SECO/WARWICK

Fringe Friday: Atomizer Enhances Capabilities at Metals Company

We’re celebrating getting to the “fringe” of the weekend with a Heat Treat Fringe Friday covering news about a metals company enhancing its processing line with an atomizer, increasing its capability to produce metal powders for the advanced manufacturing industries that it serves. Atomization, a process that forces molten metal into a controlled environment through a nozzle at high pressure, improves sustainability and efficiency in metals production for industries such as aerospace, medical and defense.

While not exactly heat treat, “Fringe Friday” deals with interesting developments in one of our key markets: aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, or general manufacturing.


A multinational metals company recently bolstered its processing line by adding an atomizer for the production of metal powders. The atomizer will be installed at one of the company’s U.S. production facilities and is capable of producing a wide variety of metal powders, optimized for both throughput and maintenance.

Retech, a division of SECO/WARWICK Group and a pioneer in advanced metallurgical equipment, has announced the procurement and the delivery and installation of the advanced manufacturing equipment to the metals manufacturer.

Earl Good
Managing Director
Retech

“We stuck with them,” said Earl Good, president and managing director at Retech. “We maintained the response times they needed, going above and beyond. This level of dedication was crucial in meeting their ambitious timeline, from RFQ to turnkey execution.”

The atomizer system is designed to be highly efficient, reducing operational costs and environmental impact. The system’s all-electric process ensures zero carbon emissions, aligning with sustainable production practices, and the inert gas recovery and recycling enhances resource efficiency and reduces waste. Maintenance features allow for rapid changeover between heats, minimizing downtime.

The press release is available in its original form here.



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Retech Expands with ReMelt Scientific

Retech, which provides advanced technologies for melting and refining reactive and refractory metals, has acquired ReMelt Scientific, broadening the capabilities for the vacuum and aluminum melting divisions of the SECO/WARWICK company. The two companies have been working alongside one another for decades on a less formal basis offering consulting, collaborating and subcontracting services. This acquisition formalizes that partnership.

Earl Good
Managing Director
Retech

ReMelt Scientific, based in Canton, Ohio, specializes in material handling and waste processing equipment for ultra-pure remelt of recycled tailings, scrap, and revert. This acquisition brings an advanced technology experience under one umbrella for clients of Retech’s innovative vacuum metallurgy solutions.

“I think ReMelt is a valuable acquisition and it seems to fit well with the Retech portfolio and the SECO/WARWICK Group business overall,” said Earl Good, managing director of Retech

Sławomir Woźniak
President & CEO
SECO/WARWICK Group

The acquisition will allow the SECO subsidiary to offer more comprehensive solutions in the vacuum metallurgy segment. Vacuum metallurgy, which involves the melting and refining of metals in a controlled atmosphere, is critical for producing high-purity metals and alloys used in various high-tech applications. Aluminum melting is a complex process that requires precise control and advanced technology to ensure the production of high-quality aluminum products. ReMelt’s knowledge in aluminum waste processing and material handling will enable its new parent company to offer state-of-the-art aluminum melting solutions that meet the industry’s stringent demands.

“While ReMelt will join the Retech division, they really are an asset to the whole Group and our worldwide operations as a whole”, said Sławomir Woźniak, CEO of SECO/WARWICK Group.

The press release is available in its original form here.



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Naval Ship Builder Expands 3D Parts Annealing Capabilites

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.



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Aero/Auto Aluminum Manufacturer Expands Heat Treatment

Taiwan Hodaka Technology, an aerospace and automotive manufacturer, extends its market reach by adding an aluminum aging furnace to its heat treatment capabilities. The furnace, which is designed for aging using T77 technology, will allow the company to meet the highest safety and strength standards. 

This is the first transaction between Taiwan Hodaka Technology, which is involved in the design and processing of parts made of aluminum alloys, and SECO/WARWICK. The furnace operates in the temperature range from 176° to 428°F (80° to 220°C) with a temperature uniformity in the last heating phase, of ±47.4°F (3°C) in accordance with the AMS 2750 standard.

“The solution supplied by SECO/WARWICK will allow us to enter a new market segment. We are a partner for many key players in the aviation industry. The T77 aluminum aging furnace will enable us to serve customer requirements even better. At the same time, the new technology will support our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment,” said Dr. Sam Chiang, vice president for R&D at Taiwan Hodaka Technology Co. Ltd.

Tomasz Kaczmarczyk, Sales Manager of the Aluminum Process and CAB Furnaces Teams, SECO/WARWICK

For heat treated alloys (2xxx, 6xxx and 7xxx series), the letter T and one or more digits are used after the alloy series symbol. The first digit is the most important, as it indicates the type of heat treatment applied to the alloy, while the remaining digits (if provided) indicate heat treatment variants or their modifications. The 7000 series of aluminum alloys have the highest strength of all other aluminum alloy series and are commonly used in aviation since they are held to the highest safety and strength standards.

“T7 denotes the process of solution heat treatment and artificial aging to an overaged state to obtain specific properties, e.g. increased corrosion resistance,” said Tomasz Kaczmarczyk, sales manager of the Aluminum Process and CAB Furnaces Team at SECO/WARWICK. “Sometimes, in addition to the digit denoting the standard heat treatment, an additional digit is used to denote modifications to the given treatment or stress relief procedures. For example, for 7xxx alloys, the symbol T77 denotes retrogression and re-aging. The use of this process improves the alloy’s corrosion resistance, which is so crucial in the production of aircraft parts. The applied technology will allow Taiwan Hodaka Technology to produce high-quality profiles used in the aviation industry in accordance with the AMS standard.” 

Piotr Skarbiński
Vice President of Aluminum and CAB Products Segment
SECO/WARWICK

“The furnace on order equipped with electric heating will process 1500 kg of aluminum profiles with a maximum length of 5500 mm. This is a two-zone solution with a total heating power of 420 kW. The solution for aluminum aging, powered by electric heaters, eliminates the problem of CO2 emissions and is in line with the ecological trend increasingly common in heavy industry,” said Piotr Skarbiński, vice president of the CAB and aluminum products segment at SECO/WARWICK.

The furnace will be used at the company’s newly built plant in Taiwan.

The project partner was PEERENERGY, which offers thermal process consulting, project management, and equipment supply for the aerospace, military equipment, and semiconductor industries.

The press release is available in its original form here.



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Heat Treater Expands Hardening Plant Capabilities

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.



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16 News Chatter To Keep You Current

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 17 news items.


Equipment

  1. Pomini Tenova, which manufactures advanced roll shop equipment, recently signed two contracts for fully automatic roll shop equipment with Baowu of China. The first contract includes a set of four automatic CNC roll grinders with two automatic inspection stations, to be installed at a plant where two new cold rolling mills for silicon steel will be in operation. The second contract includes two automatic CNC roll grinders and an automatic inspection station, equipped with an automatic roll loading system, which will be installed in the roll shop of a new cold rolling mill for silicon steel production.
  2. Nucor Steel has commissioned SMS group for the modernization and expansion of its Steckel mill at its site in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The existing Steckel mill will be converted into a tandem Steckel mill, designed to produce high-strength thin strip as well as to boost capacity. 
  3. A global car window manufacturer’s European branch has purchased two SECO/WARWICK technological lines for two of the company’s locations. The order includes RHLE units for bending car windows.
  4. Jiangsu Dongpu Fine Ceramics Technology Co., Ltd., has installed a hot isostatic press (HIP) from Quintus Technologies. The HIP model operates company’s production line for Si3Ni4 bearing balls in its manufacturing facility in Lianyungang, China.

Company & Personnel

  1. Inductotherm Group has appointed Mick Nallen and Satyen Prabhu as co‐leaders, a transition which became effective July 1, 2024, when Gary Doyon stepped down from his role as CEO. Mick and Satyen have a combined experience at the company of nearly 70 years.
  2. Vincent Lelong of ECM USA presented on low pressure carburizing with vacuum furnace technology at Purdue University’s School of Materials Engineering undergraduate seminar. This seminar regularly features industry speakers, some of whom are members of the Purdue Heat Treating Consortium.
  3. The direct reduction plant at Nucor Steel Louisiana achieved a world production record of 330.3 tons per hour of high-quality cold direct reduced iron (CDRI), yielding an outstanding 7,928 tons per day (tpd). A high-quality direct reduced iron (DRI) output with 95% metallization (%M) and a carbon content of 3.3% (%C) was measured. The ENERGIRON technology was jointly developed by Tenova and Danieli.
  4. Jabil Inc, which designs and manufactures supply chain solutions, announced its acquisition of Mikros Technologies LLC, which engineers and manufactures liquid cooling solutions for thermal management.
  5. Aerospace Testing & Pyrometry, Inc., (ATP) recently opened its Pacific Northwest office in Seattle, Washington. With this new facility, the company will now have a footprint in all four corners of the United States.

Kudos

  1. Solar Atmospheres‘ Greenville, SC, facility recently announced it has been awarded Parker Aerospace approval. Its five facilities are now able to assist clients with Parker Aerospace thermal processing requirements.
  2. Furnace manufacturer Grieve Corporation has reached its 75th year in business. Begun in 1949 as a small job shop in Chicago, the company now occupies a 100,000 square foot facility in Round Lake, Illinois
  3. StandardAero, an independent provider of engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of its Singapore facility, a Pratt & Whitney Canada Designated Overhaul Facility (DOF) for the PW150A turboprop engine. This anniversary coincides with the company’s redelivery of its 500th PW150A engine, which powers the popular Bombardier Dash 8-400 regional turboprop. 
  4. Paulo’s Cleveland Division was recently awarded approval from GE Aviation for hot isostatic pressing, specifically GT193 Process Code FF.
  5. C3 Data has achieved SOC 2 Compliance, which ensures stringent standards for handling sensitive data.
  6. Tennessee Society of Association Executives recently honored Tom Morrison of the Metal Treating Institute (MTI) with the Industry Marketing Award for its Jobs of Tomorrow Workforce Development Program.
  7. Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania announced that it has been awarded Pratt & Whitney‘s PWA 11, “Heat Treatments” approval. The facility is now certified to perform heat treatments for P&W’s Suffix 17, “Precipitation Harden,” and Suffix 22, “Austenitize, Quench, and Temper.”

Find Heat Treating Products And Services When You Search On Heat Treat Buyers Guide.Com

16 News Chatter To Keep You Current Read More »

Heat Treater Triples Surface Hardening Capacity at Ohio Facility

A heat treating company that processes stainless steel, titanium, and other specialty alloys is expanding its operations with a major investment in a larger facility, tripling its heat treatment and surface hardening capacity. The automotive and medical devices industries are among those the company serves at its Twinsburg, Ohio, location.

Thomas Sandholdt
CEO
Expanite, Inc

With the new equipment, Expanite Inc., a subsidiary of Expanite A/S, based in Denmark, will be able to meet the growing demand for advanced surface hardening and heat treatment solutions. The new furnaces, installed by SECO/WARWICK, have chamber sizes up to 24x24x36 inches and process larger and more complex components. This expansion will allow the company to meet its commitment to sustainability by offering greener alternatives to traditional technologies.

“Our investment is all about meeting the growing demands from our North American customers,” said Thomas Sandholdt, CEO of Expanite. “We’re now able to handle much larger volumes while maintaining the fast lead times and flexibility that our customers expect from Expanite.”

“Our expanded capabilities mean we can now offer our full range of Expanite technologies, including the processes for titanium, right here in the U.S.,” said Claus Løndal, country manager for Expanite North America. “This allows us to serve a wide range of customers while reducing lead times and costs.”

Besides the proprietary Expanite processes, standard vacuum heat treatment processes are offered, including hardening of tool steels (D2, A2, M2, H13, etc.), austenite annealing of stainless (304, 316, etc.), precipitation treatment of PH-steels (17-4PH, 13-8PH, etc.) and specialty treatment of alloys (Inconel 718, MU-metal etc.). The addition of vacuum heat treatment solutions extends the company’s capabilities, offering more solutions, and greater flexibility and ensuring clients receive hardening solutions tailored to their specific needs. In this expansion, Expanite is bringing its patented technology for hardening of titanium to North America.



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Commercial Heat Treater Expands Capabilities with 12th Vacuum Furnace

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.



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Automotive Radiator Manufacturer Bolsters Aluminum Brazing Capacity

A car radiator manufacturer has expanded its heat treatment capacity with an EV/CAB line adapted for the production of oversized battery coolers. The aluminum brazing furnace facilitates the ability to make quick modifications and switch from gas to electric heating in order to meet climate change challenges.

Piotr Skarbiński
Vice President of Aluminum and CAB Products Segment
SECO/WARWICK
Source: LinkedIn

SECO/WARWICK designed the CAB line with temperature uniformity across the entire belt width in order to accommodate the size specifications of the battery coolers.

“This order is for an aluminum brazing furnace adapted to the production of oversized battery coolers,” said Piotr Skarbiński, vice president of the aluminum and CAB product segment at SECO/WARWICK. “The EV/CAB line with a belt width of 2100 mm (6.89 ft) is designed to produce oversized battery coolers. It consists of a preheating and main heating chamber, a radiation brazing furnace, an air jacket cooling chamber, a final cooling chamber and a control system.”

The press release is available in its original form here.



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Lukasiewicz– IMN Enhances R&D with Vacuum Furnace

Łukasiewicz – the Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals (Łukasiewicz – IMN) recently expanded its heat treating operations with a VIM furnace for melting metals and metal alloys on a laboratory scale. The new equipment will be used to develop new types of alloys, make individual castings, and conduct research on melting processes.

The vacuum induction melting furnace, ordered from SECO/WARWICK, has a maximum operating temperature of 2000˚C (3,632°F) and a single-chamber VIM furnace. It was designed to produce metal and alloy castings weighing up to 20 kg in vacuum, or under pressure using an inert gas (argon).

Sławomir Woźniak
President & CEO
SECO/WARWICK Group
Source: SECO/WARWICK

This is the second processing solution the furnace supplier has designed for the institute. Łukasiewicz – IMN, a member of the Łukasiewicz Research Network, received a targeted subsidy for the implementation of an investment related to scientific activities for the purchase of research equipment granted by the Ministry of Education and Science (currently the Ministry of Science and Higher Education).

“Scientific institutions are one of the group of recipients for our solutions,” said Sławomir Woźniak, CEO of the SECO/WARWICK Group. “For example, we have supplied solutions to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), which ordered a non-standard, 12-meter vertical rotary retort furnace for the heat treatment of a gyrotron part, as a contribution to the ITER experimental thermonuclear reactor. We have also supplied laboratory furnaces for the Institute of Precision Mechanics. We invest heavily in research and development ourselves. We have our own R&D centers, which allow us to continuously improve the technology we offer.”

The press release is available in its original form here.



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