VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Large-Capacity Nitriding Furnace Enhances Processing Capabilities

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, NITRIDING NEWS, NITROCARBURIZING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Vacu-Braze, a commercial heat treater specializing in vacuum heat treating and brazing, has added a large-capacity nitriding furnace to support processing of oversized components requiring enhanced surface hardness, wear resistance, and fatigue performance.

The furnace features a working chamber of 48″ in diameter and 108″ in depth, more than doubling the company’s current processing volume. It can accommodate larger workloads while meeting AMS2759/6 requirements for aerospace nitriding applications that require strict control of compound layer formation, case depth, and process uniformity.

In addition to conventional gas nitriding, the new furnace enables ferritic nitrocarburizing, providing an additional surface engineering option in many alloy steels. Along with advanced pyrometry and temperature uniformity controls, these features ensure compliance with AMS2750 for critical applications.

With this addition, Vacu-Braze can process a broader range of part sizes while maintaining process control and consistency.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Additional Vacuum Furnace Supports Heat Treatment of Aircraft Engine Blades

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

An aerospace manufacturer has ordered a vacuum furnace to support heat treatment of high-performance alloys used in aircraft components, including engine blades. The system is designed to provide controlled atmosphere processing and precise temperature uniformity required for materials such as titanium, nickel alloys, and high-temperature steels.

The vacuum furnace was supplied by SECO/WARWICK, a global manufacturer of thermal processing equipment with locations in North America, to a Thai aerospace manufacturer expanding its production capabilities. The order includes a single-chamber Vector® vacuum furnace intended for heat treatment and vacuum brazing applications.

The furnace features a working chamber measuring 900 mm x 900 mm x 1200 mm, enabling the heat treatment of larger components. It is designed to support high vacuum processes while maintaining charge purity, with solutions that limit sublimation of alloying elements and reduce contamination within the hot zone — factors that are important in aerospace component production.

Lukasz Chwiałkowski
Sales Manager
SECO/WARWICK
Source: SECO/WARWICK

“It consists of two Leybold mechanical pumps, a Roots pump, and a diffusion pump. The round heating chamber ensures excellent temperature distribution (±5°C/±9°F), and the cooling system enables rapid gas cooling to a pressure of 6 bar abs. Additionally, the furnace provides precise control of partial pressure of argon and nitrogen, which is crucial for the quality of vacuum and brazing processes,” commented Łukasz Chwiałkowski, sales manager at SECO/WARWICK.

This is the second collaboration between the two companies in Thailand. The client already owns an identical SECO/WARWICK vacuum furnace that supports the production of titanium, high-temperature steel and nickel alloy aircraft engine blades. The addition of a second vacuum is expected to increase production capacity and provide operational flexibility for the aerospace manufacturer’s thermal processing operations.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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California Facility Adds 10-Bar Vacuum Furnace

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

Solar Atmospheres has announced the installation and full commissioning of a new 10-bar vacuum furnace at its Fontana, California, further expanding the company’s high-pressure vacuum heat treating capacity in the western United States. The system enables vacuum heat treating and high-pressure quenching of large components essential to high-performance applications across aerospace and other critical industries.

The furnace, manufactured by sister company Solar Manufacturing, is a horizontal vacuum system with a 48″ wide x 48″ high x 96″ deep hot zone and a maximum load capacity of 12,000 pounds. Equipped with a vacuum pumping package capable of reaching an ultimate vacuum level of 1×10⁻⁶ Torr, the furnace is designed for processing titanium and other high-performance alloys that require tightly controlled, low-contamination environments.

Derek Dennis
President
Solar Atmospheres California

“This investment gives our [clients] another regional solution for high-pressure quenching of large components and heavy workloads,” said Derek Dennis, president of Solar Atmospheres California. It also allows the company to increase capacity and improve efficiency as demand continues to grow, he adds.

The move supports vacuum heat treating needs across aerospace, defense, medical, and power generation markets, with capacity aimed at maintaining consistent turnaround and performance.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Vacuum Casting Expansion Strengthens Turbine Component Manufacturing

/ ENERGY HEAT TREAT NEWS, FOUNDRY CASTING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Two vacuum induction melting (VIM) casting systems are being deployed to support the production of components used in power generation turbine manufacturing. The systems are designed to produce advanced alloys with controlled microstructures for components operating under demanding thermal and mechanical conditions.

The equipment, engineered to support both equiaxed (EQ) and directionally solidified (DS) casting processes, will be used in the production of high-performance, nickel-based alloy turbine components. These casting technologies are critical for achieving the structural integrity, thermal resistance, and performance consistency required in modern power generation turbines operating under extreme conditions.

Earl Good
President
Retech

Retech, a U.S.-based company and part of the SECO/WARWICK Group, supplied the two VIM systems. “These systems were designed to build on prior installations while incorporating specific changes requested by the [client] to support their current and future production goals,” said Earl Good, president of Retech. The systems are based on Retech’s core designs but incorporate client-specific modifications, tailoring feeder configurations to align with the client’s established production practices. This enables repeatable casting while maintaining precise thermal and atmospheric control throughout the process.

The order continues a relationship between Retech and the client that dates back to the 1980s, with several legacy systems still in operation at the facility. The client has indicated plans to expand capacity in the coming years, including potential additional system purchases and replacement of older equipment.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Heat Treater Acquisition Enhances Integrated Manufacturing Capabilities

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

G.S. Precision, a precision machining and manufacturing company headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has expanded its global manufacturing platform with the announcement of the acquisition of Lush Heat Treatment Ltd. and Headwater Precision, Inc., strengthening vertical integrated capabilities that support aerospace, defense, and other high-spec industries. The additions broaden the company’s technical scope across machining, coatings, and thermal processing, while extending the company’s geographic footprint in North America and Europe.

James R. Callan
Chief Executive Officer
G.S. Precision

Lush Heat Treatment, based in the United Kingdom, provides vacuum and endothermic heat treating services, as well as brazing services, for clients in the aerospace, defense, space, and nuclear power sectors. These processes support the performance requirements of critical components operating in demanding environments.

Headwater Precision, located in New Hampshire, is a precision manufacturing and advanced coating technologies business serving clients in aerospace defense, semiconductor, and industrial markets.

By bringing these capabilities together, G.S. Precision is positioning its company to offer a more integrated manufacturing approach, combining machining, surface treatment, and heat treating within a single organizational structure.

James R. Callan, chief executive officer of G.S. Precision, said the acquisitions align with the company’s growth strategy, adding capabilities such as advanced coatings and specialized heat treating to better support clients producing mission-critical components.

Press release is available in its original form here.

Heat Treater Acquisition Enhances Integrated Manufacturing Capabilities Read More »

Vacuum Brazing Added for Circuit Breaker Production

/ BRAZING NEWS, ENERGY HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A manufacturer of vacuum circuit breakers has added vacuum brazing capability for producing electrical power components utilized in modern power distribution systems. The thermal processing technology joins metal parts used in vacuum interrupters, helping ensure consistent performance in circuit breakers used across industrial and utility power networks.

Image Credit: SECO/WARWICK
Maciej Korecki
Vice President of Vacuum Business Segment
SECO/WARWICK

The manufacturer, based in China and specializing in multiple types of vacuum circuit breakers, ordered two vacuum furnaces from SECO/WARWICK, a global manufacturer of industrial heat treatment equipment with operations in North America. The client has previously installed multiple systems from SECO/WARWICK. “We have [clients] who operate more than a dozen of our systems,” said Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Furnace Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.

The furnaces will be used primarily for vacuum brazing and related thermal processing of interrupter assemblies and other circuit breaker components that require strict control of mechanical strength, hermetic sealing, and dimensional stability.

The systems use a pumping configuration with a turbomolecular pump designed to achieve ultra-high vacuum conditions. High temperature uniformity and rapid heating — enabled by seven control zones, including a central heating element — allow for consistent processing of loads. The furnaces are also equipped with a horizontal gas-cooling system and an external cooling unit.

As a critical component in circuit breakers, vacuum interrupters play a key role in safely interrupting electrical current during switching operations. The addition of vacuum brazing capability and controlled vacuum furnace processing allows the manufacturer to produce the sealed assemblies required for reliable performance in power distribution equipment.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Firearm Manufacturer Increases Carburizing Heat Treat

/ CARBURIZING NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A defense sector manufacturer has selected a vacuum furnace solution to support carburizing and heat treatment of steels used in firearm production. The equipment will be used to improve process efficiency and meet the technological requirements associated with modern weapons manufacturing.

The system will be supplied to a client in the European defense sector by SECO/WARWICK, a global manufacturer of industrial heat treatment equipment with operations in North America, and consists of a single-chamber vacuum furnace to maximize versatility across a range of heat treatment applications for firearm steels. The equipment enables the manufacturer to transition from traditional gas carburizing to low-pressure carburizing (LPC), improving process control, and reducing gas consumption.

Lukasz Chwialkowski
Sales Manager
SECO/WARWICK

According to Lukasz Chwialkowski, sales manager at SECO/WARWICK, the furnace features a round heating chamber capable of processing oversized components, LPC technology, and a high-pressure gas quenching (HPGQ) system. High temperature uniformity throughout the working space supports repeatable results, while a convection heating system improves efficiency at lower temperatures. Directional cooling is designed to accommodate complex part geometries. A graphite chamber supports durability and multi-shift hardening operations.

This order is the first collaboration between the European defense sector manufacturer and SECO/WARWICK. The contract holds strategic and technological significance — both for the client, who is modernizing their infrastructure, and for SECO/WARWICK, who is strengthening its position as a key solutions provider for the defense sector.

Press release is available in its original form here.

Firearm Manufacturer Increases Carburizing Heat Treat Read More »

New Vacuum Heat Treat at Grace Manufacturing Enhances Medical Component Production

/ MEDICAL HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Grace Manufacturing is expanding its vacuum heat treating capabilities to support growing demand for thin martensitic stainless steel components used in the medical industry. The Arkansas-based precision metal manufacturer has invested in a new vacuum furnace to strengthen process control, reduce downtime, and maintain stringent metallurgical and quality standards required for medical component production.

Located in Russellville, Arkansas, Grace Manufacturing selected a TITAN H2 2-bar vacuum furnace following third-party testing at a Midwest commercial heat treater. The evaluation confirmed the system met application requirements for thin martensitic stainless steel medical components. The new furnace will replace an aging unit from another manufacturer that has experienced increasing downtime and service challenges in recent years.

Image Credit: Ipsen

Supplied by Ipsen, the TITAN H2 includes a work zone measuring 18 x 18 x 24 inches deep, a 1,000-pound load capacity, and a maximum operating temperature of 2400°F. The system provides temperature uniformity of ±10°F, supporting the repeatability and precision required in medical manufacturing environments.

Established in 1966, Grace Manufacturing specializes in precision metal services primarily serving the medical industry. The upgrade in equipment supports Grace Manufacturing’s continued growth in medical component production.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Vacuum Tempering Furnace Strengthens Aerospace Capacity

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

An international aircraft motion-control manufacturer is expanding its heat treat process capacity by ordering an additional low-temperature vacuum tempering furnace to support tempering, aging, and other sub-critical heat treating of precision components. The equipment will be used to maintain consistent thermal processing standards for aerospace applications.

The repeat order will be supplied by SECO/WARWICK‘s U.S. subsidiary. The furnace is a low-temperature vacuum tempering unit capable of operating up to 1380°F (750°C) within a 24 × 24 × 36 in (600 × 600 × 900 mm) work zone and supports a 1750-lb (~800 kg) load capacity. Designed to meet AMS2750F Class 2 temperature-uniformity-survey (TUS) requirements (±10°F/±5.6°C), it uses nitrogen convection for both heating and cooling, with final cooling provided by an internal recirculation blower and water-cooled heat exchanger for stable, efficient cycles.

Piotr Zawistowski
Managing Director
SECO/WARWICK USA

This additional furnace joins an existing suite of heat treat equipment at the manufacturer’s facilities, which already includes multi-chamber CaseMaster Evolution models and a Vector single-chamber high-pressure gas-quench vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK. These installations reflect long-standing collaboration on thermal processing solutions for aerospace components.

According to Piotr Zawistowski, managing director of SECO/WARWICK USA, the ongoing investments by this aerospace partner reflect confidence in the technical expertise and support provided by SECO/WARWICK and the performance consistency of its vacuum tempering solutions.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Mold Manufacturer Moves Heat Treatment In-House

/ HARDENING NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

BTOMEC Ferramentaria e Usinagem de Precisão Ltda. has invested in a vacuum furnace to establish its own in-house hardening capability. The decision reflects the company’s growing production scale and its desire to gain greater control over the heat treatment process and associated costs.

The manufacturer, which supplies multi-cavity injection molds to the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food, and packaging sectors, previously relied on external hardening services. Establishing an internal heat treatment facility allows BTOMEC to reduce dependence on outside providers while maintaining oversight of production timelines and quality.

BTOMEC selected a single-chamber Vector vacuum furnace equipped with 15-bar high-pressure gas quenching for hardening dies and precision tooling. The system is equipped with a 400 x 400 x 600mm heating chamber, inverter-controlled blower operation for energy optimization, and a partial pressure system that enables processing in inert gas atmospheres to reduce the risk of contamination or alloying element loss during heat treatment.

Maciej Korecki
Vice President of Vacuum Business Segment
SECO/WARWICK

The furnace was supplied by SECO/WARWICK, a global heat treatment equipment manufacturer with operations in North America. According to Maciej Korecki, the investment aligns with a pattern seen among manufacturers reaching certain production volumes. “This is a trend we see more and more frequently. At a certain production scale, many industrial partners begin to consider creating their own small hardening facility. Such an investment means independence from external entities and, above all, full control over the production process and its costs,” he said.

The addition of vacuum heat treatment capability marks an important step in BTOMEC’s ongoing development strategy, strengthening internal production control while supporting further internationalization of its operations.

Press release is available in its original form here.

Mold Manufacturer Moves Heat Treatment In-House Read More »

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