GETRAG Transmission Manufacturing LLC has assigned ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH, in joint ownership of ALD-Holcroft Wixom Michigan, to deliver three complete ModulTherm® heat treatment lines for the heat treatment of gear parts for their PowerShift® transmissions. The furnace systems will be installed in GETRAG’s new plant in Tipton, Indiana, with production start planned in 2009. Once in full operation the systems can heat treat up to 700,000 dual-clutch transmissions for Chrysler LLC in North America. Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT), a Fiat Group company, has also ordered three complete ModulTherm heat treatment lines for the heat treatment of gear parts for their new C635 transmission, used on mid-sized cars. The furnace systems will be installed in FPT’s plant in Verrone, with production start planned in 2009. Once in full operation the systems are capable of heat treating up to 800,000 transmissions.
The ModulTherm lines to be delivered are cutting edge heat treatment technology, comprising low-pressure carburizing and high-pressure gas quenching technology. Each line is equipped with 10 independent heat treatment chambers that are charged by a mobile transport module. The quenching is performed in a separate “cold chamber” mounted on transport module. While carburizing is done under low pressures in the mbar-range by using acetylene, the gas quenching is performed by using helium with pressures up to 20 bar. An external transport system connects each line with a batch washing machine, pre-oxidation and tempering furnaces, and a load buffer station, thereby enabling continuous unmanned operation. A master control system maintains fully automatic control and monitors the entire heat treat process.
GETRAG and FPT both have experience using new heat treatment technologies like low-pressure carburizing and high-pressure gas quenching. For these projects they have decided to use ALD’s ModulTherm technology. This furnace system offers maximum process and production flexibility. Due to its unique design features maintenance requirements and the risk of system downtime are minimized, leading to a high degree of total utility and technical availability. ALD’s patented 20 bar helium gas quenching technology offers maximum quenching intensity to produce high-strength gears with low distortion. Low emissions and environmental compatibility are additional advantages of the system.
ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH, Hanau, plant manufacturer and service provider, operates worldwide in the field of vacuum metallurgy and vacuum heat treatment. This includes a wide range of processes and plants, e.g. for the production of high-quality alloys and precision cast parts as well as for the coating of turbine parts of modern aircraft engines and the production of polycrystalline silicon blocks to manufacture solar cells. In addition to metallurgical applications, ALD is involved in innovative vacuum heat treatment processes and plants for the heat treatment of modern automobile transmissions and components for diesel injection systems.
For more information please contact Dr. Klaus Loeser, vice president New Technology Heat Treatment, ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH, at +49 6181 307 3366 or dr.klaus.loeser@ald-vt.de, or Bill Gornicki—vice president, Sales and Marketing, ALD-Holcroft Vacuum Technologies Co., Inc.—at (248) 668-4068 or wgornicki@ald-holcroft.com. Go online to [www.ald-vt.com] or [www.ald-holcroft.com].
