The HICON/H2 bell annealer is especially suited for annealing blanks and metal strip used in the manufacture of precious metal coins. The heat treatment of the coinage material is final process step before minting. The objective of the anneal is to provide a soft material with uniform mechanical properties and a completely bright, oxide-free surface so that the finished coins leave the mint with a shiny surface finish.
Anneals in the HICON/H2 bell annealer can be carried out in 25 % – 100 % hydrogen (with a dewpoint as low as -60 °C) so that even materials that are difficult to bright anneal (like CuZnNi alloys) can be heat treated in this kind of facility.