Global Auto Parts Manufacturer Expands EV Capabilities with Hybrid-Ready Brazing Line from SECO/WARWICK
In a strategic move to capture a larger share of the electromobility market, a leading multinational producer of precision metal components has commissioned a new Controlled Atmosphere Brazing (CAB) line. This investment, delivered by SECO/WARWICK, is specifically designed for the high-volume production of large-format battery coolers—a critical component in Electric Vehicle (EV) performance.
This contract marks the first collaboration between the two companies. The client, a powerhouse in the manufacturing sector with research and production facilities spanning the United States, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and China, turned to SECO/WARWICK to support its transition into advanced automotive heat exchange systems.
Precision Thermal Processing for the EV Era
The shift toward electric vehicles is driving demand for specialized aluminum components that require impeccable structural integrity. The newly ordered EV/CAB line allows for the continuous brazing of these parts under strictly controlled conditions.
To achieve the quality required for automotive battery coolers, manufacturers rely on sophisticated Atmosphere Furnaces. These systems are essential because they create a protective nitrogen environment that eliminates oxygen during the heating process. This ensures that the aluminum components are brazed perfectly, without oxidation, resulting in the high durability needed for vehicle safety.
“Societal awareness regarding environmental protection is growing globally, and consistent legal changes are accelerating the growth of the electromobility sector,” commented Piotr Skarbiński, Vice President of the Aluminum Process and CAB Business Segment at SECO/WARWICK.
“Our CAB continuous furnaces address this demand by using a variable speed drive with a stainless-steel mesh conveyor belt. This technology heats the product to the exact brazing temperature while maintaining uniform thermal conditions in a protective nitrogen atmosphere, ensuring a flawless finish.”
Engineered for Flexibility: The Hybrid Advantage
A standout feature of this installation is its forward-thinking “Hybrid-Ready” design. The system, which features a 1.6-meter wide TTBB chamber, includes a radiation preheating chamber, a radiation brazing furnace, and a dual-stage cooling system (air jacket and final cooling).
Currently, the furnace is configured to operate as a fully electric unit, aligning with modern decarbonization trends. However, at the client’s request, the engineering team has reserved specific structural space for the future installation of gas heating elements.
This design provides two strategic benefits:
- Future-Proofing: It gives the manufacturer the flexibility to switch energy sources should utility costs fluctuate in the future.
- Operational Resilience: It ensures that production can adapt to different energy availability scenarios.
The radiation technology employed in this line ensures that temperature is distributed evenly across the entire length of the belt via independent heating zones. This uniformity is crucial for processing batches of products with similar dimensions, such as battery coolers and other precision metal parts the company produces for the computer and telecommunications sectors.