Furnace builder "ROHDE Schutzgasöfen GmbH" of Hanau, Germany has delivered a "Bell-Type Furnace system for heat treatment under hydrogen to a customer in Switzerland. It is expected that the system will be commissioned in the very near future.

"The HO 100/150 system is designed for demanding heat treatment processes under a hydrogen atmosphere and reaches a rated temperature of 1,150 °C. This makes it particularly suitable for applications where a defined reducing furnace atmosphere, high temperature uniformity and reproducible process conditions are essential.

A key technical feature of the system is the integrated rapid gas cooling unit. It enables efficient and controlled cooling of the load after the heat treatment process. This helps reduce cycle times, precisely adjust material properties and significantly increase the overall productivity of the system.

Special attention was paid to achieving maximum energy efficiency. The high-quality thermal insulation and optimized furnace design ensure that process heat remains exactly where it is needed: inside the working chamber. The thermal image shows the furnace after 4.5 hours of operation at 1,150 °C. The low external surface temperatures at the measuring points — approximately 26–30 °C — clearly demonstrate the excellent insulation performance and efficient use of energy.

From loading and transport to assembly and final integration, this project demonstrates how modern furnace technology combines high process temperatures, safe hydrogen operation, short cooling times and sustainable energy efficiency.

We are pleased to contribute with this system to powerful, efficient and future-oriented heat treatment technology.

Technical highlights:
• HO 100/150 bell-type furnace system
- Operation under hydrogen atmosphere
- Rated temperature: 1,150 °C
- Integrated rapid gas cooling unit
- High temperature uniformity and process reliability
- Energy-efficient insulation with very low external surface temperatures
- Designed for reproducible industrial heat treatment processes