Can-Eng Furnaces International reported details of a 6,000-lb/hr. atmosphere system it installed and commissioned recently for Metex Heat Treating, in Brampton, Ont. Metex is a commercial heat-treater specializing in automotive parts and assemblies, as well as fasteners. Its three operations at Brampton process over 60 million lb./year of heat-treated products.
According to the system developer, the new furnace is a served by a continuous mesh-belt process, and was commissioned for high-volume hardening and tempering of fasteners.
As detailed by Can-Eng, the installation includes a computerized loading system, mesh belt controlled atmosphere hardening furnace, oil quench system, mesh belt tempering furnace, pre- and post-wash systems, and a supervisory control and data acquisition.
The SCADA system has been customized to comply with CQI-9 guidelines. CQI-9 is the Automotive Industry Action Group’s protocol for a mandatory, annual self-assessment of heat treatment systems.
According to Can-Eng, the continuous quench and tempering system also incorporates enhanced energy-reduction functions involving recuperative burner technology, which help to improve the system’s efficiency and reduce emissions.