VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Partner for NASA and F1 Increases Productivity with Vacuum Furnace

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, CARBURIZING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A supplier of aviation and defense industry components, a NASA and Formula 1 partner has recently purchased a  horizontal two-chamber furnace with oil quenching and LPC. The furnace will be used for the heat treatment of aviation parts.

SECO/WARWICK is supplying the CaseMaster Evolution® two-chamber, horizontal vacuum furnace with oil quenching consisting of a heating chamber and a quench bath equipped with a loading and unloading vestibule. The load cooling can be carried out in two different centers: dynamically in inert gas (1.5 bar abs) and in quench oil. This solution enables users to implement a variety of heat treatment and thermo-chemical processes, such as vacuum carburizing.

Noted Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK, “[This model] is one of the most frequently chosen furnaces for metalworking by the aviation industry."

The furnace can be switched on and off without additional time and energy expenditure. It does not require users to maintain the system at specific temperature parameters when at standstill, as is the case of traditional gas furnaces.

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Marle Group Expands Cobalt Heat Treating Potential with New Furnace

/ FEATURED NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Marle Group, a global manufacturer of orthopedic prostheses, has expanded its heat treating potential with the acquisition of a new furnace. The furnace on order will be used for the heat treatment of cobalt implants.

This Vector® vacuum furnace, supplied by SECO/WARWICK, will provide the high temperatures, pure environment, temperature uniformity, and quick cooling necessary for the Cobalt alloy hardening process.

Antoine Escbach
Factory Director
Marle Group
LinkedIn

In the words of Antoine Eschbach of Marle Group, “The furnace we ordered solves the challenges faced by anyone who has to heat treat cobalt alloys in a production process. . . . Knee implantology is a field that is developing rapidly especially in developed countries, such as United States of America and in many European countries. Our mission is to create the highest quality implants which raise the living standard of people around the world, and the Vector furnace will help us to achieve this goal."

In order for cobalt alloys to be used in implantology, they must be deprived of their ferromagnetic properties. This shiny, hard metal loses this property only when it reaches a temperature higher than 1131°C/2067.8°F. Such a high temperature makes it necessary to use a vacuum furnace in the implant production process.

The solution on order uses two gases - nitrogen for cobalt hardening and argon to achieve purity of the process during heating. It is also equipped with a dew point sensor for each of the gases, thanks to which the phenomenon of water vapor condensation and, consequently, the possibility of the processed load’s surface oxidation is eliminated.

Also significant for the cobalt treatment process is also a quick cooling system based on a gas blower ensuring a maximum hardening pressure of 15 bar abs.

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Nitrex and Linde

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, CARBURIZING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Nitrex and Linde announced they have renewed and expanded their heat-treating focused joint marketing agreement. What started as a local agreement 13 years ago, between Nitrex and Linde, formerly known as UPC-Marathon and Praxair, respectively, has evolved into an international marketing agreement and now covers Europe and North America.

To date, Nitrex and Linde have worked together on over 30 projects. By using their complementary offerings, they have upgraded essential equipment and have helped customers achieve quality results. Nitrex provides Linde customers with equipment and analyses to control first-rate gas atmospheres, thanks to its competence in the heat treatment and electrical fields, technical solutions, support, and world-class gas panels.

“Our competencies complement each other,” says Roman Grosman, National Director of Business Development for Linde in the U.S.  “In the event that Linde’s heat treatment clients require equipment that we do not offer, Nitrex can meet this need.”

“This continues to be a win-win relationship,” says Paul Oleszkiewicz, President, CPO & CSO of UPC-Marathon, a Nitrex company. “We can supply Linde gas customers with process controls, and in turn, Linde offers a reliable gas supply network. We are both aiming for the highest quality, efficiency, performance, and a greener tomorrow and providing optimal service for our customers.”

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Formula 1 Partner Boosts Heat Treating Capabilities with Vacuum Furnace

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, CARBURIZING NEWS, FEATURED NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A European subcontractor for the automotive and racing industries as well as a partner for teams participating in Formula 1 races has acquired a second vacuum furnace.

The order from SECO/WARWICK includes a Vector® vacuum furnace with 15 bar abs high pressure gas quenching, and high vacuum (HV). The furnace will process engine and gear components for vehicles racing large-scale motorsport competitions.

This partner provides carburizing, and various heat treatment services for titanium, aluminum and precipitation hardening of alloys. These services must be of aviation quality within the demanding timeframes required by European F1 teams.

In the new SECO/WARWICK furnace, the customer will execute vacuum heat treatment of titanium and its alloys and will perform vacuum carburizing processes for steel elements. Titanium alloys are very strong materials, but at the same time soft and plastic, which makes them difficult to machine. Low thermal conductivity and density creates an environment where the cutting material is subject to a strong thermal load and tends to harden.

The FIA regulations for Formula 1 racing specify in detail what material a part must consist of and how it must be manufactured. Titanium or titanium alloys are used for many engine parts and suspensions because they have high toughness, strength, and ductility, and are corrosion resistant. Formula 1 car components must be manufactured precisely and safely in both prototype and small series production.

The purpose of this particular model of Vector furnace will be unique, as carburizing and hardening of parts such as gears for engines and transmissions for high-performance F1 sports cars are not the typical processes for which SECO/WARWICK supplies its furnaces.

Commenting on this order, Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK, explained, "The vacuum furnace system which will be delivered to England has numerous options such as cryogenic processing, convection, FineCarb® vacuum carburizing, pre-nitriding for PreNitLPC® carburizing technology or low-pressure carbonitriding LPCN."

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Siemens Energy Broadens Clean Heat Treating Potential

/ ENERGY HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS, VACUUM PUMPS GAUGES VALVES

Siemens Energy, a recognized manufacturer of gas turbines and other energy technologies, has selected an eco-friendly vacuum furnace with high-pressure gas hardening (6 bar abs.) and high vacuum for one of its production facilities.

The vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK, known as Vector®, will execute efficient and ecologically clean processes in a high vacuum range. Consisting of a dry pump, a Root’s pump, and five Oerlikon/Leybold turbomolecular pumps, the furnace will meet the manufacturer's restrictive requirements.

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

The Vector also contains a metal heating chamber, which prevents direct heat loss to the vacuum chamber’s wall and ensures high process purity. The efficiency is also influenced by the ability to conduct the heating and cooling process at 6 bars with two gases (nitrogen or argon).

Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at the SECO/WARWICK Group, states, “This is our first order from a Siemens Energy production facility, but in the past, we have supplied equipment to gas turbine manufacturers."

Commenting on the future of clean energy for the power industry, Korecki further notes, "Gas turbines can run on a variety of gases, including hydrogen. Green hydrogen, as an energy carrier without a carbon footprint, will gradually increase its market share not only in the energy industry, but also in other economic sectors, contributing to gradual decarbonization of the atmosphere."

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Vacuum Furnace for Jet Engine Components

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

A vertical vacuum furnace is heading to a company that provides repair and maintenance services for jet engines. The system has been designed to carry out clean brazing processes in high vacuum, ensuring protection of the treated part surfaces. The solution will be used to process jet engine components.

The system will improve production processes and significantly increase the commercial heat treater’s efficiency. "The vertical vacuum furnace is the answer to the challenges of annealing and brazing larger aviation components . . . the cooling system provides precision cooling rate control for the parts in process," explains Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group, a heat treat technologies company with North American locations.

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Solar Atmospheres of Souderton, PA Adds Furnace for Titanium Reclamation

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

HTD Size-PR LogoSolar Atmospheres Souderton, PA incorporated a high-production vacuum furnace with a work zone of 48"x48"x72" and a weight capacity of up to 7,500 lbs/batch. The furnace doubles the facility's hydriding and de-hydriding capacity in the reclamation of titanium and tantalum materials.

Solar Atmospheres Souderton, PA installed the furnace with Solar Manufacturing's vacuum furnace technology. The technology is aimed at safety and efficiency and will help in the reclamation process.

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Commercial Heat Treater To Increase Aviation Hardening Efficiencies

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A service hardening plant in Spain will receive a vacuum furnace that is adapted to the aviation standard to perform production for this industry. The furnace will increase the company’s efficiency when hardening larger-dimension elements.

"The Vector [furnace] will enhance and increase the hardening processing capacity and will improve process efficiency," comments Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group, a heat treat furnace supplier with North American locations. "The advantage of this product is a large working space with the capacity to adjust to an oversized load, utilizing the advantages of a circular heating chamber."

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New Vacuum Furnace for Aerospace Fasteners

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

An aerospace fastener manufacturer, operating since the mid-1900s, ordered a vacuum furnace. The equipment will process self-locking nuts, nut plates, barrel nuts, stud nuts, spline nuts, clamp nuts, as well as a wide range of washers and flanges.

The furnace from SECO/WARWICK Group, a global furnace technologies company that has locations in North America, will meet the AMS2750G standard in the second class (II) including B-type instrumentation for the aviation industry. The addition will become part of a modern production plant, in Italy, and will perform at high operating temperatures, up to 23720F.

“The heating process for these materials [fasteners] require extraordinary purity, which is why the presence of two gases is important: argon – used for partial pressure, and nitrogen – used mainly in the cooling process,” commented Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group. “The customer required a very short cooling cycle, which is achieved with a 15 bar abs gas blower.”

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Heat Treat Furnace Shipped to Aerospace Fastener

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

A vacuum furnace recently shipped to a U.S.-based aerospace fastener manufacturer. The furnace will be primarily used to age-harden various fasteners of high strength alloys used in the aerospace industry.

This is the second Model HFL-5748-2IQ furnace for this manufacturer. Like the first furnace, the new furnace features a graphite insulated hot zone of 36” x 36” x 48” deep with a weight capacity of 5,000 lbs., a maximum operating temperature of 2400°F, and a 100 HP quench motor. The control system was customized to interface with the customer’s in-house automation system for recipe control and data acquisition.

“Our customer needed additional furnace capacity to keep up with demand,” commented Jason Davidson, regional sales manager, Solar Manufacturing.

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