AFC-Holcroft received an order from a Midwestern facility of a U.S.-based manufacturer of safety-critical fasteners and assembly solutions for a mesh-belt furnace. The new equipment will replace an older AFC-Holcroft installation. The furnace, which will be used in the production of metal fasteners, will integrate with existing companion equipment including a loading system, pre- and post-wash systems, oil quench and temper furnace.

Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd. commissioned a continuous mesh-belt heat-treat system for the production of high-quality automotive fasteners in the Piedmont region of Italy. The high-volume fastener system features energy-efficient combustion and waste-heat recovery systems, atmosphere-controlled mesh-belt hardening system, oil quench, post-wash system, temper furnace, soluble oil system, bi-directional conveyor discharge and Can-Eng’s Level 2 SCADA system. The system was commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2018 and has exceeded the company’s performance expectations.

Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd. has been contracted to design and commission a large-capacity fastener hardening system for a Tier 1 automotive supplier based in Detroit, Mich. The system closely integrates a computerized part-tracking and metering system, pre-washer, mesh-belt hardening furnace, oil-quench system, post-washer, temper furnace, soluble oil system, endothermic-gas generator and level 2 automation system. It is engineered to produce at a rated capacity of 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg) per hour.

United Process Controls (UPC) delivered an Atmosphere Engineering EndoFlex endothermic-gas generator to Jomarca, a fastener manufacturer in South America. The generator is intended for carburizing operations at the company’s Brazilian plant, which includes 10 large continuous rotary-retort furnaces that process over 2,200 tons of fasteners a month. The high-capacity generator was integrated into the plant’s existing gas-distribution system in the first quarter of 2018 and is supplying endothermic gas to all carburizing furnaces.

Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd. was awarded a contract from a European company to design and supply a mesh-belt heat-treatment system with a production capacity of 4,000 pounds/hour of high-quality automotive fasteners.

In addition to the mesh-belt and vacuum heat-treatment equipment outlined previously, there are other technologies used for processing fasteners.

Fasteners can be heat treated using vacuum technology, which is environmentally friendly and offers the advantages of high controllability.

Many different types of equipment are used for the heat treatment of fasteners, depending on the production volume, the alloys being processed and the required material properties.