Three induction vacuum melting furnaces will be delivered to an industrial foundry specializing in parts production for the aerospace industry.
Sławomir Woźniak CEO SECO/WARWICK Group
The three furnaces will increase the European partner’s production facilities and includes VIM technology for using directional solidification or single crystal casting of nickel and cobalt superalloys.
“In the VIM DS/CS furnace, the client can obtain castings using directional solidification or single crystal technology. The well-designed furnace structure…allows the user to produce the highest quality castings,” said Sławomir Woźniak, CEO of the SECO/WARWICKGroup, a thermal processing solutions provider with North American locations.
The furnaces on order have a maximum capacity of 40kg.
The growing importance of vacuum metallurgy is partly a consequence of the continuously changing production needs of aviation. The most modern jet engines utilize advanced blades cast using single crystal technology.
Press release is available in its original form here.
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.
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.
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.
PWR Advanced Cooling Technology has ordered two universal batch CAB furnaces and a CAB continuous line. The furnaces will be used for brazing aluminum heat exchangers. The 3 solutions will go to 2 continents – Australia and North America.
PWR Advanced Cooling Technology specializes in the production of modern and efficient heat exchangers and has used SECO/WARWICK Group furnaces in the past. Two furnaces, the continuous CAB line and Universal Batch CAB Furnace, will be delivered to production plants in Australia. The second chamber furnace will be delivered at the same time to the American branch of PWR, C&R Racing Inc.
Andi Scott, general manager - advanced technology, PWR Australia Source: PWR Australia
The universal batch CAB furnace meets the requirements for protective atmosphere aluminum brazing technology (Nocolok®) and allows users to braze products in a horizontal or vertical position. The continuous CAB line performs brazing in a protective atmosphere for mass production of various heat exchangers.
“We have already ordered the company’s furnaces twice, and the current contract, although more than 25 years have passed since the first order, is the best proof that we are satisfied with the product quality, cooperation, and after-sales service.” said Andi Scott from PWR Advanced Cooling Technology.
“The current contract is special because we will deliver different solutions simultaneously to two continents but to the same customer,” commented Sławomir Woźniak, CEO of the SECO/WARWICK Group.
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At the front of some major developments in heat treat technologies is Slawomir Wozniak, CEO of SECO/WARWICK. Join him and Heat TreatRadiohost and Heat Treat Today publisher, Doug Glenn, as he talks about the latest trends in heat treat, especially the new technologies his company is pursuing and the effect of the War in Ukraine. Read a recent press release with information about the group here.
Below, you can watch the video, listen to the podcast by clicking on the audio play button, or read an edited transcript.
The following transcript has been edited for your reading enjoyment.
Doug Glenn: The last time we spoke in an interview was in 2019. We were in Germany at Thermprocess, and you were just getting into the CEO position. We’re coming up on 4 years. How has it been? For you personally and for the company?
Sławomir Woźniak CEO SECO/WARWICK Source: secowarwick.com
Slawomir Wozniak: A good question. Yes, it was a very nice time.
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I was not expecting so many challenges, especially since I took over in 2019, in June. We started to work on a new strategy for the company, for the group, and then Covid came. That changed everything. We had to implement a lot of changes to the company and cope with the challenges. It was a good time, absolutely. Many positive things happened to the company, and we grew up with the business.
We reorganized our companies successfully, especially in China and in the U.S. I have had a great, supportive team ever since I started with the company for more than twenty years. I know all the people very well, and they cooperate and support me every day. It was a very good time for me, and I’m looking forward to another couple of years running the business.
Doug Glenn: Compared to 2020, will this year be a normal year?
Slawomir Wozniak: It looks like it. We still feel, however, the impact of the war in Ukraine and the supply chain deterioration caused by both COVID and the war in Europe. We also reorganized the way we do things in the company.
But you’re right, the business is good today. Although we see some recession on the horizon, this year is extremely good. It’s extremely good in the U.S. but also in Asia and Europe. Pretty much all the markets are growing.
New products were implemented on the market in the last couple of years, so we see a good future.
Doug Glenn: Tell us a little about the 60th anniversary coming up.
Slawomir Wozniak: There is an anniversary coming for RETECH. The company was established in 1963, so next year (2023) we would like to celebrate the 60th anniversary in Buffalo, NY. This is something which energizes the U.S. market.
We would also like to highlight our footprint on the U.S. market because we have three companies. We have RETECH, SECO/VACUUM Technologies, and SECO/WARWICK Corporation. We like to see the companies working together, and we see a big interest from U.S. customers to get equipment made in America. RETECH produces vacuumatological equipment (vacuum melting equipment) in the United States. We would also like to build vacuum furnaces in the U.S. SECO/WARWICK Corporation has been in business for many years, and we would like to continue with production of atmospheric furnaces and aluminum process furnaces. We are also thinking about aluminum brazing equipment we build in U.S.
Doug Glenn: I want to talk about SECO/WARWICK group and strategies. I know you manufacture equipment, but the emphasis has always been on technology.
What can our readers be looking forward to in terms of technology?
Slawomir Wozniak: We are a typical technology, an engineering company which provides technological solutions for our customers. We not only provide equipment, but we provide complete solutions for our customers.
What we see on the market is a deep interest in what we call “green technologies.” These are all the technologies that are in line with reducing the carbon footprint. Our technologies can provide solutions for our customers, like low pressure carburizing (LPC), zero-flow nitriding, and all the other technologies which also reduce the time for the process and energy consumption. We see a big boom because the carbon footprint needs to be reported by our customers.
Interest in "Green Technologies" Source: Unsplash.com/ShubhamDhage
We have to provide a report of what the carbon footprint generated during production of our equipment was. We also must provide a report of what the equipment would produce during a process. We have some solutions which significantly reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. This is what our customers are looking for.
We see a big interest in conversion of heating systems from gas to electric. Customers can buy green electrical energy, but they cannot buy the “green gas” right?
Doug Glenn: Not unless you do hydrogen which isn’t quite ready yet.
Slawomir Wozniak: Right. All these technologies are very much in the interest of our customers. So, this is why we are forcing also, the new development of our solutions to replace all technologies like gas carburizing by low pressure carburizing. This is what we see on the horizon.
Car manufacturers are declaring that by 2035 they will not be producing any more combustion engines in cars. We have a great product for brazing of battery coolers for electrical vehicles, an aluminum brazing process. This equipment is produced in Europe and in China, and we provide the solutions for global OEMs. Also, we see booming technology. With the growth of immobility we also see a growth of our business.
Doug Glenn: Have you seen much of the growth in the green movement? Have you seen it as much in North America as you’re seeing in other regions of the world?
Slawomir Wozniak: We see some interest from the customers. It is not as big as it is in Europe. With the global supply chain, even our U.S. customers, when they produce certain components, they also need to be in line with the global strategy. The end-user is the user of the components which are heat treated in our equipment. The end-user will ask for the certification of the carbon footprint. This is why it is still not on the level as we see in Europe, but we see more and more customers/companies asking for green solutions because they need to also be in line with the trend.
Doug Glenn: It seems the North American market tends to be a little slow on the uptake on these green things.
What light can you shed on the plans for SECO group in North America over the next five/ten years?
Slawomir Wozniak: This is the right time because we are working on the strategy now for the entire group, particularly for the U.S. market. We have three companies in the U.S., and we would like to build more equipment. This is in line with the interest of our customers.
[blocktext align="left"]There is a trend of reshoring and moving business back to North America, particularly to the U.S., but also to Mexico, to better serve the market and provide quicker solutions. We would like to build more equipment in the U.S. A lot of businesses are moving their production from southeast Asia (particularly from China) back to the U.S.[/blocktext]
We can provide the solutions to help our customers to run the day-to-day productions in a cost-effective way with these green technologies, but also with technologies which can reduce the cost of the production, the cost of heat treatment processes, and metallurgical processes. This is why we would like to build more equipment here.
RETECH, our company which provides metallurgical vacuumatology solutions, is very busy with the new locations. We have a lot of projects which are fully made in the U.S. We are now analyzing how to cope with the challenge of the U.S. market to build vacuum furnaces in the U.S.
Today, we only import vacuum furnaces from Poland. In Europe, in general, the lead time of some components is growing. Energy and labor costs are also growing, so we’d like to build vacuum furnaces also in the U.S. to better serve our customers. This would be the main focus for the next few years — to reinforce our operation processes here in the U.S. and also to organize how to serve the U.S. market by local manufacturing.
Doug Glenn: I think it would be helpful to delineate the three companies that you’re talking about, the North American companies.
Slawomir Wozniak: RETECH. We moved from California to Buffalo, NY, roughly three years ago. We have a nice facility. We are quite busy there with production and assembly of vacuumatological equipment.
Doug Glenn: Which is, basically, vacuum melting equipment.
Slawomir Wozniak: Right. Things like plasma equipment, electron beam equipment. We would like to even look for more space because we have so many projects. We still have our office in California, because we still have some good employees who contribute to the performance of the company. We would like to maintain this office in California.
With SECO/VACUUM Technologies, LLC, we would like to start building equipment for the North American market. We have a new setup, a new office, and a new facility with some floorspace where we can assemble the furnaces. We would like to start from assembly and eventually, double up the processes and completely build the equipment here in the U.S.
SECO/WARWICK Corporation — we just hired a new managing director in June of this year, Marcus Lord. His main focus is to grow our business in the U.S. particularly for our aluminum process equipment and also for thermal equipment.
Our goal is to build equipment in the U.S., maybe not in-house fabrication, but use our subcontractors, and then to do the assembly in the facility. We are also looking forward to set up a facility in the U.S.
Doug Glenn: RETECH has moved manufacturing to Buffalo, NY. SECO/VACUUM Technologies is still located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, but not in the previous building. They do have some manufacturing capabilities, although there is not really any manufacturing going on there except for spare parts, I assume.
Slawomir Wozniak: Spare parts and retrofits.
Doug Glenn: The last company was SECO/WARWICK Corporation, which is big in aluminum and general line thermal equipment.
Slawomir Wozniak: We would like to continue with this business and build equipment in the U.S.
Sławomir Woźniak and Doug Glenn Source: Heat TreatToday
Doug Glenn: That gives us a sense of the direction over the next five years or so.
Poland (your headquarters’ location) has been in the news quite a bit because of the war between Russia and Ukraine. How has that impacted your company and maybe individuals in your company. Has it impacted your ability to manufacture in Poland?
Slawomir Wozniak: It was a big shock for everyone at the end of February of 2022 when the invasion of Russia happened to Ukraine. For our company, the main heat was linked with the supply chain of some materials, especially commodities like steel, which were supplied for many, many years from either Ukraine or Russia.
Then, the prices of energy, like gas and electricity, also increased significantly. We also had some businesses in Russia; we have a SECO/WARWICK company in Russia to provide services and sales, but we stopped, pretty much, all activities there. We have just completed all the contracts, and we are not promoting our equipment there. We are not providing any quotes to Russian customers; we stopped our activities there.
It was not a big impact on our business because the volume of the business in Russia was not so big.
However, since the war started, we have realized that a lot of customers linked Poland with Ukraine as a country which is very close and, anytime, can be in the conflict.
So, many customers were worried about the situation, and they started to ask us, “Is our project safe? Can you still deliver our project?” So, we had to guarantee and confirm, “Okay, everything is fine. We can run the projects.”
There was a time, especially in the second quarter, when the delivery time of some materials were extended because of the situation. It has improved, and today we do not see much impact on it. Obviously, from the job market perspective, it was also significant, in part, because many migrants moved from Ukraine to Poland.
Doug Glenn: I think Poland was the number one country to receive immigrants.
Slawomir Wozniak: Exactly. We organized a lot of support, as a company and as individuals, with private activity to support the Ukrainian immigrants.
From our side, we have seen some shock and some impact on our from the other side. A lot of companies also started to think differently. For them, it was the first shock three years ago that impacted the global supply chain — many, many materials and then goods. This war was a second wave of impact on the businesses. We see that some companies decided to move their businesses to change their supply chain and, I can say, we even benefited from that because we see some growing business because of the situation.
In the end, I would not say the war is a good thing, obviously, but it is also positive thing for businesses.
We also have some solutions for the defense industry. We see growing interest — not only in Europe, but globally — in investment in capital equipment for increasing the production of some defense equipment.
Doug Glenn: Over your first four years in office, as the CEO, you’ve had to deal with the pandemic and you’ve had the war breaking out. I know there are some other issues, such as labor shortages and supply chain issues.
What is keeping you up at night worrying? As you’re looking forward, what are the things you’re concerned about?
Slawomir Wozniak: One, you just mentioned, about the labor market. We know that the demographic factors are very, very bad for many, many countries, including China. Today, it’s okay, but if you look long-term, the demographic doesn’t look good. We are focusing, now, on how to replace the human factor by automation, how to simplify the processes, how to implement the solutions which don’t require a lot of labor. So, automation is one thing and simplification of some processes, standardization of some solutions. We’ve focused on vacuum equipment especially. How can we reduce the manpower required to build the furnaces?
The second area is definitely the geopolitical situation, especially the tensions on the line between the U.S. and China. We have a lot of businesses in China, today. We also export from China, and to other countries. This is something which we have to look very carefully at how to recoup and handle if there were escalation from sanctions or limitations on the business and possibly to export our equipment.
[blockquote author="" style="1"]This is why we would like to focus more, in coming years, on the Indian market. We would like to set up production capacity in India to produce more equipment. Then, particularly how we can serve the Indian market which is growing. We see a lot of potential in India, but also later to use our capacity there to export some equipment to serve other markets. This is our focus for the next few years.[/blockquote]
I think the geopolitical situation is the thing which is out of our control, for everybody. Even the job market, as I said, we can cope some. How? We can attract our employees, and we can attract potential employees to join our company. With the geopolitical situation, we can do nothing.
Doug Glenn: We’re at the mercy of the leaders, which is always a scary thing.
You’ve talked a lot about green technologies. Is it safe for us to say that SECO is still in the business of the more conventional gas-fired type equipment around the globe? Or are you moving away from that?
Slawomir Wozniak: We do less and less gas-fired equipment. Gas-fired equipment was, in general, an atmospheric type of equipment. We changed the strategy for this product line. We have just narrowed our portfolio to a few types of equipment only. For some solutions, obviously, we still offer gas-fired heating systems, but we see more and more interest in using electrical heating systems. There are some developmental projects to use the combination of hydrogen and natural gas. This is the direction which we see from supplies of heating systems partners, and our customers are looking to get solutions which we call “the green solutions.”
I would say that, in the long term, we will not provide combustion systems in the equipment, but, currently, we still have them in our portfolio. I don’t really see that this will maintain for a long time, especially, as I said, since we changed our strategy for general products and for thermal product line. We do not use many of the solutions for combustion processes.
Doug Glenn: Here in the U.S., you are going to transition many non-vacuum lines from gas to electric?
Slawomir Wozniak: Yes. But, for some solutions, you cannot. We must have combustion and we obviously offer melting equipment and also some processing products. But we are very flexible and we can offer various solutions for our customers. We always try to adjust our proposal to the customer specifications and customer expectations.
Doug Glenn: It is probably safe to say that, within the next 5–10 years, you’re still going to be doing some combustion-related stuff, especially in North America. It’s going to be demanded. As most of the rest of the world knows, we’ve got relatively cheap energy.
Slawomir Wozniak: Less definitely than Europe, especially with the current situation with the supply of natural gas.
Alan Gladish (r), Praxis Communications, Inc., and Katarzyna Sawka(c), Vice President Marketing at SECO/WARWICK, were present at the interview with Doug Glenn(l). Source: SECO/WARWICK
Doug Glenn: Alright, last question: You’re obviously enjoying your work. You enjoy your team. The company is doing well. What excites you, personally, about the next 2, 3, 4 years at SECO/WARWICK?
Slawomir Wozniak: As I said, I have a great team which supports me every day in all of the challenges that we are facing, like every company. I love my job. I’ve bonded with the company. I grew up with the company. I would like to see the company develop and grow with new technologies, with market requests and new solutions.
We have great R&D teams — one in U.S., one in Poland — and we work on new solutions. I see that we can change a lot of industries with our solutions. This keeps me really energized every day, to discuss new technologies, new solutions, and how we can impact the development of various industries like aerospace, the energy sector, and the automotive industry. I’m proud to see some cars with our components.
Doug Glenn: It keeps you energized!
It’s good to enjoy your work, and it’s good to have passion for the future. I think that trickles down to your organization; you certainly have.
About the expert: Slawomir Wozniak started his professional career at SECO/WARWICK in 1994 initially as a service engineer and then as a deputy manager of CAB. Later he was posted to SECO/WARWICK Retech in China before an appointment of managing director at SECO/WARWICK Allied in India and chief operating officer of SECO/WARWICK Group. Later he was appointed managing director (Asia) and member of the management board at SECO/WARWICK SA. In 2018 he became vice president of the SECO/WARWICK SA Management Board, chief operating officer of the SECO/WARWICK Group, and he is the current president of the SECO/WARWICK Group.
Sometimes our editors find items that are not exactly "heat treat" but do deal with interesting developments in one of our key markets: aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, or general manufacturing. To celebrate getting to the “fringe” of the weekend, Heat TreatToday presents today’s Heat Treat Fringe Friday press release: an agreement between GreenIron and SECO/WARWICK for a reduction furnace line will allow for the recycling of oxidized metals without emissions.
Swedish company GreenIron H2 AB has signed an agreement with the SECO/WARWICK Group, a global manufacturer of metal treatment equipment, for the delivery of a series of furnaces for fossil-free metal production including ore, residuals, and waste recycling.
Edward Murray CEO GreenIron Source: LinkedIn
"We feel that our partnership is a great foundation for rapid growth and a positive impact on emissions and climate change," commented Edward Murray, CEO of GreenIron. "GreenIron has high ambitions in regard to CO₂ reduction, starting with the first furnace, delivered by SECO/WARWICK, and the subsequent first shipment of commercial fossil-free iron in 2023."
The furnaces ordered by GreenIron will be used to recycle oxidized metals without emissions. They will therefore directly contribute to CO₂ emission reduction as each furnace has the capacity to reduce emissions by 56.000 metric tons/yr. The technology will help many enterprises implement "green" solutions and function in harmony with the natural environment.
Sławomir Woźniak CEO SECO/WARWICK Source: secowarwick.com
The metals are extracted from ore or recycled without the release of fossil gases. Iron oxide (magnetite, hematite, wustite) is converted to pure iron by the hydrogen reduction process. In traditional technology, this process takes place in coke furnaces, which results in CO₂ emissions. In the GreenIron furnaces, CO₂ emissions are zero.
“It is also an opportunity for SECO/WARWICK, because together with GreenIron we are creating a production line of completely new furnaces. For the first time, we are working closely with an external partner with technology that comes from outside of our organization,” adds Sławomir Woźniak, CEO of SECO/WARWICK Group.
Reduction furnaces will be available to companies throughout the entire lifespan of iron and other metals – including mining, steelmaking, milling stations, foundries, metal workshops and heavy ashes from incinerators.
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GEBERIT Group, a European leader in sanitary products, will expand their annealing capabilities with two vacuum furnaces at their production plant in Ozorków. Both furnaces have larger working spaces than the standard: 900 x 900 x 1200 mm (HxWxL) to 900 x 900 x 2400 mm. These changes will allow the manufacturer to double the efficiency of the furnaces in one technological process.
As GEBERIT builds its independence by investing in heat treatment processes, some of the processes that they had carried out in traditional atmospheric furnaces will now be performed in these modern Vector vacuum furnaces supplied by North American SECO/VACUUM‘s parent company, SECO/WARWICK.
Sławomir Woźniak CEO SECO/WARWICK Source: secowarwick.com
“We chose the SECO/WARWICK Vector furnaces,” commented Mirosław Spasiński, head of the Technical Department of GEBERIT in Ozorków, “due to the guaranteed quality and efficiency but also the high cleanliness of the surfaces of the processed details, which is very important to us, as the elements are displayed in open GEBERIT sanitary installations, thus aesthetics play an important role.”
“An individual approach to the furnace design” notes Sławomir Woźniak, CEO of SECO/WARWICK Group, “is a project that requires expert engineering knowledge. [Our] engineers have the knowledge and experience that are needed to adjust the technology and its parameters so that it ensures the safety and failure-free operation of the device, but above all that the solution meets the expectations and needs of the client.”
A heat treat company in Poland has been faced with online defamation after waves of libelous messages filtered into the inboxes of partners, suppliers, and contractors of SECO/WARWICK Group. After many months, they have released the following statement.
As one of the top five heat treatment leaders and an entity involved in the world economy, SECO/WARWICK confronts numerous challenges in everyday business life. Currently, such a challenge has become the network, specifically Internet hate.
Sławomir Woźniak, President of the SECO/WARWICK Group
Almost every entity operating on the market has a presence on the Internet where it builds its reputation every day and confronts the opinions of the environment. SECO/WARWICK consciously uses the Internet to create and manage content, applying a great deal of effort in it, because we care about a reliable and positive perception and representation or our brand.
Anonymous hate aimed at the company
The Internet is a huge environment that can help but also harm, because it allows anonymity of the recipient and sender, including certain anonymous vilification that SECO/WARWICK has experienced. Initially, our partners, suppliers and contractors received e-mail correspondence alleging alarming and misleading information about the situation of the Group. Now employees and customers have joined the group of consumers flooded with black PR. We are concerned that after a wave of hate sent to customers, hate speech on the Internet will start. SECO/WARWICK says NO to this prospect.
“The author, writing under a pseudonym (currently as: Suresh Manish) and attacking SECO/WARWICK, is the so-called internet troll who wants to discredit our company’s activities and arouse controversial discussions. According to specialists researching the phenomenon of online hate, such a person feeds his low self-esteem, harms someone who is jealous or stands in the way of his alleged success. Our online
troll, by providing information extracted from the context and presenting it in a selective manner, manipulates the facts. This attack is an act of economic hate,” says Sławomir Woźniak, President of the SECO/WARWICK Group.
It is not the competition that works under the pseudonym, but one of our former contractors, who formulates unfounded claims and negative opinions, and then slanders and sends this information to a wide audience. SECO/WARWICK is pending litigation against this contractor, but it turns out that legal sanctions for violating our good name and reputation are not relevant to the author of the email. Despite the conviction, he continues to slander the company, which is done, among other means, via anonymous e-mails which, although not identified explicitly, suggest the authorship of the entity: a former contractor who has been in litigation with SECO/WARWICK for many years. The operating scheme and the way the wording is formulated clearly indicates that the emails are authored by the same and former SECO/WARWICK contractor.
We will fight these anonymous slanders, because the good name of the company and its employees is vilified, and the information itself misleads our partners. As a listed company, SECO/WARWICK is guided by the principle of transparency in business, relations and communication. We are not anonymous in what we do, because we believe that the facts speak for themselves.
The authorities stand behind the SECO/WARWICK wall
“Cyber-bullies who feed on the possibility of making others’ lives miserable are a very severe phenomenon and I am sorry that the sign of the times is affecting such a reputable company as SECO/WARWICK” says prof. Jolanta Baranowska from the West Pomeranian University of Technology.
“I have cooperated with SECO/WARWICK Group for decades. This is the first time I have met a situation in which a global leader must defend itself against online frustration. A wave of hate poured out by this man hiding under a pseudonym offends and touches us, the scientific support team of the Group,” comments prof. P. Kula from the Lodz University of Technology.
“As heat treaters we all work hard to promote the many benefits of our industry and spread the word that we are the most cost-effective solution to the needs of manufacturing. The last thing we need or want is unnecessary distraction, especially from an unknown source questioning our motives and damaging our industry’s reputation” wrote Daniel H. Herring, “The Heat Treat Doctor.”
“Over my long career, I have had the privilege of working with most of the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide and many of our suppliers as well. Each is highly ethical, acts in a professional manner and, simply stated, have their hearts (and focus) in the right place, serving the industry we love. SECO/WARWICK, both here in the United States, in Europe and around the world is no exception. Any attempt by anyone to suggest otherwise detracts from our ultimate goal, the advancement of the thermal processing industry so as to offer our customers the best tools to succeed. In this way, we all serve our better angels”, added Daniel H. Herring.
The industry is telling the hater – ENOUGH
Nobody wants to be publicly defamed, because destroying reputations affects employee morale, business, decisions of potential clients and partners, or can weaken relationships. But SECO/WARWCIK, with a faithful group of suppliers and customers in 70 countries, and always taking care of relations with partners, can boast and show that in this situation our partners are with us.
“This defamation is an offense that involves slandering a company that could expose it to loss of credibility and trust. We have not lost confidence in SECO/WARWICK; we believe and confirm its credibility and the credibility of its devices. Proof – years of collaboration and dozens of solutions for this brand,” says Mike Jarvis, Engineering Director, Wallwork Heat Treatment Ltd.
“After receiving the e-mail, our reaction was to forward correspondence to SECO/WARWICK without asking us to explain the matter. Because we do not respond to anonymous correspondence. As a transparent company, we require transparency from partners and those who want to be in dialogue with us. Anonymity does not embrace dialogue or transparency,” comments Sebastien Matray, GAUBERT MATRAY INDUSTRIES CEO.
“We were surprised by the correspondence received and the information contained therein. The surprise was all the greater because we’ve been working with SECO/WARWICK for 10 years, on 10 projects. We know who our contractor is and our relationship has long since we crossed the threshold of partnership and are now at the stage of business friendship. As a friend, we tell the hater – NO”, noted Sylwester Pawęta, Chief Operating Officer and Commercial Proxy at HART-TECH.
“In response to the defaming emails sent about SECO/WARWICK, Rex Heat Treat has not experienced any out-of-the-norm difficulties in our dealings with the company. RHT has purchased standard vacuum furnaces, first of its kind vacuum oil quenching furnace, bell style tempering furnaces, and the tallest oil quenching vacuum furnace in the world from SECO/WARWICK. We have found the entire group to be professional and highly creative for our unique needs. Rex Heat Treat looks forward to our continued relationship and next purchase from SECO/WARWICK and SECO/VACUUM Technologies,” said Johnathan W. Rex, General Manager.
“Metals India and SECO/WARWICK relations are not impacted with such kind of communication as we have had a wonderful experience in the past and continuing through present day”, commented Ankit Gupta, Managing Director of Modern Metals India.
“I was extremely disheartened to read this slanderous correspondence about SECO/WARWICK. This absolutely does not fit the standard of business behavior. All the more so because working with SECO/WARWICK as a business partner is always a great pleasure, combined with mutual respect and trust; with such experiences, it is impossible to believe these accusations,” adds Magdalena Nizik, General Director of CPP Poland.
Although the presented circumstances are completely independent of the Company, we apologize to our partners for any inconvenience caused. We declare that we have taken legal steps related to the situation that misrepresents our situation to our partners. We are guided by the principle of transparency, one of the most powerful forms of defending the good name of the company and its employees. Thus, this public message from the Group.
In today’s article, Heat Treat Today’s editorial staff has gathered noteworthy reflections of heat treaters who are looking to the past to offer hope to present circumstances. Read more to see that while the present seems paused with Covid-19, the past offers promise of growth and change through challenges.
Like many markets, the heat treating industry is seeking to make the best out of this summer of 2020, and even though the market is looking more positive by the day, there are many who still look for a sense of normalcy. However, with leaders looking at historical moments in heat treat, they remind us that while the present seems paused with Covid-19, the past offers promise of growth and change through the challenges of life.
Sceenshot of Bodycote’s “An Interactive History of Metallurgy” (photo source: https://www.bodycote.com/history-of-metal/)
A major reach into the past is a throwback to the 90th century BC called “An Interactive History of Metallurgy.” In this historical timeline, Bodycote presents an engaging look at copper, bronze, iron, and tin through the centuries. The developments include detailed information, mostly funneled from Wikipedia, like the fact that bronze alloy in 12th century English candlesticks contained a degree of silver, antimony, and arsenic. And the modern, continuous development of steel is believed to have begun in the carbon furnaces of Sub-Saharan African communities.
(photo source: SECO/WARWICK)
On June 30, 2020, SECO/WARWICK released an “anniversary reflection” to commemorate the achievements of the Group in the first half of 2020. Among these is the 10th anniversary of their Chinese branch which has now become a recognized leader of CAB systems in heat treat, creating furnaces for aluminum brazing in controlled atmospheres. They conclude their message with a word from Sławomir Woźniak, President of the ManagementBoard, saying, “We wish that health, patience and faith – embracing the world at large – will return to normal.”
Sanderson’s Weir (photo source: Shane Higgins on LinkedIn)
Finally, a recent LinkedIn post from Shane Higgins, Field Sales from Special Quality AlloysLtd, shared a lunch-time crowd favorite: Sanderson’s Weir, built in the 1580s. With two iron forges on either side of the River Don in Sheffield, this low dam was built to provide power to the industrial work. Changes in the nature of industry has allowed a 20-year project along the River Don in Sheffield and Rotherham to permit a fish pass for salmon after 200 years without. It is impressive that the location that once produced iron still houses metalworking business.
At the front of some major developments in heat treat technologies is Slawomir Wozniak, CEO of SECO/WARWICK. Join him and 
We would also like to highlight our footprint on the U.S. market because we have three companies. We have RETECH, SECO/VACUUM Technologies, and SECO/WARWICK Corporation. We like to see the companies working together, and we see a big interest from U.S. customers to get equipment made in America. RETECH produces vacuumatological equipment (vacuum melting equipment) in the United States. We would also like to build vacuum furnaces in the U.S. SECO/WARWICK Corporation has been in business for many years, and we would like to continue with production of atmospheric furnaces and aluminum process furnaces. We are also thinking about aluminum brazing equipment we build in U.S.
