How SEW-EURODRIVE Is Elevating Heat Treatment Technology
At SEW-EURODRIVE, innovation is built into everything we do, from engineering to production. It’s how we continuously advance our processes and technologies to ensure our customers receive the highest level of quality, performance, and reliability. A recent advancement at our Lyman, South Carolina, facility showcases this commitment with the integration of low-pressure carburizing (LPC) with vacuum furnace technology for in-process heat treatment.
Re-imagining Heat Treating for Precision and Efficiency
Chris Rollins, Heat Treat Supervisor at SEW-EURODRIVE, leads a critical step in our manufacturing process. Traditionally, SEW-EURODRIVE has relied on a large atmosphere furnace to process loads up to 3,000 pounds. While effective, these systems posed challenges such as part distortion, surface finish inconsistencies, and the need for downstream processes like shot blasting.
Recognizing the need for enhanced precision and repeatability, our team transitioned to LPC using a vacuum furnace. This change brings several clear advantages: minimized part distortion, significantly improved surface finish, and most importantly, a higher level of process consistency. We’ve observed case depth variation within a tenth of a millimeter from load to load, an extraordinary leap forward in quality assurance.
Small Batches, Big Impact
One of the defining features of SEW-EURODRIVE’s new system is its ability to process smaller batch sizes efficiently. Because SEW-EURODRIVE has always considered heat treating as an in-process operation, we required a system that could keep pace with our production flow. Our new vacuum furnace now allows us to process one pallet at a time, in sync with how parts arrive from the previous operation. This improves turnaround times and ensures downstream departments receive exactly what they need when they need it.
Safer, Cleaner, Smarter
The system’s nitrogen gas quench, eliminating oil-based quenching, greatly reduces fire risk and environmental hazards. In a vacuum environment, there’s no smoke or ignition risk, allowing the equipment to be safely integrated into our existing facility. That’s not just a safety win—it’s a major cost-saving advantage!
Automation also plays a critical role. The system is designed for operator safety and efficiency, keeping personnel safely distanced from active machinery while benefiting from its quiet, clean operation.
Partnering with ECM Technologies for Innovation
When selecting a technology partner, we chose ECM Technologies for their combined expertise in both furnace technology and automation, a rare and innovative combination in the heat treatment world. This dual competency ensures a fully integrated system tailored to our production needs. Additionally, ECM's long-standing partnerships with other SEW-EURODRIVE facilities in France and China provided confidence in their capabilities and global support.
Powered by SEW-EURODRIVE Innovation
This system also incorporates our own MOVITRANS® wireless power transfer technology, a robust, contactless energy transmission solution we've relied on in-house for over 20 years. MOVITRANS delivers power magnetically through an air gap, enabling seamless energy transfer to mobile systems like automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and transfer carts without physical connectors.
In this application, MOVITRANS, paired with infrared communication, allows the external loader to operate completely cable-free. This eliminates wear-prone components such as cable tracks, significantly reduces maintenance, and improves overall system reliability. It's a perfect example of how we apply SEW-EURODRIVE innovations not only for our customers, but also to enhance our own manufacturing performance and efficiency.
Conclusion
SEW-EURODRIVE’s investment in advanced heat treatment is more than just a technology upgrade—it’s a deliberate, forward-thinking decision to ensure we deliver the highest-quality products with the consistency and reliability our customers expect. Every innovation we implement, from a vacuum furnace to wireless power transfer, is driven by one purpose: to create lasting value through smarter, more efficient, and more dependable manufacturing.
These advancements reflect our broader commitment to delivering more than just components—we deliver complete drive solutions. By integrating cutting-edge technology with application-specific expertise, we help our customers solve real-world challenges, improve performance, and gain a competitive edge in their industries.
Our commitment to innovation, safety, and performance isn’t confined to the shop floor; it’s embedded in our promise to deliver precision-engineered solutions that keep the world moving. At SEW-EURODRIVE, we invest in progress so our customers can count on excellence.
