AFC-Holcroft, Wixom, Mich., reports that a leading global automotive supplier has placed an order for a rebuild/retrofit of an existing pusher furnace line, along with contract additions for companion ancillary equipment, as part of a multi-phase project. The first phase rebuild/retrofit portion involves restoration of an existing 3-row pusher furnace line including pusher furnace with quench, postwasher, temper furnace, transfers/conveyors, electrical control panels, and flowmeter panels.
As part of the order, the existing equipment will receive a number of modifications and upgrades to meet current industrial, safety, and supplier standards.
The new companion ancillary equipment will consist of the following: 3-row magazine loader, prewasher, preheat furnace, oil storage tank, closed-loop cooling system, 13,500 cfh E-Z series endothermic gas generator, transfers/conveyors, and powered exhaust system.
A new holding chamber with press quench will integrate into the rebuilt/retrofitted equipment that will allow for either direct part quenching (into pusher furnace quench tank) or press quenching (into the press quench). The holding chamber will be unloaded by a robot that will load/unload the press quench.
The equipment for rebuild/retrofit is already in storage at AFC-Holcroft’s build partner, MATTSA, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. MATTSA will rebuild/retrofit the existing pusher furnace line and provide the new companion ancillary equipment. Once completed, each piece will be cold-tested and shipped to the supplier’s plant for installation, start-up, commissioning and formal operator training by MATTSA and AFC-Holcroft. Completion of the first phase is expected in 2015.
