AVS designed and manufactured a 2,400-ton vacuum hot press that will be the largest of its kind in the U.S. The system will be installed at Vacuum Process Engineering (VPE) of Sacramento, Calif. It will expand the company’s manufacturing throughput and the maximum sizes of its diffusion-bonded microchannel heat exchangers. According to AVS, the graphite hot-zone furnace has a usable internal pressing envelope of 60 inches wide x 120 inches long x 120 inches tall and is rated for temperatures in excess of 1700°C (3092°F) in vacuum and partial-pressure atmospheres. Two independent 1,200-ton rams and 10 high-accuracy load cells allow precision force and position control on the production elements.

According to VPE, the acquisition of the world-scale vacuum hot press will enable it to manufacture utility-scale heat exchangers and better service eastern U.S.-based and European customers.