Throughout his first decade in the vacuum furnace, heat treat industry, Chris Sullivan has obtained a diverse range of experience, excelling in a multitude of unique roles and responsibilities. Graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Chris entered the industry as a lead design and support engineer at Signature Vacuum Systems for eight years. In January 2023, Chris joined SECO/VACUUM as a project manager and aftermarket engineer.

Chris is a highly skilled engineer with a deep understanding of heat treat furnaces and industry principles. He has designed and engineered a number of custom heat treat furnaces, which have reduced costs and saved significant processing time for clients. Whether programming and cutting components on the plasma table, reverse-engineering and installing replacement furnace hot zones, vacuum leak checking with helium mass spectrometer, or developing state-of-the-art solutions and drawings based on specific client needs, he has continuously impressed as an engineer and complex problem solver. Some of Chris’s other notable responsibilities include creating 3D equipment models for design analysis and development of detailed mechanical drawings, providing aftermarket support and spare parts for existing and new clients, introducing and implementing lean manufacturing concepts, developing detailed procedures and work instructions for equipment manufacturing and assembly, as well as capital project management, to name a few.

Beyond his technical expertise, Christopher also excels as a leader and communicator, able to clearly explain complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. His reliability, dedication to his craft, attention to detail, education, and deep understanding of vacuum heat treat furnaces and industry principles, have all coalesced to make him a perfect fit for his work at SECO/VACUUM.

Chris is also a dedicated husband and father of three, as well as a dedicated employee who is always willing to go the extra mile, as he is often the first one in the office and the last one to leave. He is always willing to help out his colleagues professionally, and personally when called upon, and is always looking for ways to improve the company. A colleague shared, “He is a valuable asset to SECO/VACUUM, and I am confident that he will continue to make significant contributions to our team in the years to come.”