There is described a multilayer rod (24) for an induction coil (22,22) of a sealing unit (18) comprising a metal layer (25) and a corrosion-resistant layer (26); the corrosion-resistant layer (26) comprises and/or is formed from a nickel alloy.

A method of thermally processing a material with a thermal processing system includes providing a material for treating in an in-line thermal process to a heating system, providing a force to the material at a portion of the material configured to be heated by the heating system, adjusting the heating system to a specified temperature value, and heating the portion of the material to the specified temperature value while the portion of the material is under the force to change a magnetic property in the portion of the material. The heating system is moveable from a first position that is away from a path of the material through the in-line thermal process to a second position in which the heating system is configured to heat the portion of the material to the specified temperature value. The heating system can include induction-based heating.

An induction system includes a single power inverter, a plurality of power branches coupled to the single power inverter in parallel, and a controller. Each of the plurality of power branches includes an induction coil, a capacitor coupled to the induction coil to form a resonant circuit, and a power switch coupled in series with the resonant circuit. The controller is configured to regulate an output power of the resonant circuit of each of the plurality of power branches by varying a switching frequency of the single power inverter to adjust the output power of the resonant circuit of all of the plurality of power branches and/or selectively transmitting a signal to the power switch of a respective power branch of the plurality of power branches to turn-on and turn-off the power switch of the respective power branch to individually adjust the output power of each of the plurality of power branches.

An induction system includes a single power inverter, a plurality of power branches coupled to the single power inverter in parallel, and a controller. Each of the plurality of power branches includes an induction coil, a capacitor coupled to the induction coil to form a resonant circuit, and a power switch coupled in series with the resonant circuit. The controller is configured to regulate an output power of the resonant circuit of each of the plurality of power branches by varying a switching frequency of the single power inverter to adjust the output power of the resonant circuit of all of the plurality of power branches and/or selectively transmitting a signal to the power switch of a respective power branch of the plurality of power branches to turn-on and turn-off the power switch of the respective power branch to individually adjust the output power of each of the plurality of power branches.