QUENCHING NEWS

Heat Treat IQ System for Härtewerk Chemnitz Hardening Plant

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Kai Werlitz
Technical Operations Manager
Härtewerk Chemnitz GmbH
Source: Härtewerk Chemnitz

Härtewerk Chemnitz GmbH, a large German commercial hardening plant (Lohnhärterei), has purchased a horizontal, two-chamber furnace low-pressure carburizing and oil quenching system from an international heat treat solutions provider. In the German plant, the integral quench system will replace legacy atmosphere technology and expand their capabilities for mass-producing parts.

This is the first SECO/WARWICK furnace equipped with vacuum heating at the heat treater's German plant and the first Super IQ solution in Germany. The system has a heating chamber, loading and unloading vestibule, and a quenching bath. The equipment in the system enables users to perform a variety of heat treatment processes, heat, and chemical treatment, as well as low-pressure carburizing and quenching.

"The machines we have worked with so far had required time-consuming and expensive preparation, especially when the equipment was not at the right temperature," commented Kai Werlitz, technical operations manager at Härtewerk Chemnitz GmbH. "The Super IQ furnace that we have ordered eliminates not only these difficulties but also enables efficient heat treatment with very high repeatability and uniformity of the carburized layer, which with atmospheric furnaces was only possible to a limited extent."

The heat treater's Chemnitz and Chomutov plants provide a wide range of services related to metal heat treatment and focus on Germany and Europe's mechanical engineering, automotive, and metalworking industries.


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Western PA Heat Treat Facility VOQ Passes Startup Protocol

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Source: Solar
Robert (Bob) Hill, FASM
President
Solar Atmospheres of Western PA
Source: Solar Atmospheres

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA announced their newly designed vacuum oil quench furnace (VOQ) has passed startup protocol. There were zero flare and smoke-ups during the quench cycle and the transfer mechanism moved 2000 pound loads with no issues.

"[Recently]," Bob Hill, president of Solar Atmospheres of Western PA, says, "insurance companies are reluctant to write policies for commercial heat treaters simply because they see a single flame or evidence of smoke. In the past, unfortunate accidents have occurred with explosive endothermic atmospheres and flammable oils. I am convinced that this new Solar Manufacturing furnace is a much safer and greener way to oil quench parts."

Watch internal and external camera footage during a quench operation.

 

 

The design of the furnace allows for reading work temperatures within the 36" x 36" x 48" hot zone. No oxygen probes are necessary, since the furnace operates with an atmosphere devoid of oxygen. Alloys of dissimilar carbon contents and similar cross sections and austenitizing temperatures can be treated in the same load.

To read about the installation of this VOQ, or to watch a video of the largest component of that installation, click here.


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Vacuum Oil Quench Being Installed at Western PA Facility

HTD Size-PR LogoSolar Atmospheres of Western PA received delivery of their vacuum oil quench (VOQ) furnace last week.

This 36” x 36″ x 48” furnace from Solar Manufacturing will be fully installed, tested and operational in early April. See the largest component, a 40,000 pound vestibule/oil quench tank, being transferred and inverted into its pit. This will be the first vacuum oil quench furnace to employ work thermocouples in the actual load!

 

Solar Atmospheres indicates that they will be releasing updates on this furnace in the future.

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News From Heat Treat Today’s European Media Partner

Today, we cast our sights overseas to our European information partner, heatprocessing, to find out what’s new internationally. Major movements in steel and implementations of new furnace tech are the themes.


Steel Wire Plant Needs New Bell Annealer System

“After detailed technological analysis, Italy’s Trafilerie San Paolo, srl. has selected a Hicon/N2 bell annealer facility for steel wire by Ebner Industrieofenbau.

“The facility will be installed in TSP’s newly-remodeled steel wire plant in Molteno (LC). Initial installation will comprise two Hicon/N2 workbases, one heating bell and one cooling bell, as well as all required peripheral equipment. The scope of supply includes all required supplementary equipment such as hydraulic power supply equipment, a pressure control station, analysing systems, state-of-the-art electrical systems with automation technology and a central visualisation system terminal.”

Read More: “Trafilerie San Paolo orders bell annealer facility for steel wire from Ebner”

 

Special Quench for Razor Thin Plates

Wuhan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd. (WISCO) has awarded Tenova LOI Thermprocess another order for the installation of a continuous quench for efficient cooling of thin steel plates.

“The quench is specially designed for efficient cooling of thin and very thin plates of high strength and wear resistant material. The quenches adopted for this application ensure maximum hardness and outstanding flatness combined with unique and powerful models and overall automation.”

Read More: “Wuhan Iron & Steel orders thin plate quench from Tenova LOI Thermprocess

 

 

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US Defense Contractor to Receive Vacuum Oil Quenching Furnace

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Piotr Zawistowski
Managing Director
SECO/VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES, USA

Source: secowarwick.com

A new vacuum furnace for a division of the US Department of Defense will bolster its capability to ensure supply chain reliability. The furnace is equipped to handle steel hardening, surface engineering, vacuum annealing, nickel alloy processing, and titanium heat treatment.

As a critical supplier of aerospace components to the US Department of Defense, this division will use the new vacuum oil quenching furnace, provided by SECO/WARWICK, Group, to handle functions of the department’s existing heat treatment furnaces and expand their capabilities. The addition of low pressure carburizing (LPC) and high pressure gas quenching (HPGQ) is new to this location.

“Assuring redundancy in heating needs of this location was critical,” said Piotr Zawistowski, Managing Director of SECO/VACUUM.

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Precision Parts Heat Treater Expands Operations

Peters’ Heat Treating, Inc., a 40-year-old heat treating company that specializes in a variety of high tech heat treating processes, moved its headquarters into a newly expanded Meadville, Pennsylvania facility located in the western part of the state.

Ribbon Cutting with the Owners: Doug and Jackie Peters (founders), Diana Wilkosz (VP), and Andy Wilkosz (President)
(photo source: Peters' Heat Treating, Inc.)

Additionally, Peters' Heat Treating also announced two new lines of business: aluminum alloy processing and stainless steel black oxide. Vice President Diana Wilkosz shared in a recent interview, "We added these two new lines because of the growing demands from the automotive, aerospace, energy, and defense industries. We are also working on Nadcap certifications."

The company specializes in vacuum processing, atmosphere heat treating/integral batch quench processing, laser heat treating, aluminum alloy processing, carburizing, scale free aging/stress relieving, cryogenics, black oxide coating, induction processing, nitriding/FNC and the proprietary Nitreg nitriding processes.

After being in their original facility for 40 years, this expansion, that covers 32,000 square foot of manufacturing space, has provided them the opportunity to expand and update their vacuum line, provide room to add new vacuum furnaces, as well as increase their product offerings and continue to grow the now 60-employee business.

Ribbon Cutting with Meadville Managers (photo source: Peters' Heat Treating, Inc.)

“We are excited to consolidate our services and knowledge in a way that maintains our history and dedication to the local community and industry while providing us the runway for a successful future,” said Andy Wilkosz, newly named president in 2019 and son-in-law of founders Doug and Jackie Peters. “These current times are challenging, but we know our business and the country will persevere.”

In addition to Peters' Heat Treating, the family also co-owns Laser Hard, a robotic laser heat treating company.

“It’s been a pleasure to be a part of the local community and to help companies grow,” Doug Peters said. “Probably the thing I’m most proud of is the great people I’ve had the opportunity to work with. I’ve watched them buy houses and have children, and now their kids are having children.”

Plant Expansion (photo source: Peters' Heat Treating, Inc.)

 

To learn more about Laser Hard, listen to the Heat Treat Radio episode in which they are featured.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Youngstown Tool & Die Purchases Vacuum Heat Treat Furnace

Youngstown Tool & Die (YTD), an Ohio manufacturer of aluminum extrusion dies, upgrades its in-house atmosphere heat treatment capabilities with the purchase of two high-pressure gas quench (HPGQ) furnaces. The decision to buy stems from the manufacturer’s plans to expand within their community.

Dave Mrdjenovic, General Manager, Youngstown Tool & Die (photo source: Youngstown Tool & Die)

“Our expansion,” said Dave Mrdjenovic, General Manager at YTD, “has been facilitated by a localized government development program to expand employment and business development in our area, so we are moving quickly to take advantage of the program. Upgrading our existing atmosphere furnaces to high pressure gas quench vacuum furnaces will significantly improve our performance as we grow.”

The two Vector® HPGQ furnaces were provided by SECO/VACUUM (a SECO/WARWICK Group company).These furnaces are designed for the heat treatment of dies in all types of applications, such as stamping, molding, and extrusion as well as for other uses. Because Vector’s HPGQ system cools dense masses both evenly and quickly without distortion, die quality and consistency are improved compared to the more historically used atmosphere heat treatment methods. These furnaces create a bright and clean final product.

 

Vector Furnace (photo source: SECO/WARWICK Group)

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Solar Atmospheres of Western PA Expanding to Include Vacuum Oil Quench

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA (SAWPA) will expand their material hardening repertoire by adding vacuum oil quench (VOQ) capabilities. The decision to go with a vacuum oil quench was influenced by serious concerns for the environmental and furnace operator safety. The Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) provides standards for health and safety, some of which caused Solar Atmospheres to question heat treating processes that utilize explosive endothermic gases and flammable open oil quench tanks. As a result of these concerns, Solar Manufacturing and Solar Atmospheres commenced engineering meetings in 2019 to design and build a US-manufactured, safe and quality VOQ.

Solar Atmospheres Vacuum Oil Quench Furnace (Photo source: Solar Atmospheres)

Early this week, Bob Hill, president, SAWPA, Hermitage, PA,  announced that the company had purchased and will install a new 36” x 36” x 48” VOQ furnace capable of safely quenching 2,000-pound loads without carbon potential concerns. The furnace, the first of its kind manufactured by Solar Manufacturing, Sellersville, PA, will be operational in early 2021.

Additionally, SAWPA is constructing a 15,000 square foot building to make room for the VOQ furnace line. Besides the VOQ furnace, the line also includes a parts washer, two tempering furnaces, and a charge car. The building expansion will be completed mid-summer 2020 making the entire SAWPA complex 120,000 square feet under one roof.

(Photo source: Rawfilm at unsplash.com)

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Nucor Contracts Quenching Unit, Caster for Kentucky Plate Mill Facility

A company that provides construction and mechanical engineering for the steel and nonferrous metals industry was recently selected for the supply of new equipment for a new plate mill facility, including a quenching unit, a single-strand caster, and other key elements of the production chain.

Nucor Corporation selected The SMS Group to design and produce the single-strand caster for ultra-wide and thick slabs for an annual capacity of 1.45 million tons (1.6 million short tons) at Nucor’s new plate mill facility in Brandenburg, Kentucky. The new casting machine is expected to be one of the largest casters worldwide.

Johnny Jacobs, vice president and general manager of Nucor Brandenburg

“SMS group and Nucor make a good team, and the caster will be essential to the success of our new plate mill facility,” said Johnny Jacobs, vice president and general manager of Nucor Brandenburg.

Incorporated in the project are several special technological features, including robotic applications on the casting platform and an HD mold with fiber optics and electromagnetic stirring, as well as a customized roller apron, a quenching unit, and a second cutting line.

 

Main photo caption: (L-R) Keith Watson, SMS Group vice president; Burkhard Dahmen, SMS Group GmbH president and CEO; John Ferriola, Nucor chairman and CEO; Leon Topalian, Nucor president and COO

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Gas Fan Quench-Cooled Vacuum Hot Press Installed for Aerospace Service Supplier

The world’s first 100-ton vacuum hot press with gas fan quench cooling capability for up to a 4,000 pound part has recently been installed and is in operation at a commercial and aerospace diffusion bonding operation in Chandler, Arizona.

Refrac Systems selected Solar Manufacturing, part of the Solar Atmospheres family of companies and based in Souderton, Pennsylvania, to perform the installation and startup of a large 100-ton force vacuum hot press that includes a 2-Bar Gas Fan Quench cooling system (GFQVHP). The furnace hot zone was modified to contain 100-ton on load hydraulic ram centered over the zone which is configured to diffusion bond parts up to 36″ wide x 48″ long x 30″ tall. Besides being specifically designed to diffusion bond large plastic injection molding dies, and concurrently quench hardening them, the system is finding applications in bonding advanced superalloy heat exchangers where the quench cooling offers a significant improvement on performance.

“We really drew on the extensive engineering experience base that Solar Manufacturing has for building large gas fan quench cooled vacuum furnaces coupled with our own vacuum hot pressing experience to build this very unique hot press system,” said Norm Hubele, President of Refrac Systems. “Solar’s engineering team really helped out with a lot of great design ideas and manufacturing experience, and the system really contains the most robust and reliable furnace engineering content that both companies could muster.”

“Norm put together a team of engineers to design and build this state-of-the-art GFQVHP, and it contains many innovations,” said William Jones, CEO of Solar Atmospheres. “Throughout the entire process, Norm personally reviewed all aspects of the design and added considerable insight to the development of this unique vacuum furnace system.”

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