A green energy equipment manufacturer has expanded its vacuum induction melting capacity with another VIM furnace for melting and casting refractory alloys. The new VIM system will be used to cast directionally solidified parts for the next generation of green energy technologies.
Earl Good Managing Director Retech
Retech, a SECO/WARWICK Group company, designed this system with directional solidification, a casting process used to control the crystalline structure formation in cast parts. This process precisely controls the rate and direction from which heat dissipates from a part as it cools in the mold.
Similarly equipped VIM systems melt ultra-high-purity alloys used in a diverse array of applications, including single-crystal jet engine blade casting, super alloys, shape memory alloys, and silicon for semiconductor wafers.
“This is going to help this industry partner accomplish both their production and R&D metallurgy goals,” said Earl Good, managing director of Retech, “They also appreciate that buying from us again means that their staff is already trained on this equipment.”
Press releases are available in their original form here.
Retech Systems LLC welcomed participants to its Buffalo, NY, facility for a leak testing seminar last month, unveiling best practices and the basics of equipment on December 4-5, 2024. Vacuum technologies provider Busch Group co-hosted the event, which was open to employees and clients of both companies.
Leak detection expert Ron Ligthart in the classroom portion of the Retech – Busch Group seminar
Retech Systems LLC, which manufacturers metallurgical furnaces, is a daughter company of SECO/WARWICK Group. Busch Group brands include Busch Vacuum Solutions, Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions and centrotherm clean solutions.
Ron Ligthart from the Busch Group, a leak detection expert with over three decades of experience in the industry, presented the seminar on the first day of the event to Retech and other SECO/WARWICK employees. Attendees learned the basics of how a helium mass spectrometer leak detector works and best practices on the techniques for leak testing large vacuum systems. After a few hours of classroom-based material, students were able to put their knowledge to the test on a vacuum furnace on Retech’s shop floor using a Pfeiffer leak detector.
On day two, local Retech, Busch Group and Pfeiffer Vacuum clients were invited in for a similar activity. Overall, the event focus was on:
best practices for tracer gas leak testing
how to properly spray helium and identify leak locations
minimizing the time spent leak testing
connecting the leak detector to the ideal location and using features of the instrument (i.e. zeroing) correctly
“We had a great time partnering with Retech on this event,” said John McLaren of the Business Development – Leak Detection division at Pfeiffer Vacuum, Inc. “We’re always happy to share the knowledge we’ve gained and help customers improve their leak testing process.”
Main image caption: Ron Ligthart, presenter, leak detection seminar
A manufacturer of components for the aviation and energy sectors is expanding its production capabilities with the acquisition of a horizontal vacuum heat treatment furnace. Huake Casting Control (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd., will use the equipment to manufacture precision gas turbine components and aircraft parts.
A Vector® horizontal vacuum heat treatment furnace Source: SECO/WARWICK Group
The solution, a member of the Vector® family of furnaces provided by SECO/WARWICK Group, comes with a graphite heating chamber and a 15-bar absolute gas quenching system, can operate at temperatures up to 2550°F (1400°C), and has a maximum gross load weight of 1767 lb (800 kg).
“We were convinced to choose the Vector furnace because of its wide range of heat treatment processes and applications, fast cycles with high pressure gas quenching and low consumption of energy, process gases and other media. Another undoubted advantage is that Vector is environmentally friendly and has low process gas emissions,” said Li Naixu, chairman of Huake Casting Control (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd.
“Huake Casting Control Technology has become our customer as the result of the SECO/WARWICK Group’s increasing reputation in Asia. . . . We want to provide partners with solutions which will allow them to grow and achieve their intended goals related to production, quality and profitability,” said Liu Yedong, managing director of SECO/WARWICK China.
The press release is available in its original form here.
The SECO/WARWICK Group, the parent company of SECO/VACUUM Technologiesand SECO/WARWICK USA, has announced plans to bolster its production capacity in the U.S., increasing its footprint and workforce. The expansion will include relocating a portion of its manufacturing and a metallurgical lab for vacuum furnaces from its headquarters site in Poland to Crawford County, Pennsylvania.
The 120,000-sq ft facility located in Meadville, PA, will house equipment for furnace production and serve the company’s North American customers through the addition of parts, service, and training capacity, resulting in an increase in its heat treat manufacturing workforce. an international furnace manufacturer
SECO/WARWICK Group announced that this expansion received support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through a $2 million package of matching fund grants from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) through its Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). The primary use and intent of RACP funds is for reimbursement of eligible construction costs which SECO/WARWICK Group companies will match on a 1:1 basis. The Commonwealth will also provide an additional $69 thousand in matching funds for job training through the Workforce & Economic Development Network (WEDnet).
Employees of SECO/VACUUM Technologies and SECO/WARWICK at the announcement of the Meadville, PA, site expansion, held jointly by The SECO/WARWICK Group and the Commonwealth of PA Department of Community and Economic Development Source: Heat Treat Today
State, county and local officials as well as representatives from the international and US-based offices of the SECO/WARWICK Group were present at an event marking the expansion.
“Governor Shapiro is committed to making Pennsylvania an economic leader by investing in the growth of businesses like SECO/VACUUM and SECO/WARWICK,” stated the Commonwealth in the grant award letter. “In addition to the financing package outlined above, the Governor’s Action Team is prepared to provide both companies with any assistance that may be required throughout the application process, as well as to coordinate the involvement of all other state agencies in the project.”
“We look forward to working with our local partners including the City of Meadville, the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County (EPACC), the Workforce and Economic Development Network (WEDnet), and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to make this expansion happen!” said Piotr Zawistowski, president and managing director of SECO/VACUUM.
Pictured in feature image (L to R): Don Marteeny, vice president of engineering; Slawomir Wozniak, president and CEO, SECO/WARWICK Group; Piotr Zawistowski, president and managing director of SECO VACUUM Technologies
The press release is available in its original form here.
Heat TreatToday offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 10 news items.
Equipment
Premier Furnace Specialists received orders for nine pieces of heat treating equipment to be delivered to a range of manufacturing operations, all of which are currently in various stages of completion and testing or delivery and installation.
A manufacturer in the composites industry recently received shipment of a cabinet oven from Gruenberg, an industrial oven and sterilizer manufacturer. The furnace will be used for curing composite parts under a vacuum.
A second nitriding system was installed by Nitrex to increase capacity at Balexco, an aluminum extrusion company in Bahrain focusing on increasing production capacity.
Nine furnaces in various stages of completion and testing on the floor at Premier Furnace SpecialistsGruenberg cabinet oven shipped to composites manufacturerNitrex nitriding system installed at Balexco
Company & Personnel
Greg Miller National Business Manager Superheat
Cognizant, a professional services company that helps clients modernize technology, announced intent to acquire Belcan, a global supplier of digital engineering services for multiple industries, including aerospace, defense, and automotive.
Greg Miller has joined Superheat as national business development manager for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Greg will continue to work from his base in Lanarkshire, Scotland, bringing experience in manufacturing and preventative maintenance, with a foundation in induction heating.
Kudos
On July 2, 2024, David Lynch celebrated 40 years with Induction Tooling, Inc. This milestone was accomplished by his commitment to excellence and consistent hard-work and dedication.
Superheat, an on-site heat treatment service provider based in New Lenos, IL, recently received two Industrial Safety Training Council (ISTC) Safety Achievement Awards: one for achieving three consecutive years with zero recordable injuries and another for celebrating five years without an OSHA lost workday case. Bret Cadenhead, regional HSE manager at Superheat, represented the company at the awards event in Beaumont, Texas.
StandardAero celebrates 60 years of providing service to Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PT6A turboprop across four overhaul locations worldwide. In 1964, Dallas Airmotive (acquired by the company in 2021) became the first independent MRO provider to enter into a turboprop agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Centorr Vacuum Industries celebrates its 70th year in business in the vacuum furnace industry. The company was founded in Somerville, MA, as Vacuum Industries in 1954, and Centorr Furnace Company in 1962 in Suncook. NH. The two companies merged in 1989 in their current facilities in Nashua, NH.
Sławomir Woźniak, CEO of the SECO/WARWICK Group, celebrates five years in the position, managing all three brands: SECO/WARWICK, Retech, and SECO/VACUUM.
StandardAero’s engine overhaul center in San Antonio, TX, has completed correlation of its first test cell for the CFM International LEAP-1B turbofan engine, as part of its introduction of LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities.
Bill Stuehr (L), president & CEO of Induction Tooling, Inc., congratulates David Lynch (R) on 40 years with the companyBret Cadenhead, Superheat (R), receives ISTC Safety Achievement AwardSławomir Woźniak President & CEO SECO/WARWICK GroupCentorr Vacuum Industries, Nashua, NH, location
A global manufacturer of aircraft parts has ordered a single-chamber vacuum furnace for brazing jet engine parts. The new equipment will replace a 30-year-old unit previously operating in its Poland-based plant.
Jędrzej Malinowski Sales Manager SECO/WARWICK Group Source: LinkedIn
The new Vector® vacuum furnace is being supplied by SECO/WARWICK, which also manufactured the retiring equipment. The upgrade is based on a standard Vector vacuum furnace with a working space of 900 x 900 x 1200 mm, with screen insulation and metal heating elements. The solution has been adapted to industry specific needs and can heat treat jet engine components, such as complex gears or main shafts.
“This unit is distinguished by the ability to carry out efficient and clean high vacuum processes thanks to the use of a molybdenum heating chamber and a very efficient pumping system. This ensures very high purity and the dynamics required for brazing processes. Another big advantage is the very good temperature uniformity in the molybdenum heating chamber and compliance with the strict requirements of industry standards such as AMS2750,” said Jędrzej Malinowski, sales manager, SECO/WARWICK Group.
The press release is available in its original form here.
Maciej Korecki Vice President of Business of the Vacuum Furnace Segment SECO/WARWICK
A manufacturer has chosen a heat treat vertical vacuum furnace designed to perform low-pressure carburizing for the large structural elements (gearboxes) used in wind power plants.
SECO/WARWICK Group, a manufacturer with North American locations, provided the furnace that combines two technologies: atmospheric and vacuum processing. This system provides: process purity, heating uniformity, and elimination of the oxidation effect at the grain boundary. The product solves the problem of high energy and process gas consumption by the partner’s old furnaces, and shortens the carburizing process.
"The Pit-LPC technology . . . increases the safety for users, because it does not involve explosive and flammable gases. LPC eliminates direct CO₂ emissions from the carburizing atmosphere,'" commented Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Products Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.
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Aero Space Power, an MRO facility, has ordered a custom-made vacuum furnace tobe utilized in repair solutions for both complex aircraft engines and gas turbines in the energy industry.
Mark Peter Biro Commercial Sales Manager at Aero Space Power Source: LinkedIn
“We decided to acquire in-house heat treatment because we want to be independent in production. It will also give us much better control over the process and treated part quality," commented Mark Peter Biro, commercial sales manager, Aero Space Power. "By installing production capacity in-house and creating our own heat treatment department, we not only become independent from external suppliers, but we also significantly reduce transportation costs.”
The furnace on order from SECO/WARWICK, a company with locations in North America, is unique due to the size of the heating chamber. It has been adapted to the Aero Space Power requirements and has a working area of 51" x 39" x 59" to enable heat treatment of large components up to 55" diameter especially large aircraft parts, as well as gas turbines for the energy sector. The custom technology on order, in addition to non-standard dimensions, is designed to process work in the presence of two gases: argon (used for partial pressure) and nitrogen, which is used mainly in the cooling process. A dew point sensor for each of the gases will be included with the furnace.
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Maciej Korecki Vice President of Business of the Vacuum Furnace Segment SECO/WARWICK
A manufacturer of a wide variety of vacuum circuit breakers ordered vacuum furnaces for metal heat treatment. The circuit breakers must be brazed with high vacuum.
In 2017, the first furnaces provided were two SECO/WARWICK furnaces. The most recent expansion is three Vector vacuum furnaces that provide high vacuum level and temperature uniformity within the entire load.
"[T]he specificity of this electric power control production requires incredible precision. Circuit breakers need a high level of vacuum and temperature uniformity. They are brazed in vacuum furnaces in a very high vacuum; therefore, it was necessary to use an efficient pumping system consisting of a turbomolecular pump and a dry pump." Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Products Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group, a manufacturer with North American locations.
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Maciej Korecki Vice President of Business of the Vacuum Furnace Segment SECO/WARWICK
The Andritz Group, a manufacturer of complete lines for cold-rolled strip production and processing, has ordered a vertical vacuum furnace. The furnace for gas quenching processes will help produce consistent product quality.
SECO/WARWICK Group , a manufacturer with North American locations, equipped the Vector® furnace with a graphite chamber, gas cooling system, and a rotating hearth. The Andritz Group, with this system, adds to their heat treat capabilities in hydraulic power, pulp, and paper as well as metals processing industries.
This is the first vacuum furnace manufactured in the Tianjin facility of the SECO/WARWICK Group. “We have already worked with the Andritz Group, but this time it is the first contract with our Chinese branch. The Vector furnace is manufactured in our Chinese factory, which significantly shortens the solution’s delivery time to the customer," says Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Products Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.
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