Solar Manufacturing

Captive Heat Treater to Receive Vacuum Furnace

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

HTD Size-PR LogoA captive heat treater in New England will receive a 10-bar gas quenching vacuum furnace. The model features high pressure gas quenching and vacuum carburizing. With temperature uniformity of ±10°F, it is consistent with AMS2750F requirements.

Jason Davidson
Northeast Regional Sales Manager
Solar
Source: solarmfg.com

"The research and development done with our sister company, Solar Atmospheres, on the alloy selection, carburizing, and recipe process development, was instrumental to the sale of the furnace," states Jason Davidson, Northeast regional sales manager at Solar. He adds that the customer valued the additional resource that the sister company had to offer.

The furnace has a graphite insulated hot zone with a work area measuring 24” wide x 24” high x 36” deep and a load weight capacity up to 2,000 pounds. Its maximum operating temperature of 2400°F.

You can see these dimensions in the video below that the supplier, Solar Manufacturing, shared on Twitter.

(photo source: Solar Manufacturing)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captive Heat Treater to Receive Vacuum Furnace Read More »

Vacuum Furnace to be Shipped to Heat Treater in South Carolina

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

HTD Size-PR LogoA heat treater in Greenville, South Carolina, Solar Atmospheres, will receive a vacuum furnace from its sister company in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. The 12 foot horizontal, car bottom-loading vacuum furnace is capable of processing up to 50,000 lbs of material.

The sister company providing the furnace, Solar Manufacturing, has it painted and ready to go. Check out the video that they posted on Twitter to see preparations for the vacuum furnace’s shipment.

 

 

Images and video sourced from Solar Manufacturing Twitter Account.

Vacuum Furnace to be Shipped to Heat Treater in South Carolina Read More »

Heat Treatment of a Large H13 Liner is a Success

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

HTD Size-PR Logo

Bob Hill
President
Solar Atmospheres of Western PA

Lake Park Tool and Machine, located in Youngstown Ohio, produced a massive H13 liner which Solar Atmospheres of Western PA (SAWPA)recently heat treated. The liner measured over 100” OAL and weighed a total of 16,000 pounds. The liner was turned on Lake Park’s new large capacity lathe with 34” max diameter and 200” max length.

This H13 liner was heat treated in, what SAWPA says is, "the fastest cooling large vacuum furnace in the industry." Solar Manufacturing, sister company to SAWPA, recently completed this 10 bar vacuum furnace several months ago. It is equipped with a hot zone measuring 48” wide x 108” OAL. Additionally, the furnace has a 600 HP blower motor for increased cooling power. The critical cooling rate, to obtain optimum properties for H13 hot worked tool steel, was achieved in the as-quenched hardness of HRC 54-55. The part was then double tempered to the customer’s specification of HRC 46 to 48.

"This large rapid cooling vacuum furnace provides us continued diversification to our vacuum heat treating repertoire and capabilities. We’re proud of this partnership with Lake Park Tool and Machine and to assist our customers in vacuum heat treating one of the largest air hardening dies that I have personally heat treated over my 40 year career,” stated Bob Hill, president of Solar Atmospheres.

 

(photo source: Solar Atmospheres)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heat Treatment of a Large H13 Liner is a Success Read More »

18 Quick Heat Treat News Chatter Items to Keep You Current

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

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

 

Equipment Chatter

  1. TAV VACUUM FURNACES SPA sold two horizontal all metal high vacuum heat treatment furnaces to a well-known Chinese heat treater working in the manufacturing industry.
  2. Honeywell announced that Global Control Pte Ltd, a global heating system original equipment manufacturer (OEM), is incorporating Honeywell technologies, including the ControlEdge™ HC900 controller, into its heat treatment solutions to help its customers improve their asset performance, reduce their inventory and lifecycle costs, and save energy.
  3. Grieve Corp. announces 1250°F (667°C) inert atmosphere oven currently used for heat treating firearms components at a customer’s facility.
  4. Tenova, a company specializing in innovative solutions for the metals and mining industries, started up the most productive Electric Arc Furnace in history, a Tenova Consteel® EAF, at Acciaieria Arvedi, Cremona (Italy) on September 17 this year.
  5. ECM Technologies announces the release of a new furnace system which will replace current sealed quench (SQ) or integral quench (IQ) style furnaces.
  6. Hubbard-Hall has completed the first phase of a three-year Digital Initiative Strategy.  This phase focuses on creating a more engaging user experience, with use of Web Chat and On-Demand Portal technologies.
  7. Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems is pleased to announce the recent commissioning of a Vacuum Oil Quench Furnace, which included 2 BAR gas quench capabilities to an international manufacturer.
  8. Kanthal is adding a 60 kW heater to its range of flow heaters to meet demands for higher power in industries like aluminum and glass.

Personnel Chatter

  1. Hubbard-Hall Inc. welcomes Joshua McClellan as application engineer-cleaning and Becky Cavazuti as customer engagement key accounts manager. These roles are critical in expanding Hubbard-Hall’s services in metal finishing operations and achieving customer’s goals with less cost, complexity, and chemical consumption.

    Group picture with Joshua and Becky from Hubbard-Hall.
  2. Hubbard-Hall Inc. welcomes Fernando Carminholi as Business Development Manager.
  3. Wire Experts Group, the parent company to Pelican Wire of Naples, Florida and Rubadue Wire of Loveland, Colorado has named Trent Dunn as the new WEG Marketing Manager, with overall responsibility for the marketing departments of all business units, including the parent organization.
  4. The Heat Treating Society of ASM International welcomes to the board Steven Ferdon, director engineering technology, Cummins Incorporated. Chuck Faulkner, commercial development manager-heat treatment, Quaker Houghton, and Marc Glasser, director of metallurgical services, Rolled Alloys, were reappointed for a second three-year term.

Company Chatter

  1. Brian Fitzpatrick, District 1 US Congressman, Bucks County, Pa., at the Solar Manufacturing plant.

    Custom Electric Manufacturing was acquired by Sweden-based Kanthal in 2018 and will now go to market under the Kanthal brand. The transition will be effective as of January 1, 2021. View a video with Jon Hartmayer and Victor Strauss about the brand transition.

  2. Brian Fitzpatrick, District 1 US Congressman, Bucks County, PA., toured the Solar Manufacturing plant in Sellersville, PA.
  3. Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT), a recognized leader in heat treat services and metallurgical solutions, announced a new logo for their UltraOx® heat treatment today. The new logo features an ox as the term ‘ox’ is often used as an abbreviation of the term ‘oxide’ – one of the three steps of this protective heat treatment.

Kudos Chatter

  1. Lindsey Newcomb, Marketing Manager at Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT), was recently selected for a “2020 20 under 40 list,” furthering the understanding/awareness of heat treat among the general public.
  2. In August, 2020, Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania (SAWPA) participated in a Boeing Supplier Assessment. The on-site, preventative engagement resulted in zero findings and Solar, once again, achieving preferred status for Heat Treating, Hardness, and Non-Destructive Liquid Penetrant Testing.
  3. Advanced Heat Treat Corp. recognized in the 2020 Courier Employers of Choice. These honorees demonstrate the diversity of career options in and continued commitment to healthy communities in Cedar Valley, IA.

 

Heat Treat Today is pleased to join in the announcements of growth and achievement throughout the industry by highlighting them here on our News Chatter page. Please send any information you feel may be of interest to manufacturers with in-house heat treat departments especially in the aerospace, automotive, medical, and energy sectors to editor@heattreattoday.com.

 

18 Quick Heat Treat News Chatter Items to Keep You Current Read More »

U.S. Aerospace and Medical Manufacturer Purchases 5 Vacuum Furnaces

/ AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

An aerospace and medical part manufacturer in Southeast USA recently purchased 5 vacuum furnaces. They will be used primarily to sinter and stress relieve stainless steel components.

Dan Insogna
Southeast Regional Sales Manager
Solar Manufacturing (photo source: solarmfg.com)

The furnaces were provided by Solar Manufacturing and are part of their Mentor® vacuum furnace series. The model HFL-2018-2IQ furnaces feature a graphite-insulated hot zone, a load weight capacity of up to 250 lbs, and maximum operating temperature of 2400° F.

“Our customer worked directly with our R&D team at our sister company, Solar Atmospheres,” states Dan Insogna, Southeast Regional Sales Manager for Solar Manufacturing. “The customer received a line of brand new Mentor® furnaces with their custom recipe preloaded and ready to go.”

 

 

 

(photo source: Online Marketing at unsplash.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Aerospace and Medical Manufacturer Purchases 5 Vacuum Furnaces Read More »

Solar Atmospheres Installs All-Metal Hot Zone Vacuum Furnace

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

North American commercial heat treater installs their sixth all-metal hot zone furnace at their Souderton plant in Eastern PA. This is Solar Atmospheres' sixth all-metal hot zone furnace installation, and the fourth for their climate-controlled room.

The furnace is a new Mentor model, built by sister company Solar Manufacturing, has a working zone of 12” x 12” x 18”, and is the first of its kind. The additional furnace increases the heat treater's capacity for processing sensitive materials such as PH stainless, nickel-based superalloys, titanium, and ferritic/austenitic stainless steels, yet focuses on smaller lots and one-off items. The furnace makes it possible to reap the benefits of an all-metal furnace while minimizing the overall cost.

(photo source: Solar Atmospheres)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solar Atmospheres Installs All-Metal Hot Zone Vacuum Furnace Read More »

Helium to Nitrogen: A Cost-Efficient Change in Heat Treat Hardening

/ FEATURED NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA is currently installing a new rapid quenching vacuum furnace that will ultimately eliminate the need for costly helium while increasing production throughput. In helium's place, the new furnace will use nitrogen only in the hardening process.

Solar Manufacturing Rapid Quench Furnace for Solar Atmospheres of Western PA  (photo source: Solar Atmospheres)

The new 48” x 48” x 96” deep 10 bar vacuum furnace is produced by Solar Manufacturing. The important difference in this furnace from its older model is the cooling design, which is equipped with a 600 HP blower designed motor. This will allow the new furnace to outperform its older model by processing larger and heavier workloads with the use of nitrogen only.

Bob Hill, President, Solar Atmospheres of Western PA

“The difference in operating costs is a no brainer,” states president of Solar Atmospheres, Bob Hill. “To marginally harden one 2000-pound high-speed tool steel roll die in our older 2 bar vacuum furnace, the use of light helium gas was a necessity. The prohibitive cost of a two atmosphere helium backfill was $1,065. Our new furnace will enable us to fully harden three 2000-pound roll dies at once using the more cost-effective process gas of nitrogen. In contrast the cost of a 10 atmosphere backfill of nitrogen will be only $89.” Hill predicts that with these increased efficiencies and savings, his normal ROI on a new piece of equipment will be significantly advanced.

Once operational, Hill will author a technical paper with the actual cooling data derived from these similarly sized vacuum furnaces.

 

 

(photo source: NASA at unsplash.com)

Helium to Nitrogen: A Cost-Efficient Change in Heat Treat Hardening Read More »

Magnetic Shields Ltd Orders Heat Treating Vacuum Furnace

/ FEATURED NEWS, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT, VACUUM FURNACES, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Magnetic Shields Ltd. of Kent, England, a producer of medical industry equipment, has ordered a new vacuum furnace for their facility, set to be one of the largest horizontal vacuum furnaces in the UK.

Solar HFL-7496-EQ Vacuum Furnace (photo source: Solar Manufacturing)

The new HFL-7496-EQ vacuum furnace, being built with a SolarVac® Polaris control system, will be designed to accommodate loads up to 48” wide x 48” high x 96” deep, (1220 x 1220 x 2440mm) with a maximum weight of 5,000 lbs (2270 kgs). Operating at a vacuum level of 10-5 Torr, the furnace will be able to reach temperatures up to 2400°F (1315°C). It will feature a partial pressure hydrogen gas process and an external quench system designed for negative pressure quenching.

Magnetic Shields Ltd. Director Colin Woolger (see image below) says, “Magnetic Shields is delighted to order our second vacuum furnace from Solar Manufacturing. The new furnace will enable us to more than double the maximum size of shields we can now produce in one piece and also increase the general heat treatment capacity for our growing company... We look forward to the new furnace arriving later this year.”

Magnetic Shields Ltd. of Kent, England began its relationship with their seller, Solar Manufacturing of Sellersville, PA, in 2016 when Magnetic Shields Ltd. bought a vacuum furnace from the heat treating furnaces provider.

Rick Jones, VP of International Sales at Solar Manufacturing also adds, “Solar Manufacturing is very pleased to be selected as the supplier to further support Magnetic Shields in leading the production of equipment for the medical industry and other high technology applications, specifically, high performance large magnetic shields and low field shielded rooms.”

Read more about Magnetic Shields Ltd.'s first vacuum furnace from Solar Manufacturing in this press release.

To read more about the 2017 Magnetic Shields Ltd.'s reception of their first Solar Vacuum Furnace, click here. Pictured on the left is Colin Woolger, Chairman of the company, Suzie McKay, Rob Latter. (Photo source: magnetshields.co.uk)

 

 

Magnetic Shields Ltd Orders Heat Treating Vacuum Furnace Read More »

New Nitriding Furnace Installed at Solar Atmospheres

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, NITRIDING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Solar Atmospheres of Souderton, PA, has received a new, state-of-the-art vacuum gas nitriding furnace to support an increasing demand for high-value gas nitriding. The furnace was built by sister company, Solar Manufacturing.

The front-loading furnace incorporates the latest nitriding and recipe system from Solar Manufacturing. The automated control system is useful for single stage as well as two-stage (Floe) processing. All hot zone components are made completely of graphitic materials inert to the anhydrous ammonia used during the nitriding process.

(source: Solar Atmospheres)

New Nitriding Furnace Installed at Solar Atmospheres Read More »

Tool and Die Industry Receives Vacuum Furnace

/ FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Dan Insogna,
Southeast Regional Sales Manager for Solar Manufacturing

A vacuum furnace was recently shipped to a customer servicing the tool and die industry in Virginia. The Model HFL-2018-2IQ furnace features a graphite-insulated hot zone, a load weight capacity up to 250 lbs., and a maximum operating temperature of 2400°F. The furnace, called the Mentor®, is from Solar Manufacturing will be used for solution annealing, ageing, and brazing. It measures 12” wide x 12” high x 18” deep.

Model HFL-2018-2IQ furnace

“This company is a long-time customer of our sister company, Solar Atmospheres,” states Dan Insogna, Southeast Regional Sales Manager for Solar Manufacturing. “They wanted to own a Solar furnace themselves, for smaller, in-house jobs. We’re all excited they chose Solar Manufacturing for their first furnace.”

 

 

 

(Image source: pxhere.com)

Tool and Die Industry Receives Vacuum Furnace Read More »

Skip to content