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Frequently Asked Questions

KTH Holts Heat Treatment Services

Depending on the process, heat treatment can affect surface appearance.

For example, conventional heat treatments done in air may cause a layer of oxidation or scale (a dark, matte finish) on steel surfaces.

However, KTH Holts can employ protective atmospheres or vacuum furnaces to maintain surface quality.

Vacuum heat treatment, in particular, prevents oxidation entirely because the process is done in the absence of oxygen​.

Parts treated in a vacuum furnace come out bright and clean, preserving dimensional accuracy and surface finish.

For processes that inherently cause a surface layer (like salt bath nitriding which forms a compound layer), KTH Holts ensures any required post-treatment finishing (such as polishing or blasting) is done so the parts meet the required specifications.

In summary, while some heat treatments can darken or scale a metal’s surface, KTH Holts has the capability (through vacuum processing or subsequent cleaning) to deliver parts with the desired surface condition – from bright, scale-free components for aerospace applications to intentionally hardened, matte surfaces for engineering needs..

The duration of a heat treatment process depends on the specific treatment and the material/thickness of the parts.

Some heat treatments can be completed in a matter of hours, while others may require a full day or more.

For example, a typical hardening and tempering cycle (heating, quenching, and one temper) might be completed within one work shift for medium-sized steel parts.

On the other hand, processes like gaseous nitriding often involve holding the steel at temperature for an extended period (nitriding cycles can run 20–40 hours or longer to achieve the desired case depth).

Carburising time depends on the case depth required – deeper cases require longer soak times at high temperature​.

KTH Holts also factors in controlled cooling periods; for instance, large parts that undergo stress relieving might be cooled slowly in the furnace for several hours to avoid introducing new stresses​.

In terms of lead time for customers, KTH Holts strives to accommodate project schedules – small batches or urgent jobs may be turned around quickly, while very large or complex orders will be scheduled to ensure quality.

It’s best to discuss your timeframe needs with KTH Holts; with their array of equipment and skilled staff, they can often adjust to meet tight deadlines whenever possible..

Heat treatment is necessary when a metal component’s properties need to be optimised for its intended use.

In practice, this is often done after initial forming or machining of a part.

For example, after casting, forging, or welding, a component may be heat treated to refine its microstructure and remove stresses​.

If a part needs to be harder or more wear-resistant (like gears or cutting tools), a hardening treatment (such as carburising or quenching and tempering) is performed.

If a part has become too hard or brittle, an annealing or tempering process can soften it to make it more ductile.

In general, you should consider heat treatment whenever you require specific mechanical properties (higher hardness, strength, toughness, or stability) that cannot be achieved in the metal’s “as-fabricated” state.

KTH Holts can evaluate your component and recommend if and what heat treatment is needed, drawing on their 150+ years of metallurgical experience​.

Heat treatment refers to a group of industrial processes in which metals are heated and cooled under controlled conditions to alter their physical (and sometimes chemical) properties​.

In simpler terms, heat treating a metal can change its hardness, strength, toughness, or ductility to meet desired engineering requirements.

This is important because many metal parts require specific properties – for example, tools need to be very hard, while springs need to be resilient.

By selecting the right heat treatment, manufacturers can improve a metal’s performance, durability, wear resistance, or relieve internal stresses to prevent future cracking.

In summary, heat treatment is a critical step in metal fabrication that ensures components will perform reliably in their intended applications..

It is possible for some heat treatment processes to cause dimensional changes or distortion in parts, especially during rapid cooling (quenching) or phase transformations.

However, KTH Holts takes extensive measures to minimise distortion.

By using techniques such as vacuum processing (which ensures uniform heating) and vertical furnaces that hang components during treatment, they reduce uneven stresses that cause warping​.

For instance, KTH Holts often heat treats long shafts vertically and even suspends them to avoid sagging​.

Additionally, processes like gaseous nitriding are done at relatively low temperatures without rapid quenching, so parts retain their precise shapes​.

If slight distortion does occur, KTH Holts has in-house straightening presses to gently correct parts back within tight tolerances.

In fact, they offer integrated stress relieving and precision straightening services that can achieve final run-out tolerances as low as 50 microns on shafts up to 3 meters long​.

This means even precision components can be heat treated safely at KTH Holts, with minimal distortion and full post-treatment correction if required..

The cost of heat treatment services can vary widely depending on several factors: the type of process, the size and quantity of parts, the material involved, and any specialised requirements (such as certifications or testing).

Simple processes like basic stress relieving or tempering are generally less expensive than complex case hardening processes that run for many hours (e.g.

long-duration carburising or nitriding cycles).

At KTH Holts, each job is evaluated individually.

Being a leading heat treater in the UK, KTH Holts offers competitive pricing for the high-quality services provided.

It’s worth noting that heat treatment is often a cost-effective investment because it significantly extends the life and performance of parts – for example, a properly hardened and tempered tool or gear will last much longer, reducing replacement costs over time.

For an accurate cost, it’s best to contact KTH Holts for a quote, providing details of your component (material, size, quantity) and the required specifications.

They will promptly offer a transparent pricing and timeframe for the service..

Absolutely – advising on the optimal heat treatment is a key part of KTH Holts’ service.

With experienced metallurgists and engineers on their team, they routinely assist customers in determining which process will best achieve the desired properties for a given part and material.

If you’re unsure what your component requires, you can consult with KTH Holts and expect guidance such as: Explanation of different options (for example, if you need a wear-resistant surface, they might discuss carburising vs nitriding and which suits your material and part geometry better).

Recommendations based on material: Certain alloys respond better to certain treatments.

KTH Holts can identify your alloy (if given a spec or sample) and suggest suitable heat treatments it can undergo.

Tailoring to application: They will consider what the part does.

Is it a gear that needs a hard case (case hardening)? A spring that needs tempering? A machined block that just needs stress relief? By understanding the application, they match it to the heat treatment that provides those properties.

Process design: In cases where a standard treatment might not suffice, KTH Holts can design a bespoke heat treatment cycle.

For example, they might recommend a double-tempering for a very high-strength part, or a combined cycle (like carburise + vacuum harden) to meet specific criteria.

Customers often come to KTH Holts in the design or prototype phase.

The team’s metallurgy expertise – built over a century of practice – is extremely valuable in problem-solving.

They may even advise if a material change or a different hardness specification would be beneficial.

All of this consultation is part of their commitment to ensuring the customer gets the optimal result.

In summary: Yes, KTH Holts will help you select the right process.

You don’t need to know all the technical details beforehand – just describe your needs or the problem you’re facing, and their experts will propose a heat treatment solution to achieve the desired outcome..

Yes.

While much of heat treatment involves steel, KTH Holts also treats non-ferrous alloys such as aluminum and certain copper-based or nickel-based alloys.

Aluminum alloys, for instance, often require solution treatment and aging (precipitation hardening) to reach their full strength – processes which KTH Holts can perform.

In their list of services, KTH Holts includes Solution Treating and Precipitation Hardening, which are terms typically associated with aluminum or PH stainless steels.

This means they have furnaces capable of heating aluminum to the requisite temperatures (around 500°C+ for solution heat treating) and then quenching (usually in water or polymer) followed by controlled aging at lower temperatures.

Similarly, copper alloys can be stress relieved or annealed, and bronze/brass components can be annealed to soften or relieve stress – these are services within KTH Holts’ competence.

For nickel-based superalloys or titanium (often used in aerospace), KTH Holts’ vacuum furnaces are especially useful, as these materials often need clean atmospheres to avoid oxidation.

Vacuum solution annealing of titanium or aging of nickel alloys (like Inconel) can be done while preserving a clean surface.

To summarise, KTH Holts is not limited to ferrous (iron-based) metals.

They apply appropriate heat treatment processes for light alloys and exotic metals as well.

Whether it’s treating an aluminum aerospace component or age-hardening a precipitation-hardening stainless steel (like 17-4 PH), KTH Holts has the equipment and expertise to do so.

Always inform them of the alloy type and desired property, and they will use the correct treatment accordingly..

Yes, one of KTH Holts’ strengths is its ability to handle a wide range of component sizes and batch quantities.

On the size spectrum: They can heat treat tiny components weighing just a few grams (such as small fasteners or delicate instrument parts) with precision.

Small parts can be loaded in batches by the tens of thousands, and KTH Holts can uniformly process these high volumes to tight tolerances​.

At the same time, they are capable of treating very large parts weighing several tonnes.

For example, their large pit furnace allows carburising or heat treating massive steel components, and their stress relieving furnace can accommodate parts up to 5 meters in length​.

On batch size: KTH Holts is equipped for prototype or one-off jobs (such as a single crucial part that needs special treatment) – they will devise a custom process if needed and carefully run a small batch.

They are equally equipped for high-volume production runs.

If you have thousands of identical parts that require case hardening or batches that need consistent treatment, KTH Holts can set up the process to run these efficiently and repeatably.

The facility’s multiple furnaces mean they can cycle batches through continuously to meet production schedules.

To illustrate, KTH Holts has processed everything from a single aerospace gearbox component to a lot of 30,000 tiny automotive components in one go.

The combination of various furnace sizes and types gives them the flexibility to scale to the job.

Whether it’s one large piece or many small pieces, KTH Holts can accommodate the work.

This versatility is a big advantage for customers – you don’t need to find different heat treaters for different size jobs; KTH Holts can likely handle them all under one roof​..

Yes, KTH Holts boasts some unique equipment and capabilities that set them apart: Large Pit Carburising Furnace: They operate one of the largest pit-type carburising furnaces in the heat treatment industry​.

This furnace allows them to carburise (case harden) very large and long components vertically.

Carburising such large parts is challenging, but KTH Holts’ furnace size and vertical processing capability help minimise distortion for big gear rings, long shafts, etc.

Vertical Heat Treatment Facilities: In addition to the pit furnace, they have vertical furnaces for processes like neutral hardening or tempering of long components.

Processing parts in a vertical orientation (often hanging) prevents bending under their own weight.

This is particularly useful for shaft-like parts up to several meters long​.

5-Metre Stress Relieving Furnace: KTH Holts has an unusually large stress relieving furnace that can handle fabrications up to 5m in length (or 1.6m diameter)​.

Few commercial heat treaters in the UK can accommodate parts of that size for thermal stress relief.

This is a key capability for industries like nuclear or large-scale engineering.

Nadcap-Approved Vacuum Furnace: Their vacuum heat treatment furnaces are not only advanced in technology (providing clean, high-uniformity processing), but also Nadcap accredited for aerospace work​.

This indicates a level of control and quality that’s somewhat unique when combined with their range of other services.

“Zero White Layer” Nitriding Process: Historically, Holts developed the first zero-white-layer nitriding process, and KTH Holts continues to use principles that produce high-quality nitrided surfaces requiring minimal finishing​.

The “white layer” is a brittle compound layer that forms in nitriding; their know-how can minimise or eliminate it, which is a specialised capability.

Integrated Straightening Service: While many heat treatment shops focus purely on heat treating, KTH Holts integrates post-heat-treatment straightening for long shafts and bars.

Their capability to straighten hardened or case-hardened parts (even hot-straighten tough alloys) to tight tolerances is a unique offering​.

This means customers get a finished part back in tolerance, rather than having to send it elsewhere for straightening.

On-site Metallography and Testing: The presence of an in-house metallography lab and mechanical testing means KTH Holts can rapidly verify results and adjust processes.

Not all heat treaters have this level of on-site analytical capability; it’s akin to having a miniature materials laboratory in-house for quality assurance.

These examples show that KTH Holts isn’t a generic heat treater – they have some special capabilities that allow them to tackle challenges others might not.

For customers, this translates to confidence that even unusual or difficult heat treatment jobs (be it due to size, strict specs, or complexity) can be handled by KTH Holts’ facilities..

Quality and traceability are top priorities at KTH Holts.

They ensure this in several ways: Documented Procedures: Every heat treatment process at KTH Holts is carried out according to detailed, approved procedures.

From furnace heating profiles to quench parameters, all steps are predefined and controlled under their ISO 9001 quality system.

Traceability: When KTH Holts receives your parts, they are tagged and logged.

Work orders and route cards travel with the parts through each process.

This means they maintain full traceability of each batch or component – linking it to material certificates, process parameters, furnace used, time/date, and the operators/inspectors involved.

All heat treatment jobs carry full accreditation and traceability paperwork​.

Calibration and Maintenance: Their furnaces and instruments are regularly calibrated to international standards.

For example, thermocouples, temperature controllers, and hardness testing machines are all checked to ensure accurate readings.

Furnace uniformity surveys are conducted to Nadcap requirements, ensuring even heating in the work zone.

In-Process Testing: KTH Holts often uses test pieces or witness samples alongside customer parts (especially for critical jobs like carburising or nitriding) to monitor results.

For instance, they may include a sample to measure case depth or hardness, verifying that the process achieved the desired outcome​.

Metallographic Lab & Inspections: With an on-site metallographic laboratory, KTH Holts can cut and examine samples under microscopes.

They perform hardness tests (Rockwell, Vickers, etc.) to confirm that parts meet specification.

If a specification calls for a certain hardness or microstructure, they will inspect and include the results in the certification package.

Certification of Conformity: Upon completion, KTH Holts provides documentation for the job – typically a Certificate of Conformity (C of C) or heat treatment certificate.

This certificate includes details of the process (e.g., furnace cycle, temperatures, times) and the results of any tests (final hardness, case depth, etc.), all linked to your part’s batch number.

This gives you a full quality record for your components.

Experienced Staff and Culture of Quality: Beyond formal systems, KTH Holts’ team is experienced in doing things right.

Many staff members have decades of metallurgical experience and take pride in delivering a quality result.

The company’s culture emphasises doing proper checks at every stage – from verifying material type before processing to double-checking hardness after treatment.

Thanks to these measures, customers can trust that parts leaving KTH Holts have been processed correctly and that every necessary detail is recorded.

This level of quality control is especially crucial for safety-critical industries, and it’s a cornerstone of KTH Holts’ service..

KTH Holts provides heat treatment services to a broad spectrum of industries.

Some of the key sectors they serve include: Aerospace: Heat treating critical aircraft components (landing gear parts, engine components, fasteners, etc.) to aerospace specifications.

KTH Holts’ Nadcap approval attests to their significant involvement in the aerospace sector.

Defense and Military: Treating alloy steels and armor materials for defense equipment, meeting stringent military standards.

Nuclear and Power Generation: Processing parts used in nuclear reactors or power turbines, where reliability is paramount.

Their quality systems (ISO 9001 and Nadcap) align with the high documentation requirements of this industry.

Oil & Gas: Heat treatment of drilling tools, valves, and pump components that face harsh conditions in oilfield or subsea environments.

Case hardening for wear resistance and stress relieving of large welded structures are common needs here.

Rail and Marine: Treating components for rolling stock, ship engines, and marine hardware.

For example, large shafts or gears for locomotives and ships may be carburised or induction hardened.

Automotive and Motorsport: Hardening and tempering of engine and transmission components, nitriding of crankshafts and cams, treating tools and dies for automotive manufacturing.

General Engineering & Precision Manufacturing: A wide range of industrial machinery parts, precision tools, and engineering components benefit from KTH Holts’ services.

This includes everything from cutting tools, moulds, and dies, to structural parts that require normalising or annealing.

Mining and Heavy Equipment: Heat treating of wear parts like gears, crusher parts, and hydraulic system components used in mining machinery.

These are just a few examples – in reality KTH Holts covers almost any industry that uses metal components​.

Their versatile facility and expertise allow them to adjust to industry-specific requirements easily.

Whether it’s aerospace-grade titanium or oilfield-grade alloy steel, KTH Holts likely has experience with it.

Their client base and approvals demonstrate a capability to serve industries with the most demanding standards in the UK and beyond..

Nadcap aerospace approval means that KTH Holts has been accredited under the Nadcap program for its heat treatment processes, specifically those used in aerospace applications.

Nadcap stands for the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program, a globally recognised cooperative program that evaluates and certifies special process providers in aerospace​.

For KTH Holts, this Nadcap accreditation indicates: Their heat treatment facility, especially the vacuum heat treatment processes, has been audited by industry experts and found to meet the stringent requirements of aerospace standards​.

They adhere to strict process controls, documentation, calibration, and testing protocols as required by aerospace prime contractors.

For example, Nadcap auditors verify furnace uniformity, calibrated instruments, proper loading diagrams, written procedures, staff qualifications, and so on.

Holding Nadcap approval allows KTH Holts to process parts for aerospace and defense contractors without further qualification.

It essentially “approves” KTH Holts as a trusted source for critical aerospace heat treating.

In practical terms, if you have a component that must meet aerospace quality requirements (such as AMS specifications or specific aerospace prime specs), KTH Holts can perform the heat treatment and provide Nadcap-recognised certification of compliance.

This approval is a mark of exceptional quality control and technical capability.

It is one reason many aerospace companies in the UK choose KTH Holts for heat treatment – they know the processes are in line with global aerospace standards..

KTH Holts is committed to quality and holds multiple important certifications/approvals: BSI ISO 9001 Certification: KTH Holts operates a quality management system that is certified to ISO 9001 (the internationally recognised standard for quality management)​.

This ensures consistent procedures, traceability, and continuous improvement in all operations.

Nadcap Accreditation for Aerospace Heat Treatment: Nadcap (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) accreditation is a rigorous certification specifically for aerospace-related special processes.

KTH Holts’ vacuum heat treatment processes are Nadcap approved​, meaning they meet the stringent requirements of the aerospace industry.

In addition, KTH Holts also meets Nadcap AC7004, which is an aerospace quality system requirement for organisations without design authority​.

Industry-Specific Approvals: Over its long history, KTH Holts has worked to many customer-specific standards and may hold approvals from major primes (for example, aerospace engine manufacturers or defense contractors).

While not listed here individually, they adhere to all required specifications as per client needs.

Member of Professional Bodies: KTH Holts is a member of the Contract Heat Treatment Association (CHTA) and the Surface Engineering Association (SEA) as noted in industry directories​, indicating their active engagement with industry best practices.

These certifications demonstrate KTH Holts’ commitment to maintaining high quality standards.

For customers, this provides confidence that every batch processed comes with full documentation and has been handled under audited procedures..

KTH Holts has an exceptional depth of experience – the company’s roots go back over 160 years.

Founded in 1860, KTH Holts has been involved in heat treatment since the early days of industrial metallurgy​.

This longevity is quite rare and speaks to a vast accumulation of know-how.

Over the decades, KTH Holts has continuously evolved, adopting new technologies (from salt bath furnaces in the mid-20th century to state-of-the-art vacuum furnaces in the modern era) while retaining deep understanding of traditional techniques.

Their team includes highly experienced metallurgists and technicians who have worked on countless projects.

This means when you bring a problem or a challenging component, chances are the experts at KTH Holts have seen something similar and know how to approach it.

The company prides itself on being technically driven, often advising customers on materials and processes to achieve the best outcome​.

In summary, with over a century and a half of continuous operation, KTH Holts brings unparalleled experience to heat treatment services in the UK.

Customers benefit from this extensive background through reliable advice, proven processes, and a historical track record of quality..

Many types of metal components undergo heat treatment as a standard part of their manufacturing cycle.

Some common examples include: Gears and shafts: These are often carburised or nitrided to create a hard, wear-resistant surface (for long service life of gear teeth or bearing surfaces) while keeping a tough core to handle shocks.

Tools and dies: Cutting tools, drill bits, and injection moulds are typically hardened and tempered.

Hardening gives them the high hardness needed to cut or shape other materials, and tempering ensures they aren’t too brittle.

Springs and automotive parts: Suspension springs or engine valve springs are tempered to achieve the right balance of strength and flexibility.

Crankshafts and camshafts may be nitride-hardened for wear resistance​.

Welded structures: Large fabricated structures (frames, pressure vessels, etc.) might undergo stress relieving to remove residual stresses from welding, preventing future distortion or cracks.

Aerospace components: Critical aerospace parts (landing gear, turbine shafts, etc.) are often vacuum heat treated or solution treated (for alloys like titanium) to meet strict performance and reliability standards.

Precision components: Measurement instruments or mold components might be sub-zero treated to stabilise their microstructure, ensuring they hold tight tolerances in service.

These examples illustrate how heat treatment is applied across industries – from making kitchen knives stay sharp, to ensuring aircraft parts can withstand extreme conditions.

KTH Holts has experience processing all of the above component types (and more), tailoring the heat treatment to each application..

KTH Holts offers a comprehensive range of heat treatment services to meet diverse engineering needs.

Their capabilities include: Vacuum Heat Treatment: High-temperature processing in vacuum furnaces for ultra-clean, scale-free results (ideal for aerospace-grade hardening, solution treating, etc.), backed by Nadcap accreditation​ Carburising (Case Hardening): Deep case depth carburising of steels to create a hard surface layer.

KTH Holts operates one of the largest pit carburising furnaces in the UK, capable of carburising very large components with minimal distortion​.

They also perform subsequent hardening (quenching and tempering) as required.

Carbonitriding: A case hardening process similar to carburising but with nitrogen addition for hardening smaller or more intricately shaped parts.

Gaseous Nitriding: Low-distortion surface hardening by diffusing nitrogen into the surface of steel using ammonia gas.

KTH Holts can nitride components up to 4 tonnes in weight, or dimensions up to 2400 x 1600 mm​ Salt Bath Heat Treatment: Both neutral salt baths (for uniform heating, austempering, martempering, etc.) and cyanide salt baths (for liquid nitriding/ferritic nitrocarburising) are available.

These allow case hardening and other treatments in molten salt for certain applications.

Annealing: Softening treatments to reduce hardness, increase ductility, or relieve internal stresses of metals.

Normalising: Heating and air-cooling treatments to refine grain structure and improve toughness of steel (often used after forging or welding).

Stress Relieving: Controlled low-temperature heating to relieve residual stresses in large fabrications or machined parts.

KTH Holts has a furnace that can stress relieve parts up to 5 meters in length​.

Hardening and Tempering: Through-hardening of alloy steels by quenching, followed by tempering to achieve desired strength and toughness.

This can be done in vacuum or controlled-atmosphere furnaces to avoid surface oxidation.

Induction & Flame Hardening: Localised surface hardening processes for specific areas of a component (for example, gear teeth or shaft surfaces) using induction heating or direct flame, followed by quenching​.

Sub-Zero Treatment (Cryogenic): Ultra-low temperature treatment (often at -80°C or -196°C) to transform retained austenite into martensite in steel, improving dimensional stability and hardness.

Metallographic Analysis & Hardness Testing: In-house lab facilities to cut, polish, and examine samples under microscopes, verifying case depths, microstructure, and hardness.

Every job can include hardness tests and certification of results for quality assurance​.

Straightening Presses: On-site mechanical straightening to correct any distortion in bars, shafts, or plates after heat treatment.

KTH Holts can perform both cold and hot straightening to very tight tolerances on long components​.

In summary, KTH Holts is equipped to perform virtually every heat treatment process used in modern industry.

This one-stop capability allows customers in the UK to get all their heat treatment needs met through a single, highly qualified provider..

KTH Holts is located in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, with its main heat treatment facility on Hope Street in Halifax (HX1 5BT)​.

From this strategic location in northern England, KTH Holts serves customers all across the United Kingdom.

They regularly work with clients from various regions – not only locally in Yorkshire, but also from the Midlands, Southern England, Scotland, etc.

The company is well-versed in coordinating logistics and transportation of parts, whether it’s arranging freight for large industrial components or receiving couriered packages of small precision parts.

Because of their long-standing reputation, many businesses throughout the UK (in sectors like aerospace, oil & gas, automotive, and engineering) trust KTH Holts for heat treatment.

Regardless of where you are in the UK, you can engage KTH Holts for your heat treatment needs.

The combination of their central location and expertise makes it convenient and efficient to get your parts heat treated and returned with full quality assurance.

In short: yes, KTH Holts serves customers nationwide.

Clients from all over the UK work with KTH Holts to take advantage of their specialist services and approvals..

KTH Holts is one of the UK’s leading heat treatment providers, with a heritage of excellence dating back to 1860​.

There are several compelling reasons to choose KTH Holts: Wide Range of Services: KTH Holts offers one of the widest ranges of heat treatment processes in the industry​ – from vacuum heat treatment and carburising to nitriding, annealing, and more – meaning they can handle virtually any heat treating need in-house.

Technical Expertise: With degree-qualified metallurgists on staff and over 150 years of experience, KTH Holts provides deep metallurgical knowledge.

They are technically driven, often assisting customers in process design and material selection to achieve the best results​.

Quality and Accreditation: KTH Holts is approved to BSI ISO 9001 quality standards and holds Nadcap accreditation for Aerospace Heat Treatment, ensuring that work is carried out to the highest quality benchmarks​.

All processing comes with full traceability and certification.

Advanced Facilities: They utilise modern furnaces (including vacuum furnaces and one of the largest pit carburising furnaces in the industry​), along with supporting equipment like on-site metallographic labs and straightening presses.

This enables handling of delicate, large, or complex jobs that others might find challenging.

UK Coverage and Reliability: Based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, KTH Holts serves customers across the UK with reliable turnaround times.

Their long-standing reputation is built on consistent, high-quality results and trustworthy service in critical sectors like aerospace, nuclear, and oil & gas.

In short, choosing KTH Holts means partnering with a UK heat treatment specialist known for its capability, quality, and a track record of delivering premium results to industry leaders..

Depending on the process, heat treatment can affect surface appearance.

For example, conventional heat treatments done in air may cause a layer of oxidation or scale (a dark, matte finish) on steel surfaces.

However, KTH Holts can employ protective atmospheres or vacuum furnaces to maintain surface quality.

Vacuum heat treatment, in particular, prevents oxidation entirely because the process is done in the absence of oxygen​.

Parts treated in a vacuum furnace come out bright and clean, preserving dimensional accuracy and surface finish.

For processes that inherently cause a surface layer (like salt bath nitriding which forms a compound layer), KTH Holts ensures any required post-treatment finishing (such as polishing or blasting) is done so the parts meet the required specifications.

In summary, while some heat treatments can darken or scale a metal’s surface, KTH Holts has the capability (through vacuum processing or subsequent cleaning) to deliver parts with the desired surface condition – from bright, scale-free components for aerospace applications to intentionally hardened, matte surfaces for engineering needs..

The duration of a heat treatment process depends on the specific treatment and the material/thickness of the parts.

Some heat treatments can be completed in a matter of hours, while others may require a full day or more.

For example, a typical hardening and tempering cycle (heating, quenching, and one temper) might be completed within one work shift for medium-sized steel parts.

On the other hand, processes like gaseous nitriding often involve holding the steel at temperature for an extended period (nitriding cycles can run 20–40 hours or longer to achieve the desired case depth).

Carburising time depends on the case depth required – deeper cases require longer soak times at high temperature​.

KTH Holts also factors in controlled cooling periods; for instance, large parts that undergo stress relieving might be cooled slowly in the furnace for several hours to avoid introducing new stresses​.

In terms of lead time for customers, KTH Holts strives to accommodate project schedules – small batches or urgent jobs may be turned around quickly, while very large or complex orders will be scheduled to ensure quality.

It’s best to discuss your timeframe needs with KTH Holts; with their array of equipment and skilled staff, they can often adjust to meet tight deadlines whenever possible..

Heat treatment is necessary when a metal component’s properties need to be optimised for its intended use.

In practice, this is often done after initial forming or machining of a part.

For example, after casting, forging, or welding, a component may be heat treated to refine its microstructure and remove stresses​.

If a part needs to be harder or more wear-resistant (like gears or cutting tools), a hardening treatment (such as carburising or quenching and tempering) is performed.

If a part has become too hard or brittle, an annealing or tempering process can soften it to make it more ductile.

In general, you should consider heat treatment whenever you require specific mechanical properties (higher hardness, strength, toughness, or stability) that cannot be achieved in the metal’s “as-fabricated” state.

KTH Holts can evaluate your component and recommend if and what heat treatment is needed, drawing on their 150+ years of metallurgical experience​.

Heat treatment refers to a group of industrial processes in which metals are heated and cooled under controlled conditions to alter their physical (and sometimes chemical) properties​.

In simpler terms, heat treating a metal can change its hardness, strength, toughness, or ductility to meet desired engineering requirements.

This is important because many metal parts require specific properties – for example, tools need to be very hard, while springs need to be resilient.

By selecting the right heat treatment, manufacturers can improve a metal’s performance, durability, wear resistance, or relieve internal stresses to prevent future cracking.

In summary, heat treatment is a critical step in metal fabrication that ensures components will perform reliably in their intended applications..

It is possible for some heat treatment processes to cause dimensional changes or distortion in parts, especially during rapid cooling (quenching) or phase transformations.

However, KTH Holts takes extensive measures to minimise distortion.

By using techniques such as vacuum processing (which ensures uniform heating) and vertical furnaces that hang components during treatment, they reduce uneven stresses that cause warping​.

For instance, KTH Holts often heat treats long shafts vertically and even suspends them to avoid sagging​.

Additionally, processes like gaseous nitriding are done at relatively low temperatures without rapid quenching, so parts retain their precise shapes​.

If slight distortion does occur, KTH Holts has in-house straightening presses to gently correct parts back within tight tolerances.

In fact, they offer integrated stress relieving and precision straightening services that can achieve final run-out tolerances as low as 50 microns on shafts up to 3 meters long​.

This means even precision components can be heat treated safely at KTH Holts, with minimal distortion and full post-treatment correction if required..

The cost of heat treatment services can vary widely depending on several factors: the type of process, the size and quantity of parts, the material involved, and any specialised requirements (such as certifications or testing).

Simple processes like basic stress relieving or tempering are generally less expensive than complex case hardening processes that run for many hours (e.g.

long-duration carburising or nitriding cycles).

At KTH Holts, each job is evaluated individually.

Being a leading heat treater in the UK, KTH Holts offers competitive pricing for the high-quality services provided.

It’s worth noting that heat treatment is often a cost-effective investment because it significantly extends the life and performance of parts – for example, a properly hardened and tempered tool or gear will last much longer, reducing replacement costs over time.

For an accurate cost, it’s best to contact KTH Holts for a quote, providing details of your component (material, size, quantity) and the required specifications.

They will promptly offer a transparent pricing and timeframe for the service..