Heat treatment simulation can be a tool for optimization of heat-treatment processes, but at the present this method is still limited. Therefore most HTS is based on rough simplifications of the process. Simplifications can involve the process, number of phases, transformation kinetics, continuums models instead of micro-mechanical models, etc. These simplifications also result in inaccuracies in the calculations.
For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 16. R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014 https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005980
ECM establishes new vacuum furnace entity in mexico under MEXVAC ECM name
ECM USA, Pleasant Prairie, WI, announced the official launch of its new Mexican subsidiary, ECM Mexico, operating as MEXVAC ECM, S.A. DE C.V. This development marks a significant step in expanding ECM’s presence and service capabilities within the Mexican heat treatment industry.
The ECM Mexico team is led by operations manager Juan Cruz and field service and PLC engineer José López, under the direction of Pierre-Loic Rousset and Dennis Beauchesne. The team will work closely with ECM USA to provide localized support, reflecting ECM’s long-term commitment to strengthening service infrastructure for customers across Mexico.
The new entity will serve as a dedicated supplier of vacuum furnace technologies and support services, aiming to meet growing demand in the region for high-performance thermal processing equipment.
Bodycote, Macclesfield, UK, announced its membership with the Energy Industries Council (EIC), a leading global trade association for the energy sector. This move strengthens Bodycote’s strategic alignment with the evolving needs of the industry and reinforces its role as a provider of heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services across power generation and energy infrastructure markets.
Through its membership, Bodycote gains broader access to key industry stakeholders, enabling stronger supply chain collaboration and the pursuit of new business opportunities within the energy sector. The company serves a wide range of EIC members, fostering synergies that support innovation and operational excellence.
Bodycote’s engagement with the EIC supports its commitment to sustainability, particularly in nuclear and renewable energy markets. The partnership enhances customer access to Bodycote’s services via EIC platforms and events, further promoting solutions that improve performance, efficiency, and reliability in critical energy applications.
Pyromaitre, Lévis, Québec, announced the completion of assembly for its P-208E oven system for GKN Driveline Mexico, marking a total of four systems delivered to the client. The company developed a fully integrated solution that includes a high-speed tempering furnace, a post-treatment cooling chamber, automated loading and unloading systems, and a smoke collection unit. Each component was configured to meet the customer’s specific production requirements.
Pyromaitre specializes in resolving convective heat transfer challenges with precision and efficiency. The company focuses on driving innovation and operational performance, aiming to be a recognized leader in stress relief and tempering solutions. Its core values—integrity, innovation, customer satisfaction, and teamwork—guide its approach to delivering high-performance thermal processing systems.
Heat treatment of tool steels means several phase transformations. Every phase transformation must be described by start amount, end amount, and kinetics (change of phases depending on temperature and time). Start and end amount can be calculated with different thermodynamic software. For example, Thermocalc is well validated for tool steels. All of the aforementioned data are used as input data for a finite-element-method (FEM) model. In any case the first step of simulation models is validation, which means the comparison of experiments and mathematical simulation. The better the input data and the better the model formulation, the better are the results and the fewer loops have to be made for an appropriate model (reference model). This reference model is then used for process optimization. All these steps of model development are illustrated in the figure.
For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 15. R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014 https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005980
Ipsen Titan H6 enables company to expand production capacity, meet increased demand
October 11, 2017
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Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that Rockford Heat Treaters, the original beta tester for the Ipsen Titan vacuum furnace, recently purchased a Titan H6 to expand production capacity and to meet increased demand. As commercial heat treaters, Rockford engineers know that process versatility is essential in a shop where requirements change day-to-day, or even hour-to-hour.
Part of what appeals to the company about the TItan product line is its high adaptability and part cleanliness. In fact, the first Titan furnace enabled enough flexibility to expand customer base and take jobs not previously possible. The newest furnace continues in this tradition, and it will join many other Ipsen furnaces, including a complete atmosphere line of seven integral quench furnaces with ancillary washers and tempers, more than a dozen draw furnaces, a VFS vacuum furnace, and four other vacuum furnaces.
The Titan H6 has a 36 x 36 x 48 inches all-graphite hot zone with a 3000-pound load capacity. Equipped with a diffusion pump, this furnace meets aerospace requirements and process sensitive materials that require deep vacuum levels. RHT also took advantage of several Ipsen support offerings, including on-site inspection of the installation, equipment startup, and personnel training. This support, coupled with Ipsen's inventory of speculation-based Titan furnaces, allowed RHT to begin processing customer parts within five weeks of issuing the purchase order.
With the current option to trade in an old furnace and receive a $50,000 credit toward a new Titan vacuum furnace, other companies can invest in their customers while adding the latest innovations to their facility as well. Available in several sizes and horizontal or vertical configurations, the Titan provides powerful performance for both experienced and first-time heat treaters.
Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., announces that Rockford Heat Treaters, the original beta tester for the Ipsen Titan vacuum furnace, recently purchased a Titan H6 to expand production capacity and to meet increased demand.
GF Linamar wins $300 million contract for magnesium cross-car beams for pickup trucks
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GF Linamar, Mills River, N.C., a joint venture between GF Automotive and Linamar, has been awarded a $300 million contract over a period of five years to produce lightweight magnesium automotive components for a U.S. manufacturer. (The company did not release the name of the manufacturer).
The order consists of cross-car beams for a new pickup truck model, and underlines GF Automotive's expertise in lightweight magnesium components. Typically made of steel, cross-car beams are large structural parts, and diecast magnesium would significantly lower weight.
The components will be produced from 2020 onwards at the new plant in Mills River. This plant, which GF will operate together with Canadian joint venture partner Linamar, will officially be opened in October 2017. The order is another important milestone in the expansion of GF's presence in the North American market and consequently for implementing its 2020 strategy.
On October 6, GF Linamar celebrated the official opening of its new plant in Mills River. The 57-acre high-pressure die-casting facility focuses on lightweight solutions in aluminum and magnesium for the automotive industry, drawing from the expertise of both partners. The overall investment over the next five years amounts to approximately $100 million.
GF Automotive is one of the world's leading automotive suppliers and a technologically pioneering development partner and manufacturer of components for passenger cars, trucks and industrial applications. The division provides casting solutions based on iron, aluminum and magnesium at eleven production plants in Germany, Austria, China and the United States.
GF Linamar, Mills River, N.C., a joint venture between GF Automotive and Linamar, has been awarded a $300 million contract over a period of five years to produce lightweight magnesium automotive components for a U.S. manufacturer.
Nitrex Nitreg nitriding system improves fatigue resistance for automotive springs
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Nitrex Metal, Montreal, has successfully installed and commissioned an NX-1230 potential-controlled Nitreg nitriding system for processing automotive springs for a customer in Korea. The customer, Daewon Corp., is a high-volume automotive parts manufacturer supplying global automakers such as Hyundai, Kia Motors, GM, Chrysler, Volkswagen, and many others.
Daewon previously used an outside supplier to nitride springs, but the company recognized that its interests would be better served by implementing this capability in house. This new project is the result of Daewon's past experience with a Nitrex-approved heat treater and its satisfaction with the reliability of the Nitreg nitriding process, which was key to the application's success.
Nitreg nitriding enables fatigue resistance of automotive springs to be improved for longer service life. The technology also maintains tight dimensional tolerances (no distortion), excellent uniformity from part to part, and excellent repeatability between production runs. The system is capable of processing a load capacity up to 11,570 pounds, and complies with the nitriding requirements laid out by AMS2759/10A.
Nitrex Metal offers modern nitriding / nitrocarburizing technologies, solutions, equipment, and services. Nitreg potential-controlled gas nitriding and Nitreg-C potential-controlled gas nitrocarburizing (ferritic nitrocarburizing-FNC) technologies are applied in the precision parts, automotive, aluminium extrusion, defense, gears, tool & die, plastics, machinery, and many other industries.
Nitrex Metal, Montreal, has successfully installed and commissioned an NX-1230 potential-controlled Nitreg nitriding system for processing automotive springs for a customer in Korea.
Air Products to introduce intelligent atmosphere analyzers at Heat Treat 2017
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Air Products, Lehigh Valley, Pa., will introduce its Intelligent Atmosphere Analyzers, enabled by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), at Heat Treat 2017 in Columbus, Ohio, from October 24-26. The company's atmosphere supply and process management system, featuring Air Products' Process Intelligence, enables metals processors to improve product reliability, capture relevant atmosphere and process data, analyze potential for savings and process optimizations, and carry out preventive maintenance.
Metals processors are invited to stop by Booth #2513 to speak with application specialists about how the company's Intelligent Atmosphere Analyzers can help them monitor composition parameters to ensure their furnaces are running with the optimum gas atmosphere, as well as provide alerts for any needed maintenance or adjustments.
With Intelligent Atmosphere Analyzers, metals processors can run their furnaces more consistently, resulting in improved product quality, reduced operating costs, and increased yield.
Air Products will also highlight its Tank Monitoring System for remotely monitoring gas storage tank levels. The Tank Monitoring System, also featuring Air Products' Process Intelligence, helps metals processors manage their industrial gas supply, as well as detect abnormal gas usage, and track tank liquid and gas vaporizer temperature. All data is conveniently stored and remotely accessible through a secure system.
Show attendees are also invited to attend Air Products' technical presentations:
A Troubleshooting Guide for Brazing Furnace Atmospheres
Presented by Tom Philips, metallurgical engineer, Metals Processing
Wednesday, October 25th at 4:20 p.m.
Improved Reliability of Dew Point Measurement
Presented by Dr. Liang He, application engineer, Metals Processing
Air Products, Lehigh Valley, Pa., will introduce its Intelligent Atmosphere Analyzers, enabled by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), at Heat Treat 2017 in Columbus, Ohio, from October 24-26.
Lindberg MPH ships tube heat-treating furnace for research and development
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Lindberg MPH, Riverside, Mich., has shipped a 2190°F hinged three-zone furnace to an R&D lab for heat treating process tubes and retorts made of ceramic, quartz, or metal alloys. The furnace work chamber is 36 inches long by 7 inches in diameter, and was designed for horizontal operation with the customer's existing control system.
It has a maximum temperature rating of 2190°F, and has an insulating vestibule at each end. It is equipped with a full-length hinge and a positive latch for easy observation, fast cooling, convenient placement of the process tube, and overall ease of operation. It utilizes semi-cylindrical heating units located in each half to form a long, split-cylinder heated chamber. The heated chamber is divided into three independent zones, with independent thermocouples for control reference to allow adjustable profiling of end zones.
In operation, the end zone set points can be raised to compensate for heat losses and to increase the length of the uniform temperature zone in the center of the furnace. Long-life, fast-response thermocouples are attached to six feet of compensated lead wire with a polarized plug.
"This tube furnace allows for great temperature uniformity and process repeatability, which is key for R&D applications," says Kelley Shreve, Applications Engineer
Lindberg MPH, Riverside, Mich., has shipped a 2190°F hinged three-zone furnace to an R&D lab for heat treating process tubes and retorts made of ceramic, quartz, or metal alloys.
