From spark to finish.
Get to market faster and more efficiently with Harper’s Ignite® process. Harper enables companies with R&D testing for advanced materials, from the lab to full commercialization, helping make their innovations a reality. Utilizing our depth and breadth of experience in thermal processing, we partner with our customer to ensure success as they scale up their process operations.
Harper’s support to emerging industries begins in early stages of research and development, whether at corporate R&D centers, universities, government institutions, or start-ups. Our mission is to assist these customers in turning the next generation of material innovations into profitable new markets. Just like our experience in the Carbon Fiber market, we help customers develop unique thermal processes and efficiently and effectively progress them into complete production lines.
Feasibility and Testing
Optimization of process parameters is critical prior to investment in thermal processing equipment to ensure capacity and quality requirements are achieved. At our Technology Research Center, customers utilize Harper’s systems and expertise in their process development and process optimization for use in commercial scale-up and for those systems with unique specifications. Harper also provides a variety of additional analytical services such as gas analysis (critical to ensuring compliance with environmental regulations) electron microscopy, XRD, BET, and other thermal and elemental analysis.
In addition to Harper’s rotary, box and elevator furnaces, we also offer microwave testing as a part of our Research and Piloting facility. All non-metallic and electrically non-conducting materials can be tested in temperatures ranging from 600°-1800°C. Applications include, but are not limited to; ceramic processing, shaped ceramics, activated carbon, battery materials, and food processing.
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Engineering Studies
Count on our extraordinarily experienced engineering staff to conduct in-depth studies to determine equipment requirements and help define process parameters for optimal plant design to assist with technical and business strategy and financial planning. Our vast capabilities in thermal processing engineering studies include, but are not limited to:
- process cost models
- economics of increased production capacity with current and future state technologies
- analysis of best-suited thermal process technology system for new material innovations
- identification of opportunities for improved product quality and cost reduction
- investigation of solutions for transition from batch to continuous processing
- engineering of material handling solutions for unique processing systems
Learn more – Engineering Expertise
Tolling Services
Harper is pleased to also offer toll processing as an intermediary step of Ignite, further enhancing our complete process development solutions for our clients. On many occasions, clients need sampling quantities for prospective customers, and Harper can satisfy that need with our tolling partners who have a variety of Harper thermal system platforms available for production use. With our Ignite program, Harper’s Ph.D.’s and Engineers are involved from start to finish. To ensure the technical parameters during tolling operations are meeting the same requirements as our lab, our team reviews the process and is dedicated to providing additional support throughout the process.
Tolling is ideal for a variety of atmospheres including air, inert gas, reducing atmospheres and reactive gases. It is generally used for processing powders, pellets and components. Harper’s systematic approach to process development involves optimizing the best process with our customers and our technical experts. Once the process is defined, Harper then collects the data to scale up the system for commercialization with a full scale production furnace system.
Learn more – Material Market Experience
Microwave Testing
Harper designs advanced Microwave thermal processing systems, as well as offers Microwave testing in our Technology Research Center. Our in-house Lab Scale Experimental Apparatus is capable of delivering up to 3kW of microwave energy and can be controlled in steps of 50W, with frequency of the radiation of 2450MHz. The current aluminum container designed as a single mode applicator can reach very high temperatures. If a controlled atmosphere is required, a quartz container can be placed with quartz tubes extending through the holes of the applicator. Connecting gas sources to the quartz enables atmosphere control.
Additionally, Harper has teamed up with Ferrite Microwave Systems to provide access to batch and continuous systems for testing powered by 75kW generators operating at 915 MHz. These units are larger than the lab scale apparatus and are ideal for developing processes for commercial scale operations.
All non-metallic and electrically non-conducting materials can be designed for temperatures ranging from 600°-1800°C. Applications include, but are not limited to; ceramic processing, powders, shaped ceramics, activated carbon, battery materials and food processing.
Learn more – Microwave Testing
Research Scale, Pilot Scale & Full Production Scale Systems
As customers ramp up their operations, Harper offers a range of solutions in thermal regimes beyond what others can, including furnace technologies and oxidation ovens in lab scale to full production scale sizes. We have the building blocks to design even for the most challenging thermal process, using our years of practice to devise a first-of-a-kind, custom system every time.
Offering a complete solution for your advanced material process plant, from material handling to final product collection and everything in between, Harper is focused on helping customers link the process steps to achieve greater efficiencies in reduced operating costs, increased quality and productivity, and strategic risk mitigation. From first point of engagement, Harper rigorously designs thoughtful operations sequences that ensures a comprehensive perspective is maintained.
Learn more – Thermal Processing Technologies Portfolio