Toptech Polska, a manufacturer of precision metal components, is investing in its own metal heat treatment capabilities. The company has ordered a Vector vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK with high pressure gas quenching at up to 15 bar absolute. The investment will allow Toptech to take control of a key production stage, shorten lead times, and build expertise in the hardening, tempering and annealing of tool steel components.
Toptech is installing a SECO/WARWICK Vector vacuum furnace to bring heat treatment in-house, improving production control, quality, and efficiency while enabling new service offerings.
- Toptech purchased a Vector vacuum furnace for in-house heat treatment.
- The furnace features 15-bar high-pressure gas quenching for precision.
- In-house processing reduces lead times and logistics costs.
- Toptech will offer commercial heat treatment services to others.
- The partnership leverages local support and technical expertise.
The Vector on order is a compact vacuum furnace with a 400 x 400 x 600 mm (approximately 16 x 16 x 24 in) work zone. It is equipped with a high-pressure gas cooling system operating with nitrogen at up to 15 bar absolute. The furnace will be used primarily for hardening, tempering and annealing marking tools, type characters, punches, dies and working components for stamping dies.
“Toptech previously used the services of a commercial heat treater operating our equipment, so the company was already familiar with SECO/WARWICK technology. When production volumes increased and the need arose to establish an in-house heat treatment operation, we were able to work together to select the right solution for this production profile. This is a good example of a relationship in which the technology is driven by a specific business need,” said Maciej Korecki, Vice President of the Vacuum Furnaces Segment at the SECO/WARWICK Group.
For this partner, bringing the process in-house means greater independence from the availability of external service providers, easier production planning, and less transportation of parts between facilities. The company will also be able to adjust heat treatment parameters directly according to the material type, part geometry and required final properties. At the same time, an in-house heat-treatment department opens a new line of business. Toptech will be able to use the furnace not only for its own production, but also to provide vacuum heat treatment services to other companies in the region.
15 Bar When Surface Quality and Geometry Matter
One of the key features of the unit on order is high pressure gas quenching (HPGQ). In vacuum technology, a component is heated without exposure to air and then cooled with a stream of high-pressure gas. Compared with conventional methods, the process limits surface oxidation and decarburization, enables precise cycle control, and may reduce the need for subsequent processing. This is especially important for tools, punches, dies, and tool steel components, where product quality depends not only on hardness, but also on surface cleanliness, dimensional stability, and distortion control.
“In the heat treatment of precision components, achieving the required hardness is not enough. Surface cleanliness, dimensional stability, and predictable cooling are equally important. At pressures of up to 15 bar, we can control cooling intensity very precisely, while vacuum processing protects the part surface against oxidation and decarburization. For a partner such as Toptech, this directly affects the durability and quality of tools that will later operate in demanding industrial processes,” said Paweł Okińczyc, Sales Manager at SECO/WARWICK.
Poland’s Precision Manufacturing Sector Invests in Technology
Toptech’s decision reflects a broader trend in the modernization of Polish industry. According to Statistics Poland (GUS) sold industrial output in Poland increased by 3.1% in 2025. Growth was stronger in sectors particularly relevant to Toptech’s operations: machinery and equipment output rose by 7.2%, while fabricated metal product output increased by 6.1%.[1] For companies manufacturing tools, precision components and short production runs, this means growing pressure to increase efficiency while maintaining high quality and on time delivery. Increasingly, the answer is to bring in-house processes that were previously outsourced.
For Toptech, choosing SECO/WARWICK was also a decision based on the availability of technological and service support. The company’s facilities are located approximately 62 km (39 mi) apart, facilitating communication during the project stage as well as subsequent equipment service.
“Our challenges were lead times and the production availability of the external company to which we outsourced heat treatment. We also wanted greater control over the quality and service life of the components we manufacture. It was very important for us to know that the technology supplier would remain a partner after the furnace was commissioned. SECO/WARWICK is close to us both geographically and operationally. This is an investment not only in equipment, but above all in process independence, expertise, and the ability to scale production further,” said Jacek Targosz, Management Board Member responsible for production processes at Toptech Polska Sp. z o.o.
SECO/WARWICK has been developing vacuum heat treatment technologies since the 1970s and, over the past 35 years, has delivered thousands of installations to more than 70 countries. The Group’s solutions operate in industries including aerospace, automotive, tooling, energy, medical, and defense.
[1] Source: Statistics Poland (GUS), “Socio-economic Situation of the Country in 2025”, 30 January 2026, “Industry” section
