SECO/WARWICK is set to deliver the largest ZeroFlow nitriding furnace that will be produced by its China operation to a Chinese aluminium profile manufacturer in Liaoning Province. The order implies the continuation of a decade-long relationship between the two companies, with the customer selecting SECO/WARWICK again based on the proven performance and reliability of its existing heat treatment equipment.
SECO/WARWICK China will manufacture the new furnace with technical expertise and support from the Group’s European headquarters. It will primarily be used for nitriding dies employed in aluminium profile production, where improved wear resistance and extended tool life are critical to production stability and finished-product quality.
The investment emerged as the customer developed a new production facility in Shenyang. Before placing the order, the manufacturer evaluated solutions from several suppliers active in China’s nitriding technology market. The performance of its existing SECO/WARWICK retort nitriding furnace, which has been operating for approximately 10 years, was a key factor in the final decision.
“In heat treatment, trust is built cycle by cycle. The customer did not return to us because it remembered a previous purchase, but because it had observed the quality of our equipment in operation, the repeatability of the results, and its practical reliability over many years,” said Maciej Korecki, Vice President of the Vacuum Furnace Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.
The new furnace will have a working chamber measuring **1,000 x 1,000 x 1,500 mm** and a maximum gross load capacity of **2,500 kg**. It is designed for achieving the temperature uniformity of **±5°C**, supporting consistent treatment results across large and demanding loads.
ZeroFlow Technology for Controlled Nitriding
At the centre of the new system is SECO/WARWICK’s proprietary **ZeroFlow technology**, a controlled gas nitriding process designed for rendering precise control over the formation and properties of the nitrided layer.
The technology is intended to reduce process gas consumption and post-cycle emissions while maintaining repeatable treatment results. For aluminium extrusion dies, controlled nitriding can improve surface properties and wear resistance, helping extend tool service life during intensive production.
According to Pan Gaojun, a representative of SECO/WARWICK China, repeatability is becoming increasingly important for manufacturers supplying components and tooling for sectors including automotive, electromobility, transportation and aerospace.
“For aluminium profile dies, the goal is not only to increase surface hardness. What matters is full control over the process and the ability to achieve identical results for successive loads,” Gaojun said.
Combining European Engineering with Local Manufacturing
The project represents a significant milestone for SECO/WARWICK China, as the furnace will be the **largest nitriding furnace of this type ever delivered by the company’s Chinese operation**.
The project will bring together the engineering capabilities of SECO/WARWICK’s European headquarters and local manufacturing expertise in China. The Group said the approach is designed to maintain technological and quality standards while enabling efficient project execution and providing closer support to the customer.
Both the European and Chinese teams will share responsibility for the equipment throughout the project lifecycle, from design and manufacturing to commissioning and operational support.
For SECO/WARWICK, the order also strengthens its position in the gas nitriding segment in China and the wider Asian market. The company sees the combination of global engineering expertise and local production as a way to expand its technology offering while shortening delivery cycles for customers across Asia.
The project demonstrates how long-term equipment performance, process consistency and local technical support can influence investment decisions in an increasingly competitive heat treatment market.
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