Trempelec, the Thermilyon Group's automotive specialist, has taken a new step in its development by making a major investment in the Arve Valley. This involves the acquisition of a low-pressure carburizing line designed for mass-production markets. Stéphane Perlaut, site manager for over 10 years, explains the benefits for his customers and the industry.
A new, forward-looking investment
Interviewer: "Hello Stéphane, thank you for agreeing to answer some questions today. We're going to talk about the new investment you've acquired on the Trempelec site, can you tell us more about it?"
Stéphane Perlaut: "Hello. With pleasure! We've decided to acquire a low-pressure case-hardening line capable of accommodating up to 8 heating chambers with a gas quenching chamber and an oil quenching chamber."
A low-pressure carburizing line is a system used for the heat treatment of metals, particularly in industries requiring parts with precise mechanical characteristics, such as the automotive industry. With this new line, Trempelec is making an investment of almost 3.5 million euros, including the overhaul of existing infrastructures, such as cooling and electrical installations.
Stéphane Perlaut: "A necessary investment to always meet our customers' needs and offer solutions that deliver better quality."
This line will meet the needs of the automotive market and mass production industries, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in particular CO2. An innovative approach focused on the future!
Customer benefits
Interviewer: "So this line is an innovative piece of equipment for your customers, but what benefits will they derive from it exactly? What does it change compared to "traditional" case-hardening lines?
Stéphane Perlaut: "Compared with conventional treatments, the parts undergo very little deformation and come out clean. When we treat shafts or pinions, if the parts are deformed, we have to re-machine them, which is very costly! With our new line, this step will no longer be necessary, thanks to the finishes it allows."
As Stéphane tells us, the advantages of this new technology for customers are numerous. Thanks to low-pressure carburizing, treatments are carried out faster and at higher vacuum temperatures, which limits intergranular oxidation and part deformation. Treated parts emerge from the furnace undistorted and optimally clean, which often eliminates the need for washing, particularly in the case of gas quenching.
For customers, this means clean metal parts with little distortion. Customers in the automotive industry, where precision and cleanliness are essential, will benefit from superior production quality, with parts that are uniform and not aesthetically degraded. Both financial and time advantages.
Stéphane Perlaut: "In the automotive industry, many parts are inspected by camera, so by producing parts that are uniformly clean and undistorted, we eliminate the problem of color nuances in final inspection operations, as well as the reading of typical DATA MATRIX codes.
This case-hardening line offers considerable flexibility, enabling treatments to be carried out using a combination of different methods, such as gas or oil quenching. This adaptability enables Trempelec to meet the varied requirements of the market, offering tailor-made solutions for every application.
Benefits for the Thermilyon Group and Trempelec
Interviewer: "We can see that your new line saves your customers money and time. But for yourself and Trempelec, what are the benefits of this new investment?
Stéphane Perlaut: "We're always looking for ways to be ahead of the game and stand out from the competition. This new line enables us to meet a growing demand from mass-production industries, and positions us as a leading player in the field of innovative heat treatment."
As a leading-edge site for heat treatment technologies, Trempelec sets itself apart from the competition to meet the challenges of the ever-changing automotive industry. The new line is designed to process transmission parts, fasteners and other components, enabling Trempelec to diversify and not be dependent on motorization trends in the automotive market.
Stéphane Perlaut: "Our aim is always to position ourselves on modern processes, as we did back in the day with the introduction of pilot-operated gaseous nitrocarburizing."
A new line starting in September 2024
The new line, which starts up in September 2024, is currently equipped with 2 operational heating cells, with a planned extension to 8 cells. The first phase of the investment is aimed at automating the line to integrate revenues and washes automatically. With production volumes already under negotiation, Trempelec also plans to invest in a robot to prepare parts for assembly, to meet growing market demand.
This strategic investment marks a milestone in Trempelec's development. The new low-pressure carburizing line positions the plant as a key player on the international market, ready to meet tomorrow's challenges with cutting-edge technologies.
Within the Thermilyon Group and at Trempelec, we are determined to remain at the forefront of innovation to better serve our customers. Thanks to our new investment in a low-pressure carburizing line, we can now offer faster, cleaner and more precise heat treatment solutions, tailored to the specific needs of the automotive industry and large industrial production runs.
Contact our team to discuss your specific needs and explore how we can help you reach new heights in performance and quality.
