Seco/Warwick Group has sold 2 vacuum furnaces for an aerospace application to one client in two locations: the USA and Singapore. The Group has been delivering its products to this client for the last 10 years to such locations as Poland, Malaysia, Singapore, France and the US. Partnership and credibility built over a decade results in harmonic workflow among engineering teams regardless of the particular plant of the client, language and location.
 
The manufacturer has been a Seco/Warwick customer in Europe for many years, but this is their first Vector vacuum furnace ordered for a US installation.
 
The first furnace from this order will be used for the heat treatment of exotic electrical steels. The high-pressure gas quench vacuum furnace is a Vector with diffusion vacuum levels. Its horizontal chamber has a workload size of 24” x 24” x 36” and a 1,300 lb. hearth capacity. The second furnace, also a single chamber Vector, will be used for annealing parts produced by 3D printing technology.

 
“Seco/Warwick Group has delivered hundreds of Vector heat treat systems worldwide, many of which are in steady use supporting the aircraft industry. We offer Vector with either a horizontal or vertical chamber depending on part configuration and the process needs of the customer, and we support each customer all over the world with a dedicated team of aftermarket professionals to keep them running at peak efficiency,” said Maciej Korecki, vice president, vacuum business segment at Seco/Warwick. 

Depending on binder ingredients, type, intensity and frequency of the process Seco/Warwick engineers select one of four different systems to prevent the accumulation of binder agent on the inside surfaces of the furnace. It secures long-term use of the furnace without the need for removing binder layers after a number of sintering cycles.

 
Unlike 3D synthetic material printing which has been present for many decades, 3D metal printing is a relatively new technology and requires intensive R&D innovations to optimize processes, norms and standards. Vector 3D successfully utilizes crucial technologies in furnace operations facilitating the needs of the 3D printing sector of the Additive Manufacturing industry. It has numerous applications in such industries as aerospace, automotive, medical and energy.