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NUTEC Bickley has been selected by a global automotive leader to supply a complete isothermal annealing line featuring advanced furnaces, controlled cooling, and fully automated material handling. Designed to meet CQI-9 standards, the system will deliver high temperature uniformity, efficiency, and exceptional quality in processing steel automotive components.
An international, multi-billion-dollar corporation at the forefront of drivetrain technologies has awarded NUTEC Bickley the contract for a complete isothermal annealing line, scheduled for delivery in Q1 2026. This prestigious heat treat project is highly customized and the system has been designed in close collaboration with the customer to ensure everything meets its specific operational needs.
The contract includes high-temperature and low-temperature furnaces, an isothermal cooling chamber, a blast cooling tunnel, and all ancillary equipment, along with a fully integrated material handling and conveying system. All furnaces are designed to comply with CQI-9, the comprehensive audit standard covering the most common heat-treat processes used in the automotive industry.
Arturo Arechavaleta, NUTEC Bickley’s VP of Metal Furnaces, said:
“Our client for this multifaceted project is an auto component world leader that supplies nearly every major vehicle manufacturer. It has an established reputation in delivering the highest quality parts and promoting sustainability in the supply chain. I am delighted that NUTEC Bickley was chosen to partner in the design and manufacture of this isothermal annealing line.”
At the heart of the new facility is a double pusher tray high-temperature furnace (HTF) that will process carbon steel automotive parts. The furnace incorporates a fully automatic electrical double-pusher system with steel trays sliding over rails with idle rolls. Processing two trays across the width helps reduce the overall length of the line.
This natural-gas system features four automatic temperature zones, each equipped with two high-velocity nozzle-mix burners that generate strong turbulence and excellent recirculation within the furnace chamber. Burners are positioned on top of the sidewalls, firing horizontally above the load.
The operating temperature ranges from 850°C to 950°C (1560°F–1740°F). As with all NUTEC Bickley projects, achieving high temperature uniformity is a priority. Target performance is ±5°C for processes below 680°C, and ±10°C for processes at or above 680°C. The combustion program uses pulsed firing and integrates the latest control software available for this type of system.
After initial heat treating, the forged carbon steel parts move into an isothermal cooling chamber (ICC), also supplied by NUTEC Bickley. The exit door of the HTF is directly linked to the ICC for seamless transfer. Cycling time in the ICC varies between five and 10 minutes, with ambient air supplied by an external cooling fan. During this stage, load temperature is quickly reduced from 950°C (1740°F) to 660°C (1220°F), bringing the material to its transformation point. Tray push rate and maximum product throughput remain synchronized with the furnace cycle.
The parts then advance to a low-temperature furnace (LTF), which also matches the HTF in tray push rate and throughput. This furnace includes three automatic temperature control zones and six burners. Operating between 630°C and 700°C (1170°F–1290°F), it uses a fuel-only control system to further enhance temperature uniformity.
Once the secondary isothermal heat-treat stage is complete, the tray loads pass into a blast cooling tunnel (BCT). Cooling is carried out with ambient air using forced downward convection generated by two axial fans. By the time parts exit the tunnel, their temperature has been reduced to approximately 400°C (750°F).
Along with the HTF, ICC, LTF, and BCT, NUTEC Bickley is supplying all external and conveying equipment for the line. This includes entrance and transfer cars with movement systems; transfer car tracks; exit transfer cars with tray-dumping systems; integrated air-cooling units; return conveyors with electrical dolly systems; and loading stations with carbon steel baskets featuring lift-rotation movement via pneumatic cylinders.
All material handling operates fully automatically and is coordinated through the Master PLC and HMI for seamless integration across the entire line.
This new isothermal annealing line represents a significant step forward for both NUTEC Bickley and the automotive leader commissioning the project. With advanced furnace design, precise temperature control, and fully automated material handling, the system is engineered to deliver high-quality, consistent results at scale.
Companies seeking specialized heat-treat solutions or custom-engineered furnaces are encouraged to reach out to NUTEC Bickley
For more information or to discuss upcoming projects. please contact:
Arturo Arechavaleta – VP Metal Furnaces, NUTEC Bickley
E-mail: arturoarechavaleta@nutec.com
We serve multiple industries through the design, building and installation of combustion systems, thermal insulation and highly specialized industrial furnaces, kilns and ovens. We are focused on understanding our customers’ needs and supplying the best equipment at the most competitive price.
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