In the automotive, aerospace and agriculture equipment industries and the development of equipment and system components, steel heat treating plays an important role. The most common types of steels that are prepared using this process are stainless steels, but it is also a top option for tool steel and high alloy steels.
Depending on the type of steel, the steel heat treating can include the use of a vacuum furnace, eliminating contaminants in the air during the treatment that can cause a reaction with the surface of the steel. Additionally, these same treatment options can use nitrogen for the quenching process rather than a standard liquid quench for faster cooling and a better surface aesthetic for the part.
For OEMs of any size, outsourcing heat treatments of any type of metal or alloy, including the various options in steel, is a wise decision. Understanding the advantages that outsourcing offers is a simple way to see how this directly benefits your company.
Cost Savings
Outsourcing to specialized companies offering steel heat treating offers several different cost-saving factors. The most obvious in the elimination of the need for the OEM to invest in the equipment, technology, and the trained staff to provide the service in-house.
Additionally, there is no need to continue to update and maintain the equipment, and there is also no risk of delayed orders due to equipment failure or downtime. Working with quality companies offering heat treatment services means the guarantee that the part and components are delivered on schedule and to the tolerances and specifications required by the OEM.
With the use of outsourced services for heating treating of steel parts, ramping up production and full scalability is never a concern. It is important for the OEM to know the capacity of the outsourced service and make sure the capacity is there to meet maximum production requirements.
