ThermoLine-VAC · Industrial furnace

ThermoLine-VAC – Gas-Tight High-Temperature Furnaces (Vacuum Furnace, Protective Gas Furnace, Process Gas Furnace)

The ThermoLine-VAC series from IBT comprises state-of-the-art vacuum and protective gas furnaces for high-temperature processes. Thanks to gas-tight, double-walled, water-cooled vessels, these furnaces reach temperatures of up to 3000°C in high vacuum or under reaction and protective gas atmospheres. In addition to maximum temperature resistance, they offer precise control (multi-zone capable) and maximum process purity for the efficient debinding or sintering of ceramic and metal components. The system is custom-designed (also available as a laboratory furnace) to meet the specific requirements of each application.

Custom Cold-Wall Furnaces

Depending on your requirements, we build gas-tight cold-wall vacuum furnaces (down to 1×10⁻⁶ mbar) with protective and reaction gases (e.g., argon, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and dioxide, oxygen). This enables both high-vacuum-based processes and processes under controlled atmospheres. We utilize custom-designed heating elements (graphite, molybdenum, tungsten elements, etc.) to ensure efficient and uniform heating in all areas. Thermal afterburning, gas- or liquid-cooled quenching, and pressure vessels compliant with the Pressure Equipment Directive are available as options. Our modular high-temperature furnaces combine robustness with precise temperature control – ideal for demanding industrial applications and highly flexible for innovative research projects.

Applications

Debinding ceramics & metals

Debinding removes the binders with their organic components from the green compact.

Ceramics sintering

Sintering of ceramics, after debinding or shaping by means of additive manufacturing, pressing, or casting.

Sintering metals

Sintering of metals, after debinding or shaping by means of additive manufacturing, pressing, or casting.

Heat treatment

Heat treatment can be used to set the final properties of the component and surface, such as hardness, strength or conductivity.

Vacuum and process gas brazing

Brazing processes place high demands on the furnace technology to ensure the surface quality of the components to be joined.

Hardening / Annealing

Hardening can be used to improve the mechanical resistance of metallic materials by selectively changing and transforming their microstructures.

Plant data:

Temperatures up to 3000 °C
Useful volume according to requirement
Vacuum: up to 1*10-6 mbar
Rotary vane and turbomolecular pump
Operation under vacuum, protective or reaction gas
Technical afterburning
Design as laboratory furnace

Design:

Frame made of mild steel surface treated or stainless steel
Stainless steel vessel (double-walled, water-cooled), optional: pressure vessel
Heating elements according to process requirements
High temperature insulation or radiation shields
Control cabinet integrated on the rack
Vacuum pumping station integrated

Measurement, control & regulation technology:

Siemens PLC, industrial PC or industrial controller
Control of power according to process temperatures
Temperature measurement by thermocouples and pyrometer
Single or multi-zone control of the heating elements
Running of the process in program segments (ramps, holding times, change of atmosphere etc.)
Documentation of process data for quality assurance

Ingolf Jaeger

Head of Sales
Dipl.-Ing. Mechanical Engineering

E-Mail: i.jaeger@ibt.de
Phone.: +49 (0) 3731 1683-15