Industrial vacuum furnaces for heat treatment
HOME COMPANY NEWS EXHIBITIONS PRODUCTS SERVICE SPARE PARTS SPECIAL OFFERS COMPANY-GROUP/MTH CONTACT DOWNLOAD IMPRINT	before | content | next 2006.11.28 Plasma / Ion Nitriding Open Day : a new success On 28 November last, BMI held an open day for which the main theme was nitriding. Even if in a first time, BMI decided to dedicate this day to plasma nitriding, some participants made us know that they would appreciate a comparison between the two nitriding processes available in our range of vacuum furnaces. And regarding with those last requirements we finally organised the day considering both processes. Despite the highly specialist subject, 36 people attended on the day and met in a convivial atmosphere to discover about these processes developed by our company. While a large number of well-known members of the French heat treatment industry were there, we should mention the attendance of 2 British directors from BODYCOTE Group, and 2 directors from TRATERIBER (AALBERTS Group - Spain). As far as the French were concerned, we were delighted to welcome people from various Bodycote sites, Cetim, Dassault Equipements, Ion Bond, LCM, Métatherm, Nitruvid, Peugeot-PSA, Koyo, Spiral and Thermi-Lyon, as well as SMP and Poclain Hydraulics, whose furnaces were presented during the day. Also present were Mr. Luigi Dallo from the MTH Group and Mr. Patrick Connolly from the Industrial Heating magazine. After an introductory conference on nitriding processes and a lively lunch, we visited BMI and then met for cocktails at SMP and Poclain Hydraulics VI65 furnaces. These very large capacity furnaces for plasma nitriding (useful processing zone: Ø 850 x h 1500 mm for 800 kg max load) complete the set of furnaces dedicated to the surface treating of the hydraulic parts manufactured by those companies, which work with BMI for many years. In 2006, we have strengthened our presence in the SMP and Pocalin Hydraulics groups which now have about a dozen of VI65 furnaces in many sites in France, Czech Republic and in the USA. Despite that plasma is a classical process for nitriding, we progress each day, improving the quality of the equipment and the accuracy of the treatment. BMI has been involved in the design and manufacturing of plasma equipments from the industrial beginning of this process in the early seventeen’s. The cold wall design showed its adaptation to industrial needs of commercial and integrated customers. Additional radiation heating has been proposed for 20 years, and is now driven by three regulation zones. In parallel of the machine improvement, we have developed three generations of plasma generator to reach sturdy equipment, mixing flexibility and reliability, able to manage arc and over intensity detection keeping maximum power available. Against new advantages bring by low pressure nitriding, plasma treatment remains a competitive solution for stainless steel, sintered parts or to nitride only some areas of the parts, thanks to an easy protection. Low-pressure nitriding, available as an option on the whole range of BMI tempering furnaces, offers several advantages. Among other things, the exceptional homogeneity of ALLNIT® enables a variety of charges to be processed: semi bulk, compact or tapered parts, parts with blind holes, cavities, hidden faces, etc. What with BMI’s expertise, the flexibility of both vacuum and the process and the ease of application, not only are the predictability and reproducibility of results ensured, but also layer selectivity and optimum parts cleanliness. Apart from their performance and high-quality manufacture, B5_RN furnaces also fly the Green flag because of their low gas and electricity consumption. In response to its customers’ requirements, BMI is now offering a whole range of ALLNIT® nitriding furnaces. The standard range comprises equipment whose useful zones range from 450 x 450 x 450 mm for 150 kg charge to 1200 x 1200 x 1800 mm for over 3 tonnes charge. Available in horizontal and vertical configuration, these furnaces are highly renowned throughout the world. Regarding with the feedback we have of this Open Day, we can consider that it had been a success. Further to the two VI65 furnaces, we had been lucky to have in our workshop the best assortment of furnaces we can imagine. Thanks to this great fortune, we presented during this day a BMICRO, the most compact vacuum hardening/brazing furnace of our range, two B84T, the most sold gas quenching furnaces, and a VSE84T120, a vertical bottom loading vacuum equipment for hardening and brazing. As we not only manufacture of gas quenching furnaces, we had been able to present among others a B63TH vacuum oil quenching furnace, two B54R annealing/tempering furnaces, two B54RN and a B55RN ALLNIT® low pressure nitriding furnaces, as well as a B55T vacuum brazing furnace. For the ones who missed this Open Day, please note that BMI will organise at the end of 2007 its 60th birthday. Although the date of this event has yet to be decided, you could let us know now wheter you are interested by contacting Nicolas WEISS at BMI at nweiss@bmi-fours.com . (Further information of this birthday day will be available soon on www.bmi-fours.com under the “News” heading). One thing is sure, we will have to show during this particular day the biggest vertical oil quenching furnace ever built by BMI for an aeronautical company and integrating all Nadcap specifities (AMS2750-D). But, at first you can come and meet us at THERMPROCESS 07 in Düsseldorf, Germany from the 12th to the 16th of June.	©B.M.I. 2009