Piotr Skarbinski is the Vice President of the Controlled Atmosphere Brazing (CAB) and Aluminium Process business segment at SECO/WARWICK S.A., overseeing advanced thermal processing solutions for the aluminium flat-rolled product industry. With decades of experience, he plays a key role in driving innovation and global leadership in CAB and aluminium heat treatment technologies. In an interview for the e-Magazine "World of ALuminium Flat Rolled Products", Skarbinski sheds light upon innovative technological advancement posing with real-time benefits in the aluminium FRP sector.

AL Circle: What distinguishes SECO/WARWICK’s heat treatment systems from its aluminium processing industry competitors?

Piotr Skarbinski: A few years ago, we came to the conclusion that it was possible to develop an even more competitive jet-heating solution. A research and development program was created with the involvement of our R&D department. In the beginning, we analyzed various solutions available on the market using CFD simulations, adding solutions invented by our specialists to the analyses. The search resulted in an optimal (for now in theory) solution. In the second stage, we conducted the selected nozzle systems’ comparative tests on a measuring device. The tests confirmed the results from the CFD simulations. In the third stage, we installed the new VORTEX 2.0 system on the furnace and conducted a series of tests, which also confirmed the new system’s advantages, enabling the process time reduction by up to 30 per cent. The new system has been patented and is currently being implemented in the industry in 2 projects.

AL Circle: How does SECO/WARWICK customise its heat treatment solutions to meet clients’ diverse needs within the aluminium flat rolled sector?

Piotr Skarbinski: Our Vortex 2.0 furnaces are always bespoke and designed to consider individual project requirements like the size of the load, production output, process parameters requirements like the temperature profile, client plant layout, etc. Furnaces lined together with cooling chambers and loading machines may be prepared for fully automatic work. Furnaces may be equipped with internal cooling systems to enable cooling in the same process under a protective atmosphere. Recently, we redesigned the internal cooling systems so that no pit is needed under the furnace.

AL Circle: What emerging trends do you foresee in the aluminium flat rolled market, and how is SECO/WARWICK preparing to adapt its heat treatment technologies accordingly? Can you share any upcoming innovations or product launches in the pipeline, particularly those aimed at enhancing the performance of aluminium flat-rolled products?

Piotr Skarbinski: The automotive and aerospace industries increasingly demand standards (temperature uniformity, final material quality). We are constantly improving our solutions so that they can meet (sometimes exceed) these expectations. With each new project, we introduce modifications to the solutions mentioned above, which leads to lower process costs, as well as reliability. Today, we are able to guarantee temperature uniformity in all furnace loads during the soaking time at the level of +/- 3 C, and the actual results are even better. Another aspect of our projects is their location. As a global company, we can produce a furnace designed locally by our headquarters in Poland, e.g., in our company in India or the USA, or even commission it to the customer under our supervision. In this way, we significantly reduce the project’s costs.

To explore the full interview and gain deeper insights into the global aluminium flat-rolled product market and how SECO/WARWICK is contributing to its growth, click here.