The MHS 17 hardening system has a modular design and consists of a work platform for the heat treating furnaces, an oil bath for quenching, a water bath for cleaning parts and heating elements for both baths. The baths are mounted to the left and right of the work platform and have charging baskets in order to induce even cooling of the parts in the bath. All parts may be ordered separately meaning the hardening system can be retrofitted or equipment added individually depending on the materials processed. The MHS 17 can have an air quenching system added to it for air-hardened steels. This platform has a powerful cooling fan to force cool the parts requiring hardening and also the gas feed annealing bag and holder. A refractory brick base is for placing hot boxes and workpieces on them. The quenching baths can also be fastened onto the forced cooling system. An additional storage platform can be integrated within the system for holding accessory equipment and/or optional charging accessories.

The work platform of the system is designed for supporting an N 7/H - N 61/H series hardening furnace and N 15/65 HA - N 60/65HA tempering furnaces. Suitable gas feed boxes can be integrated. After heating in the hardening furnace, the parts are removed from the furnace or the gas feed box and quenched in an oil quench bath or water bath. The charging basket is used to move the part within the bath so that it cools more evenly. After quenching in oil the the workpiece should be cleaned in the water bath, dried and immediately tempered in a circulating air furnace in order to optimally fix the mechanical components with regard to their strength behavior for the required conditions, minimize distortion and prevent potential flaws.