No. 1040 is a 2200°F (1204°C), inert atmosphere pit furnace from Grieve currently used for heat treating automotive parts in baskets at the customer's facility. Workspace dimensions of this furnace measure 36 inches wide x 36 inches deep x 48 inches high. 78 kW are installed in heavy gauge, high temperature Kanthal AF alloy wire heating elements of rod overbend design and powered through a low voltage transformer to heat the workload.

This Grieve pit furnace has 11-inch thick insulated walls comprising 4.5-inch thick 2600°F firebrick, 2.5-inch thick 2300°F firebrick and 4-inch 1900°F block insulation, as well as an insulated floor comprising 7 inches of castable refactory and 4-inch block insulation. Other features include a .25-inch plate steel exterior reinforced with structural steel and an air-operated, rear-hinged door. Inert atmosphere construction includes a continuously welded outer shell, high temperature door gasket, sealed heater terminal boxes, inert atmosphere inlet, outlet, flow meter and manual gas valve.

Controls on the No. 1040 include a digital indicating temperature controller, manual reset excess temperature controller with separate contactors and an SCR power controller.