A manufacturer of aerospace and gas turbine components is establishing an in-house heat treatment department with its first vacuum furnace, bringing vacuum processing and high-pressure gas quenching into its own operations. The investment is intended to increase production independence and quality control while reducing reliance on external heat treatment services and associated delivery risks.
Croatia-based Tvornica plinskih turbina d.o.o. has ordered a Vector single-chamber vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK, a global supplier of industrial heat treatment equipment and technologies with operations in North America. The system will be used to heat treat aerospace and gas turbine components requiring process cleanliness, parameter repeatability, and precise cooling control. Until now, the manufacturer has relied on commercial heat treatment service providers.
The furnace has a working space of 600 x 600 x 900 mm (24 x 24 x 35 inches), with a round heating chamber that also enables the processing of oversized components. Designed to operate with argon and nitrogen, the furnace includes a high-performance cooling system with a blower for gas quenching up to 6 bar abs.
Additional features include convection heating, an efficient pumping system, dew point control, and a partial pressure system. The configuration is designed to give the manufacturer greater control over its vacuum heat treatment processes and production planning.
Tvornica plinskih turbina has manufactured jet engine and gas turbine components since 1975. Its capabilities include precision forging of turbine blades and production of components for helicopter engines, gas turbines, and civil aviation engines.
“The SECO/WARWICK equipment will allow us to increase production independence, better control process costs and quality, and reduce the risk of delays resulting from the use of external services,” said Tihomir Šoškić, representative of Tvornica plinskih turbina.
Press release is available in its original form here.
