Induction Atmospheres

Induction Atmospheres was formed in September, 2002. Formerly part of Ameritherm Inc., the new company is exclusively dedicated to designing and building atmospheric induction systems aimed at lean and continuous flow manufacturing.  The engineers at Induction Atmospheres have designed, built and marketed a core of four products that have gained wide acceptance in the automotive and medical industries. These products include High Vacuum systems, Atmospheric Glove Boxes, Bell Jar Systems and Induction Furnaces. To complement these products, they have developed strong working relationships with Fortune 500 customers in the aerospace, automotive and medical industries.

Situation:

As firms drive toward lean and continuous flow manufacturing, the need to drive out batch-oriented processes greatly increases. Induction Atmospheres' products and services eliminate many batch heating processes. The company is positioned to be the market leader in providing solutions to complex industrial heating applications in industries such as turbine engine repair and medical instrumentation manufacture.

Induction Atmospheres had a need to find an alternative technology to solder the electrodes of fuel cells which would reduce the energy required and reduce the cost of manufacturing.  A typical fuel cell may have 200 electrodes soldered together.  Fuel cell quantities would require a very high soldering capacity. 

Solution:

High Tech Rochester helped Induction Atmospheres apply for and receive financial assistance from NYSERDA to develop an alternative soldering process.  Induction Atmospheres, using their experience and creativity, developed the fixturing and the brazing techniques to prove that induction brazing could produce the desired quality and quantity of brazed cells at a much lower energy cost and lower production cost.

Results:

Although the original fuel cell developer is not ready to mass produce fuel cells, the demonstration project has opened the door to  many other opportunities.  Sales have increased by 2.5 times and it is anticipated that this will continue for the next couple of years.  New job projections are 26 over the next three years, and the estimated energy savings from the increased application is $3,510,000.