EoW May 2008

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Furnaces & heat treatment

It is general knowledge that the induction furnace offers a clean, energy-efficient, easily controlled melting process. If flexibility and economy are the main considerations, the electric arc furnace will be the candidate of choice.

We are on terms of easy familiarity with heat treatment, too. Annealing, case hardening, precipitation strengthening, tempering, and quenching; austempering, cyaniding, nicarbing, and nitrocarburising – are well understood, proficiently induced – and have secured the properties and integrity of the materials. The fact that heat treatment can include chilling, to extreme cryogenic temperatures, is testament to its variety and comprehensiveness: qualities that put it in the good company of the furnace.