AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS

Aviation Manufacturer Expands In-House Vacuum Heat Treat

An in-house heat treat manufacturer of highly specialized aviation parts will be increasing their vacuum heat treat abilities with a horizontal furnace.

SECO/WARWICK will be providing the Chinese aviation manufacturer with the Vector vacuum furnace, which will include a graphite chamber and gas cooling system.

Source: SECO/WARWICK
Maciej Korecki
Vice President of Business of the Vacuum Furnace Segment
SECO/WARWICK

“The partner who ordered the Vector vacuum furnace is just starting their operation…In the case of aviation, these values are of significant importance. The quality of the parts produced can determine the safety of many people, so precision is our foundation and the highest value,” summarized Maciej Korecki, vice president of the vacuum furnaces segment at the SECO/WARWICK Group.

The furnace dimensions are 900x600x900 mm with a maximum load capacity is 800 kg.

Press release is available in its original form here.



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Vacuum Induction Melting Furnaces for Aerospace & Energy Industries

A Chinese partner has purchased two vacuum induction melting (VIM) furnaces for melting and producing castings that will support the aerospace and energy industries.

Sławomir Woźniak
CEO
SECO/WARWICK Group

SECO/WARWICK Group will be providing the two VIM furnaces, which will be shipped to China. The first of the two furnaces on order is a 50 kg VIM induction furnace for producing castings in an equiaxed structure. The furnace is unique due to its high degree of automation. It is often a chosen solution in the field of vacuum metallurgy. Various metals can be processed in vacuum metallurgy furnaces, such as titanium and its alloys, silicon, nickel, or cobalt alloys. The second furnace is the JetCaster VIM DGCC, used to produce high-quality precision turbine blade castings in the aerospace and energy industries.

Sławomir Woźniak, CEO of SECO/WARWICK Group, stated how the furnace benefited “the field of unidirectional crystallization castings of nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys. Years of work by our R&D engineers on the development of new unidirectional crystallization casting technology has allowed us to create a device equipped with a supersonic argon stream cooling system.”

“The growing popularity of VIM furnaces and the increasing importance of vacuum metallurgy is a consequence of the constantly changing production needs of heavy industries.” said Liu Yedong, managing director of SECO/WARWICK China.

Liu Yedong
Managing Director
SECO/WARWICK China.

Press release is available in its original form here.



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Manufacturer Upgrades Hot Zone For Aerospace Industry

A prominent United States-based global aerospace company replaced a hot zone for their vacuum furnace. The company performs thermal processing on a variety of critical aerospace components used across multiple aircraft platforms.

John Hahn
Aftermarket Sales Manager
Solar Manufacturing
Source: Linkedin

Solar Manufacturing was contracted to replace an Ipsen VFC-924 hot zone.

John Hahn, aftermarket sales manager at Solar Manufacturing, noted: “They trusted our engineering and service teams to design and build a hot zone with key modifications that would enhance performance and longevity.”

The hot zone was implemented with improvements to boost hot zone efficiency, serviceability, and lifespan, such as graphite felt insulation for thermal efficiency, CFC 0.050” hot face for increased durability, and CFC edge trim throughout (door, bottom, and top bung) to extend hot zone life.

Press release is available in its original form here.



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Company Expands Services In Aerospace Industry and Beyond With Vacuum Furnace

A company that services the aerospace industry has expanded its thermal processing capabilities with a new vacuum furnace, growing their operations into multinational thermal processing.

Piotr Zawistowski
Managing Director
SECO/VACUUM

SECO/WARWICK has produced the vacuum furnace, which is customized to meet the rigorous heat treating standards of the aerospace industry, one of the industries they serve. As such, the 6-bar Vector is equipped for dual gas quench with nitrogen, argon, or any partial-pressure of the two, automatically set and maintained according to the batch recipe. It is also equipped with a high-vacuum system with a diffusion pump, key features for many aerospace-grade thermal processes.

Director of Operations, one of the family-business owners, stated, “Our ongoing success is powered by our partnership with SECO/WARWICK. This state-of-the-art furnace introduces advanced automation, ensuring faster turnaround times while maintaining the highest quality standards for our customers. Additionally, this new technology enhances our capabilities, granting us the confidence to enter new markets and secure new opportunities with exceptional reliability.”

“We never take that partnership for granted.” Piotr Zawistowski, Managing Director of SECO/VACUUM, responded.

This new Vector is horizontally configured with a 24x24x36 inch (600x600x900 mm) hot zone equipped for a payload of 1750lbs (800kg).

Press release is available in its original form here.



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Aerospace Growth Drives New Furnace Order

A top-tier supplier in the aerospace industry has placed an order for a 6-bar vacuum furnace designed to meet the rigorous requirements of aerospace component manufacturing.

Mark Hemsath
President
Nitrex/UPC-Marathon

Nitrex’s G-M Enterprises division in Corona, California, has seen new vacuum furnace orders as aerospace demands accelerate.

Mark Hemsath, President of Nitrex/UPC-Marathon, commented on the current trend: “The surge in the aerospace sector is a very welcomed occurrence.”

Press release is available in its original form here.



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Aviation Industry Supplier Expands with HPGQ Furnace

A screws and fasteners manufacturer for the aviation industry is expanding its heat treating operations with a vacuum furnace with high-pressure gas quenching (HPGQ) and high vacuum for multipurpose and dedicated applications. The vacuum’s heating chamber is 16x16x24 in (400x400x600 mm), a compact design that accommodates the company’s small in-house hardening plant while still being large enough to enable efficient heat treatment of multiple components at once.

Maciej Korecki
Vice President of Vacuum Business Segment
SECO/WARWICK

The SECO/WARWICK furnace is designed with the ability to work on both nitrogen and argon and includes a round heating chamber with a temperature uniformity of +/-9oF (+/-5oC), and convection heating up to 1590°F (850°C). The Vector HV (high vacuum) furnace meets standards required in the heat treatment of components intended for the aviation industry; material heating processes require cleanliness (which is why an additional argon-partial pressure system was used) and a high heating temperature of 2192oF (1200oC).

“The Client required very short cooling times, which are possible with the use of a 15 bar abs gas blower,” said Maciej Korecki, vice president of the vacuum segment, SECO/WARWICK Group. “Our advantage is that it is a proven solution (our standard but adapted to the partner’s specific requirements). Vector offers wide personalization possibilities, which significantly reduces project costs and ensures faster implementation time.”

Press release is available in its original from here.



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Aviation Research Improved with Vacuum Furnace

A manufacturer of aviation engine parts is enhancing its research capabilities with the acquisition of an adapted vacuum furnace to investigate the improvement of aviation components. The company has plans to build a new research center where the customized furnace will be used for laboratory materials testing.

Maciej Korecki
Vice President of Vacuum Business Segment
SECO/WARWICK

The manufacturer currently operates a SECO/WARWICK vacuum furnace used in the production of aircraft engine parts. The newly purchased Vector® furnace is equipped with isothermal quenching, which allows the cooling process to operate with better control of the load temperature and blower control using a frequency inverter. In addition, the SECO/PREDICTIVE system, a furnace monitoring and diagnostics option, allows users to detect the risk of failure before it occurs and thus minimizes unplanned downtime.

“Compact, specially adapted Vector furnaces are suitable for both scientific institutes and production plants that are looking for new material solutions and want to improve their components,” said Maciej Korecki, vice-president of the Vacuum Furnace Segment at SECO/WARWICK. “This furnace will not be used in series production, but in development processes, contributing to the creation of innovative solutions for the aerospace industry.”

SECO/WARWICK rebuilt the heating chamber so that the dimensions of the working space allow for effective development processes and installed a temperature uniformity system for temperatures reaching above 2372oF (1300oC). The purpose of personalization is to enable the system to produce an effective heat treatment of dedicated parts provided for the investment project, specifically R&D research on aircraft engine parts.

The Vector furnace designed for this client is characterized by the use of two gases: argon for partial pressure (ensuring the process purity, required by restrictive aviation standards) and nitrogen for hardening. It also has a dew point sensor for each gas. This is a system which solves one of the critical aspects of heat treatment, which is to prevent water vapor condensation, causing the processed load surface oxidation.

Press release is available in its original form here.



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Aviation Industry Supplier Expands Vacuum Heat Treatment Capabilities

A company that supplies metal injection molded components for the aviation industry has expanded its production capabilities with a vacuum furnace. This solution will increase the capacity to provide hardening process services while meeting aviation standards required by the industry.

Sławomir Woźniak
President of the Management Board
SECO/WARWICK Group

The Vector® vacuum furnace will process materials using an additional argon hydrogen partial pressure system, providing heating at a high level: 2192˚F (1200˚C). This is SECO/WARWICK‘s second collaboration with the company, one of the largest manufacturers offering metal injection molding technology with manufacturing capabilities including vertical integration of finishing technologies such as nickel and trivalent chromium electroplating, vacuum heat treatment and seal hardening, as well as precision grinding and CNC machining with micron tolerances.

“This partner is a global brand which has shown their trust in us for the second time by ordering a vacuum furnace, which we will now be able to service locally and more comprehensively,” said Sławomir Woźniak, president of the management board, SECO/WARWICK Group.

The furnace’s pumping system enables vacuum processes to be carried out in medium and high ranges, thanks to the use of a very good pumping system, and incorporates three process gases: argon, nitrogen, and hydrogen.

Press release is available in its original form here.



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US Heat Treater Adds Furnaces, Marquenching Capabilities

A commercial heat treating company recently added new furnaces and process improvements to its operations in order to serve manufacturers in advanced industries, including aerospace and defense. The improvements include a high-temperature oxidation furnace, a fully rebuilt furnace, and the expansion of marquenching capabilities.

Phoenix Heat Treating, based in Phoenix, AZ, has introduced a high-temperature oxidation furnace specifically designed for space components. This equipment has a maximum operating temperature of 1975oF and operates in an air atmosphere, providing the thermal stability and precision needed for the demands of aerospace applications and to serve the evolving needs of the space industry.

A fully rebuilt furnace has been reactivated in the company’s production lineup. This furnace is tailored for processing primary long Inconel 718 and A286 age cycles. With a maximum weight capacity of 2000 lbs., it handles heavy and complex loads with a goal of ensuring consistent and reliable results for critical nickel-based alloy applications and improving efficiency and capacity by increasing the number of Inconel 718 cycles per week.

Marquenching operations are also seeing an upgrade as materials have been ordered to increase load sizes from 25 lbs. per load to 250 lbs. per load. Expected to be complete by mid-February, this enhancement represents a tenfold increase in capacity, allowing Phoenix Heat Treating to achieve faster turnaround times and larger batch processing capabilities.

Additionally, a state-of-the-art freeze/temper unit has been brought online. This equipment is capable of reaching temperatures between -270oF and 200oF and will be a part of the company’s aluminum thermal cycling processes, enabling precise control over temperature profiles for optimal material performance. The new unit’s capacity is roughly double that of the previous maximum reached and will allow Phoenix to handle significantly larger loads and meet growing customer demand.

The press release is available in its original form here.



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Loy Instrument Partners To Expand Capabilities

Loy Instrument, Inc., which supplies process control and combustion solutions for heat treaters in multiple industries, has been acquired by Relevant Industrial, LLC (Relevant), a leading provider of industrial equipment and engineered solutions. This partnership enhances the company’s ability to serve clients in industries such as aerospace, metals, refining, petrochemical, manufacturing and power generation.

John Carte
CEO
Relevant Industrial LLC

Loy, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, has over 80 years of industry knowledge and a team with more than 900 years of combined experience. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Relevant, strengthening its position as an industry leader and expanding its geographic footprint into Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan.

“Joining Relevant Industrial is an exciting step for Loy Instrument, our employees, and our customers,” said Ken Bradway, president of Loy Instrument, Inc. “Together, we’ll leverage our combined expertise and resources to expand our capabilities and continue delivering exceptional solutions to the industries we serve.”

“The addition of Loy Instrument’s expertise strengthens our ability to tackle complex challenges in combustion and process control, providing even greater value to our customers,” said John Carte, CEO of Relevant Industrial. “We’re excited to welcome this exceptional team into the Relevant family and look forward to driving innovation together.”

The press release is available in its original form here.



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