1300 °C

Max. temperature

~3 tonnes

Maximum load

High

vacuum Atmosphere


Industrial furnace expertise, available as a contracted service

Bekaert has operated high-temperature vacuum furnaces at industrial scale for decades — as part of our own advanced materials manufacturing processes. We are now making this specialized thermal processing capability available to external partners as a contract service.

Whether you are qualifying a new sintering process, running material trials for a research project, or facing a temporary capacity gap, our furnace park offers a rapid, cost-effective alternative to investing in and qualifying your own equipment.

Our process engineers bring deep metallurgical expertise — particularly in the sintering of refractory metals, titanium alloys, and specialty powder-based components — and work closely with your team to define and validate the right thermal cycle for your material.

This service is specifically suited to high-value, technically demanding applications that require clean, high-vacuum atmospheres and precise temperature control up to 1300 °C. It is not a general-purpose heat treatment service: we focus on the niche where our industrial-grade vacuum capability genuinely differentiates.

Not sure if your application fits our furnace?

We encourage you to get in touch early. Our team can quickly assess feasibility based on your material, geometry, required atmosphere, and cycle parameters — at no cost. Short-lead-time trial runs can typically be scheduled within a few weeks.

No capital expenditure

No capital expenditure

Use industrial furnace capacity without equipment investment or qualification effort

Flexible batch sizes

Flexible batch sizes

From single R&D samples to multi-tonne pilot production loads

Decades of process know-how

Decades of process know-how

Applied vacuum sintering experience from Bekaert's own production

Short response times

Short response times

Trial runs and urgent jobs accommodated with fast scheduling


Vacuum thermal processing — what we offer

All processes listed below are performed in a high-vacuum environment, eliminating oxidation, surface contamination, and decarburization. Our furnace is purpose-built for high-end vacuum applications requiring clean, controlled thermal cycles at temperatures up to 1300 °C.


Is our service a fit for your application?

Our vacuum sintering service is a strong fit if you need industrial-grade high-vacuum thermal processing but don't want — or aren't yet ready — to invest in your own furnace. The scenarios below describe the situations where our service adds the most value.

Not sure if your application fits?

Share a brief description of your material, process parameters, and volumes and our team will give you a straightforward assessment — typically within a few business days.


Technical capabilities

Our furnace is an industrial-grade unit designed for high-performance vacuum sintering of metallic and ceramic materials. Key technical parameters are listed below. A detailed capability datasheet is available on request.

ParameterSpecification
Maximum temperature1300 °C
Maximum load capacity~3,000 kg
AtmosphereHigh vacuum
Heat chamberMolybdenum
Heating systemElectric resistance (clean environment)
Temperature uniformity± 10 °C at load
Actual vacuum pressure rating10⁻⁵ mbar
Available processesSintering, annealing, solution HT, aging, stress relieving, tempering
Available inert gas backfillargon
Batch sizesSingle-sample R&D to multi-tonne pilot loads
LocationBekaert production site, Europe
Lead time — trial runTypically within a few weeks (subject to scheduling)

What makes our furnace distinctive for contract sintering

We offer high‑vacuum sintering services for oversized metallic and ceramic components that exceed the capacity of standard commercial furnaces.

Our equipment enables single‑piece or full‑assembly sintering of large, complex parts, eliminating the need for segmentation or multiple thermal cycles.

Detailed chamber specifications are available upon request. Our chamber size makes it genuinely suited to:

  • Large-format powder metallurgy parts or multi-part batch sintering
  • Pilot-scale production runs where part count per cycle matters for economics
  • Multi-sample R&D campaigns where several process variants are run simultaneously
  • Large-geometry components that do not fit in standard laboratory or sub-contract furnaces

The 3-tonne load capacity further enables high-productivity pilot runs that bridge the gap between lab-scale qualification and full production investment.

Request a quote

From enquiry to delivered parts — how it works

We keep the process straightforward. No lengthy tender process for trial runs.

Enquiry & feasibility

Enquiry & feasibility

Share your material, geometry, required cycle parameters, and volumes. Our process engineers confirm feasibility, typically within 2–3 business days.

Quotation & scheduling

Quotation & scheduling

We provide a formal quote based on batch size, cycle complexity, and required turnaround. Trial slots are typically available within a few weeks.

Processing & reporting

Processing & reporting

Your parts are processed with full cycle logging. We provide a process report including time-temperature profile and relevant observations for your records.

Ongoing partnership

Ongoing partnership

Repeat orders, increased batch sizes, and longer-term service agreements available as your program scales from R&D into pilot and production.



Common questions about our sintering service

Answers

1. What materials can be processed in your vacuum furnace?

  • Our furnace is well-suited to titanium and titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys, refractory metals (molybdenum, tungsten, and related alloys), high-alloy and tool steels, stainless steel powder compacts, and other metallic or ceramic systems that benefit from a clean, high-vacuum sintering environment. If you have a specific material system in mind, we recommend sharing your composition and target thermal cycle with our team so we can confirm suitability.

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2. Can you sinter MIM (metal injection molded) parts?

  • Yes, for materials compatible with our vacuum environment. Please describe your material system, binder system, and part geometry when enquiring so our team can confirm process suitability and define the right thermal cycle.

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3. What is the minimum order or batch size?

  • We can accommodate single-part or small-sample R&D runs. There is no formal minimum part count, though the economics of scheduling will naturally favour somewhat larger batches for routine production work. We are happy to discuss your specific quantities and advise on the most cost-effective approach.

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4. How quickly can a first trial run be scheduled?

  • Typical lead time for a first trial run is a few weeks from confirmed order, subject to furnace scheduling. For urgent or time-sensitive requirements, please flag this in your enquiry and we will do our best to accommodate your timeline. Repeat customers with regular requirements can be accommodated on a scheduled basis.

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5. What documentation do you provide after processing?

  • Standard deliverables include a process report with the time-temperature cycle log and processing conditions. Additional documentation — such as material certificates or specific quality records — can be discussed based on your requirements.

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Ready to discuss your sintering requirements?

Tell us about your material, process parameters, and volumes. Our team will confirm feasibility and provide a quote, typically within a few business days.