T. Donofrio, Can-Eng Furnaces Ltd., Niagara Falls, ON, Canada; K. Kurita, Nippon Furnace Kogyo Kaisha, Ltd., Yokohama, Japan

Summary: The thermal processing of high volume aluminum intensive automobile components has been a key concern of manufactures since their introduction to automotive use in the mid 60’s. Due to the cycle time requirements of the metallurgical process, furnace engineers were left with limited design options and as a result they designed and manufactured large batch or long linear continuously fed, conveyorized heat treatment systems. Users of heat treatment systems today are continuously faced with cost pressures by their customers and as result are seeking our new efficient methods of heat treating high volume aluminum components. There are alternatives to the conventional batch and linear conveyorized heat treatment systems for aluminum castings and formed components. In this paper, new efficient heat treatment systems will be discussed and how these systems can be integrated into a manufactures process.