VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Kuczma to Acquire Single-Chamber Vacuum Furnace

SECO/Warwick Vector Furnace (photo source: SECO/Warwick)

A family-run, commercial heat treating plant in Rzeszów, Poland, Kuczma Hardening Plant, will expand its heat treating capabilities with a new single-chamber vacuum furnace. A particular addition to this furnace is the directional cooling, which will allow the plant to perform quenching from both the sides and the top and bottom in order to precisely adjust the gas cooling system to the batch configuration.

The Vector® vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK is equipped with 1.5 bar gas quenching pressure. It will increase the capacity of the Kuczma Hardening Plant and will enable the plant to process parts with dimensions up to 600x600x900 mm. This furnace model specializes in heat treating many types of materials and metal alloys; additionally, its functionality includes gas hardening and tempering, annealing, brazing and degassing.

Kuczma Steel Heat Treat facility (photo source: http://hartownia-kuczma.ugu.pl/?page_id=35)

"Kuczma Hardening Plant," said Jerzy Kuczma, Kuczma Hardening Plant owner, "specializes mostly in vacuum quenching in gas, oil and gas nitriding of injection mould components and dies... On one hand, the SECO/WARWICK furnace will enable us to process larger components and increase our output for smaller ones on the other it will enable directional cooling sideways or top/bottom."

The hardening plant also performs carburizing, quenching, and tempering under protective endothermic atmosphere as well as clean stress relieving under nitrogen atmosphere.

 

 

(photo source: http://hartownia-kuczma.ugu.pl/?page_id=35)

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Magnetic Shields Ltd Orders Heat Treating Vacuum Furnace

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)

 

 

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Youngstown Tool & Die Purchases Vacuum Heat Treat Furnace

Youngstown Tool & Die (YTD), an Ohio manufacturer of aluminum extrusion dies, upgrades its in-house atmosphere heat treatment capabilities with the purchase of two high-pressure gas quench (HPGQ) furnaces. The decision to buy stems from the manufacturer’s plans to expand within their community.

Dave Mrdjenovic, General Manager, Youngstown Tool & Die (photo source: Youngstown Tool & Die)

“Our expansion,” said Dave Mrdjenovic, General Manager at YTD, “has been facilitated by a localized government development program to expand employment and business development in our area, so we are moving quickly to take advantage of the program. Upgrading our existing atmosphere furnaces to high pressure gas quench vacuum furnaces will significantly improve our performance as we grow.”

The two Vector® HPGQ furnaces were provided by SECO/VACUUM (a SECO/WARWICK Group company).These furnaces are designed for the heat treatment of dies in all types of applications, such as stamping, molding, and extrusion as well as for other uses. Because Vector’s HPGQ system cools dense masses both evenly and quickly without distortion, die quality and consistency are improved compared to the more historically used atmosphere heat treatment methods. These furnaces create a bright and clean final product.

 

Vector Furnace (photo source: SECO/WARWICK Group)

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Solar Atmospheres of Western PA Expanding to Include Vacuum Oil Quench

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA (SAWPA) will expand their material hardening repertoire by adding vacuum oil quench (VOQ) capabilities. The decision to go with a vacuum oil quench was influenced by serious concerns for the environmental and furnace operator safety. The Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) provides standards for health and safety, some of which caused Solar Atmospheres to question heat treating processes that utilize explosive endothermic gases and flammable open oil quench tanks. As a result of these concerns, Solar Manufacturing and Solar Atmospheres commenced engineering meetings in 2019 to design and build a US-manufactured, safe and quality VOQ.

Solar Atmospheres Vacuum Oil Quench Furnace (Photo source: Solar Atmospheres)

Early this week, Bob Hill, president, SAWPA, Hermitage, PA,  announced that the company had purchased and will install a new 36” x 36” x 48” VOQ furnace capable of safely quenching 2,000-pound loads without carbon potential concerns. The furnace, the first of its kind manufactured by Solar Manufacturing, Sellersville, PA, will be operational in early 2021.

Additionally, SAWPA is constructing a 15,000 square foot building to make room for the VOQ furnace line. Besides the VOQ furnace, the line also includes a parts washer, two tempering furnaces, and a charge car. The building expansion will be completed mid-summer 2020 making the entire SAWPA complex 120,000 square feet under one roof.

(Photo source: Rawfilm at unsplash.com)

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Kamyanka Machine Building Purchases 3-in-1 Furnace

The parent company of a North American furnace manufacturer provided a furnace to Kamyanka Machine Building, an international leader in the production of pumps for manufacturing thread and chemical fibers, metallurgy and oil. The furnace will be equipped with a closed water system and gas installation so that the device can work independently.

Maciej Korecki, VP, Vacuum Furnace Segment at SECO/WARWICK (source: SECO/WARWICK)

Additional equipment from SECO/WARWICK in Meadville, Pennsylvania, will also include a vacuum carburizing option as well as quenching, heating in gas, and isothermal cooling. This will enable Kamyanka Machine Building Plant LLC, based in the Ukraine, to carry out full heat treatment processes in one device in accordance with their requirements. They will be able to perform three heat treatment processes in a single furnace instead of in separate operations.

(source: SECO/WARWICK)

"The solution we implement in Kamyonka Machine Building Plant is the result of many years of experience in the construction and service of the world's best heat treatment solutions," added Maciej Korecki, Vice President of the Vacuum Furnace Segment at SECO/WARWICK.

This is the first order from the Kamyanka Machine Building for SECO/WARWICK.

(source: Robin Sommer/SECO/WARWICK)

 

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Aerospace Market Manufacturer Receives Custom Atmosphere Tempering Furnace

A manufacturer in the aerospace market with captive heat treating capabilities received a custom built atmosphere tempering furnace. With a working load size of 84” wide, 42” deep, and 60” tall, coupled with a max load weight of 6,000 pounds, the furnace is specifically designed for the customers' key manufactured components.

The electrically heated furnace, shipped by Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems,  has an operating temperature range of 350℉ to 1600℉, and passes uniformity at +/- 10℉ per AMS2750E. The system is equipped with custom controls, including Eurotherm brand temperature controlling instrumentation and an Allen-Bradley PLC and HMI.

Automatic atmosphere control is included for running under nitrogen, argon, and/or a hydrogen blend. Custom designed atmosphere cooling systems are installed to reduce overall cycle time. The equipment configuration also enabled the customer to switch from pit furnace style processing, which eliminated infrastructure costs and maintenance concerns.

 

(Source: Art Tower from Pixabay)

 

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New Nitriding Furnace Installed at Solar Atmospheres

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)

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Global Tool Manufacturer Acquires Third Vacuum Furnace

An international company producing, among other things, cutting tools, with a rich history and branches in 40 countries, ordered a vacuum furnace, their third order from them to date.

Vector Vacuum Furnace
(source: SECO/WARWICK)

The horizontal, front-loading furnace, from SECO/WARWICK, will accommodate the customer’s needs with an all-metal hot zone for clean vacuum processing. As with the earlier furnaces, one of which was installed at a different facility, the new furnace includes a convection fan and a pressurized gas quench for quick cooling.

Maciej Korecki, VP, Vacuum Furnace Segment at SECO/WARWICK (source: SECO/WARWICK)

Maciej Korecki, VP, Vacuum Furnace Segment at SECO/WARWICK says, “Precision, high uniformity in heat treated parts, high consistency in workloads and high speeds in batch processing along with low energy and gas consumption makes our product most desirable solution on the market. Often our clients demand just one thing – for instance: high uniformity in heat treated parts which solves problems of distortions they experience using different technology. All the other features come as a surprise and an added value.”

Piotr Zawistowski, president, SECO/VACUUM (source: SECO/WARWICK)

According to Piotr Zawistowski, President, SECO/VACUUM, “This third repeat order is a testament to SVT’s on-time delivery and the performance of our . . . vacuum furnace to meet all promised parameters, including producing clean finished parts, all as promised.”

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Mikros Technologies Increases Production Capacity with Vacuum Furnaces

Mikros Technologies, located in New Hampshire, designs and produces liquid cooling systems and micro-machined nozzle plates for applications requiring micron-level dimensions and sub-micron accuracy. So when Mikros needed new multipurpose furnaces for vacuum brazing and diffusion bonding that could withstand continuous production and allow operators to seamlessly change recipes and easily pick up where the last person stopped, they turned to Ipsen USA. Mikros increased production capacity by purchasing two more TITAN® H2 2 bar vacuum furnaces. The first was installed in January 2019, the second in October 2019.

The furnaces met their needs by supporting a variety of heat-treating processes, providing tight temperature uniformity and delivering clean parts. With the high-efficiency design and fast door-to-door cycle times, the furnaces helped Mikros gain manufacturing volume to accommodate the company’s rapid growth.

(source: IPSEN USA)

As a leading provider of complex thermal management solutions for critical applications in power computing, laser optics, semiconductor testing, renewable energy generation, artificial intelligence, and electric vehicle systems, Mikros plays a critical role in allowing data centers and equipment used for transportation, aerospace, and defense to perform optimally and keeping high heat-generating components from overheating and failing prematurely. Some of the microchannel cold plates they manufacture are small and delicate, no larger than a penny. Others are large assemblies that occupy a full computing server rack. Specialized parts like these require careful planning when it comes to heat treatment.

In the last five years, Mikros doubled their workforce and expanded their manufacturing facilities. Mikros makes over 10,000 cold plates per year, and the addition of the furnaces has helped them quadruple their production capacity.

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Tool and Die Industry Receives Vacuum Furnace

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)

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