With the purchase of a gas nitride unit, a custom heat treat processing equipment manufacturer and leading provider of full-service induction hardening process services extends its strategy to expand offerings in the automotive sector and expand deeper into the aerospace market.
Contour, which recently acquired the gas nitride unit from a major U.S. furnace manufacturer for installation at its headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, in late spring 2019, began manufacturing induction heat treat systems and offering commercial induction processing services. The purchase of a gas nitride unit allows Contour to expand services focusing on distortion critical, complex parts for clients. With the addition of nitriding, it allows increased offerings to solve complex parts demanding dimensional control through engineered processes.
“Innovation is what Contour was built on,” said Neil Merrell, director of heat treat. “Today is no different. Our customers rely on Contour’s controlled heat-treatment processes, 100% hardness verification, and dimensional inspections. Our goal is to drive out part variation and provide a repeatable dimensionally accurate part.”
“We have an extremely deep and talented bench of in-house engineering and metallurgical teams, and they couldn’t be more excited about Contour’s entry into the Gas Nitride market,” said Ben Crawford, Contour CEO and President. For several years, Contour has planned having a more significant presence in the aerospace, agricultural, heavy truck and light automotive industries. The purchase of this gas nitride unit will allow us to do just that and compliment our induction and dimensional services.”
“We plan to make Gas Nitriding capabilities available to our clients at our Silao, Mexico, plant in the near future,” added Crawford. “We are committed to offering innovative thermal heat treat solutions to our clients globally and this investment is proof of our commitment.”
