Nitrex supplied a turnkey gas nitriding system to Ohio-based aluminum extrusion die manufacturer Youngstown Tool & Die (YTD) in the fourth quarter of 2020. The system adds Nitreg controlled nitriding to YTD’s range of heat-treating services. YTD relocated to a larger manufacturing facility in summer 2020 and made investments in new production and finishing equipment to increase its manufacturing capabilities and meet growing demand. As part of the new production, YTD installed a Nitrex pit-type nitriding system that has a 4,400-pound capacity for treating aluminum extrusion dies.

Alugen Aluminium, a Turkish aluminum extrusion company, expanded its production capabilities with a Nitrex NXK series nitriding system. The turnkey system was delivered with Nitreg potential-controlled gas nitriding and Nitreg-C potential-controlled gas nitrocarburizing technologies. Process recipes are optimized to improve the performance of aluminum extrusion dies and increase throughput. The service life of dies is also extended through periodic nitriding, which helps to control the high heat and impact pressure that dies undergo during extrusion cycles. With a work area of 23.5 x 47.25 inches (600 x 1,200 mm) and a load capacity of 1,700 pounds (800 kg), the NXK system allows Alugen to mix special dies with regular production dies for a faster turnaround of product-specific production plans.

FA Krosno completed the installation of a Nitrex nitriding system at its manufacturing facility in southeastern Poland. The pit-type system has overall chamber dimensions of 86 inches (2,184 mm) in diameter x 136 inches (3,452 mm) high with a capacity to nitride an 8,400-pound (3,800-kg) load. The delivered solution includes Nitreg and ONC technologies. ONC is a post-nitriding oxidation process that further enhances the quality of the nitride layer, provides additional corrosion protection and similarly contributes to the aesthetic finish of piston rods. The system, which started production in December 2019, replaced a defunct gas nitrider that was phased out due to inconsistent results and high scrap losses.

Nitrex Metal entered into an exclusive agreement with Voestalpine AG to bring new innovations in stainless steel hardening technologies to the Czech Republic. As a result of the agreement, Voestalpine added a nitriding system configured to process workloads 31.5 inches in diameter x 78.75 inches high (800 mm x 2,000 mm) that weigh up to 3,850 pounds (1,750 kg). The system complements a previously installed Nitrex system that combined Nitreg-C gas nitrocarburizing technology with ONC post-oxidizing technology for processing firearms.

Nitrex Metal Inc. supplied a nitriding system to Hydro Extruded Solutions in Trzcianka, Poland, to address the company’s need for improved process performance and more accurate control of nitriding results. The nitriding system replaces a decommissioned nitrider that was phased out several years ago due to extrusion die failures and inconsistent metallurgical results. It includes Nitreg technology that helps optimize parameters for maximum efficiency and quality and increase die strength and extrusion throughput while reducing the possibility of potential die failures.

Family-owned heat-treatment company GalvanoTechnik of Lombardy, Italy, expanded its portfolio to include Nitreg-controlled nitriding, Nitreg-C nitrocarburizing and ONC in-process oxidation treatments. The company invested in a compact Nitrex system configured to process 23.5-inch-diameter x 35.5-inch-high workloads that weigh up to 1,300 pounds. The system complies with the temperature-uniformity requirements of AMS 2750E and meets the specifications of ASM 2759/10, which make it possible to consistently achieve the required metallurgical and mechanical properties for controlled nitriding.

Nitrex Metal received a contract from Qatar Aluminum Extrusion Company (Qalex) for the supply and installation of an NX-1015 potential-controlled gas nitriding system. The system is configured for treating various-sized flat and hollow dies used in the production of aluminum extruded profiles for the construction and transportation markets. The NX-1015 furnace has a load capacity of 4,400 pounds (2,000 kg). While this is slightly larger than current production needs, the additional capacity will accommodate future growth when Qalex adds a second extrusion press.