Solar Manufacturing shipped a vacuum carburizing furnace to a major gear manufacturer. The horizontal, front-loading-type furnace has a work zone that measures 24 inches wide x 24 inches high x 36 inches deep with a hearth designed to accommodate up to a 1,000-pound workload. The entire hot zone utilizes a Flexshield hot face backed by four layers of 0.5-inch-thick graphite-felt insulation, all supported in a heavy-duty stainless steel structure. The heating elements are designed with thin, durable, curved graphite that allows for a maximum operating temperature of 2500°F (1371°C). A 100-HP internal fan and heat-exchanger cooling system have been included for quenching loads to required hardness.