VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

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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Vacuum Brazing Line Supports Defense Sensor Production

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

Lyntris Inc., a defense technology manufacturer, has added in-house vacuum brazing as part of a vertically integrated production line for passive thermal-management hardware used in military seekers, sensors, and mission electronics.

The company completed the multiyear investment at its Jessup, Maryland, facility, with production capacity available in the third quarter of 2026. The line is designed to manufacture phase-change-material (PCM) heat sinks at production volumes required by defense programs.

PCM heat sinks use an engineered material that melts as surrounding electronics generate heat, absorbing thermal energy and helping the electronics remain within operating limits. The passive approach eliminates the pumps, tubing, and reservoirs associated with active liquid-cooling systems, making it suitable for compact sensors and seekers.

Matt Parisi
Vice President of Business Development
Lyntris

The new line integrates precision machining of the heat sink structure, vacuum brazing, controlled PCM filling, thermal performance testing, and final assembly within one facility. Consolidating these operations is intended to reduce the qualification and scheduling risks created when manufacturing steps are divided among multiple vendors.

“Next-generation defense systems are being asked to deliver substantially more capability from increasingly company platforms, and thermal management is often one of the limiting factors,” said Matt Parisi, vice president of Business Development at Lyntris. “Our investment in phase change material technology allows us to solve that challenge with a passive, highly efficient thermal solution that can be engineered and manufactured at scale.”

Lyntris expects to apply the capability initially to seeker and sensor programs and is discussing additional applications with defense prime contractors and program offices.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Vacuum Furnace Supports Gas Turbine Component Production

/ ENERGY HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A global energy technology manufacturer is expanding its vacuum heat treatment capacity to produce high-performance gas turbine components for modern energy stability by ordering its tenth single chamber vacuum furnace. The large-format system will support growing production and the heat treatment of next-generation gas turbine blades, flow-path elements, and other components designed to withstand extreme temperatures, material fatigue, and oxidation.

SECO/WARWICK, an industrial heat treatment equipment supplier with operations in North America, will supply the Vector vacuum furnace. The unit has a working space measuring 47.2″ x 47.2″ x 70.9″, allowing it to accommodate large gas turbine components.

The furnace can operate with hydrogen, argon, and nitrogen as process gases. Argon and nitrogen can also be used for cooling, allowing cooling parameters to be adjusted according to process requirements. The system’s round heating chamber provides temperature distribution of ±5°C (±9°F).

Kamil Siedlecki
Sales Manager
SECO/WARWICK

“High vacuum, temperature stability, and the ability to operate with various process gases are key here,” said Kamil Siedlecki, sales manager at SECO/WARWICK. “Thanks to its large working space and refined heating system design, the unit enables the processing of oversized components while maintaining very high process cleanliness.”

This capability supports the clean vacuum conditions required to heat treat gas turbine blades and flow path elements. The furnace will support growing production and the processing of a new generation of components used in gas turbines, which can operate at temperatures exceeding 1300°C (2372°F). These turbines also play a key role in the energy transition by helping to stabilize energy systems powered by renewable energy sources.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Vacuum Furnace Demand Supports Strategic Manufacturing

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

Demand for high-temperature vacuum thermal processing equipment continues across strategic manufacturing sectors, with recent orders supporting nuclear fuel production, advanced ceramics, tungsten processing, additive manufacturing, and carbon materials. The activity reflects continued investment in specialized thermal processing technologies serving these applications.

Centorr Vacuum Industries, a New Hampshire-based industry supplier of vacuum and controlled-atmosphere furnaces, reports that its first-half 2026 activity included multiple vacuum induction melting furnaces, large-format vacuum hot presses, Sintervac® furnaces, Workhorse furnaces, Testorr™ systems, and LF furnaces for a variety of industrial thermal processing applications.

The equipment will support applications including nuclear fuel testing, advanced ceramics hot pressing, tungsten heavy alloy sintering, tungsten carbide debinding and sintering, graphitization of carbon powders for battery, hypersonic, and nuclear applications, physical testing of carbon fiber composites and carbon-silicon carbide materials, and the heat treatment and sintering of additively manufactured titanium components.

Centorr also reported first-half 2026 revenue of $18 million and said bookings remained strong through the first two quarters of the year, contributing to one of the largest backlogs in the company’s 72-year history.

Looking ahead, the company said it expects to begin startup of large graphitization and chemical vapor infiltration systems during the second half of 2026, further expanding the range of high-temperature thermal processing technologies it supports.

Press release is available in its original form here. Additional information provided by Centorr Vacuum Industries.

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Commercial Heat Treater Launches Vacuum Hardening Operation

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

Kalírna Desire is opening a new commercial heat treat facility in a region that has so far lacked local infrastructure for vacuum hardening. The investment establishes the company’s first vacuum heat treatment operation, supporting both in-house production and a new line of commercial services for nearby manufacturers. It reflects continued demand for regional commercial heat treating capacity as companies seek shorter lead times, greater process control, and more localized supply chains.

Image Credit: SECO/WARWICK

Kalírna Desire, a Czech machining company, is establishing the operation using a Vector single-chamber vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK, a global industrial furnace manufacturer with operations in North America. The decision followed years of relying on a commercial heat treater located farther from its plant, resulting in longer lead times and additional transportation costs.

The furnace is configured with 15-bar absolute high-pressure gas quenching and is designed to process a range of tool and structural steel grades. Additional features include convection heating to improve low-temperature heating efficiency, directional cooling to help minimize distortion of complex parts, an isothermal quenching function for greater control of cooling profiles, and a low-pressure carburizing (LPC) option that enables surface hardening within a single integrated vacuum cycle.

Maciej Korecki
Vice President of the Vacuum Segment
SECO/WARWICK

“Our collaboration with Kalírna Desire is an excellent example of how vacuum technology can become a growth engine for ambitious small and mid-sized companies,” said Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK. He added that the standard Vector furnace, configured to the client’s requirements, offers broad process capabilities while providing an accessible entry point into vacuum heat treatment.

According to a representative of Kalírna Desire, the new unit will provide greater control over a key stage of the company’s CNC machine manufacturing process while improving production planning flexibility and shortening lead times. The representative also noted that the region lacks modern vacuum hardening services, creating an opportunity to provide commercial heat treating for nearby metal processing companies and component manufacturers.

The investment highlights the importance of bringing heat treating in-house: having an in-house heat treat department gives a company a range of advantages that go far beyond cost savings on outsourced services. It provides greater process control and more flexibility to respond to client demand.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Vacuum Heat Treat Capacity Grows in Northeast

/ MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Solar Atmospheres, a commercial heat treater, is preparing to expand vacuum heat treating capacity in the Northeastern United States as construction progresses on its newest facility in Berlin, Connecticut. The 28,000-square-foot operation remains on schedule to begin serving clients in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Image Credit: Solar Atmospheres

Construction and refurbishment continue at the future home of Solar Atmospheres Connecticut, where several vacuum furnaces have already been installed. Office areas are nearing completion, while work continues on the facility’s piping, electrical systems, and supporting infrastructure.

Located in the Spruce Brook Industrial Park, the new facility is expected to expand the company’s vacuum heat treating capabilities throughout the Northeast when it opens later this year.

Press release is available in its original form here.
Related Reading: Solar Atmospheres acquired the 28,000-square-foot Connecticut facility in late 2025, laying the groundwork for the company’s Northeast expansion. Click here to read more.

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Vacuum Arc Remelting Supports Aerospace Casting

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

A titanium casting manufacturer is expanding its vacuum melting capacity with the installation of a vacuum arc remelting consumable casting furnace, increasing capacity for near-net-shape titanium components serving the aerospace industry. The investment is intended to improve production lead times while supporting growing demand for titanium castings used in high-performance applications.

Castings Technology chooses Retech VAR. | Image Credit: SECO/WARWICK Group

Castings Technology, the United Kingdom’s only commercial titanium casting specialist, selected a VAR Consumable Caster (VAR-CC) furnace from Retech, a global vacuum metallurgy company within the SECO/WARWICK Group based in North America. The furnace will be installed at the company’s new 18,000-square-meter facility, where it will be used to cast titanium ingots into ceramic molds.

Richard Cook
Managing Director
Castings Technology

“The delivery of the new VAR furnace will help us fulfill the growing needs of our exacting client base,” said Richard Cook, managing director of Castings Technology. “Due to dynamic growth and significant constraints within our current facility, we are in the process of relocating to a new site of about 18,000 square meter just a short distance away. The relocation is on plan, with a period of parallel operation continuing throughout 2026 to fully mitigate any risk to our clients’ programs.”

The new furnace is expected to support increased demand for titanium, especially from the aerospace sector, where backlogs have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Titanium’s high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance have made it a widely used material across many sectors, including aerospace, motorsport, medical prosthetics, restorative dentistry, and high-duty rotating equipment. Near-net-shape titanium casting also provides mechanical properties comparable to forged or wrought material while increasing fatigue resistance.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Vacuum Degassing Plant to Boost Steel Quality

/ MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A new vacuum degassing plant is expected to increase meltshop performance and capacity while enabling the production of a larger volume of high-quality steel grades. The investment in secondary metallurgy will support steelmaking operations by removing a production bottleneck and improving productivity at a Mexican steel producer’s facility.

TYASA has selected Primetals Technologies for a new vacuum degassing (VD) plant at its Ixtaczoquitlán site. | Image Credit: Primetals Technologies

Mexican steel producer Talleres y Aceros S.A. de C.V. (TYASA) has awarded Primetals Technologies a contract to supply a twin vacuum degassing (VD) plant for its steelmaking facility in Ixtaczoquitlán, Mexico. The plant is scheduled to begin operation in October 2027.

Primetals’ scope of supply includes the VD plant’s mechanical equipment, vacuum pumps, valve stands, alloy addition systems, and Level 1 and Level 2 automation systems. The company will also provide electrical equipment and advisory services for installation and commissioning.

The new VD plant will integrate with TYASA’s existing twin ladle furnaces using the same rail track and ladle cars. The ladle cars will be modified with VD tanks, allowing ladle furnace treatment while the ladle remains in the vacuum degassing tank. This arrangement minimizes crane movements between the ladle furnace and VD station while supporting efficient material handling.

The VD plant will support TYASA’s Castrip® plant by enabling an LF-VD-LF process that maximizes productivity of the facility’s Quantum electric arc furnace. The project layout takes advantage of existing utility systems and infrastructure that were designed to accommodate a future VD installation, allowing the plant to be installed with only minor impact on ongoing production.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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