SECO/VACUUM Technologies supplied a precision gas nitriding vacuum furnace to a large North American heat treater. The horizontal, front-loading furnace is designed specifically for precision gas nitriding, ferritic nitrocarburizing and post-oxidation in a retort-style furnace with vacuum purge. The ZeroFlow furnace complements a prior SECO/WARWICK gas nitriding furnace already in production at the facility.

The furnace extends the heat treater’s capabilities by offering greater capacity to its growing nitriding customer base. The ZeroFlow gas nitriding method precisely controls the case depth and nitride layer formation (including white layer), achieving high surface hardness, improved wear resistance and longer fatigue life.