Optimum quality for heat treatment

Ipsen relies on Zwick for hardness testing

Machines used for heat treatment technology must satisfy the highest quality standards. Precise heat control and distribution are essential to obtain the required degree of hardness for steels. The world’s leading manufacturer of heat treatment equipment, Ipsen International of Kleve, Germany, uses a Zwick hardness testing machine for quality control of its products.

Ipsen’s products cover the entire spectrum of heat treatment technology. Two types of Ipsen furnace in particular are widely used today for industrial heat treatments: atmosphere furnaces and vacuum furnaces. Both methods are used to harden steels and steel components in line with customers’ requirements. Improving the properties of steels is not purely a matter of furnace technology, but also involves special procedures requiring precise control.

Ipsen uses a Zwick ZHV30/zwicki-Line to monitor the performance of its heat treatment equipment and to optimize processes in these applications. This particular hardness tester is ideal for automated traverse tests to determine values for the following methods: case hardening depth (CHD) to EN ISO 2639, conventional depth of hardening after surface heating (DS) to EN 10328 and nitriding case depth (NHT) to DIN 50190-3.

Control of the hardness tester and evaluation of test data is handled by testXpert software. The test report containing test parameters and results is generated automatically, enabling Ipsen to deliver the results to customers quickly and easily.