Toptech Polska, a manufacturer of precision metal components, has ordered a Vector vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK to establish in-house heat treatment capabilities. The investment is aimed at improving production control, reducing lead times and logistics costs, and expanding the company’s services to external customers.
The furnace features a 400 × 400 × 600 mm work zone and a high-pressure gas quenching system operating at up to 15 bar absolute using nitrogen. It will primarily be used for hardening, tempering and annealing tool steel components, including marking tools, type characters, punches, dies and stamping die components.
By bringing heat treatment in-house, Toptech aims to reduce its dependence on external service providers and gain greater control over processing parameters, component quality and production schedules. The facility will also enable the company to offer vacuum heat treatment services to other manufacturers in the region.
A key feature of the Vector vacuum furnace is its high-pressure gas quenching (HPGQ) capability. The process involves heating components in a vacuum environment before cooling them with high-pressure gas. This helps limit surface oxidation and decarburisation while supporting controlled cooling, dimensional stability and reduced distortion.
These capabilities are particularly relevant to precision tools, punches, dies and other tool steel components, where surface quality and dimensional accuracy influence service life and performance.
“In the heat treatment of precision components, achieving the required hardness is not enough. Surface cleanliness, dimensional stability, and predictable cooling are equally important. At pressures of up to 15 bar, we can control cooling intensity very precisely, while vacuum processing protects the part surface against oxidation and decarburisation,” said Paweł Okińczyc, Sales Manager at SECO/WARWICK.
According to Maciej Korecki, Vice President of the Vacuum Furnaces Segment at the SECO/WARWICK Group, Toptech was already familiar with the company’s technology through its previous experience with a commercial heat treater operating SECO/WARWICK equipment. Increased production volumes and the need for an in-house operation prompted the company to evaluate a suitable furnace solution.
Jacek Targosz, Management Board Member responsible for production processes at Toptech Polska, said that long lead times and the availability of external heat treatment services were key challenges behind the investment. Greater control over component quality and service life, along with continued technical support after installation, were also important considerations.
The two companies’ facilities are approximately 62 km apart, enabling closer coordination during project implementation and equipment servicing.
Toptech’s investment comes amid growth in Poland’s industrial sector. According to Statistics Poland (GUS), industrial output sold increased by 3.1% in 2025. Machinery and equipment output rose by 7.2%, while fabricated metal product output increased by 6.1%.
For manufacturers of precision components and tools, bringing previously outsourced processes in-house can help improve production planning, reduce transportation requirements and support consistent quality as demand increases.
SECO/WARWICK has been developing vacuum heat treatment technologies since the 1970s and supplies equipment to industries including aerospace, automotive, tooling, energy, medical and defence. The new installation will allow Toptech Polska to strengthen its internal manufacturing capabilities while developing additional heat treatment services for the regional market.
