The company has already been operating Retech Vacuum Induction Melters (VIMs) at this location for several years. Pleased with their performance, they have added even more capacity with another VIM, similarly equipped.

Retech, a SECO/WARWICK Group company, has been producing custom VIMs for over 40 years for melting and casting refractory alloys, and that experience has not gone unnoticed by our industry partners. Retech offers world-class VIMs in many sizes and configurations including ingot and liner feeders configured horizontally or vertically, tilt or bottom pour, withdrawl systems, mold heaters, and software all customized to suit the customer’s needs.

While most VIMs use a ceramic crucible, Retech also offers Cold Wall Induction VIMs for reactive metals that cannot be melted in a ceramic crucible. Retech’s equipment is robust for longevity, maintenance friendly to reduce downtime, and backed by our outstanding customer service group, all of which contributed to this partner’s repeat purchase.

The range of VIM applications is broad, but the commonality across all applications is that they are technologically advanced. In this particular case, the new VIM system will be used to cast directionally solidified parts for the next generation of green energy technologies. Directional solidification is a casting process used to control the crystalline structure formation in cast parts by precisely controlling the rate and direction from which heat dissipates from a part as it cools in the mold.

Similarly equipped VIMs are put to use melting ultra-high-purity alloys used in a diverse array of applications, including single-crystal jet engine blade casting, super alloys, shape memory alloys, and even silicon for semiconductor wafers.

“This is going to help this industry partner accomplish both their production and R&D metallurgy goals,” said Retech Managing Director Earl Good, “and they also appreciate that buying from us again means that their staff is already trained on this equipment.”