During the past few decades, fluidized-bed technology has not lost any of its importance for heat-treatment applications in terms of quality and has even become indispensable in some application niches due to its special properties.

Resiliency concerns revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic are driving companies to embrace sustainable manufacturing for post-pandemic supply chains. Supply-chain sustainability is the management of environmental, social and economic impacts. Reshoring checks all of the sustainability boxes since it reduces environmental impact, has a positive societal effect and stimulates economic activity. 

Since January is the month we try to focus on new technologies and products impacting the thermal-processing industry, let’s take a look at some recent news items that have come across my desk (or rather appeared in my inbox).

German companies PEER Energy GmbH and Schwing Technologies GmbH signed a long-term cooperation agreement to develop and market fluidized-bed technology for the heat treatment of metal components. The partnership between the two companies focuses on combining quenching processes with fluidized-bed technology. It includes research results and developments of heat-transfer rates. The application focus is on faster and more uniform heating and cooling processes for metal parts, with the aim of conserving resources and further reducing unit costs.