Integrating Power Control, Cooling, and Data Logging in Modern Furnaces - Improve uptime, safety, and operational performance

Tuesday, October 21, 2025: 1:40 PM
140E (Huntington Place Convention Center)
Brian Turner , RoMan Manufacturing, Grand Rapids, MI
In today’s heat treatment industry, vacuum furnace performance hinges not only on advanced power control technologies but also on supporting systems that ensure reliability and consistency. This presentation explores how recent advancements, particularly in water management, data accessibility, and equipment integration, are shaping the future of furnace operations.

Building on established practices with Variable Reactance Transformers (VRT), Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCR), and Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT), we now recognize that furnace efficiency is equally dependent on precise auxiliary systems. Water, often overlooked, has emerged as a critical factor for both cooling and process stability. Maintaining proper flow, pressure, and quality is essential to prevent costly downtime and protect sensitive components such as power supplies, transformers, and feedthroughs.

Attendees will gain insights into the growing importance of real-time monitoring and data logging. Advanced data collection platforms now allow operators to track key performance metrics, ranging from power factor to cooling system efficiency, enabling predictive maintenance, faster troubleshooting, and better documentation for audit compliance.

We will also address how tighter control and improved accessibility to furnace components enhance up time and reduce operational risk. Configurations for single-phase, two-phase (Scott-Tee), and three-phase loads will be reviewed in the context of both electrical balance and ease of service. Case studies will illustrate how combining robust power distribution with intelligent water and data management has led to measurable gains in efficiency, product quality, and cost savings.

Whether you are focused on design, operations, or maintenance, this session will equip you with actionable strategies for achieving consistent furnace performance through integrated control, water system reliability, and advanced monitoring.

See more of: Sustainable Heat Treating
See more of: Technical Program