VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Toptech Brings Vacuum Heat Treatment In-House

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

Toptech Polska, a precision metal components manufacturer, is bringing vacuum heat treatment in-house with a new furnace capable of high-pressure gas quenching at up to 15 bar. The investment will support hardening, tempering, and annealing of tool steel components while giving the manufacturer greater control over production scheduling, processing parameters, and component quality.

Image Credit: SECO/WARWICK

Toptech has ordered a Vector vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK, a global heat treatment equipment supplier with North American operations headquartered in Meadville, Pennsylvania. The manufacturer previously outsourced its heat treatment and will use the new equipment to establish an in-house heat treatment operation.

The compact vacuum furnace has a 400 x 400 x 600 mm (approximately 16 x 16 x 24 inch) work zone and a high-pressure gas cooling system using nitrogen at pressures up to 15 bar absolute. It will primarily process marking tools, type characters, punches, dies, and working components for stamping dies.

Bringing the process in-house is expected to reduce dependence on external heat treatment availability, simplify production planning, and reduce transportation of parts between facilities. Toptech will also be able to adjust heat treatment parameters based on material type, part geometry, and required final properties.

Jacek Targosz
Management Board Member
Toptech

The high-pressure gas quenching system heats components under vacuum before cooling them with high-pressure gas. The process limits surface oxidation and decarburization while providing control over cooling, which is particularly important for tool steel components requiring surface cleanliness, dimensional stability, and distortion control.

“Our challenges were lead times and the production availability of the external company to which we outsourced heat treatment,” said Jacek Targosz, management board member responsible for production processes at Toptech. “We also wanted greater control over the quality and service life of the components we manufacture.”

In addition to supporting its own production, Toptech plans to use the furnace to provide vacuum heat treatment services to other companies in its region.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Sintered Magnet Production Capacity Set for Tenfold Increase

/ MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, SINTERING POWDER METAL NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A U.S.-based critical materials manufacturer has begun receiving additional vacuum sintering and magnet production equipment that is expected to increase annual rare earth magnet capacity from approximately 1,000 to 10,000 metric tons. The expansion will support production of high-performance sintered magnets for defense, automotive, aerospace, and other applications.

Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp. (EM&T), headquartered in Miami, Florida, has received the first 13 of 57 containers of ULVAC equipment at its Pohang, South Korea, facility. The remaining containers are scheduled to arrive by the end of October.

The equipment includes 13 ULVAC sintered magnet production systems. According to an earlier announcement detailing the purchase, ULVAC’s magnet production system include vacuum sintering furnaces, strip casting systems, hydrogen decrepitation units, and jet milling equipment.

Frank Moon, Chief Executive Office, and Christopher Clower, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Office, EM&T, with 13 of 57 ULVAC containers arriving at EM&T’s Pohang expansion facility | Image Credit: Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp.
ULVAC equipment containers: 13 of 57 containers arrived at EM&T’s Pohang facility to begin installation | Image Credit: Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp.

Once the additional equipment is installed and commissioned, EM&T expects its annual rare earth magnet production capacity to reach approximately 10,000 metric tons, including 6,000 metric tons of high-performance sintered magnets.

EM&T currently has seven high-performance neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) sintered magnet grades qualified with Tier-1 OEMs and has secured non-China neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) feedstock. The company said that expansion is intended to increase production capacity as U.S. defense sourcing requirements for rare earth magnets change.

Beginning January 1, 2027, DFARS 252.225-7052 will restrict the use of certain rare earth magnets containing materials mined, refined, separated, melted, or produced in China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran in qualifying U.S. defense applications.

EM&T plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the expanded Pohang operation on December 17, including magnet production demonstrations and production-line tours.

Press release is available in its original form here.
Main image: ULVAC equipment containers being loaded onto trucks at the Pohang port for delivery and installation at EM&T’s Pohang facility. Image Credit: Evolution Metals & Technologies Corp.

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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 Heat Treatment Cell Designed for Nitriding

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

A new modular heat treatment cell has been developed to handle nitriding, nitrocarburizing, carbonitriding, and dry oxidation, giving manufacturers the ability to perform multiple thermochemical processes within a configurable system architecture. The equipment operates at temperatures up to 1000°C (1832°F) and can run at atmospheric pressure or primary vacuum.

ECM Technologies developed the CCN cell with a cold-wall, graphite-free design and a load capacity of 1000 x 610 x 750 mm (39.4 x 24 x 29.5 inches). The system provides 150 kW convection heating and is designed around the furnace manufacturer’s modular equipment concept.

For carbonitriding applications, the CCN can be combined with a graphite cell for the carburizing phase. This configuration allows different process requirements to be addressed within the same system architecture.

The furnace has an operating range of 400°C to 1000°C (752°F to 1832°F). According to ECM, the equipment was developed in response to manufacturers’ requirements for increased productivity, lower operating costs, production flexibility, and simplified operation and maintenance.

ECM Technologies, headquartered in Grenoble, France, serves the North American heat treatment market through ECM USA, its American subsidiary located in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The company designs and manufactures vacuum heat treatment equipment for applications including automotive, aerospace, defense, electronics, and nuclear.

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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Solcoa Plans Vacuum Induction Rare Earth Production

/ INDUCTION HEATING NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Solcoa Industries is planning a 500-ton-per-year rare earth metalmaking facility in Nevada that will use vacuum induction heating as part of its metallization process. The new capacity will convert refined rare earth materials into metals used in high-performance magnets for automotive, defense, energy, and other manufacturing applications.

The Alameda, California-based rare earth metal producer announced $75 million in financing to build and commission Solcoa One, its first commercial-scale plant. The financing includes $45 million in equity led by Bain Capital Ventures and $30 million in debt and equipment financing anchored by J.P. Morgan. The facility is scheduled to begin operations in July 2027.

Solcoa One is designed to produce 500 tons per year of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) and samarium metal. Solcoa currently produces more than 10 tons per year of magnet-grade metal at its Alameda operation and manufactures its modular reactors in-house.

Artem Iurkovskyi
Co-Founder and CTO
Solcoa Industries

The company uses a pyrometallurgical process to convert rare earth feedstock directly into metal. Solcoa co-founder and CTO Artem Iurkovskyi has described the process as using electric heat, with material placed in a molybdenum crucible inside a vacuum induction furnace. According to Iurkovskyi, the furnace reaches the required reaction temperature in approximately 30 seconds.

Solcoa says its process uses halide-free chemistries as an alternative to conventional molten-salt electrolysis. The company plans to use the new financing to scale production, expand reactor manufacturing in Alameda, and add engineering and research personnel.

At its planned capacity, Solcoa One is expected to produce enough NdPr metal annually to supply magnets for up to 1 million electric vehicles, according to the company.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Mega HIP Expands Aerospace Thermal Processing Capacity

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

Bodycote is adding a large-scale hot isostatic pressing (HIP) vessel and expanding vacuum heat treatment capacity at two Ohio facilities to support aerospace and defense manufacturing. The company expects the new HIP system in London, Ohio, to begin operating in early October.

The company has invested approximately $20 million in the new “mega HIP” vessel at its London operation. The system includes rapid and jet cooling functionality and high-pressure capability and is intended to increase capacity for high-volume aerospace applications.

Bodycote’s Fairfield facility | Image Credit: Bodycote

Bodycote expects the new vessel to process several thousand aerospace components in a single cycle, compared with hundreds using the facility’s existing smaller vessels. The additional capacity is expected to support high-volume jet engine applications while accommodating a broader range of aerospace work.

At its Fairfield, Ohio, operation, Bodycote has disclosed approximately $12 million in investment associated with the relocation and expansion of its former Cincinnati facility. The project increased the number of vacuum furnaces at the site, providing additional capacity for higher production volumes and larger components.

The Fairfield investment also included upgrades to existing furnaces and the addition of centralized monitoring and control systems to provide greater visibility into furnace data. The facility has additional space that could accommodate capabilities including liquid penetrant inspection and tensile testing in the future.

Heat Treat Today previously reported on the 55,000-square-foot Fairfield facility after it achieved Nadcap accreditation for heat treating, vacuum welding, and TIG welding. At that time, the site was in the final stages of customer qualification and ramping up toward full-scale operations.

Heidi McNary
President, Global Aerospace, Defence and Energy
Bodycote

“These investments demonstrate our confidence in the long-term growth of aerospace and defense in Ohio’s increasingly important role within the industry,” said Heidi McNary, president, Global Aerospace, Defence and Energy at Bodycote. “By investing in capacity and capability today, we are positioning Bodycote close to our [clients] and ensuring we can continue to support their growth as aerospace technologies and production requirements evolve.”

The Ohio investments follow other additions to Bodycote’s U.S. thermal processing network in 2026, including new vacuum heat treatment equipment in New Jersey and expanded HIP, powder metallurgy, and additive manufacturing support capabilities at facilities in Massachusetts and South Carolina.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Vacuum Furnace Expands Titanium Castings Capacity

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

A British foundry technology center is adding a large-scale vacuum furnace to expand its annealing capabilities for oversized titanium castings used in the aerospace and energy sectors. The system will increase capacity for large components requiring high process cleanliness and uniform temperature distribution while relieving existing heat treatment equipment at the facility.

SECO/WARWICK, a global manufacturer of industrial heat treatment equipment with operations in North America, will supply its Vector vacuum furnace with a work zone measuring 1,600 x 1,500 x 2,000 mm (63 x 59 x 79 in). The furnace is designed to accommodate oversized parts and new types of castings being developed by the client.

The system features a round heating chamber with additional heating elements installed in the door and rear wall to support temperature uniformity. It also includes gas cooling up to 6 bar and a high-vacuum system consisting of two mechanical pumps, a Roots blower, and a diffusion pump.

Grzegorz Głuchowski
Sales Manager
SECO/WARWICK

“The system was designed for heat treating large, demanding cast components. A key advantage of the furnace is its spacious work zone and very good temperature distribution in the heating chamber — achieved in part thanks to additional heating elements installed in the door and the rear wall of the chamber,” said Grzegorz Głuchowski, sales manager at SECO/WARWICK.

The furnace also incorporates dew point control to prevent water vapor condensation and a partial pressure system designed to limit the evaporation of alloying elements during vacuum processing. These features support process stability and help protect hot zone components from contamination.

The equipment will be used for processing large titanium castings, which require high process cleanliness because titanium can react oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen at elevated temperatures. Vacuum heat treatment helps prevent surface oxidation and material degradation during processes such as annealing.

The new system will be the second furnace supplied by SECO/WARWICK to the British company, which develops material technologies and produces castings for the aerospace, energy, and heavy industry sectors. The additional furnace will increase its production capabilities for advanced metal castings.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Vacuum Furnace to Heat Treat Turbine Blades

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A manufacturer of gas turbine and aircraft engine components has ordered a vacuum furnace for heat treating high-temperature alloy turbine blades. The system’s all-metal hot zone, high vacuum, temperature uniformity, and high pressure gas cooling are designed to support the clean, repeatable processing required for components operating in the hot sections of turbines.

Image Credit: SECO/WARWICK

SECO/WARWICK, a global heat treatment equipment manufacturer with operations in North America, will supply its Vector single-chamber vacuum furnace to the China-based manufacturer. The order marks the second Vector furnace delivery to the manufacturer in recent months and follows an earlier furnace installation with a graphite hot zone in 2023.

The new furnace will feature an all-metal hot zone and operate at temperatures up to approximately 2550°F (1400°C). It will provide temperature uniformity of ≤±5.4°F (≤±3°C), gas cooling at pressures up to 12 bar, and a maximum gross load weight of approximately 1300 lbs (600 kg). The furnace is designed to operate in a high-vacuum range of 10-3 Pa.

The specifications exceed the standard configuration for this type of furnace with a metal hot zone, which provides 10 bar gas cooling and temperature uniformity of ≤±9°F (≤±5°C). The high-vacuum environment helps reduce the risk of intergranular oxidation and supports the surface quality of treated turbine components.

Maciej Korecki
Vice President of the Vacuum Segment
SECO/WARWICK Group

“In this project, the key was to combine two things: the proven design of the Vector furnace and a very specific adaptation to the [client’s] process,” said Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group. “We are talking about parts that operate in the hot section of turbines, where the margin for error is minimal. High vacuum, very good temperature uniformity, and fast, controlled gas cooling creates that conditions for stable, repeatable heat treatment of high-temperature alloy blades.”

The all-metal hot zone is intended for processes requiring a clean environment with reduced risk of contamination. Combined with temperature control and gas cooling, the configuration can also support processes for aerospace, energy, medical, and additively manufactured components.

SECO/WARWICK teams in China and Poland jointly developed the furnace configuration to meet the manufacturer’s process requirements. The order follows a 2025 production need for an all-metal hot zone, higher gas cooling pressure, and tighter temperature uniformity than the standard Vector configuration.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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