BTOMEC Ferramentaria, one of Latin America’s leading injection mold producers, has invested in a single-chamber Vector vacuum furnace with high-pressure gas quenching (15 bar abs.).
This is the first order from the Brazilian manufacturer placed with Seco/Warwick, a leader in vacuum heat–treatment technology, marking an important step toward full independence and integration of in-house processes.
Established in 1985 in Joinville, Brazil, BTOMEC has long supplied multi-cavity molds for the global cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food, and packaging industries. The new investment in the Seco/Warwick vacuum furnace is a response to growing production needs. Until now, BTOMEC relied on external hardening services, but limitations in availability, long lead times, rising costs, and the need for independence prompted them to create their own heat–treatment department.
“This is a trend we see more and more frequently,” said Maciej Korecki, vice president of the Vacuum Segment at Seco/Warwick Group. “At a certain production scale, many industrial partners begin to consider creating their own small hardening facility. Such an investment means independence from external entities and, above all, full control over the production process and its costs. Seco/Warwick’s experience in developing technology for both small and large hardening plants, as well as extensive cooperation with entities starting their own heat treatment processes, makes us the technological partner of choice.”
The furnace ordered is a compact, single-chamber Vector vacuum furnace with a 400x400x600 mm heating chamber, designed for the efficient heat treatment of dies. The device is equipped with an isothermal quenching system with gas cooling up to 15 bar, and blower control via an inverter, enabling reductions in power surges and optimization of energy consumption.
Thanks to its ability to operate in a nitrogen atmosphere and with the use of a partial pressure system, the furnace enables clean hardening processes without the risk of alloying element sublimation or contamination of the hot zone. The pumping system, based on proven components, ensures reliability and high vacuum quality.
“BTOMEC is a partner who knows exactly what they need — precision, reliability, and repeatability,” said Łukasz Chwiałkowski, sales manager, Seco/Warwick. “The Vector is a device that has proven itself in many applications around the world. We are pleased that our technology supports the growth of another company in Latin America.”
The Seco/Warwick Group has been present in South America for many years, having worked with hardening plants such as Nitrion do Brasil, Isoflama, Supertrat, and others. It is a significant, large, and rapidly developing market, which is why Brazil is a particular area of interest for Seco/Warwick.
“Implementing our own vacuum furnace with 15 bar quenching gives us full control over the heat–treatment process,” said Wiland Junior from BTOMEC Ferramentaria e Usinagem de Precisão Ltda. “We wanted to increase production independence and shorten the heat–treatment cycle time for our dies. The furnace from Seco/Warwick not only meets our technological requirements but also allows us to maintain the highest quality expected by our global clients. This is an important step towards our development and further internationalization.”
The purchase of the Seco/Warwick vacuum furnace fits into BTOMEC’s strategy of investing in technology development toward Industry 4.0. The company has already implemented a Mikron Mill S 600 UG five-axis machining center with grinding process, 3D printer of Nikon-SLM, and to expand its machinery park with new technologies, including CT tomography Metroton from Zeiss. This is another example of technological investment in the Joinville region, known as the “mold city” of Latin America. It shows that local producers are embracing global solutions to compete with European and Asian suppliers.
More info: www.secowarwick.com
