Ten years after purchasing its first retort nitriding furnace, a Chinese aluminum profile manufacturer has once again chosen SECO/WARWICK. The new furnace, equipped with eco-friendly and economical ZeroFlow nitriding technology, will be delivered to the customer’s facility in Liaoning Province, China. The project will be carried out by SECO/WARWICK China with close support from the team at the European headquarters.
A Chinese manufacturer selected SECO/WARWICK to supply a large-scale nitriding furnace, citing the proven reliability of their existing equipment and the efficiency of ZeroFlow technology. Why did the customer choose this solution, and what benefits does the new furnace provide for aluminum die nitriding operations?
- New furnace supports aluminum die nitriding, improving wear resistance and extending component life.
- The customer selected SECO/WARWICK based on more than 10 years of proven equipment performance and operational reliability.
- ZeroFlow technology delivers precise, repeatable, and economical results.
- The unit features a 2,500 kg load capacity and high-temperature uniformity.
- The project also combines European engineering expertise with local Chinese manufacturing, providing both advanced technology and strong regional support.
The new furnace will be used primarily for nitriding dies used in aluminum profile production. The process increases the wear resistance of treated components and extends their service life, which directly supports production stability, finished profile quality, and the operating economics of the tool shop.
After Comparing Available Solutions, SECO/WARWICK Comes Out on Top
The need for the investment emerged as the customer developed a new production site in Shenyang. Before making its decision, the company analyzed the performance of furnaces from various manufacturers, including suppliers already present in China’s nitriding technology market. Ultimately, it chose SECO/WARWICK once again.
This choice was based on experience, not claims. The first SECO/WARWICK furnace has been operating at the Partner’s facility for ten years, making its everyday performance the most important point of reference when evaluating the new investment and selecting both the supplier and the technology.
“In heat treatment, trust is built cycle by cycle. The customer did not return to us because it remembered a previous purchase, but because it had observed the quality of our equipment in operation, the repeatability of the results, and its practical reliability over many years. In this project, the ability to deliver a large-size furnace while maintaining the process quality expected by a tool manufacturer serving the aluminum industry was especially important,” says Maciej Korecki, Vice President of the Vacuum Furnace Segment at the SECO/WARWICK Group.
The furnace to be delivered will have impressive dimensions: 1000 x 1000 x 1500 mm (approx. 40 x 40 x 60 in). Its maximum gross load will be 2500 kg (approx. 5500 lb). The equipment will provide a temperature uniformity of ±5°C (±9°F).
ZeroFlow: More Precise and More Economical Nitriding
At the heart of the solution is the proprietary ZeroFlow technology, a modern form of controlled gas nitriding. The process makes it possible to precisely shape the structure and properties of the nitrided layer while reducing process gas consumption and post-cycle emissions.
For manufacturers of aluminum extrusion dies, this means the ability to obtain a durable and repeatable nitrided layer that supports tool wear resistance during intensive operation. In aluminum profile production, this is especially important because die quality affects extrusion process stability, tool life, and the parameters of the finished profile.
“The market for components used in the automotive, electromobility, transportation, and aerospace industries increasingly requires repeatability from suppliers. In the case of aluminum profile dies, the goal is not only to increase surface hardness. What matters is full control over the process and the ability to achieve identical results for successive loads. ZeroFlow technology gives this Partner exactly this advantage: a high-quality nitrided layer, process efficiency, and rational use of utilities,” explains Pan Gaojun, a representative of SECO/WARWICK China.
A Record-Breaking Project, Local Production, and Shared Responsibility for the Result
The equipment will be the largest nitriding furnace of this type ever delivered by SECO/WARWICK China. The project requires close cooperation among SECO/WARWICK Group teams. Combining European engineering expertise with local production in China will ensure both high technological quality and efficient execution, as well as support close to the customer’s facility.
Local production does not mean compromising on standards. The headquarters team and the local company are jointly responsible for the quality of the solution, from design through manufacturing to commissioning and operational support.
For SECO/WARWICK, the project is an important step in developing the gas nitriding segment in China and across Asia. It shows that even in a highly competitive market, a customer’s decision can be driven by real operating experience, process quality, and a supplier’s ability to execute a demanding project in a model that combines global know-how with local presence.
This flexible model enables SECO/WARWICK China to expand its product portfolio across Asian markets while significantly shortening delivery cycles. Customers in Asia also gain direct access to internationally advanced products and technical expertise, empowering them to accelerate their own development and stay competitive.
