Research and Development builds the SECO/WARWICK Group’s future and increases the distance from competitors. The SECO/WARWICK Group’s power is the power of its innovations measured by the number of patents, implemented projects, executed research, and cooperation between universities and research units.
We perform research, calculations and comprehensive analyses for external entities, institutions, universities and commercial customers. We conduct our unique research, complete metallographic tests, develop technology and, together with our product departments, create unique solutions.
We do not reduce patents only to statistics. These are well-thought-out and strongly customer-oriented solutions that help us gain a competitive advantage. Our patented inventions and solutions include vacuum furnaces, vacuum carburizing technology, and aluminum annealing furnaces, which are successfully used and implemented in the daily operation of customers worldwide.
R&D is the development and the future innovation that enables the SECO/WARWICK Group to implement its vision - to be the first choice in providing solutions for heat treatment and metallurgy.
WE CREATE THE METALLURGY AND HEAT TREATMENT WORLD
R&D centers
performed processes
completed projects
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patents
partner universities
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What processes can the SECO/WARWICK Group’s R&D department perform?
- CAB (Controlled Atmosphere Brazing) – aluminum brazing in a protective atmosphere.
- VAB (Vacuum Aluminum Brazing) – aluminum brazing in vacuum.
- Vacuum brazing at a vacuum level of 1×10-5
- LPC (Low Pressure Carburizing) – vacuum carburizing in the temperature range of 860-1150°C using four mixtures of process gases and working pressures in the range of 0.1 ÷ 10 mbar with the possibility of performing the PreNit operation (400 ÷ 700°C) with the option of:
- gas hardening (15 bar abs N2),
- hardening in any hardening oil (up to 5 kg of load).
- SPF (Single Piece Flow) – vacuum heat treatment and LPC vacuum carburizing of single parts in a flow system with 4D Quench® gas hardening for dedicated round elements (gears, bearing raceways, etc.).
- LPCN (Low Pressure Carbonitriding) – vacuum carbonitriding.
- LPN (Low Pressure Nitriding) – vacuum nitriding in the gas nitriding temperature range.
- HTSN (High Temperature Solution Nitriding) – high temperature nitriding.
- Gas nitriding using the ZeroFlow method.
- Gas nitrocarburizing with regulation of the complex atmosphere potential – carbon-bearing atmosphere based on any gas, i.e. CH3OH, CO, CO2.
- Pre- and post-oxidation.
- Heat improvement and hardening in gas (15 bar abs N2) with the possibility of final vacuum nitriding – at the R&D testing station.
- Heat improvement and hardening in quenching oil or polymer medium (any) up to 5 kg of loads – at the R&D testing station.
- Comprehensive normalization, i.e.
- with allotropic transformation: homogenizing, complete, incomplete, normalizing, with isothermal transformation, spheroidizing, pearlizing, graphitizing, bright,
- without allotropic transformation: stress relieving, recrystallizing, stabilizing.
- Solution heat treatment and aging.
- VIM (Vacuum Induction Melting):
- EC (Equiax Casting),
- DS (Directional Solidifcation),
- SC (Single Crystal Casting).
What kind of metal product testing services does SECO/LAB offer?
In the SECO/LAB laboratory, we have the necessary equipment for metallographic preparation of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. We offer microstructure tests using a light microscope, equipped with a high-resolution camera with a maximum magnification of up to 1000x. Moreover, we carry out hardness tests using the most common methods (Vickers, Rockwell, Brinell, Knoop), with a very wide range of loads, which means that we have a wide range of testing capabilities.
What is the reliability of the research results?
In the SECO/WARWICK Group’s R&D laboratory, tests are carried out by qualified and experienced staff consisting of engineers, technologists and specialists in material science and heat treatment. We also cooperate with scientific units with which we consult about solutions, technologies and processes.
All tests are carried out in accordance with technical standards, and the furnaces are regularly calibrated by entities accredited in this field. Each furnace is checked to ensure it meets the established quality standards and complies with a defined startup procedure before measurement.
What do research and testing services involve?
- We design technological processes using advanced computer tools
- We complete the results of activities in comparison with previously known requirements
- We carry out analyses, draw conclusions and formulate suggestions
- We perform tests and services on full-scale industrial equipment
- Each heat treatment process is verified metallographically
- We control the heat treatment process at every stage
- We use extensive experience and databases
- We prepare a comprehensive research report taking into account all of the customer’s needs
- We adapt (and select) the technological process based on the results
We guarantee operational efficiency and full data archiving |We ensure research transparency| Confidentiality clause applies
For which industries does the SECO/WARWICK conduct research at SECO/LAB?
- Aviation
- Automotive
- Medical
- Service
- Energy
- Mining
* – There is no industry in which there is no heat treatment, at least indirectly.
Do you have to be a SECO/WARWICK customer to order research?
We are open to every person, institution, and company.
Our activity has shown that we are able to successfully complete projects both with large companies and with individual people related to the heat treatment industry. We have successfully completed hundreds of projects, performing thousands of technological processes on dozens of furnaces.
The shortest project lasted a week, and the longest lasted 5 years.
The shortest process took less than 1 hour, and the longest took 5 days.
