Production Materials & Heat Treatment

Heat treating is a vital process for complex components. It must be developed with an eye toward diminishing component stress and improving machinability, with special attention to individual part geometry and end attribute specifications. But it can also add a great deal of complexity to the manufacturing process. Every operation is dependent on a previous operation, sometimes initially leading to unpredictable results or distortion. We have experience in several different methods of heat treatment including vaccum carburizing, oil quench, and induction hardening.

That’s why Systrand embraces an iterative approach, starting in the pre-launch stage. We work collaboratively with the customer and our world-class heat treat suppliers and metallurgists. This proven, systematic approach consistently develops a reliable process that results in minimal distortion, making it possible to reliably meet geometry, tolerance, performance, and budget expectations.

We know that good manufacturing builds off of experience. It’s not as simple as buying the equipment and meeting a spec. We’ve been in high-volume precision manufacturing since 1982. We know how to take an existing gear design and find ways to improve not just its performance, but its manufacturability. This collaborative process can reduce direct costs, simplify assembly, improve durability, and help eliminate issues with vibration, noise, and handling.

Systrand has 40+ years of precision machining experience, and have been supplying the auto industry with high-volume, high-precision gears since 2011. In that time, high-performance gears and gear testing have become increasingly important to every auto manufacturer. Instead of following the trend, we’ve chosen to lead the way, living and breathing the NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) standards and requirements every day.

We were among the first U.S. manufacturers to supply high-precision hybrid and electric (HEV/EV) gears. Today, we have millions of hybrid and electric vehicle components in the field. More importantly, we have the tools and processes in place to ensure that our gears perform to ever higher standards. Those processes include an advanced 100% noise signature analysis on all NVH critical components, capable of isolating ghost order noise and other extremely subtle sources of unwanted vibration.

“Quality” isn’t just something for the Quality Department to worry about. It’s a commitment threaded through every office and workstation. At Systrand, we are a tier 1 supplier with IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 certifications. Our quality systems, processes, and entire organization are committed to ensuring quality for our customers.

Over four decades, we’ve invested and reinvested in the tools and talent that are vital to our customers’ success. That includes a world class operating system of monitored performance and a structured approach to problem solving proven to ensure reliable manufacturing.

These are metrics/results driven systems, built on Lean Manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodology, and take into account activity-based costing and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) while maintaining low- to zero PPM. Those systems form a foundation from which we can pursue continuous improvements and cost savings for our customers.