Vacuum heat treatment is a well established practice in the aerospace (OEM and repair), land based turbines, automotive and tool industries. Controlled thermal processing of components is carried out in a vacuum environment to eliminate the deleterious effects of the charge reacting with the gases present in air. The main advantages of this process are bright oxide-free finishes with no carburisation or decarburisation, controlled heating and repeatability without hazardous fumes or toxic waste.