Seco/Warwick is scheduled to deliver a Vector vacuum furnace to a manufacturer of precision medical devices including X-ray and radiotherapy equipment.
Seco/Warwick's Vector furnace on order will be involved in the manufacture of components for devices used in the most demanding industrial applications such as the production of medical equipment. The flagship Seco/Warwick product will be intended for annealing and brazing processes.
Precision brazing that saves lives The high-tech medical industry is one of the most demanding industries in terms of standards procedures, and process parameters to be met by the equipment involved in the production process. Medical equipment components (e.g., RF components, X-ray tube components, ceramic components) are precision manufactured to the highest quality standards. This is because these components are used for processes that are decisive not only for the quality of treatment, but also for human life. Therefore, when selecting devices for their hardening plants, medical equipment manufacturers are guided first and foremost by quality and reliability.
“The Vector ordered by our partner is a standard, and very popular solution. It has proven performance in many fields in precision industries such as aviation, automotive and medical branches. We are selling many devices for brazing processes that are used for industrial production. This time, our partner is an expert when it comes to brazing complex components that require high precision. I am very glad that having such an extensive experience in the industry, and having operated competitive equipment, after detailed analysis, our partner selected our product. This proves our partner’s trust that we shall never fail. We should remember that everyday Vector furnaces are being operated in 70 countries over five continents," says Maciej Korecki, vice-president, vacuum furnace segment, Seco/Warwick Group.
The furnace with thousands of possibilities Among the many types of equipment in the Seco/Warwick Group portfolio, Vector is clearly the most versatile vacuum furnace. Vector can be used in a multitude of processes, including quenching, tempering, annealing, brazing, and sintering. Its characteristic feature includes low energy and process gas consumption while maintaining high performance. This most-popular solution of the vacuum division has already been delivered to manufacturers of landing gears, tools, aluminum extrusion dies, and even dental implants. This time it will be added to the French plant, where components for radiotherapy equipment are manufactured.
The vacuum furnace on order, thanks to the proved design of a standard solution with a heating chamber diameter of 600x600x900, this furnace enables the efficient heat treatment of many components. A characteristic feature of this design is the high-vacuum system based on a diffusion pump that creates perfect brazing conditions.
“The furnace which was ordered solves the problem associated with production capacity. Large working dimensions combined with a graphite chamber will provide great performance. However, this is most important: The Vector is a very precise piece of equipment in which hundreds of companies around the world have place their trust. The brazing process will include components for systems for targeted radiotherapy. We could say that the Seco/Warwick furnace will help to save human lives," Korecki concludes.
With a record 3 million industrial robots operating in factories around the world – our panel of experts will discuss the latest technological advancements and trends.
In less than a month Associate Editor Jake Kauffman will be sitting down with experts from Heidenhain and OnRobot discussing the latest advancements in robotic technology.
Taking place Wednesday, April 20 at 12PM ET, topics covered will range from the latest advancements in robotics, end of arm tooling, and systems integration, to the benefits artificial intelligence (AI), the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and Industry 4.0.
Click here to learn more and register today. Can’t participate during the live event? No problem. Each registered attendee will also receive a link to the recording. This content will be sent within 5 business days after the event.
Whenever thin metal parts with complex and precise features in high volumes are required, continuous photochemical etching (PCE) is the preferred choice.
micrometal (incorporating HP Etch and Etchform) released a video that focuses on the intricacies and application possibilities of photo-chemical etching (PCE).
The PCE process is used to produce geometrically complex, often feature-rich electronic parts and components for the electronics sector. For electronics OEMs ensuring micron-scale tolerances are achieved on such parts is vital given the safety-critical nature of many electronics applications.
Manufacturers are increasingly turning to PCE as they are under pressure to create smaller and increasingly complex precision metal components. As with any process selection, OEMs need to be aware of the specific attributes of the chosen manufacturing technology when looking at design attributes and parameters. The versatility of PCE and its unique advantages as a precision sheet metal machining technology makes it an engine for design innovation, and can truly be used to manufacture parts that would be deemed impossible if using alternative metalworking technologies.
Uniquely in the industry, micrometal can process and deliver up to 800-meter-long metal strips on reel, and these are often requested in industries that already demonstrate a high degree of automation in their own processing.
Thus, the etched parts provided in reels by micrometal can be selectively coated or used by ‘Pick & Place’ at the final point of production. Such procedures are already widely implemented in the medical and automotive industries where micrometal services a number of market-leading and blue-chip OEMs.
Our March 31 roundtable discusses diversity, equity, and inclusion in manufacturing.
In honor of Women’s History Month, join Elizabeth Engler Modic as she moderates a roundtable discussion with leading women involved in manufacturing. Taking place Thursday, March 31 from 12 – 1 pm ET, Women to Watch in Manufacturing is your opportunity to learn the latest thoughts from women in manufacturing.
Per the U.S. Department of Commerce, although women represent about 47% of the total workforce, they only make up about 30% of the 15.8 million people employed in manufacturing industries. Furthermore, only 1 in 4 manufacturing leaders are women, so the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion are top of mind for many.
Click here to learn more and register today. Can’t participate during the live event? No problem. Each registered attendee will also receive a link to the recording. This content will be sent within 5 business days after the event.
Sandvik Coromant’s Make the Shift program sets new standard for sustainable metalworking industry.
As a sustainability advocate and supporter of global sustainability goals, Sandvik Coromant has developed a set of internal goals called Make the Shift to set a new industry standard and raise the bar for sustainable business.
“The metalworking industry is conservative by nature, meaning change can often be slow. We’re aiming to disrupt that. We hope that our initiative will motivate other companies in the industry to follow on our path to a more sustainable industry,” says Helen Blomqvist, president of Sandvik Coromant.
It’s no secret that the industry has a huge carbon footprint. In the U.S., manufacturing accounts for almost a quarter of direct carbon emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In Europe, the industry emits an annual total of 880 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. Sweeping changes must be made, and Sandvik Coromant is taking major steps to be in the forefront of this transition.
Not only is a more sustainable metalworking industry necessary from environmental aspects, consumers also want companies to be focused on sustainability, as do current and prospective employees. Sandvik Coromant has made a commitment to lead the way toward a more sustainable future – a future where sustainability is the result of what the company does and is an integrated part of how business is conducted. This includes making use of new technologies, new competencies, and new ways of designing to make the processes better for both the organization and the environment.
To achieve this, Sandvik Coromant has established two leading objectives:
Cleaning up industry It’s not just the planet that can benefit from more sustainable operations. Investing in greener technologies can bring major benefits to a business’s bottom line, improving brand image, reducing waste, and making a business seem more attractive to employees.
According to McKinsey, having a sustainability strategy allows a company to make long-term investments, boosts employee motivation and increases top-line growth. When talking about sustainability, Sandvik Coromant is including its impact on people, planet, and profit.
Being green is no longer a cost of doing business; it is a catalyst for constant innovation, new market opportunity and profitability.
Circularity and why Coromant’s buy-back program is the way to go When crafting a sustainability strategy, one of the most important elements an industrial company must review is its waste. The circular economy doesn’t only offer environmental benefits. As soon as Sandvik Coromant’s own metal cutting tools lose their effectiveness, as is natural over time, it would be all too easy for customers to toss them away and render them unusable. However, the materials used to make those tools remain valuable.
95%t of a used carbide insert can be recycled. Of this carbide, tungsten makes up around 75%. Making new tools from recycled solid carbide requires 70% less energy than producing with virgin raw materials. Production is also more sustainable, and using recycled materials emits 40% less carbon dioxide compared with starting from scratch.
Circular adoption addresses both global sustainability challenges while taking care of an issue that few customers desire to manage – waste. Overseeing the entire life cycle of a product, like the tools manufactured and sold by Sandvik Coromant, gives businesses greater control of their assets. This control means a company can effectively review its costs while also helping its customers who will benefit from selling used products, creating a supplier relationship that does not cease once the initial purchase is complete.
So how does it work? As part of Sandvik Coromant’s own global recycling process, used carbide tools are collected from customers and sent to the Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten recycling plant, located in Austria. There, recycling managers complete an X-ray fluorescence analysis using a scanning system, which determines the make-up of the received tools. After an initial crushing, the tools form a carbide powder. This powder undergoes chemical purification to retrieve materials that have the same properties as virgin tungsten.
Additional elements in the cemented carbide are also managed sustainably. For example, cobalt retrieved from the tools is sent to a third party for recycling. Carbide tools from all manufacturers are accepted into Sandvik Coromant’s recycling program, regardless of size, industry, or location.