A U.S. military firearms manufacturer announced its plan to update its in-house stress relieving operation with a new vacuum retort furnace. The new equipment will be replacing an outdated vacuum stress relieving furnace in order to keep up with production demands.
Piotr Zawistowski Managing Director SECO/VACUUM Source: SECO/VACUUM
The SECO/VACUUM retort furnace will be used to stress relieve firearms components at 1400°F (760°C). At this relatively low temperature, the process is used to prevent subsequent part distortion while enhancing the quality of the firearms.
“Their old furnace was showing its age,” said Piotr Zawistowski, managing director of SECO/VACUUM, USA. “Once we showed them the control system advancements, the cycle time improvements, and the more competitive lead time we could offer, the upgrade really made sense from both a quality control and production pace standpoint.”
Switching from the vertical configuration of the old furnace to the new horizontally configured furnace will shorten loading times. The turbo-cooling option selected by the firearms manufacturer decreases the cooling cycle from 3.5 hours to 1.5 hours. Improved loading paired with shorter cooling will bring total heat treat cycle times down by as much as 2.5 hours.
The press release is available in its original form here.
A major ship builder has acquired a vacuum furnace for the Additive Manufacturing Division at the company’s new Manufacturing Center of Excellence. The single chamber vacuum furnace will be used primarily for annealing powder metal 3D printed parts, with additional capabilities for on-demand tool hardening applications.
Piotr Zawistowski Managing Director SECO/VACUUM Source: SECO/VACUUM
The 3D printing shop and annealing furnace supplied by SECO/VACUUM will enable rapid fabrication of critical replacement parts faster than traditional manufacturing methods, allowing the manufacturer to get ships out of dock and back underway sooner. The Vector furnace is equipped with a 36 x 36 x 48 inch metal hot-zone, a high-vacuum diffusion pump, and a 6-Bar high-pressure argon and nitrogen gas quench.
“To get their 3D operation up and running quickly, we were able to pull off some clever production schedule juggling in order to accommodate their special request for an accelerated delivery schedule,” said Piotr Zawistowski, managing director of SECO/VACUUM.
This vacuum furnace provides a wide range of additional processes, including hardening, tempering, solution heat treating, brazing and sintering, and low-pressure carburizing. Vector produces clean, uniform, high-quality parts with repeatable accuracy and no oxidation.
The press release is available in its original form here.
A major North American aerospace manufacturer has placed an order for a seventh vacuum furnace to expand capacity. This furnace is specifically designed for the heat treatment of high-performance engine components and is built to support rigorous production schedules.
Mark Hemsath President Nitrex Turnkey Systems
The vertical, large-precision vacuum furnace, built by G-M Enterprises, a Nitrex Vacuum company, is engineered to meet the aerospace company’s growing production needs and its demand for critical engine components. Six VVF series vacuum furnaces have previously been installed for the manufacturer to produce aircraft engine parts across a range of aerospace applications. The latest furnace order includes a 60” x 60” (1,524 mm x 1,524 mm) chamber with bottom loading, capable of handling loads up to 3,000 lbs (1,360 kg).
“The customer’s decision to expand with Nitrex reflects G-M Enterprises’ proven track record in furnace reliability,” said Mark Hemsath, president of Nitrex Turnkey Systems. “Our commitment to quality has anchored this partnership for over three decades.”
Jay Jefsen Regional Sales Manager Nitrex Vacuum
“Our long-standing relationship with this aerospace customer underscores Nitrex’s commitment to providing durable equipment backed by robust technical support,” said Jay Jefsen, regional sales manager for Nitrex Vacuum. “We are proud to contribute to their ongoing success and look forward to supporting their production goals with this latest addition.”
The furnace is scheduled for commissioning in April 2025.
The press release is available in its original form here.
Today’s News from Abroad installment is all about growth in the global heat treating market. A heat treater expands its contract machinery product line with brazing and sintering capabilities, a capital goods manufacturing group bolsters its vacuum heat treatment production capabilities, and a long-term technology alliance results in manufacturing growth of refractory products for glass melting plants in the glass industry. To round out our news from abroad, Japanese steel giants set their sights on government funding allocated to advance research and development in decarbonizing operations.
Heat TreatTodaypartners with two international publications to deliver the latest news, tech tips, and cutting-edge articles that will serve our audience — manufacturers with in-house heat treat.heat processing, a Vulkan-Verlag GmbHapublication, serves mostly the European and Asian heat treat markets, and Furnaces International, a Quartz Business Mediapublication, primarily serves the English-speaking globe.
Merger Results in Heat Treatment Furnaces Manufacturing Division
ECM Group reorganizing into four distinct divisions
“The ECM Group is reinforcing its capital goods manufacturing business by bringing together several legal entities under the company ECM Technologies. This merger between ECM Technologies, ECM Greentech, and ECM Technologies Villard Bonnot creates a division dedicated to the manufacturing of innovative heat treatment furnaces. The aim of this merger is to better serve its customers and respond more effectively to market changes. It will enable the ECM Group to build up a veritable hub of skills and knowledge around its core areas of thermal engineering, gas management and atmospheres. This marks a first step towards realizing its ambition of becoming the world leader in vacuum heat treatment equipment, all technologies combined.”
Japanese Steel Giants Pursue Government Allocated Green Funding
Japanese steel producers apply for government green subsidy
“Two of the largest integrated steel producers in Japan, Nippon Steel and JFE Steel, have applied for government funding allocated through the new Green Transformation Promotion Act (GX) to advance research and development in decarbonizing operations. JFE Steel is seeking funds to build a new large electric arc furnace (EAF) to replace blast furnace No. 2 at West Japan Works (Kurashiki). The company expects the EAF to be commissioned between 2027-2028. Blast Furnace No. 2 at the plant underwent a re-lining in 2003. JFE usually performs such maintenance after about 25 years of operation, so the next one is due in 2028. However, JFE Steel hopes that the new electric arc furnace will be operational by then, so the unit can be shut down. West Japan Works currently operates three blast furnaces with a steel output of about 8Mt/yr.”
Tresky Automation expands its machine park for contract manufacturing (Source: Tresky)
“Tresky Automation announces the latest addition to its contract manufacturing machinery. Customers will now benefit from a state-of-the-art vacuum brazing furnace and a powerful sintering press with a maximum pressing force of up to 15 kN. The new equipment enables Tresky to offer additional manufacturing technologies, which is particularly beneficial for demanding applications in the fields of photonics, optoelectronics, hybrid bonding, microelectronics and power electronics. The new vacuum brazing furnace offers the possibility to produce material bonding under controlled conditions with nitrogen (N2) or formic acid (HCOOH). This process effectively reduces voids, as the vacuum allows air or process residues to escape during the preheating and melting phase of the solder. The result is virtually void- and flux-free solder joints that are characterized by high reliability.”
Technology Alliance Enables Growth in Refractory Products Manufacturing
Long-term technology alliance of RATH and REFRATECHNIK
“RATH and REFRATECHNIK announced the launch of a long-term technology alliance. The goal of the ambitious partnership is close collaboration in the development and manufacture of refractory products for glass melting plants in the glass industry. As part of the technology alliance, both companies will contribute their respective know-how in glass manufacturing and refractory production to combine it into a unique technology solution. The two companies will be operating under the name ‘R² – THE GLASS FURNACE ALLIANCE.’ The alliance enables RATH to expand its technological expertise, as products manufactured by REFRATECHNIK will be developed in close collaboration with the research and development departments of both companies.”
A heat treater with surface hardening capabilities recently expanded its operational line with a vacuum furnace. The new equipment offers a working space of 35.5 x 35.5 x 47 in (900 x 900 x 1200 mm), enabling the processing of larger elements.
This is the 14th vacuum furnace that SECO/WARWICK has provided to Aalberts surface technologies Group, which specializes in vacuum heat treatment, vacuum brazing, hardening of stainless steels, and coating systems for industry. It is the seventh Vector vacuum furnace to be installed at this location in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. It is equipped with high-pressure hardening of 15 bar abs., the option of installing liquid nitrogen, convection heating, directional cooling, and isothermal quenching.
“The solution design is based on the standard VP vacuum furnace Vector type solution. Vector has a round heating chamber and an efficient cooling system,” said Grzegorz Głuchowski, sales manager at SECO/WARWICK. “The additional option of installing liquid nitrogen allows for the load faster cooling after the hardening process. This translates into the furnace’s greater efficiency.”
“This will be the seventh SECO/WARWICK solution operating in Eindhoven. This time, delivery time was key. The solution we ordered is quite specific. We have specific requirements, which are the result of over 80 years of industry experience. The Vector vacuum furnace’s design from the customer’s perspective is very well thought out, as it allows for modifications and additional options. It is one of the most flexible metal heat treatment furnaces on the market,” said Steffen Schneiders, managing director of “The Netherlands & Nordic” from Aalberts surface technologies.
The press release is available in its original form here.
A semiconductor industry supplier recently ordered an extra-large 2-bar vacuum furnace specific to the company’s high-temperature process. The new addition will increase the supplier’s capabilities to meet demand from industry sectors.
Piotr Zawistowski Managing Director SECO/VACUUM Source: SECO/VACUUM
The 2-bar vacuum furnace designed by SECO/VACUUMwill be shipped more quickly than other options.
“Not every thermal process calls for a solution that falls neatly into one of our traditional furnace categories. This one is oversized, has a hot-zone equipped for unconventional features, and will serve an application with different process considerations than most of our furnaces,” said Piotr Zawistowski, managing director of SECO/VACUUM.
The press release is available in its original form here.
Sandia National Laboratories has acquired two horizontal vacuum furnaces for one of its production labs in Albuquerque, NM. The furnaces will meet the multimission laboratory’s goal to maintain process parameters and datalogging essential for analysis to coincide with the process payload run results. The facility’s applications target roughly 70 industry sectors, including nuclear deterrence, arms control, nonproliferation, hazardous waste disposal, and climate change.
In the tandem system designed and set up by AVS Incorporated, one furnace operates at a maximum of 1600°C (2912°F) and the other at 1300°C (2372°F). Both have a 100-lb load capacity. The systems integrate wet and dry hydrogen process gas along with all refractory metal hot zones. The HMI interface and controls allow for countless combinations of recipes and selectable functions.
FPM Heat Treating has announced the acquisition of a vacuum furnace, enhancing the company’s capabilities to serve the manufacturing community, especially in the automotive and aerospace sectors. The furnace will meet an increasing demand for a specialized family of parts.
Bob Ferry Vice President of Quality & Engineering FPM Heat Treating
The furnace, fully compliant with NFPA, NADCAP, AMS, CQI-9, and other critical industry standards, has been installed at FPM Heat Treating by Solar Manufacturing. With an operating temperature of up to 2400°F (1315.5°C) and a weight capacity of 5,000 pounds, the furnace processes at specialized heat treatment cycles critical for automotive components as well as precise specifications for applications within consumer products and the military/aerospace sectors.
“We are committed to meeting the growing demands of our clients in the manufacturing community,” said Bob Ferry, vice president of quality and engineering at FPM Heat Treating. “The new Solar furnace enhances our capabilities and enables us to maintain the highest standards of quality and efficiency in our operations.”
Main Image: Adam Jones, Midwest regional sales manager at Solar Manufacturing, viewing the vacuum furnace’s 48” x 48” x 72” deep insulated hot zone
The press release is available in its original form here.
HART-TECH has expanded its capabilities with a vacuum furnace that will allow for the heat treatment of multiple steel types and the ability to implement a wide range of processes, from hardening through vacuum carburizing and carbonitriding. The furnace will efficiently heat treat large loads of research, test, and production elements.
Maciej Korecki Vice President of Business of the Vacuum Furnace Segment SECO/WARWICK
The commercial heat treater has previously incorporated over 10 SECO/WARWICK processing solutions. This system is being provided to work on the implementation of vacuum carbonitriding technology services that HART-TECH can now offer to a wide range of clients.
“We can say that we have a kind of synergy with the HART-TECH hardening plant,” said Maciej Korecki, vice president of the SECO/WARWICK Group’s vacuum segment. “Our partner, just like us, loves science, research, and development, and the common curiosity about the world motivates us to create further innovations.”
Dr. Eng. Robert Pietrasik, Sc.D. Management Board CEO & Technological Dept Head Director HART-TECH Sp. zo. o.
“This solution will help us to put into action a project concerning the implementation of vacuum carbonitriding technology at the HART-TECH plant with our customers in mind,” said Dr. Eng. Robert Pietrasik, president of HART-TECH. “We want to implement the low-pressure carbonitriding process and be able to use it in mass production.
“By expanding the machine park with a new vacuum furnace,” Dr. Pietrasik continued, “we will also significantly shorten the waiting times for heat treatment for our current and future customers. The large workspace will significantly increase our capabilities for processing elements hardened in gas. Thus, we will be able to gradually switch from hardening elements in oil to hardening in gas, which is more efficient, cleaner and ensures smaller deformations.”
The vacuum furnace supplied to the company has been enhanced with a gas system equipped with two acetylene mass valves, a hydrogen mass valve, and an ammonia mass valve. The furnace can use three gases for various technologies: acetylene, hydrogen and ammonia. HART-TECH specializes in hardening, carburizing, nitriding, sulfur nitriding, steel tempering, supersaturation and aging, annealing, vacuum brazing and low-friction layers, and hardening of machine and tool elements.
The press release is available in its original form here.
Cincinnati Radiator, a manufacturer of radiators and cooling products, recently expanded its production capabilities at its Fairfield, Ohio, facility with the addition of a vacuum aluminum brazing (VAB) furnace. This acquisition will enable the company to perform in-house radiator core brazing.
The VAB furnace, with a weight capacity of up to 2,000 lbs, is the third manufactured and installed by Ipsen.
Prasenjit Ray General Manager Cincinnati Radiator Source: Ipsen
“This furnace has so many recipes for us to use,” said Prasenjit Ray, general manager of Cincinnati Radiator. “We were planning to test it out for two months, but we weren’t expecting to get production-quality within those two months. What shocked and surprised me was that the first cores that came out were perfect. We’ve produced 10 (in the first month) and it runs like a new Cadillac.”
“We knew that we needed a way to make cores here. When customers had to rely on cores processed in China, it could mean a four-month lead time. If we had our own furnace, we could operate a just-in-time production,” said Ray. “We went with John Pease (Ipsen Regional Sales Representative) and Patrick McKenna (Ipsen USA President & CEO) to California to see a company operating two Ipsen VAB furnaces. Our team knew that, once we saw them in operation, we wanted to work with another company within the United States. Ipsen could offer great aftermarket support, and the delivery was worth the wait.”
Main image (left to right): All of Cincinnati Radiator: Abhilash Uppala, Manufacturing Engineer; Prasenjit Ray, General Manager; Michael Petitt, Assistant Operations Manager; and James “Tom” Aynes, Accounting Manager. Source: Ipsen.
The press release is available in its original form here.
