HEAT TREAT NEWS

18 News Chatter To Keep You Current

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 18 news items.


Equipment

  1. Blue M, a global industrial and laboratory ovens manufacturer, has announced the shipment of a stacked mechanical convection oven to be used for non-hazardous curing applications between 570°F and 750°F (300°C and 400°C).
  2. Hammerer Aluminum Industries (HAI) has implemented a Nitrex nitriding system at its facility in Romania, replacing the traditional salt bath nitriding process. The new system has a load capacity of 3,300 lbs (1,500 kg), is designed specifically for treating extrusion dies, and offers controlled nitriding and controlled ferritic nitrocarburizing.
  3. SECO/WARWICK recently completed three transactions: a European manufacturer of modern armament equipment and armaments supplier for NATO acquired a vacuum furnace with gas cooling and a molybdenum heat chamber; a Slovenian manufacturer ordered a vacuum furnace with 15 bar high pressure gas hardening and two nitriding furnaces; and a Turkish company purchased an induction vacuum furnace for melting and obtaining castings designed for manufacturing aviation components.

Company & Personnel

  1. Industry veteran Mark Stein was recently added to the Nitrex team as regional sales manager for Michigan territory. In his role, Mark will lead sales initiatives across Michigan, working directly with current and prospective clients to enhance service, optimize growth strategies, and ensure market demands are met. 
  2. To mark 175 years of innovation in specialty chemicals and distribution, Hubbard-Hall recently unveiled a new logo and a completely redesigned website. The updates reflect the company’s rich history and ongoing evolution, noting its founding year of 1849.
  3. Bluestreak Compliance, a quality management (QMS) and manufacturing execution system (MES), has hired Rory Godsell as its new Cybersecurity Compliance Specialist to assist clients and their vendors in achieving compliance of NIST 800-171, CMMC and DFARS. He brings expertise in cybersecurity, penetration testing, ethical hacking, digital forensics, cyber operations, and project management, to the company’s mission of advancing CMMC certification services.
  4. Steelhead Technologies, which delivers ERP, MES, and CRM solutions designed to transform job shop manufacturing, recently announced the successful completion of a $12.5M Series B funding round. This brings the company’s total funding to $23 million. 
  5. Ipsen USA announced the promotion of two team members to new roles in 2025. Matt Clinite has been promoted to Ipsen USA Sales Director, and Christina Connelly has been promoted to Director of Ipsen Customer Service (ICS) – Parts.

Kudos

  1. Kanthal, a leader in industrial heating technology, has won the prestigious industry award “E-prize” in the category Energy Optimization for its technology that helps companies and industries transform to a fossil-free production. The award is organized by Sweden’s largest business newspaper, Dagens Industri, and the newspaper, Aktuell Hållbarhet, together with the energy group E.ON.
  2. Aalberts surface technologies honored Olga Kovalenko, Patric Keune and Metin Önal for 25 years of commitment in Solingen. Presenting the certificates were Guido Heijnen, sales director, and plant manager Miguel Rodrigues.
  3. TAV VACUUM FURNACES was recently awarded the title of “Best Performer Enterprise 2024 in the Province of Bergamo.” This prestigious award is reserved for the top 1000 companies in the province.
  4. StandardAero was selected by US-Bangla Airlines, a leading Bangladeshi carrier, to provide OEM-authorized PW127M Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Services. In addition, the company has been chosen by Brazilian Air Force to support PT6A-68C engines powering its A-29 Super Tucano Fleet, it has secured Indian DGCA Approval for its OEM-authorized PW127M Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Services, and it has received CAAC Approval for Its LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B Engine MRO Services, enabling it to support A320neo and B737 MAX operators across China.
  5. HeatTek, a leader in manufacturing ovens and washers, recently celebrated the company’s 25th anniversary, noting its numerous achievements since 1999, including industry accolades, editorial recognition, as well as awards identifying its positive culture as an employer. “We are incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone,” says Jason Plowman, president and 2nd generation owner of HeatTek. “The success we’ve achieved over the past 25 years is a direct result of the hard work and commitment of our employees, the trust of our customers, and the support of our partners. We look forward to continuing our journey of innovation and growth in the years to come.”
  6. Ron Waligora, chief operating officer for AFC-Holcroft, recently announced his retirement date of May 4, 2025. Throughout his 36 years with the company, he moved through the engineering disciplines and eventually into a management role as mechanical engineering manager and later senior engineer manager in 2015. In the spring of 2023, Ron Waligora and Tracy Dougherty assumed the roles of chief operating officers. Upon the announcement of Ron’s retirement, Tracy assumed the role of president and CEO on January 1, 2025.
  7. Aalberts surface technologies is proud to announce they have received the EcoVadis Bronze Medal. The sustainability rating reviews a company’s management of economic, environmental, and social performance, covering different industries, locations, and company sizes contributing to business sustainability on a global scale, and is based on a “best-in-class” approach, assessing whether a company reaches the best possible level for their business activity.
  8. The Divergent team was recently granted the Nadcap 12-month Accreditation for the Additive Manufacturing (AM) scope.
  9. Solar Atmospheres Greenville, SC facility announced it has been awarded Parker Aerospace approval.
  10. Brad Stallsmith recently marked his retirement after 43 years of dedicated service at Peters’ Heat Treating. His journey has included starting the Blade Division, mentoring new team members and ensuring high standards in processing.

Find Heat Treating Products And Services When You Search On Heat Treat Buyers Guide.Com

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News from Abroad: Mergers & Partnerships Ring in the New Year

Today’s News from Abroad installment highlights a new year ringing in acquisitions, partnerships and mergers resulting in increased production and expanded facilities. Read more about a heat treater developing capabilities for the advancement of vacuum heat treatment technologies, an international refractory manufacturer launching innovative operations, and a modernization project aiming to double annual production capacity.

Heat Treat Today partners with two international publications to deliver the latest news, tech tips, and cutting-edge articles that will serve our audience — manufacturers with in-house heat treat. Furnaces International, a Quartz Business Media publication, primarily serves the English-speaking globe, and heat-processing. a Vulkan-Verlag GmbHa publication, serves mostly the European and Asian heat treat markets.

Chinese Heat Treater Signs Agreement with ECM Technologies

M. Pelissier (left) of ECM Group & Mr. Wu (right) of Chun Yu Heat Treatment

“ECM Technologies, a subsidiary of the ECM Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chinese heat treater Chun Yu, to open a Synergy Center in Shanghai. Shanghai Chun Yu Metal Heat Treatment, known as CYHT, is a customer of ECM Technologies. Geared with 3 different LPC systems from ECM Technologies, both companies agreed to cooperate on process development. CYHT is becoming the first demonstration center for ECM Technologies in China. This bilateral agreement will enable both parties to develop their activities in China around vacuum heat treatment technologies.”

READ MORE: ECM Technologies Has Signed a MOU with the Chinese Heat Treater Shanghai Chun Yu Metal Heat Treatment Co. Ltd (CYHT)” at heat-processing.com. 

RATH Mönchengladbach Opens Production Plant in Germany

International refractory manufacturer RATH opens new production plant

“The international refractory manufacturer RATH has been developing continuous oxide ceramic fibers as part of the HORIZON EUROPE project InVECOF (Innovative Value Chains for European Ceramic Oxide Fibers) for several years. A production plant for the manufacture of innovative oxide ceramic fibers has now been commissioned at the RATH Mönchengladbach site (Germany). In mid-October 2024, the company officially launched production of the ALTRA FLEX® oxide ceramic continuous fibers in K99 and M75 qualities, making it the first European supplier to offer a solution for composite material manufacturers and manufacturers and processors of heat-resistant fabrics. The new production facility will initially produce up to 10 tons of fibers per year.”

READ MORE: RATH Starts Up Production Plant for the Manufacture of Innovative Oxide Ceramic Continuous Fibers” – at heat-processing.com

Marcegaglia Stainless Sheffield Partners with Primetals Technologies

Marcegaglia to equip all the production units of the minimill meltshop in Sheffield with automation systems from Primetals Technologies

“UK-based Marcegaglia Stainless Sheffield has partnered with Primetals Technologies to optimize production processes at its processes at its Sheffield minimill. The modernization project aims to double the plant’s annual production capacity from annual production capacity from 250,000 to 500,000 tonnes. Several intralogistics systems, process optimization solutions, technology packages and intelligent sensor systems will be installed in all production units of the in all production units of the melt shop, scrap yard and ladle tracking system.”

READ MORE: Marcegaglia’s Partnership with Primetals Technologies to Result in Significant Productivity Improvements at heat-processing.com


Find Heat Treating Products And Services When You Search On Heat Treat Buyers Guide.Com

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16 News Chatter To Keep You Current

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 17 news items.


Equipment

  1. Pomini Tenova, which manufactures advanced roll shop equipment, recently signed two contracts for fully automatic roll shop equipment with Baowu of China. The first contract includes a set of four automatic CNC roll grinders with two automatic inspection stations, to be installed at a plant where two new cold rolling mills for silicon steel will be in operation. The second contract includes two automatic CNC roll grinders and an automatic inspection station, equipped with an automatic roll loading system, which will be installed in the roll shop of a new cold rolling mill for silicon steel production.
  2. Nucor Steel has commissioned SMS group for the modernization and expansion of its Steckel mill at its site in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The existing Steckel mill will be converted into a tandem Steckel mill, designed to produce high-strength thin strip as well as to boost capacity. 
  3. A global car window manufacturer’s European branch has purchased two SECO/WARWICK technological lines for two of the company’s locations. The order includes RHLE units for bending car windows.
  4. Jiangsu Dongpu Fine Ceramics Technology Co., Ltd., has installed a hot isostatic press (HIP) from Quintus Technologies. The HIP model operates company’s production line for Si3Ni4 bearing balls in its manufacturing facility in Lianyungang, China.

Company & Personnel

  1. Inductotherm Group has appointed Mick Nallen and Satyen Prabhu as co‐leaders, a transition which became effective July 1, 2024, when Gary Doyon stepped down from his role as CEO. Mick and Satyen have a combined experience at the company of nearly 70 years.
  2. Vincent Lelong of ECM USA presented on low pressure carburizing with vacuum furnace technology at Purdue University’s School of Materials Engineering undergraduate seminar. This seminar regularly features industry speakers, some of whom are members of the Purdue Heat Treating Consortium.
  3. The direct reduction plant at Nucor Steel Louisiana achieved a world production record of 330.3 tons per hour of high-quality cold direct reduced iron (CDRI), yielding an outstanding 7,928 tons per day (tpd). A high-quality direct reduced iron (DRI) output with 95% metallization (%M) and a carbon content of 3.3% (%C) was measured. The ENERGIRON technology was jointly developed by Tenova and Danieli.
  4. Jabil Inc, which designs and manufactures supply chain solutions, announced its acquisition of Mikros Technologies LLC, which engineers and manufactures liquid cooling solutions for thermal management.
  5. Aerospace Testing & Pyrometry, Inc., (ATP) recently opened its Pacific Northwest office in Seattle, Washington. With this new facility, the company will now have a footprint in all four corners of the United States.

Kudos

  1. Solar Atmospheres‘ Greenville, SC, facility recently announced it has been awarded Parker Aerospace approval. Its five facilities are now able to assist clients with Parker Aerospace thermal processing requirements.
  2. Furnace manufacturer Grieve Corporation has reached its 75th year in business. Begun in 1949 as a small job shop in Chicago, the company now occupies a 100,000 square foot facility in Round Lake, Illinois
  3. StandardAero, an independent provider of engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of its Singapore facility, a Pratt & Whitney Canada Designated Overhaul Facility (DOF) for the PW150A turboprop engine. This anniversary coincides with the company’s redelivery of its 500th PW150A engine, which powers the popular Bombardier Dash 8-400 regional turboprop. 
  4. Paulo’s Cleveland Division was recently awarded approval from GE Aviation for hot isostatic pressing, specifically GT193 Process Code FF.
  5. C3 Data has achieved SOC 2 Compliance, which ensures stringent standards for handling sensitive data.
  6. Tennessee Society of Association Executives recently honored Tom Morrison of the Metal Treating Institute (MTI) with the Industry Marketing Award for its Jobs of Tomorrow Workforce Development Program.
  7. Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania announced that it has been awarded Pratt & Whitney‘s PWA 11, “Heat Treatments” approval. The facility is now certified to perform heat treatments for P&W’s Suffix 17, “Precipitation Harden,” and Suffix 22, “Austenitize, Quench, and Temper.”

Find Heat Treating Products And Services When You Search On Heat Treat Buyers Guide.Com

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Bennett Heat Treating & Brazing Co., Inc. Recognized with 2024 Master Craftsman Award

Heat Treat Today, in cooperation with the Metal Treating Institute (MTI), recently presented the 2024 Master Craftsman Award (also known as the Commercial Heat Treater of the Year Award) to John and Kerri Quaglia, third-generation owners of Bennett Heat Treating & Brazing Co., Inc.

The award was presented at the formal awards presentation dinner following the Furnaces North America trade show on October 16, 2024, in Columbus, OH. John Quaglia was present to receive the award on behalf of his company. In his speech, Doug Glenn commented, “This year’s recipient is another shining example of what the commercial heat treating industry has come to represent — highly competent, environmentally aware, and civic-minded leaders in their community and in the heat treating industry — a great example of what commercial heat treating is all about.”

This award is given to the company that demonstrates making a positive impact on their community and their industry. Recognition is based on quality programs, commitment to the environmental, and community leadership and judged by a panel of previous recipients

Bennett Heat Treating received a plaque commemorating this auspicious award and a scholarship fund of $1500 from Heat Treat Today that was matched with another $1500 from MTI’s Education Foundation. The heat treater will award this $3000 to a high school or college student who is pursuing an education in the heat treating industry.

Congratulations to Bennett Heat Treating on receiving this award.

The press release is available in its original form here.



Bennett Heat Treating & Brazing Co., Inc. Recognized with 2024 Master Craftsman Award Read More »

Nearly 100 Industry Professionals Gather To Discuss Sustainable Technologies

Nearly 100 attendees gather at the Conrad Hotel in Indianapolis for a three-day event to discuss industrial decarbonization and sustainable technologies. Targeting users and suppliers of industrial heating processes, the Industrial Decarbonization Summit is organized by the Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA).

IHEA designed the SUMMIT to help everyone using heat technologies understand and overcome these important concerns and challenges.

Emceed by Jeff Rafter, vice president of sales and marketing, Selas Heat Technology Co. LLC, the event began yesterday (Tuesday, October 29th) with a keynote presentation by Dr. Avi Shultz, of the United States Department of Energy, Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office (US DOE IEDO), who spoke on “Understanding the US DOE Industrial Decarbonization Initiatives.” Other speakers and topics covered during the 2-day event include:

  • Mr. Tim Hill from Nucor and Mr. Jeff Kaman from John Deere talking about the implementation of their companies’ decarbonization plans.
  • Mr. Perry Stephens from EPRI, Mr. Brian Kelly from Honeywell, and Mr. Erik Anderson from Ambient Fuels discussing alternatives to fossil fuel combustion.
  • Mr. Sandeep Alavandi of GTI Energy addressing how companies can get to net zero by reducing, converting, and trading.
  • Mr. Bryan Stern from Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems addressing economic and business concerns related to industrial adoption of decarbonization technologies.

Summit attendees come from a wide cross section of industries including companies such as Daido Steel, Whirlpool, Detroit Stoker Co, Wenger Mfg, Trane, Nucor Steel, Timken, John Deere, Oak Ridge National Lab, Siemens Energy, Dowa THT America, and many more.

The content of the Summit is targeted at company thought leaders who are attempting to learn how to navigate the decarbonization roadway. Click on the video below to view some of Jeff Rafter’s opening remarks.

For more information on the Summit, please go to https://summit.ihea.org.



Nearly 100 Industry Professionals Gather To Discuss Sustainable Technologies Read More »

18 News Chatter To Keep You Current

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 18 news items.


Equipment

  1. Saarstahl expands its production with an alternate current-electric arc furnace (AC-EAF) supplied by SMS group.
  2. A Class A safety oven equipped with a solvent monitor and roll-in rack, meeting the stringent safety requirements of industries working with volatile materials, was recently shipped by industrial and laboratory ovens manufacturer Blue M
  3. A manufacturer in the defense industry has received shipment of a gas-fired walk-in batch oven from Wisconsin Oven Corporation, to be used for curing filament wound composite materials.

Company & Personnel

  1. Sean Patrick Murphy has been named product manager for laboratory and R&D furnaces at Centorr Vacuum Industries. He will be responsible for representing over 30 different vacuum furnace product lines to national laboratories, universities, and industrial sectors.
  2. Charles (Charlie) Caldwell joins the team at Solar Atmospheres of Michigan Inc. as the quality manager for its new facility in Chesterfield.
  3. Steel Goode Products LLC (SGP), a thermal spray specialist, has recently been acquired by Aalberts N.V., a provider of thermal spray coating and finishing services. The acquisition includes two operating facilities in Texas and one in Ohio.
  4. The Wirco, Inc, team recently announced Chris Robbins as the new director of business development and Chad Kumfer to the position of director of sales.
  5. Daniel Sonnenberg joins Nitrex Heat Treating Services as the new business development lead for North America. Daniel will focus on identifying and cultivating relationships with potential customers. His goal is to foster trust and drive growth by building enduring partnerships that deliver sustained value over time.
  6. Dave Deiwart has begun a new position as president at Tracer Gas Technologies, based in Yorktown, Indiana. This follows a brief retirement after 35 years of providing leak detection and vacuum application support and training. Dave’s new focus will be on providing training and consulting.
  7. Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser AS, a fully owned subsidiary of Nel ASA, has been awarded a grant from the EU Innovation Fund of up to EUR 135 million (over $145.4M USD) for industrialization of its next-generation pressurized alkaline technology. The technology is currently being prototyped, and the potential industrialization is planned at Herøya, Norway.
  8. OTTO JUNKER GmbH, system providers for metallurgic processes and metal refinement, recently announced that the new business division OTTO JUNKER Solutions, which was established in late 2023, will be further expanded. The company’s focus will be on the development and implementation of green technologies. The new division is headed by R&D expert Tobias Mertens.

Kudos

  1. Constellium SE has received the Supplier of the Year Award from Stellantis, recognized for its overall best-in-class performance as a long-time partner.
  2. Gary Sharp, founder of Advanced Heat Treat Corp, has been honored with the Legends of Manufacturing Award at the Iowa Manufacturing Conference.
  3. Global Thermal Systems (GTS) Mexico’s pyrometry laboratories recently completed the reaccreditation process in the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.
  4. Rex Heat Treat has achieved its fourth consecutive merit-status Nadcap certification under the leadership of Conner Popo, quality assurance manager, and Vindon Griffin, technical services manager. 
  5. Aalberts surface technologies Dzierżoniów recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. Through acquisition and expansion, the company has grown from 16 employees in 2014 to a current team of over 90 employees, serving the automotive, aerospace, power, fasteners, agriculture, and mining sectors.
  6. The Metal Treating Institute (MTI) recently celebrated its 2024 YES Management Training Program graduates at the final reception of Furnaces North America (FNA) 2024.
  7. Bennett Heat Treating & Brazing Co. received the 2024 Master Craftsman Award, also known as the Heat Treater of the Year Award, at the Metal Treating Institute’s Final Night Dinner & Awards Ceremony following FNA 2024. The award was announced by Doug Glenn, publisher of Heat Treat Today along with a scholarship check for the heat treater to bestow upon a deserving young student going into heat treat.

Find Heat Treating Products And Services When You Search On Heat Treat Buyers Guide.Com

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Day 2 at FNA: Awards Abound for Heat Treaters

The final day of Furnaces North America (FNA) began for Heat Treat Today with the presentation of a plaque to Timothy Joseph Wright (T.J. Wright), who served as a Major General in the U.S. Army, as well as a critical player in the history of heat treating, specifically as a past president of Wirco.

Two of his sons, Matthew Wright, vice president of marketing at pyrometry software company C3 Data, and Nathan Wright, CEO of C3 Data, joined T.J. at their booth for the presentation, as did his nephew, Chad Wright, current president of Wirco.

  • Read the article displayed on the plaque here.
  • Listen to an interview with T.J. on Heat Treat Radio’s podcast, found here.
  • And check out a video of the presentation here.

Heat Treat Today wishes to thank T. J., for his life of service to the country and to others and to the whole Wright family for their kindness and partnerships with us.

The day ended with the Metal Treating Institute’s (MTI) final event where MTI Yes Management Training graduates were recognized, awards were given to individuals and companies who have uniquely served the industry and MTI, and the 2025 MTI officers and board of trustees were announced.

Look for upcoming articles highlighting MTI news from the event!

Main image (left to right): Matthew Wright, T.J. Wright, Nathan Wright, Chad Wright



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Some Pre-reading Before FNA’s Technical Sessions

Furnaces North America (FNA) 2024 begins Monday, October 14, and runs through Wednesday, October 16. If you haven’t registered yet, you can still do so onsite, and one look at the technical sessions planned over the two days of training says all you need to know about the caliber of instruction at the event.

All of the sessions will be worth your time! Presenters are highly qualified to speak on the topics, which range from processes and equipment to technology to security:

  • Emerging Technologies
  • Furnace Maintenance & Equipment
  • Heat Treat Business & Digital Transformation
  • Energy & Gases
  • Operational Efficiencies
  • Quality, Compliance & Materials
  • Process Advancements

​​If you want to do a little prereading to prepare for the sessions, Heat Treat Today is pleased to direct your attention to technical session presenters who have contributed to our radio, print, and digital resources during this year:

  • On Tuesday at 8:50 a.m., Bryan Stern, product development manager at Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems, will be speaking on “The Impact of Oil Quenching – A Look at the Carbon Footprint and Cost of Vacuum vs. Atmosphere Processing.” On June 20, 2024, Bryan was our guest on Heat Treat Radio, episode #110, “Isolated Heat, the Future of Vacuum Furnaces,” which you can listen to here.
  • Later that morning, at 9:40, Peter Sherwin, global business development manager of Heat Treatment at Watlow, will focus on “Smart Heat Treatment: Industry 4.0 Innovations for Environmental & Energy Efficiency.” Peter co-authored “Thermal Loop Solutions: A Path to a Sustainable Future in Heat Treatment,” a two-part series published in both the magazine and on our website. You can read the first part here and the second part here.
  • During that same time slot, Brian Turner, sales application engineer at RoMan Manufacturing, is scheduled to speak on “Efficient Furnace Power Solutions”. Brian joined fellow RoMan employees who have contributed technical content to an ongoing series on controls. You can read that article, “Basic Definitions: Power Pathways in Vacuum Furnaces,” originally published July 16, 2024, here.
  • On Wednesday at 8 a.m., Sefi Grossman, founder and CEO of CombustionOS, is scheduled to present a session on “Maximizing Heat Treat Operational Efficiency: Digitize Your Data for Automation.” Sefi wrote a piece for our August Automotive print edition on “A New Era: Tracking Quality Digitally,” which was later republished at the website. You can read the digital version here.
  • At 8:50, Joe Coleman, cybersecurity officer at Bluestreak Compliance, will address “CMMC’s Impending Impact On The Metal Treating Industry.” Just last month, he joined Heat Treat Radio in an interview about “NIST and CMMC: What Heat Treaters Need To Know,” which you can listen to here.
  • Chad Beamer, senior applications engineer at Quintus Technologies, will speak on “Quintus Purus: Development of Clean HIP Processing” at 9:40 on Wednesday morning. Earlier this year, he collaborated with fellow Quintus employees on an article, “HIP Innovation Maximizes AM Medical Potential,” which you can read here.

Stop by Heat Treat Today‘s booth (424/426) to let us know how the sessions went and if you did your homework beforehand!



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Heat Treat Boot Camp Tours Solar Atmospheres’ Western PA Facility

Last week, Heat Treat Today wrapped up its third annual Heat Treat Boot Camp with a tour of a local commercial heat treating company, witnessing the operation of multiple vacuum furnaces, including the largest capacity vacuum furnaces in the United States.

The overall sentiment from the Heat Treat Boot Camp attendees was resounding gratefulness for and enjoyment of the visit to the 115,000 square-foot Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania facility, located in Hermitage, PA. For those newbies to the industry, it provided them the opportunity to experience a heat treat shop environment and connect what they learned during the sessions to how it looks in operation.

Heat Treat Boot Camp attendees in front of the NEO, one Solar Atmospheres’ vacuum oil quench furnaces

“Really great tour,” said Heat Treat Boot Camp attendee G. Eric Gisonno. “[I’m] so thankful to Solar and Bob Hill for spending time with us and allowing us to see them in action.”

Robert Hill, FASM
President
Solar Atmospheres of Western PA

Bob Hill, president of Solar Atmospheres, treated the 22 attendees to a comprehensive and fascinating tour which ranged from learning about the origin of the company to observing products in production process to seeing final completed parts. Attendees were in awe as they walked the floor taking in the daily production protocols. The tour concluded in front of the NEO, a vacuum oil quench furnace that earned Solar Atmospheres an accreditation from Boeing for its ability to oil quench alloy steels in accordance with Boeing’s specification BAC 5617. Those present were able to observe a part being vacuum oil quenched in real time.

Trevor Jones
CEO
Solar Manufacturing

Mr. Hill also provided an exclusive sneak preview of the company’s upcoming presentation, “The Future of Vacuum Oil Quenching is Now!,” which he and Trevor Jones, president of Solar Manufacturing, will deliver at the FNA 2024 show in Columbus, OH, this October.

Thanks to Bob Hill and the team at Solar Atmospheres of Western PA for their kindness and hospitality.

Main photo: Heat Treat Boot Camp attendees touring Solar Atmospheres of Western PA



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Heat Treat Radio #114: Decarbonization Demystified at IHEA’s SUMMIT

Listen as Jeff Rafter, vice president of sales and marketing at Selas Heat Technology and current IHEA president, discusses the upcoming IHEA Decarbonization SUMIMIT with Doug Glenn. Scheduled for October 28-30 in Indianapolis, Indiana, the summit will address the challenges and opportunities of decarbonization for manufacturers. Jeff highlights IHEA’s nearly 100-year history in industry education. The event will feature keynote speakers from the DOE, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and John Deere, with a mix of technical and business content aiming to provide practical strategies for energy management and sustainability. Learn more in this episode of Heat Treat Radio, and learn more about this episode sponsor, IHEA, and their event at summit.ihea.org. 

Below, you can watch the video, listen to the podcast by clicking on the audio play button, or read an edited transcript.




The following transcript has been edited for your reading enjoyment.

The IHEA Decarbonization Summit (01:03)

Doug Glenn: Jeff, when and where is the summit? And what was the driving force behind deciding to do this event?

Jeff Rafter: The IHEA Decarbonization SUMMIT will be at the Conrad Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana, beginning on Monday, October 28, and ending Wednesday, October 30.

The drive to create this event arose because the IHEA membership had often commented on, and lamented, the frequent inquiries they get from the client base across all sectors of manufacturing; clients are looking for clarification on the ongoing changes of the U.S. energy infrastructure and, specifically, how to manage the requirement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

There is a lot that is changing quickly in the U.S. energy infrastructure around renewables, electrification, and low carbon fuels. he IHEA board felt that it was essential to assist manufacturing members by trying to clarify these topics in an interesting event that presented the information objectively and provided a diverse array of all the decarbonization pathways available to manufacturers today.

IHEA’s Qualifications (02:36)

Doug Glenn: For those who might not know what IHEA is, what makes it uniquely qualified to present such a summit?

Jeff Rafter: I am proud to say that IHEA is a very unique organization. Many trade organizations do not have the long-standing success in supporting members that this organization has. The composition of IHEA, which is close to 100 years old, was originally made up of heating appliance and heating component manufacturers, who have spent most of our history focused on industry education as a service to all the member companies.

We felt that this was the perfect organization to take up the topic of sustainability and decarbonization because we are education focused. From that background and that bias, we are leveraging thousands of years of experience over a broad array of manufacturing options from traditional fossil fuels through electrification. Our member companies provide a very strong basis to deliver real-world examples of how to deal with reducing CO2 emissions.

Doug Glenn: And if I am remembering correctly, IHEA actually has a standing history of cooperation and working with the DOE on different things in the past, correct?

Jeff Rafter: Very good point, Doug. If you look back in history, before “CO2 reduction” and “decarbonization” became buzzwords, we spent a lot of similar efforts working with government organizations, research laboratories, and third-party organizations around topics of NOx reduction and trying to create a cleaner basis of industrial, manufacturing, and energy. In addition, we have always spent our time helping with business concerns regarding efficiency, not only operating successfully heating processes and appliances, but also making manufacturing more cost effective.

Keynote Speakers (04:44)

Doug Glenn: And speaking of the DOE, I see that there are some pretty high-profile speakers coming. The keynote speaker is Dr. Avi Shultz, from the U.S. DOE, and he is on the Industrial Decarbonization Initiative. Other speakers include Paulomi Nandy from Oak Ridge National Lab, Jeff Kaman from John Deere, and Tim Hill from Nucor. Can you give us a sense of what these folks will be talking about?

Jeff Rafter: Doug, we are very excited to have the diverse mix of speakers that will make up the summit presentations. With Dr. Schultz and Miss Nandy, we are very excited to be providing a third-party opinion — government organizations and research laboratories — and they will be presenting on their views of the trends for the future of sustainability and decarbonization.

When we move to some of the other presenters like Tim Hill from Nucor and Mr. Kaman from John Deere, we also wanted members and attendees to take away from the summit real-world experience. These are not imagined or planned changes. We wanted companies that had actual experience with decarbonization — who had even taken actions towards net-zero positions — to share with attendees exactly how they approached the challenges.

Because, of course, some of the issues around sustainability are that it comes at a cost.

And how do you fund that? How do you research that? Where do you look for grants, and how do you make the business case towards decarbonization or any sustainability action for that matter?

Finally, adding to those two bodies of participants, we have a number of presenters speaking about real-world solutions today. IHEA’s view on decarbonization and sustainability is that there is a very broad set of pathways that you can take today with inexpensive, readily available technologies all the way out to longer term solutions like full electrification of processes.

There is more than one way to approach this challenge and do the responsible thing in manufacturing, which is to address our CO2 production globally.

Is Electrification the Only Answer? (07:25)

Doug Glenn: You mentioned electrification. When people hear decarbonization or sustainability, they often think electrification. There may be a lot of people listening saying, “I am primarily combustion. Should I be going?” Are only electrification solutions going to be presented? Or are combustion solutions going to be presented as well to help with the decarbonization?

Jeff Rafter: The answer to that question is, “Yes, you should be going, regardless of whether your focus and your background is in traditional fossil fuel combustion or electrification.”

The summit will contain a very balanced approach of different technologies, presented with no bias. The goal of this summit is providing education to help business leaders make better decisions around their energy management and their environmental concerns.

With that said, when we look at the body of what is available in the agenda, electrification is an important topic. But as a lot of people recognize, some portions of electrification are just relocating to a different fossil fuel further away from the point of use whilst other electrification options linked to renewable energy sources truly can come close to net-zero production of CO2.

IHEA’s view is that there are many sustainability pathways that we can all investigate or pursue.

Some pathways maintain fossil fuel basis. Some industrial processes will be challenged to move to an electric heating source. And then for other processes, electrification is the cat’s meow. So it is that broad sweep of diverse technologies that everyone needs to be educated on to make better decisions when the time comes.

Who Should Attend the Summit? (09:21)

Doug Glenn: How technical will the summit be; do I need to know heavy engineering, metallurgy, and things of that sort? And who should come?

Jeff Rafter: Traditionally, a lot of IHEA’s educational content has been directed at a technical audience; it was technical education about how various energy sources and heating appliances work, how to comply to code, and how to approach the application of that equipment safely. In this particular summit, we have changed course a bit in that we did not want this event to be a technical conference.

The idea of this summit was to make it a business conference because that is where most of the challenges exist when we look at sustainability efforts.

The content that will be presented is a pleasant mix of some technical topics because we have to get a rudimentary understanding of how these different technologies work. However, we are spending just as much time in the presentations addressing business concerns: How do you fund these various actions? Where can you find available grants? What are real-world examples of how other companies have approached sustainability or have begun an initiative internally? How do you get the support and the decision-making decided while moving in the right direction? When you look at the agenda that will be posted on the IHEA website, you will see that the topics range broadly from some technology presentations to real-world business concerns and how to make those business decisions.

Agenda for IHEA Decarburization Summitt, Monday – Wednesday, October 28-30, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana

Doug Glenn: How much fun have you had putting this summit together?

Jeff Rafter: I would happily report it has been a tremendous team effort.

I am very proud to say that a lot of IHEA member companies and third parties have stepped up to help us construct this event. We are really looking forward to it being a valuable event that provides a lot of information and important takeaways for participants.

Doug Glenn: I know you have put a lot of work into it. I have watched you do this over the last year and a half, and you have done a great job coordinating it.

Closing Remarks (12:34)

Jeff Rafter: I would just like to say in closing, for anyone who is thinking about coming to the IHEA Decarbonization Summit, please do. This is a very important topic for manufacturers, and you really need to take the approach of not waiting. It is time to get in front of changes in our energy infrastructure and the need to decarbonize some manufacturing processes. This is a great way to get educated and start your plan.

Doug Glenn: And I did remember one other motivation: If you are looking to stay at the hotel where the summit is held, the cutoff date for the hotel (you can still get into the summit even if you do not hit this cutoff date) is October 7th. So anyhow, appreciate it. Jeff, thanks very much for your time.

About The Guest

Jeff Rafter
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Selas Heat Technology Company, LLC
Source: Selas Heat Technology

Jeff Rafter is vice president of sales and marketing for Selas Heat Technology in Streetsboro, Ohio, and has a rich history in the combustion industry, including Maxon Corporation. Jeff has 31 years of industrial experience in sales, research and development, and marketing; combustion application expertise in process heating, metals, refining, and power generation; and 13 years of service on NFPA 86 committee. He holds patents for ultra-low NOx burner design. Additionally, his company, Selas, is an IHEA member, and Jeff is the current president of IHEA as well as one of the driving forces/coordinators behind the upcoming Decarbonization Summit at the Conrad Hotel in Indianapolis, October 28-30.

Contact Jeff at jrafter@selas.com.


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