Press Release April 2002

CENTORR/VACUUM INDUSTRIES SHIPS VACUUM/HYDROGEN FURNACE FOR PROCESSING COMPONENTS FOR DEFENSE PROGRAMS

April 2002 - Nashua, NH -- Centorr/Vacuum Industries won the contract to design and build a specialized vacuum, inert gas, and hydrogen co-firing furnace for a Manufacturing & leading components manufacturer for the U.S. Department of Energy, to produce technical metal/ceramic bonded parts. The 12" x 12" x 12" furnace met difficult specifications including tight temperature uniformity, vacuum levels of 1x10-6 torr, and fast ramping rates. Centorr/Vacuum Industries FM approved Hydrogen system included a dew point control system and water bubbler to provide moist process gas yielding safe operation while in Hydrogen environment, and an RGA Analyzer. The unit was equipped with an Edwards Turbomolecular Pump backed up by an Edwards Dry mechanical pump for truly oil-free operation. The system was shipped with a Hydrothrift™ brand water cooling system integrated into the furnace's control strategy. The design is based on Centorr/Vacuum Industries Workhorse® Metal Hot Zone design, which has been sold worldwide for the sintering of powdered metals with over 400 units in the field, the Co-fire furnace has a number of design improvements specific for use with ceramic-to-metal seal components. The Co-Fire furnace is available in sizes from 0.3, 0.7, 1, 2, and 3 cubic foot. Centorr/Vacuum Industries is a high temperature vacuum / controlled atmosphere furnace manufacturer with an installed base of over 6000 units worldwide. Their furnace offering ranges from large commercial and production units with hot zones over 3m x 3m, to smaller Lab and Research & Development furnaces for use at temperatures over 3000°C. They are located in Nashua, NH with a fully staffed Aftermarket Field Service group, and Applied Technology Center offering R&D support and toll production service. For more information please contact Scott K. Robinson at 603-595-7233 x 263.