatment presence through U.S.-based GM Enterprises, which develops and manufactures vacuum furnace and coating systems with a particular focus on aerospace, medical, additive manufacturing, and industrial applications.

The Group’s North American operations also include AFC-Holcroft in Wixom, Michigan, which is responsible for industrial furnace systems and thermal processing solutions in the Americas.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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US Bearing Manufacturer Adds Vacuum Carburizing Capacity

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

A U.S.-based bearing manufacturer is expanding its in-house heat treating capacity with a new vacuum furnace for hardening and low pressure carburizing (LPC). The investment will support larger bearing components and growing production needs for aerospace and other demanding industrial applications.

The manufacturer has ordered a Vector single-chamber vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK. The system will have a 36 x 36 x 48 inch (900 x 900 x 1200 mm) working zone and will be equipped with LPC and 15-bar high-pressure gas quenching. It is the first SECO/WARWICK system at this particular facility, although other facilities within the manufacturer’s group have previously invested in the supplier’s vacuum technology.

The furnace will be used for hardening and carburizing a range of bearing components, including larger loads. Its cylindrical heating chamber provides temperature uniformity of ±9°F (±5°C), while convection heating is designed to improve heat transfer at lower operating temperatures. Directional cooling and isothermal quenching provide additional control over load cooling during the heat treatment cycle.

The LPC system allows steel surface hardening to be integrated into the heat treatment cycle. The furnace also incorporates high vacuum, a graphite hot zone, and rapid gas cooling to support process cleanliness and repeatability.

The investment addresses an increasing number of hardening and carburizing processes being performed in-house. According to the supplier, vacuum gas quenching and LPC are used in bearing production for aerospace as well as energy, transportation, heavy industry, and OEM applications.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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New Aluminum Extrusion Line Integrates Heat Treatment

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, ALUMINUM PROCESSING NEWS, ATMOSPHERE AIR FURNACES NEWS

Taber Extrusions has opened an $85 million expansion at its Russellville, Arkansas, facility, centered on a new 10,000-ton aluminum extrusion press. The expansion adds in-line solution heat treatment, aging, and quenching capabilities to support production of large aluminum profiles for aerospace, defense, and heavy industrial applications.

Image Credit: Taber Extrusions

The new 16-inch front-load direct extrusion press went online in June 2026. The press has a 16-inch (406 mm) container and can produce profiles up to 23.6 inches (600 mm) wide, including large, single-piece aluminum profiles intended to reduce the need for complex multi-part assemblies in mission-critical applications.

Downstream of the press, equipment from Cometal Engineering incorporates advanced profile quenching, cooling and handling systems. The line also incorporates in-line solution heat treatment and aging designed to support the demanding requirements of high-performance aluminum alloys. The new line can process both hard and soft aluminum alloys.

Taber marked the expansion with a grand opening in September, attended by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, company executives, state officials, and local leaders. Guests also toured the new expansion during the event.

The expansion is expected to create 70 jobs in Russellville. Taber first announced the project at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024 and broke ground on the facility expansion in April 2025.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Titanium Processing Capacity Expands with New Water Quench Furnace

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, ATMOSPHERE AIR FURNACES NEWS, TITANIUM PROCESSING NEWS

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).

RObert (Bob) Hill PresidentSolar Atmospheres Michigan Source: Solar Atmospheres
Robert (Bob) Hill
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.

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Vacuum Heat Treatment Moves In-House for Aerospace Components

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

A manufacturer of aerospace and gas turbine components is establishing an in-house heat treatment department with its first vacuum furnace, bringing vacuum processing and high-pressure gas quenching into its own operations. The investment is intended to increase production independence and quality control while reducing reliance on external heat treatment services and associated delivery risks.

Image Credit: SECO/WARWICK

Croatia-based Tvornica plinskih turbina d.o.o. has ordered a Vector single-chamber vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK, a global supplier of industrial heat treatment equipment and technologies with operations in North America. The system will be used to heat treat aerospace and gas turbine components requiring process cleanliness, parameter repeatability, and precise cooling control. Until now, the manufacturer has relied on commercial heat treatment service providers.

The furnace has a working space of 600 x 600 x 900 mm (24 x 24 x 35 inches), with a round heating chamber that also enables the processing of oversized components. Designed to operate with argon and nitrogen, the furnace includes a high-performance cooling system with a blower for gas quenching up to 6 bar abs.

Additional features include convection heating, an efficient pumping system, dew point control, and a partial pressure system. The configuration is designed to give the manufacturer greater control over its vacuum heat treatment processes and production planning.

Tvornica plinskih turbina has manufactured jet engine and gas turbine components since 1975. Its capabilities include precision forging of turbine blades and production of components for helicopter engines, gas turbines, and civil aviation engines.

“The SECO/WARWICK equipment will allow us to increase production independence, better control process costs and quality, and reduce the risk of delays resulting from the use of external services,” said Tihomir Šoškić, representative of Tvornica plinskih turbina.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Aerospace Heat Treating Capacity Supports Aviation Demand

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, ATMOSPHERE AIR FURNACES NEWS, QUENCHING NEWS

New aerospace heat treating systems are supporting increased production requirements across commercial aviation and defense, including automated horizontal air quenching for aluminum components and additional furnace capacity for military aircraft maintenance. The systems provide controlled heat treatment and rapid air cooling for aviation-grade metals while supporting growing aerospace and defense manufacturing and maintenance requirements.

DELTA H Technologies, a Carroll, Ohio-based manufacturer of heat treating and thermal processing furnaces, has delivered multiple systems to aerospace and defense contractors, commercial aviation OEMs and MROs, and the U.S. Armed Forces throughout 2026. The deliveries include fully automated horizontal air quench furnaces as well as systems being supplied under a U.S. Air Force contract for 38 dual-chamber aerospace heat treating furnaces.

Among the commercial systems delivered this year are fully automated horizontal air quenching and cooling furnaces. The systems use high-velocity cooling air and can heat treat aluminum to AQ condition without the distortion normally associated with water quenching. Parts can then naturally age to T4 or be artificially aged to T6, with artificial aging performaed in the same surface chamber using the system’s aging mode.

The horizontal air quench systems include Super SCAHT furnaces with temperature uniformity survey volumes of 48 x 30 x 90 inches and 30 x 30 x 72 inches. Both operate from 200°F to 1200°F (93°C to 649°C), provide Class 1 temperature uniformity, and are fully automated.

Super SCAHT® – 48 x 30 x 90 inches TUS Volume, 200°F–1200°F Ops Class 1 Uniformity, Fully Automated Horizontal Air Quench For Major A&D Contractor | Image Credit: DELTA H Technologies
Super SCAHT® – 30 x 30 x 72 inches TUS Volume, 200°F–1200°F Ops Class 1 Uniformity, Fully Automated Horizontal Air Quench For Major A&D Contractor | Image Credit: DELTA H Technologies
Richard Conway
Director and CTO
Delta H Technologies

To support its increased order volume, DELTA H said it has doubled its workforce and retooled production capacity to accommodate a larger backlog of systems in production simultaneously. The company also reported a backlog of furnace startups and preventive maintenance projects. “Upon completion of our current backlog, DELTA H will have furnaces installed in approximately 75% of the USAF bases worldwide that can perform aircraft maintenance,” said Richard Conway, director and CTO of DELTA H Technologies and a U.S. Air Force veteran.

DELTA H manufactures heat treating and thermal processing furnaces for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications, including dual-chamber and custom-engineered systems designed to meet AMS2750 and Nadcap requirements. The company also provides technical support, maintenance, and spare parts services.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Aerospace Manufacturer Adds Aluminum Heat Treatment Line

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, ALUMINUM PROCESSING NEWS, ATMOSPHERE AIR FURNACES NEWS

An aerospace manufacturer is adding a heat treatment line for large aluminum aircraft components, combining solution heat treatment, rapid water or polymer quenching, and artificial aging. The system is designed to process aircraft skins and structures while meeting AMS2750H and AMS2770 requirements.

SECO/WARWICK will supply the turnkey system to an Indian aviation manufacturer. The order includes an electric VertiQuench drop-bottom furnace, a mobile water and polymer quench tank, a stationary rinsing station, a chiller, loading baskets, and additional equipment. The project also covers engineering, delivery, installation, commissioning, and acceptance services.

The furnace has a working zone measuring 3,900 x 1,700 x 2,000 mm (approximately 153 x 67 x 79 in.), allowing it to accommodate large aluminum sheets and structures. The system is designed to maintain temperature uniformity of ±3°C (±5.4°F) within the useful space and can use either water or polymer for quenching. An immersion rinsing station removes residual polymer following the quench.

Arvind Agarwal
Managing Director
SECO/WARWICK India

For the application, the system is designed to achieve full immersion of the load in the quench tank within five seconds. The furnace’s lift system and door design move the load vertically into the quench tank positioned directly beneath the furnace. The furnace can also be used for artificial aging.

“The large working zone enables the processing of components of significant size, which is particularly important in the production of aircraft skins,” said Arvind Agarwal, managing director of SECO/WARWICK India. Agarwal added the that rapid immersion capability and reduced number of heat treatment steps are intended to improve efficiency at the manufacturer’s facility.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Thermocouple Manufacturer Acquired to Support Future Growth

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, THERMOCOUPLES NEWS

A manufacturer of thermocouple products used to monitor high-temperature manufacturing processes has been acquired in a transaction intended to support its continued growth. The products serve demanding aerospace and defense, power generation, and industrial applications where accurate temperature measurement is required.

Mason Wells announced September 29 that it completed the acquisition of The Cleveland Electric Laboratories (CEL). The company is now owned by Mason Wells, members of CEL’s management team, and other board members and co-investors.

Founded in 1920 and based in Twinsburg, Ohio, CEL manufactures thermocouple products for high-temperature manufacturing environments. Its capabilities include materials science, precious-metals expertise, application engineering, precision manufacturing, and laboratory testing to certify products and materials to customer and industry requirements. CEL operates manufacturing facilities in Twinsburg and Tempe, Arizona.

“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Mason Wells and to continue the company’s next phase of growth,” said Scott Puhalsky, chief executive officer at CEL. “Mason Wells’ experience successfully supporting engineered product businesses will provide CEL the resources and network to achieve its long-term growth initiatives.”

Mason Wells said it plans to make investments supporting CEL’s clients, suppliers, and employees. The Milwaukee-based private equity firm has invested in Midwest-based engineered products and services companies since 1998 and is currently investing through Mason Wells Buyout Fund V, a $767 million fund.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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