G-M Enterprises of Corona, Calif., announced the successful start-up of a large bottom-loading vacuum furnace. The furnace, built and tested by G-M, was delivered to a customer located in the northwest United States. The furnace has an all-metallic hot zone with TZM molybdenum heavy-duty hearth assembly. It can accept loads up to 130 inches in diameter x 84 inches high with a 15,000-pound load at 2350°F. The furnace will be used for the heat treatment of large titanium-based aircraft parts.

The furnace is equipped with an external cooling-gas recirculating system rated for 2-bar quench with a 300-HP blower and a 10-million BTU/hour heat exchanger. It is also supplied with a GMVAC1 WONDERWARE computer control system.