Manufacturer Successfully Combines Captive & Commercial Heat Treatment

September 3rd of this year we had a news item about DUAP AG, a Swiss manufacturer of fuel injection systems investing in more Heat Treating Capacity. Based upon this story Gord Montgomery of “The Monty Heat Treat News” visited the firm in Herzogenbuchsee, Switzerland Thursday of last week-a very interesting visit as it turned out.
 
It would appear that DUAP has a number of fuel injection system options which are largely utilized in very large diesel engines-marine engines would be a perfect example. We won’t dwell upon their products except to say that it appears the company is a leader in their technology which has lead to a very successful, busy company with a full order book.
 
What was most interesting to us was that DUAP is part of a very small group of manufacturers who have successfully combined captive and commercial heat treating. The heat treat department which consists of a number of Ipsen Batch IQ furnaces, 2 vacuum furnaces and the new Rohde pit nitriding system is 70% commercial heat treating with 30% capacity for their own products. As we say it is unusual to see a manufacturer who is able to profitably serve the commercial heat treatment market but it would appear that DUAP has been able to.
 
Incidentally the new pit nitriding furnace replaces a 40 year old system and the result is a 70% reduction in ammonia usage and a 40% reduction in energy costs.
 
“SEPTEMBER 3/2024; Injection Nozzle Manufacturer adds Nitriding Furnaces; DUAP AG a supplier of fuel injection nozzles in Switzerland has just added pit nitriding capacity. The company operates both as a manufacturer and as a commercial heat treater. The 2 Rohde supplied furnaces have working dimensions of 1500mm x 2000mm with a weight capacity of 3000 kg and a second unit 700mm x 1000mm with an 800 kg capacity. Operating temperature is 750C and both will capable of Nitriding, nitrocarburizing, post-oxidation, stress-relieving and annealing using nitrogen, ammonia and propane.  In addition to the new furnaces DUAP also updated their crane and washing systems. Both furnaces entered production very recently.” 
 
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
 
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
Left to Right; Stefan Staude, Production Manager DUAP, Joern Rohde, Philipp Dambach, DUAP, Gord Montgomery