Otto Junker GmbH received an order from China’s Henan Tongren for the supply of a horizontal solution heat-treatment line with water quench for aluminum plates for the aerospace industry. Measuring approximately 492 feet (150 meters) in overall length, the line will be able to handle plates up to 125 feet (38 meters) long and up to 14.5 feet (4.4 meters) wide. The minimum plate thickness to be annealed is 4.5 mm. Production on the new line is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2020.

The 14-zone furnace has a special airflow system that ensures uniform plate heating. The process includes the application of hot air to the top and underside of the plates. The main quench is a two-in-one system: a hard quench and soft quench are integrated with each other to provide a different cooling process according to demand. While the furnace heats the product in batches, quenching is performed as a continuous process.