Olomouc, Czech Republic: Commercial heat treatment specialist CZECHmetal s.r.o. has strengthened its production capabilities with the purchase of a SECO/WARWICK CaseMaster Evolution-D two-chamber vacuum furnace, equipped with an oil quenching system and advanced vacuum carburizing technology. The new system will be installed at the company’s Olomouc facility, replacing an older furnace to improve efficiency, precision, and production capacity.
The investment underscores the growing adoption of vacuum heat treatment technologies across Central Europe, particularly in industries such as automotive, machinery, and tooling, where demand for high-quality and repeatable heat treatment processes continues to rise.
The custom-designed furnace features a heating chamber measuring 700 × 1200 × 700 mm, specifically engineered to fit within CZECHmetal’s existing production space without requiring modifications to the plant infrastructure. Based on SECO/WARWICK’s proven CaseMaster Evolution platform, the system combines a heating chamber with a charge-loading vestibule and an integrated oil quench tank, enabling cooling either in inert gas or by direct immersion in quench oil.
The furnace is equipped with FineCarb vacuum carburizing and low-pressure carbonitriding (LPCN) technologies, allowing precise control of steel surface properties and the production of high-quality carburized layers. An advanced heating system ensures rapid and uniform temperature distribution, while a high-performance oil circulation system delivers fast, consistent quenching for improved process repeatability.
Commenting on the project, Maciej Korecki, Vice President of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK, said the Czech Republic remains a key market for vacuum technologies due to the increasing demand for modern carburizing and hardening solutions.
“The Czech Republic is a very important market for vacuum technologies. We see increasing demand for modern carburizing and hardening processes, particularly in the machinery, automotive and tooling sectors. We are pleased that CZECHmetal is joining the group of our partners in the region. Geographic proximity, ease of communication, and fast service support foster long-term cooperation,” he said.
According to Łukasz Chwiałkowski, Sales Manager at SECO/WARWICK, the project demonstrates the company’s ability to customise proven technology to meet customer-specific production requirements.
“This solution combines the proven design of our CaseMaster Evolution furnaces with customization for customer needs. The non-standard chamber made it possible to fit the system into the existing production space perfectly while maintaining all the advantages of our technology – process stability, high efficiency and operational reliability in industrial conditions,” he said.
The new furnace is expected to significantly enhance CZECHmetal’s operational performance by increasing throughput, reducing order lead times, and delivering cleaner, more consistent heat treatment processes.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the investment, Adam Petrecký of CZECHmetal s.r.o. said the company has consistently focused on investing in advanced technologies to expand its heat treatment capabilities.
“From the very beginning, our development has been based on investing in technologies that enable us to offer increasingly advanced heat treatment processes. The new vacuum furnace will allow us to increase efficiency and introduce even more precise carburizing technologies. It was also important that the SECO/WARWICK solution was adapted to the conditions of our production hall. Excellent cooperation, a goal-oriented approach, and above all, a real response to our needs – this best summarizes the project.”
The latest investment reinforces the growing trend among commercial heat treatment providers in Central Europe to adopt advanced vacuum technologies that enhance productivity, process reliability, and competitiveness in an increasingly demanding manufacturing landscape.
