This Partner has decided on a groundbreaking modernization of its heat treatment processes by placing an order with SECO/WARWICK for a Vector (HPGQ) vacuum furnace equipped with high-pressure gas quenching at 15 bar abs. Importantly, the selected solution will replace four separate technological installations originally planned.
Thanks to consultations and process trials conducted jointly with the SECO/WARWICK team, the Partner became convinced that all required operations can be performed in a single, versatile vacuum furnace. This translates into significant investment cost savings, simplified production and higher process efficiency.
The technology selection process was consultative in nature and included a series of technical meetings and technological trials. Initially, the customer planned to purchase a vacuum furnace with oil quenching, being convinced that only such a solution would meet their technological requirements.
The furnace will be used to heat treat components used in the production of high-precision small arms, intended primarily for the civilian market (sport shooting, hunting), as well as in versions adapted for uniformed services.
4 in 1 – this is how SECO/WARWICK provides value-added consulting services
According to the original assumptions, the production process would have required four separate devices: an oil quenching furnace, a tempering furnace, a cryogenic unit and a washing system to clean parts after oil quenching.
However, a joint technological analysis conducted by SECO/WARWICK’s sales team and research and development department demonstrated that all these processes can be performed in a single device. Successful trials in a vacuum furnace with gas quenching confirmed that the proposed solution meets the customer’s technological requirements while significantly simplifying the entire production process.
“Projects like this clearly show how important technological consulting and a partnership-based approach to the customer are. Initially, several separate devices were considered, each handling subsequent stages of the process. After analysis and technological testing, it turned out that all these operations can be carried out in a single vacuum furnace with gas quenching. This means not only substantial investment savings but also simplified production, shorter process times and reduced labor requirements. For the Partner, it is also the first step toward modern vacuum processes and moving away from the atmospheric technologies previously used,” said Maciej Korecki, Vice President of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK.
One versatile vacuum furnace means fewer operators and shorter transfer times between devices. The entire process is designed to be carried out automatically within a single system.
From atmosphere to vacuum – technological transformation
The new furnace will be the first vacuum system installed at the customer’s facility and, at the same time, mark the beginning of a technological transformation, transitioning from traditional atmospheric processes such as gas carburizing to modern low-pressure carburizing (LPC) performed under vacuum conditions.
The use of this technology improves heat treatment quality, increases process repeatability and boosts production efficiency. It is also worth noting that gas-quenched parts do not require costly and time-consuming oil cleaning processes.
The furnace on order belongs to the proven family of horizontal Vector vacuum furnaces and is equipped with solutions that enable a wide range of heat treatment processes. The system features a round heating chamber that ensures very good temperature uniformity of approximately 5 degrees Celsius, a convection heating system that improves heating efficiency at lower temperatures, and an advanced vacuum pumping system that uses a mechanical pump and a Roots pump. This configuration enables stable processes under excellent vacuum conditions.
“This is one of the most versatile systems in our portfolio. With the right configuration, it can handle a wide range of steel heat treatment processes used in the production of precision components. The round heating chamber ensures optimal use of the working space, and the combination of gas quenching technology with vacuum carburizing options allows the Partner to perform multiple processes in a single device. This solution combines high efficiency, stable process parameters and a relatively low investment cost, making it an attractive choice for many in-house industrial heat treatment shops,” commented Łukasz Chwiałkowski, Sales Manager at SECO/WARWICK.
The furnace is also equipped with a partial pressure control system that limits the evaporation of alloying elements from the load surface, as well as a gas quenching system with a maximum pressure of up to 15 bar abs., inverter-controlled to reduce power demand peaks and ensure stable cooling parameters. The design also incorporates the vacuum carburizing processes FineCarb, pre-nitriding PreNitLPC, low-pressure carbonitriding (LPCN), and deep cryogenic treatment down to minus 80 degrees Celsius, carried out in an automatic cycle.
The investment is an example of the growing importance of vacuum technologies in sectors with the highest quality requirements, such as the defense industry. The implementation of modern vacuum carburizing and gas quenching processes enables steel component manufacturers to achieve higher process repeatability, better surface quality, and greater control over material properties. As a result, vacuum technologies are increasingly becoming the standard in advanced military and defense industry applications.
