Advanced quench-and-temper facility from SMS group at TimkenSteel in full swing

The new line is able to treat 10 tons per hour of bars and heavy-walled tubes, up to 13 inches in diameter, precisely complying with specified values.

The compact line is characterized by a combination of induction preheaters and combustion furnaces for austenitizing and tempering processes. Subsequent cooling takes place in the newly developed Quenching Shell, an advanced OD/ID water sprayer, characterized by high-quench severity and, at the same time, great flexibility to adapt to changing process conditions.

During the commissioning period, a full array of intensive testing was carried out, beginning with the certification of the combustion heating furnaces in accordance to the SAE ASM2750-E standard, which calls for extremely demanding temperature homogeneity inside the furnace chamber (± 3 degrees Celsius for furnaces of Class 1), as a requirement for producing aerospace-quality material. Different seamless mechanical tubes and SBQ (Special Bar Quality) products have been processed by the AQTF, from 6 inches to 12 inches (out of a selectable range from 4 inches to 13 inches). These products are made up of a variety of different steel grades that reflects TimkenSteel’s vast portfolio. The tests were performed with increasing hourly throughput to stress-test all the line components.