Hiperbaric is set to deliver its Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) technology to heat treatment and surface coatings subcontractor TTT Group in Spain.
The Hiperbaric HIP 107 industrial system will be used by TTT Group as part of a new business unit specialising in using HIP to improve the mechanical performance of industrial components for the aerospace and oil & gas sectors. The installation in Spain is a first for Spanish high-pressure technologies developer Hiperbaric, and is said to be the largest investment in TTT Group's 65-year history.
Andrés Hernando, CEO of Hiperbaric, “We’ve been exporting our leadership in high-pressure technology to all five continents for 27 years, and seeing our own domestic industry firmly commit to taking this leap toward excellence in critical components strengthens our position at home.”
The system is designed to enhance the mechanical properties of critical metal components, particularly those made with casting and metal additive manufacturing. It operates at pressures of up to 2,000 bar (200 MPa) and temperatures of up to 1,400°C (with the option to reach 2,000°C). The equipment uses Fast Cooling technology, which allows the heat treatment cycle and material consolidation to be integrated into a single step.
Xabier Berasategi, CEO of TTT Group, “For TTT Group, incorporating Hiperbaric’s HIP technology aligns with a clear strategy of diversification and high added value, with a particular focus on the aerospace sector; it also opens the door to other markets and future technologies such as additive manufacturing and Near Net Shape (PM-HIP). With this equipment, we not only eliminate microscopic internal pores in mechanical parts to ensure their extreme fatigue resistance, but we also provide the market with a comprehensive competitive advantage: heat treatments and HIP densification under one roof.”
HIP increases fatigue resistance and delivers parts with a fine-grained microstructure and excellent mechanical properties. This technology eliminates porosity and other internal defects, provides greater consistency in high-performance materials, allows for the remanufacturing of defective parts, and enables lighter, more weight-efficient designs.
Last July, Hiperbaric sold one of its largest HIP systems, the Hiperbaric HIP 93, to Taiwanese manufacturer Plus Metal to help bolster its capabilities in the manufacture of high-value-added components for the aerospace sector.
Hiperbaric announced its move into the additive manufacturing space in 2019, stating "enormous potential" for HIP in the 3D printing of medical and aerospace products. Speaking to TCT at the time, Rubén García, HIP Project Manager at Hiperbaric told TCT, "The most demanding industrial sectors – medical implants, aeronautics, nuclear, military – are already benefiting from the advantages of AM and HIP, and the synergy between the two concepts provides an answer to all the technical and productive requirements of these industries."
