Induction Heat Treating, Tempering, & Hardening

Some of our customers send their products to outside heat-treaters for induction heat treating (hardening and tempering). The heat treater then sends back the heat-treated parts and the manufacturing cycle continues. But some customers have brought their heat treating back in-house, while others are seriously considering it. Why?

• The manufacturer wants to have tighter control over their intellectual property and trade secrets. Often a manufacturer will be reluctant to allow the recipe for their “secret sauce” leaving their plant and their immediate control.
• The manufacturer wants to have tighter quality control. Sometimes they have experienced parts getting damaged during shipment to/from the heat treater.
• The manufacturer wants to control costs. Often outsourcers increase prices year after year, as well as shipping costs ever increasing.
• The manufacturer wants to switch from expensive oven heat treating
  furnaces to energy-efficient, cost-effective induction heating.

Considering bringing your heat treating back in-house or induction heaters but need to know more? This quick guide can help.

There are many different types of heat treating for Steel, but this guide will focus on Hardening and Tempering.