Rapid phase transformation and high thermal gradients that occur during quenching can cause distortion, which can lead to costly hard machining and rejection.

This article reviews the developments that have taken place, particularly for surface treatments, within the heat-treatment processing industry.

Ipsen received an order for two 2-bar vacuum furnaces from a rapidly emerging global automotive component manufacturer with locations in Asia and the U.S. The company awarded Ipsen this order as part of a series of eight furnaces over the last two years. The TITAN H6 was selected because of its inherent process flexibility and ease of installation, as well as the local regional support provided by Ipsen’s sales and service teams in both Asia and the U.S.

Registration for IHEA’s Fundamentals of Industrial Process Heating online learning course is now open for fall 2020. Scheduled to begin October 5, the six-week class will run through November 15. The flexible online format and interactive forums with other students, along with scheduled office hours with the instructor, are just a few of the benefits of this program.

Sintavia LLC, a provider of metal additive-manufacturing services for the aerospace and defense industries, achieved Nadcap (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) approval for heat treatment at both its Hollywood, Fla., and Davie, Fla., locations. According to Sintavia, it is the only company in the world with Nadcap approvals for laser additive manufacturing, electron-beam additive manufacturing and in-house heat treatment.

The Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA) recently announced its 2020-2021 Board of Directors and Executive Officers. The new executive officers are Scott Bishop of Alabama Power Company as president, Jeff Valuck of Surface Combustion as vice president and Brian Kelly of Honeywell Thermal Solutions as treasurer. Bishop has served as IRED chairman, presented at numerous workshops and seminars, and provided key support in the recent revision of the Infrared Process Heating Handbook for Industrial Applications. Michael Stowe of Advanced Energy assumes the role of past president.

Tempering is a heat-treatment technique used to improve the strength, ductility and toughness of hardened carbon steels.

Baker Furnace developed an incineration solution for infectious medical waste. As more and more people are treated for COVID-19, the amount of infectious waste produced will continue to increase. The company manufactured a medical waste incinerator that uses temperatures in excess of 1832°F (1000°C) to eliminate infectious pathogens and reduce waste.

BNP Media has announced the launch of the Process Heating & Cooling Show, an interactive conference and exposition where executives and engineers from various industries – including oil and gas, electronics, pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, packaging and plastics – will learn from thought leaders and discover new technologies and trends exclusively for the process heating and cooling sectors. This new event will be held June 16-17, 2021, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.

As we begin to return to normal, equipment that has been turned off will need to be brought back online. There are a few considerations that must be taken to ensure a successful return to operation.