ALD Vacuum Technologies, Hanau, Germany, has delivered two low pressure carburizing plants to GKN Driveline Bruneck AG as part of the latter’s effort to modernize their hardening shop for the development and production of e-powertrains.
“This state-of-the-art heat treatment technology puts GKN in a position to meet the unique challenges of e-powertrain production” states Matthias John, sales engineer at ALD. In comparison with conventional combustion engine transmissions, the transmissions installed in modern electric cars are exposed to significantly higher speeds and torques. Therefore, the mechanical and metallurgical properties, as well as the dimensional accuracy of the highly stressed parts have to meet particularly high requirements.
In the future, GKN intends to meet this challenge with a multichamber plant-type ModulTherm, and for special applications, a SyncroTherm plant. Both plants were started up in the second half of 2020.
“ALD convinced us with both, the very good results regarding metallurgical properties and low distortion of the parts. Their excellent and competent consulting reinforced us in our decision in favor of the state-of-the-art technology” explains Gianni Del Favero, value stream manager machining and heat treatment at GKN.
The SnycroTherm plant will mainly be used for parts that are especially susceptible to distortion. The small batch size allows for a more targeted and finely tuned quench, resulting in very little change in dimensions on the parts. Additionally, heat treatment of small batches enables a more flexible and faster throughput of smaller load sizes throughout the overall production
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