Automotive Thermal Processing: ICE, EV, and Heavy Truck
Paulo has a long history of proven success with thermal processing and heat treatment in automotive, working with leading carmakers, heavy truck manufacturers, and tiered suppliers in North America and beyond.
Thermal Processing for Automotive Seating Components: The Essential Guide
In this article, we discuss the key thermal processes used for seating components, how common materials respond, and how to use a data-led approach to yield repeatable results.
Download GuideWe’re Prepared to Solve Your Challenges
Proper thermal processing is the key to safety for cars and trucks. The automated precision controls in our system ensure your parts are processed to your exact specifications. We also have safeguards in place to prevent any out-of-spec part from entering your supply chain, protecting both your customers and your business.
Lot Traceability
Paulo has the most advanced data collection and automation system of any commercial heat treater. All process and testing data is captured and cataloged electronically in our PICS system, ready for recall within a few clicks. Also, our handling practices prevent mixed parts.
Turnaround Times
With more manufacturers adopting just-in-time inventory models, turnaround times for processing are more important than ever. While processing times vary, we schedule strategically to shorten turnaround as much as possible and plan to anticipate rush orders.
Strict Specifications
Consumers rely on safety system components every time they climb into their vehicles. That’s why we’ve built smart, automatic process controls to ensure your parts meet specifications—and we have the industry’s largest in-house metallurgy team to verify results through testing.
Certification & Approval Process
We already hold many certifications and approvals across our plant system and are well-versed in the process of obtaining them. We’ve successfully expedited the PPAP process for several customers to keep their production running, and we can do the same for you.
Automotive & Heavy Truck Thermal Processing Capabilities
We are a full-service commercial thermal processor with a comprehensive range of capabilities and a vast equipment array. These are a few of the services we most commonly perform for our automotive and heavy truck customers.
Ferritic Nitrocarburizing (FNC)
For internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE), FNC is a case hardening technique that improves durability, appearance, and corrosion resistance for components such as crankshafts, camshafts, brake rotors, and gears.
When it comes to heat treating for EVs, improved appearance and corrosion resistance are especially important qualities for brake rotors due to regenerative braking, which the FNC process can reliably provide.
Zinc Plating and Zinc Phosphating.
We offer zinc plating and zinc phosphating services for large batches of automotive parts to prevent corrosion, improve appearance, and reduce conductivity, in addition to other benefits.
Case Hardening
Our precision carburizing and case hardening solutions allow us to meet even the most strict case depth specifications for automotive fasteners, bearings, gears, engine parts, and more in either batch or continuous belt furnaces.
Nitriding
Gas nitriding is a specialized case hardening technique used on parts that require high wear resistance. Because it is carried out at a lower temperature, gas nitriding helps prevent the part distortion that can sometimes occur due to more extreme heating.
Black Oxide Coating
Black oxide is a finishing that offers a unique aesthetic benefit, giving parts a sharp black appearance and minimized light reflection, along with enhanced corrosion resistance.
Austempering
Austempering is a process used to increase a part’s toughness while maintaining its shape with tight dimensional requirements. Within the automotive industry, austempering is most commonly used on components for ATVs, recreational vehicles, and heavy trucks.
Ferritic Nitrocarburizing (FNC)
For internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE), FNC is a case hardening technique that improves durability, appearance, and corrosion resistance for components such as crankshafts, camshafts, brake rotors, and gears.
When it comes to heat treating for EVs, improved appearance and corrosion resistance are especially important qualities for brake rotors due to regenerative braking, which the FNC process can reliably provide.
Zinc Plating and Zinc Phosphating.
We offer zinc plating and zinc phosphating services for large batches of automotive parts to prevent corrosion, improve appearance, and reduce conductivity, in addition to other benefits.
Case Hardening
Our precision carburizing and case hardening solutions allow us to meet even the most strict case depth specifications for automotive fasteners, bearings, gears, engine parts, and more in either batch or continuous belt furnaces.
Nitriding
Gas nitriding is a specialized case hardening technique used on parts that require high wear resistance. Because it is carried out at a lower temperature, gas nitriding helps prevent the part distortion that can sometimes occur due to more extreme heating.
Black Oxide Coating
Black oxide is a finishing that offers a unique aesthetic benefit, giving parts a sharp black appearance and minimized light reflection, along with enhanced corrosion resistance.
Austempering
Austempering is a process used to increase a part’s toughness while maintaining its shape with tight dimensional requirements. Within the automotive industry, austempering is most commonly used on components for ATVs, recreational vehicles, and heavy trucks.
ICE Vehicle & Heavy Truck Components We Process
- Metal stampings and fineblankings
- Fasteners, clips, and clamps
- Safety system components
- Seat components
- Seat belt buckles
- Engine components
- Brake rotors
EV Components We Process
- Seating components
- Fasteners, clips, and clamps
- Seat belt buckles
- Brake rotors
Certifications & Approvals
Paulo holds many approvals from prominent manufacturers such as GM, Ford, Honda, Toyota, and more. We also have several CQI, ISO, and IATF certifications across our plant system. See our quality page for a full list of our approvals and certifications.
Trust Your Parts to Paulo
From precise processing to testing, handling, and more, Paulo’s team can provide a vital link in your supply chain. Our team of in-house metallurgists can also help identify and resolve issues that a previous heat treater may have had to bring your parts to spec. Bottom line? Bring us your challenges, and let’s work on solving them together.
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