Thermal Technology Inc., Santa Rosa, Calif., shipped a laboratory hot press system with a newly designed load frame to the University of South Florida for research in electronics and optics applications. The graphite furnace system of the hot press is a coaxial cylindrical chamber that can be raised to allow easy access to the press tooling. The furnace system has a 20 kVA SCR-controlled power supply and is rated at 2000¿C. Temperature profiles are controlled by a Eurotherm temperature controller with a type C thermocouple. Other features include a mechanical vacuum pump, inert gas control and force monitoring.