Visit to ECM

I visited ECM for the first time back in 2003, exactly 20 years ago. Now I have succeeded for the second time.

Fig. 1 – ECM Technologies entrance hall

And what are the impressions? A well-established company, still French, with excellent people and innovative ideas. And since low-pressure carburizing is still at the forefront of attention, both for energy savings and minimal CO2 footprints, the future is not at risk here.

And that their main business is still in China? So what? Our politicians would probably not survive it, but it is normal outside the borders of our country. Politics and business should be separated.

In total, they have already produced and installed more than 300 devices, with 1,500 heating and carburizing cells. Surprisingly, the Czech Republic is also an important customer. This is just a sign that ECM has a good position here as well, and hopefully I will be able to improve it even more. If you were looking for them, they are in Bosch Jihlava and Poclain Hydraulics Brno.

The patented Infracarb® low-pressure cementation control process ensures that carburizing results will be within our expectations. It is now self-evident that it can then be hardened in oil or in nitrogen overpressure.

Fig. 2 – Number of carburizing cells of the ICBP Flex system sold (Source ECM)

Fig. 3 – Test line for verification of customer applications, especially carburizing with gas and oil hardening

It is clear that the future of heat treatment is in automation. A beautiful example of a customer application and placing a charge into the furnace by a robot is shown in the following image. And the application? Unbelievable for me, kitchenware produced by deep drawing.

Fig. 4 – ECM Line for recrystallization annealing of austenitic steels with two heating chambers, processing time approx. 60 minutes.

Fig. 5 – no comment   

The visit to ECM extended my horizons again. If we want to work efficiently and at the same time in an ecological way in the future, we must also start thinking about non-standard solutions. And such solutions can really be found at ECM.

March 6, 2023

Jiří Stanislav