Press Release

June 29, 2007

Service Heat Treat Purchases 2nd 15 Bar Universal HPQ™ Furnace with Low Pressure Vacuum Carburizing

Service Heat Treat has purchased their second 15 Bar Universal HPQ Furnace with low pressure vacuum carburizing for their commercial heat treat facility in Milwaukee, WI.   The second unit, a duplicate of the first furnace with a 36” (900 mm) x 32” (800 mm) x 48” (1200 mm) hot zone, will be used to provide seamless service for Service Heat Treat’s vacuum heat treatment customers.   Both furnaces are equipped with SECO/WARWICK’s patented FineCarb® process software that allows operators to operate the equipment using a simple, straightforward operator interface.   Service Heat Treat’s metallurgists use SimVac™ process simulation technology to develop the process cycles that are utilized by the FineCarb program.   

According to Paul Armitage, President of Service Heat Treat, “This system was purchased to replace an older vacuum system because these furnaces can be used for a wider variety of heat treating processes.  The control system is unique in the industry, and simple to operate.  Although Service Heat Treat is primarily an atmosphere heat treating facility, we are expanding our vacuum capabilities in response to customer and market demand.”

SimVac Technology

SimVaC works with FineCarb process software as a professional tool to design vacuum carburizing process cycles.  Users save time and reduce process errors by simulating steel carburizing  process cycles prior running actual trials. The system allows the user to choose the carburizing and diffusion specifications, process, temperature, pre-cooling and soak times. The user can then select the steel grade from a complete menu of pre-programmed US, European and Russian specifications along with the part geometry, radius and surface area. The system automatically computes the batch weight and surface area.

The carburizing process is modelled from the desired carbon profile in the layer.  The user selects the type of steel, part geometry, and the temperature of the process. The system will provide the expected density of carbon on the surface, effective case depth and the criterion of the effective carburized layer.  Each carburizing model can be modified by manipulating the data including the number of segments, duration, temperature and cooling parameters.  A Profile Comparison module analyzes and compares up to 8 profiles and provides simulation reports. The user can compare any process from the lot and edit the charts to examine the details of that particular profile.  

About Service Heat Treat

Service Heat Treat provides commercial heat treating services for a variety of processes including brazing, bright annealing, vacuum brazing, quenching, tempering, normalizing, stress relieving, carburizing, carbon nitriding & carbon restoration services. Equipment includes:

• Continuous belt atmosphere furnace operating up to 2100 degrees F with capacities to 30,000 lbs per day;
• Vacuum heat treating furnace operating up to 2400 degrees F with capacities to 30,000 lbs. per day;
• Batch atmosphere heat treating furnaces operating up to 1900 degrees F with capacities to 100,000 lbs. per day;
• Mesh belt furnace for precision heat processing of small parts, capacities to 225,000 lbs. per day.

Visit http://www.serviceht.com/

About SECO/WARWICK

SECO/WARWICK’s Vacuum Team custom engineered, quality Vacuum Furnaces for most processes including hardening, tempering, annealing, solution heat treating, brazing, sintering, carburizing, carbon/carbon composites, CVD–graphitizing, high pressure quench and degassing.  SECO/WARWICK has entered into a Strategic Alliance Agreement with Retech Systems LLC offering advanced technology for VIM, VAR, electron beam & plasma arc furnaces, along with powder production and environmental remediation equipment. 

Visit the Vacuum Team at http://www.secowarwick.com/vacuum.html

SECO/WARWICK Worldwide manufactures industrial heat processing equipment including heat treat furnaces, vacuum furnace technology, atmosphere generators and aluminum reverb melting and holding systems.  SECO/WARWICK provides heat treating equipment and services worldwide for customers involved with primary aluminum, aluminum recycling, automotive, aerospace, commercial heat treating,  HVAC, electronics, lighting, medical equipment, nuclear applications and high temperature sintering.   The globally integrated organization includes SECO/WARWICK Corp. (USA), SECO/WARWICK S.A. (Poland), ELTERMA S.A. (Poland) and SECO/WARWICK Industrial Furnace Co. Ltd. (China).  The company has over 700 employees worldwide and is an industry leader in industrial heat processing equipment and processes.  More information can be found at www.secowarwick.com.

###