May you have a blessed Easter weekend! Heat Treat Today offices are closed today (Friday, March 29), but will be back open Monday morning.
As we’ve come to Good Friday, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the gift of the resurrection of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. Through his death and resurrection, we can have eternal life! At Heat Treat Today, our prayer is that as we are helpful to you, you would also see the light of Christ shine through us. See you Monday!
Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 13 news items.
Company
IHEA celebrate 95 years with an anniversary dinner at the industry association’s annual meeting.
Furnaces North American 2024 registration is open, with the event scheduled for October 14–16, 2024.
EVERGREEN KILN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, located in Niagara Falls, U.S., and SUZHOU KILNPARTNER Mechanical Technology Co., Ltd., located in China, officially announced their strategic partnership to service and support the growing demands of the North American lithium-ion battery market.
SECO/WARWICK opened SECO/LAB, a production automation and mechatronics laboratory, at the University of Zielona Góra in Poland.
Tenova will partner with De Nora, Snam, and other European steel producers and RTOs on the HyTecHeat project, a Horizon Europe program funded by the EU with the goal to validate hybrid heating technologies based on natural gas with a progressive increase of hydrogen up to 100% in downstream processing. Within this project, Tenova will install an electrolyzer at the Demo headquarters in Castellanza (Italy).
Tenova’s SafeForPorts project has won a call for proposals issued by the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) under the banner of RAISE (Robotics and AI for Socio-economic Empowerment). The project is aimed at revolutionizing the safety and efficiency of port operations through cutting-edge Industry 4.0 technologies.
Indian steel producer JSW STEEL (Dolvi Works) has placed an order with SMS group to supply its trailblazing CSP® Nexus plant, which will fundamentally transform flat steel production.
EVERGREEN KILN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, and SUZHOU KILNPARTNER Mechanical Technology Co., Ltd., announced their strategic partnershipTenova electrolyzerTenova’s SafeForPorts project
Company & Personnel
Hubbard-Hall welcomes John Forlenzo as supply chain manager. In this role, he will oversee the global purchasing activities for the company, including logistics and inventory.
David Wolfe joins ECM USA as senior sales engineer. As a former east coast sales representative for ECM, Wolfe brings important industry knowledge to the role.
John Forlenzo, Supply Chain Manager, Hubbard-HallDavid Wolfe, Senior Sales Engineer, ECM USA
Kudos
Akron Steel Treating is pleased to share we are now in the Nadcap 18 Month Merit Program. The Nadcap Merit Program is an allowance for extending the accreditation lengths between audits and is only awarded to companies which have proven themselves as exceeding Nadcap’s already highly stringent standards.
Steelhead Technologies is proud to be a winner of the Top Performer award from SourceForge, the world’s largest software reviews and comparison website.
Ipsen USA celebrated 75 years in operation on February 27, 2024.
Advanced Heat Treat Corp. has renewed its Nadcap accreditation in heat treating and passed its Aerospace Quality System (AC7004) audit.
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The four heat treat industry-specific economic indicators, gathered by Heat Treat Today each month since June 2023, indicate high expectations for economic growth on all four heat treat industry indices as we look ahead to March. Read on to see which indices are hitting above last month’s growth expectations and which one is lower in growth compared to February’s expectations.
The numbers, which were compiled in the second week of March, show that responding parties strongly anticipate all four indices — number of inquiry, value of bookings, size of backlogs, and health of manufacturing economy — to grow. Interesting, the number of inquiries is a bit down, as compared to last month, but suppliers are still expecting growth, more so than any previous month, with the exception of February.
The results from this month’s survey (March) are as follows; numbers above 50 indicate growth, numbers below 50 indicate contraction, and the number 50 indicates no change:
Anticipated change in the Number of Inquiries from February to March: 64.0
Anticipated change in Value of Bookings from February to March:68.4
Anticipated change in Backlog Size from February to March: 70.0
Anticipated change in the Health of the Manufacturing Economy from February to March: 61.7
Data for March 2024
The four index numbers are reported monthly by Heat Treat Today and made available on the website.
Heat TreatToday’sEconomic Indicatorsmeasure and report on four, heat treat industry indices. Each month, approximately 800 individuals who classify themselves as suppliers to the North American heat treat industry receive the survey. Above are the results. Data started being collected in June 2023. If you would like to participate in the monthly survey, please click here to subscribe.
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Heat Treat Today publishes eight print magazines a year, and included in each is a letter from the publisher, Doug Glenn. This letter first appeared in December 2023 Medical and Energy Heat Treatprint edition.
. . . not as bad as predicted. In fact, it was a pretty darn good year for the North American heat treat industry.
Russia and Ukraine
Doug Glenn, Publisher, Heat Treat Today
This time last year, there were many predictions about a pending economic slump in varying degrees of severity. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 22, 2022, was front-page news most of 2022. When Russia cut off the flow of natural gas from Russia to Europe through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in September 2022, Europe, and much of the world, planned on a very cold winter and cooling economies around the world in 2023. While Europe certainly took a hit with energy prices that were sometimes 3x what they had been, most of the rest of the world adjusted quite nicely. Even the United States did well in 2023 despite our federal government’s insistence on reducing and eliminating petroleum-based flows of energy which are in abundant supply.
Titanium supplies were also predicted to take a huge hit with Russia being one of the chief suppliers. But since a May 2022 high of roughly $19/ kg, the price of titanium has been dropping steadily back into a pre-conflict price of roughly $6/kg. Only $2/kg higher than the average price of titanium from 2017 to 2022. Not bad.
Of course, the macro effects of the billions of dollars that the U.S. has sent to Ukraine remain to be seen; in economic terms, 2023 turned out to be not as bad as predicted when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, at least for the U.S.
2023 Recession . . . that Wasn’t
“And for 2024, let’s be optimistic and prayerful that God will again be merciful and not reward us as we deserve!”
Thanks to the U.S. federal government’s now widely agreed upon over-reaction to COVID in the form of “quantitative easing” (meaning pumping the economy full of money created out of thin air), nearly everyone in 2022 was predicting a significant economic recession in 2023. It was just a matter of when, not if. At the time of writing this (early November), it doesn’t appear likely that the U.S. will see a recession in the remaining months of the year. In fact, most of the company leaders that I’ve spoken to this year have reported (surprisingly) strong orders, growing backlogs, and very little signs of slowing inquiry levels. Nearly everyone is busy with no end in sight. Even in the face of rising interest rates — the highest in nearly 30 years — capital equipment purchases seem to be clipping along very nicely. Everyone is surprised, but happy.
Israel, AI, and Other Disruptors
That’s not to say the world and the North American heat treat market’s place in the world is all roses. It is not. 2024 will have its own list of significant challenges, not the least of which is growing global instability à la China, Iran, Russia, Israel, etc. and the U.S.’s participation therewith. The advent of digital currencies could be another disruptor. Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be approaching at warp speed — no one is quite sure what it is, but we’re all pretty sure it will have an impact.
Regardless of what God has in store for us in 2024, 2023 has certainly not been as bad as it was predicted to be in December 2022. For that we can be thankful. And for 2024, let’s be optimistic and prayerful that God will again be merciful and not reward us as we deserve!
All of us at Heat Treat Today wish you, your family, and your business a Merry Christmas and a blessed and prosperous 2024.
Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 18 news items.
Company/Equipment Chatter
Nitrex has supplied a nitriding system for Baida Electronic Equipment Co. Ltd. in China.
ECM USA has partnered with the global manufacturer, SEW-EURODRIVE, to commission a modular NANO vacuum furnace system completely integrated with advanced automation for their Lyman, South Carolina, facility.
Wallwork Group, a specialist heat treatment and hard coating company, has opened a new HIP facility in Manchester.
Chiz Bros, a high temperature insulation specialist, has opened a new warehouse in Detroit, Michigan. This facility will aid in the production of ceramic fiber blankets, papers and felts, boards, and modules.
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, a maker of cast iron, plastic pipe, and fittings for plumbing applications, which has been in operation for over 100 years, has opened its new site in North Carolina.
Abbott Furnace has joined the U.S. Battery Machine Builders coalition to increase awareness of the American-made battery machinery supply chain, to encourage battery facilities to buy American-made products, and to strengthen the buildout of machinery and machinist capacity across the nation.
SMS group GmbH, a metallurgical company with North American locations, is building its own “private 5G Campus network” for research and development at its Hilchenbach location in the Siegerland.
OTTO JUNKER GmbH, a leading system supplier for metallurgical processes and the refinement of metals, looks forward to celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
One of the integrated robots for the vacuum furnace systemThe new warehouse facilityThe newly opened Charlotte Pipe and Foundry facilityThis development will allow for the development of new materials and the reduction of energy consumption and emissions.OTTO JUNKER site at Simmerath-Lammersdorf
Company and Personnel Chatter
Gefran, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial sensors, controls, and instrumentation, announced the appointment of Karston Just as the company’s chief sales officer (CSO).
Solar Manufacturing has received a patent for an improved vacuum furnace control thermocouple. The patent inventor is William R. Jones, owner of Solar Manufacturing, Inc.
Rockford Combustion has entered into an exclusive partnership with Anderson Thermal Solutions, a cooperation which is predicted to “revolutionize the landscape of combustion solutions in the United States.”
Aaron Mambrino has been named as chief operating officer (COO) and executive vice president of Hubbard-Hall.
Akron Steel Treating Company (AST) welcomes new ownership, as Joe. A Powell has sold his remaining shares to a 4th generation of new “family” ownership.
AST’s new shareholder team and Joe A. Powell, Chairman of the Board, are pictured from left to right: Matt Moldvay, President; Steve Powell, Vice President of Quality; Christina Powell Somogye, Vice President of Administration; Joe A. Powell, Chairman of the Board; and Joe N. Powell, Vice President of Sales.The design for the newly patented vacuum furnace control thermocoupleAaron Mambrino COO and Executive VP of Hubbard-Hall
Kudos Chatter
Diane Courtney-Voss, financial specialist/accountant at SECO/VACUUM, retires after several years with the company.
Bodycote of Berlin, CT, was recognized for 100 years of manufacturing byMayor Mark Kaczynski.
Stack Metallurgical Group celebrates 40 years of business.
Alan Hick, secretary of the Contract Heat Treatment Association (CHTA), has received Meritorious Service to the Heat Treatment Industry Award.
Bodycote plc has announced the appointment of Jim Fairbairn as group chief executive to succeed Stephen Harris upon his retirement.
Hick- Alan Hick, recipient of the Meritorius Service to the Heat Treatment Industry AwardJim Fairbairn of Bodycote plcBodycote team in Berlin, CT, with Mayor Mark Kaczynski
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Aalberts surface technologies, a global provider of specialized thermal processing, surface treatment, and material coating solutions, announced on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, that it is making changes to its U.S. portfolio in response to changing market dynamics. The provider has made investments in its Canton, OH, facility, adding austempering capabilities which will provide a logistically favorable option to clients located in the Midwestern, Eastern, and Northeastern U.S. markets. To balance the capacity available in the market with demand, the heat treat provider will be closing its plant in Ft Smith, AR.
Steve Wyatt President Aalberts surface technologies – HIP | Braze | Heat Treatment
Source: Aalberts Surface Technologies
“The decision to exit the austempering market in the South was a difficult one, but the market for austempering in the addressable market for our Ft Smith, AR plant simply is not sufficient to sustain the operation. We recognize the hardships that this difficult decision may create and will be working with our Ft Smith Team to minimize the impact as much as possible, including exploring opportunities at one of the many other Aalberts locations,” says Steve Wyatt, president of Aalberts surface technologies – HIP | braze | heat treatment.
The austempering capabilities in Canton, OH, will startup in mid-February 2024 and be fully production ready by the end of March 2024. The decommissioning of the Ft Smith, AR, plant will begin in mid-February 2024, with production expected to cease when we have completed working with clients to transition their product, but not later than April 2024.
Oliver Jaeger CEO Aalberts surface technologies LinkedIn
“We are focused on optimizing our portfolio around the globe; this initiative is about responding to what the market needs and where it is needed. In our business, logistics is a significant percentage of the total cost of our services, therefore, we must constantly be seeking ways to minimize that cost for our customers. We are committed to growing in the U.S. and look forward to partnering with our customers to develop solutions that contribute to our mutual success,” says Oliver Jaeger, CEO of Aalberts surface technologies.
The original press release from Aalberts surface technologies is available upon request.
Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 34 news items, originally featured in the November and December print magazines.
Equipment Chatter
UPC-Marathon, a Nitrex company, commissioned an endothermic gas generator for a major automotive manufacturer in Brazil.
SECO/WARWICK will supply a Vector® vacuum furnace to a South American international manufacturer of weapons and military equipment.
Stahl Gerlafingen ordered from Danieli a K-Weld machine as well as a 2-MW Automation Q-Heat-system.
NITREX has installed a second set of nitriding/nitrocarburizing systems for a European hydraulics manufacturer.
An AQUAVAIRE Q3300H furnace from Algas-SDI is ready for shipment. This equipment is a gas-fired water bath vaporizer that converts liquefied petroleum gas into superheated vapor at a balanced pressure.
A vertical vacuum furnace from SECO/ WARWICK is heading to a company that provides repair and maintenance services for jet engines.
Turkish heat treater Reymak Makine As has integrated a Nitrex nitriding/ nitrocarburizing system.
Tratamientos Termicos Avanzados (TTA), a leader in plasma nitriding services for steel, recently received their first vacuum furnace from Ipsen. The Turbo2 Treater was shipped to their facility located in Monterrey, Mexico.
Endo generator for automotive manufacturerNew systems for Stahl GerlafingenAQUAVAIRE Q3300H
Company and Personnel Chatter
SAMPE North America announced LaNetra Clayton Tate, Ph.D. as the new vice president; Sarah Cox as the new president; and Daren Davis as the new secretary for the 2023–2024 term.
Donald Crist has been promoted to director of Global Sales at RoMan Manufacturing, Inc.
AFC-Holcroft announced a partnership with Sanken Sangyo, a Japan-based company in the thermal processing equipment industry
Partners Outokumpu and SMS group GmbH inaugurated a metal powder atomization plant in the presence of Minister President Hendrik Wüst.
Turgay Ozan started his new additional role as the president and regional manager of Pfeiffer Vacuum in North America.
Vamshi Vardhan Rapole has joined Danieli Group as a graduate engineer trainee.
Sheffield Forgemasters appointed Amy Grey as the chief financial officer.
Michel Siemon has been appointed CEO of Primobius, the lithium-ion battery recycling joint venture between SMS group GmbH and Neometals Ltd.
Bobbi Warren has been promoted to chief financial officer at RoMan Manufacturing, Inc.
Sheffield Forgemasters has announced the signing of a five-year contract renewal with Harsco Environmental.
SMS group GmbH and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) have joined forces in a memorandum of understanding aimed at decarbonizing steel production in SAIL’s integrated steel plants.
Mark Przybylski started a new position as material handler of Manufacturing at Retech, a SECO/WARWICK Company.
SMS group GmbH welcomed Orascom Construction PLC to conclude the agreement signing of an alliance to help with future projects.
Thermal-Vac Arizona has announced the opening of a new Chino Valley, CA, shop for brazing, heat treating, testing, and machining services.
Hydro is set to install solar power at its extrusion factories in Sweden.
Mark Hemsath becomes the new president of Nitrex Turnkey Systems.
Joseph Scala of Leybold USA, Inc. wins Lifetime Achievement award for outstanding lifetime philanthropy after being named regional sales manager of VTS-Midwest for Leybold.
Nitrex and Linde renewed heat treating-focused joint marketing agreement and expansion into Europe.
Pfeiffer Vacuum’s President and Regional Manager,
Turgay Ozan AFC-Holcroft announced a partnership with
Sanken Sangyo, a Japan-based company in the
thermal processing equipment industry.A big year for Joseph Scala
Kudos Chatter
The GTS Mexico team completed a successful ISO/IEC 17025 audit with their accrediting entity.
The Driven to Reach Excellence and Academic Achievement for Males (DREAAM) program in Champaign, Illinois, toured Wirco, Inc.’s Champaign, Illinois, foundry.
SAMPE North America Board of Directors announced that Tim Shaughnessy, president and CEO of Rapid Cure Technologies, has been selected as the SAMPE 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipient. They also announced that Dr. Scott Beckwith, a renowned expert in the field of Materials Science, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Mort Kushner Lifetime Achievement Award.
After a 25-year career, Paulo’s heat treat manager in Murfreesboro, TN, Dave Lee, has retired.
Dan Essenmacher retired from AFC-Holcroft after 28 years with the company.
Paulo celebrates 80 years of heat treating history.
Bill Gasbarre, co-founder of Gasbarre Products, Inc., retired after 50 years.
Ipsen celebrates 75 years in Cherry Valley, IL, with a ceremony emceed by Heat Treat Today publisher, Doug Glenn.
Retirement of Paulo’s Dave LeeDoug Glenn with Patrick McKenna, president &
CEO of Ipsen USAStaff of the GTS Coahuila
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Are there rapid changes in the North American aluminum industry to accommodate trending technology, or does the aluminum market have a different focus? Enjoy this Technical Tuesday article, in which six industry players responded to the following survey from Heat Treat Today’s editorial team in August 2023.
Steady and Increasing Melters’ Demand
Contact us with your Reader Feedback!
Is demand increasing or decreasing for aluminum processing/melting equipment?
AFC-Holcroft: “Yes, we continue to see opportunities for a variety of furnaces for T5, T6, and other aluminum heat treating processes. We recently signed a license agreement with Sanken Sangyo in Japan to offer their aluminum rotary furnace designs in the U.S. and Canada.”
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl., Ltd.: “Yes, particularly in finished component heat treatment systems (T4, T5, T6, and T7 processes). The processing demand is coming from new vehicle (ICE, hybrid, electric) model line-ups that are focusing heavily on lightweighting body in white (BIW), structural, and suspension components that are being converted from steel to aluminum.”
Lindberg/MPH: “We have seen an increase in aluminum scrap melting in the recent past with larger capacity melters being quoted.”
Premier Furnace Specialists: “We’re seeing a steady demand for aluminum processing equipment. Typically, our clients are requesting either aluminum solution furnaces, drop bottom furnaces, or pre-heat furnaces. There has been an increased demand for larger furnace chamber sizes and heavier load capacities as more customers are requesting furnaces that can handle a variety of materials, temperature ranges, and processes. It seems the aerospace industry is driving most of the demand at the moment.”
SECO/WARWICK: “On the molten metal side of the SECO/WARWICK business, there are a few significant projects out there which are active, and the level of inquiries is good!”
Wisconsin Oven: “We have seen an uptick in aluminum solution treat and aging equipment in recent years.”
Tracy Dougherty Chief Operating Officer AFC-Holcroft LLC Tim Donofrio Vice President of Sales Can-Eng Furnaces International, Ltd.Kelley Shreve General Manager Lindberg/MPHJacob Laird Mechanical Engineer Premier Furnace Specialists, Inc./BeaverMaticDan Peterson Product Manager Molten Metal Furnaces SECO/WARWICK Corp.Mike Grande Vice President of Sales Wisconsin Oven Corporation
AM/3D: Allusive Adoption
Has additive manufacturing/3D printing contributed to current business levels?
AFC-Holcroft: “It’s been an ongoing topic, but volumes are still low, which has kept heat treating equipment investments at a minimum.”
Lindberg/MPH: “There have been more requests than in the past few years for sintering applications which, I believe, is largely driven by the increase in 3D metal printing manufacturing.”
Premier Furnace Specialists: “The company has been receiving a number of requests for smaller batch style ovens for the processing of additive manufactured/3D printed materials. We have also fulfilled a number of requests to alter existing or used systems to meet new process requirements.”
SECO/WARWICK: “On the molten metal side, this would be what we call the powdered metals industry, we has not seen much interest in that area this year. One exception is an inquiry that our sister company Retech was fielding.”
Have international supply chain disruptions impacted demand for your company’s equipment?
AFC-Holcroft: “There are certainly disruptions, but we’re finally starting to see some improvements. Our team has worked hard to mitigate the supply chain challenges through unique forward-looking programs with our suppliers and clients. As far as demand goes, it has not had an impact at all. In fact, we are currently experiencing booking levels that we haven’t seen in more than 20 years.”
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl., Ltd.: “Clients are planning ahead to address the longer lead times.”
Lindberg/MPH: “We have noticed that supply chain issues in general, both domestic and international, have created an environment where lead times to build equipment have more than doubled. This has caused many clients to begin looking for alternative solutions to meet their needs, as they cannot wait two-thirds of a year for equipment. The largest delays are with refractory, gas burners, alloy, and many various control components.”
Premier Furnace Specialists: “Actually, we’ve seen an increase in demand for our equipment from various industries impacted by disruptions. Many companies seem to be reassessing their supply chains and expanding production capacity to avoid future disruptions.”
Dual pit furnace and water quench tank system designed and built for a client in the aluminum castings industry. It is used for aluminum solution heat treating of thick walled castings. Each furnace has a 4,000 pound gross load capacity and an operating temperature range of 300°F – 1100°F. (Source: Premier Furnace Specialists/BeaverMatic)
SECO/WARWICK: “Lately our clients are for projects that are further out, 1–2 years in some cases. Most of our end users are aware that prices are still moving up and deliveries are stretched out, however there have been some improvements of deliveries on MCC’s and PLC’s.”
Wisconsin Oven: “Not that we know of.”
The State of Sustainability in Aluminum Market
Has the sustainability push affected demand for your equipment?
Horizontal quench system used for the solution treatment of aluminum parts (Source: Wisconsin Oven)
AFC-Holcroft: “Again, no impact on demand, but our group has been offering many ‘green’ options on our equipment for years to assist our clients in the drive for a reduction in their carbon footprint.”
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl., Ltd.: “Yes, there’s more emphasis on reduced environment impact processes and equipment designs.”
Lindberg/MPH: “Not really. We have had a couple of RFQ[ET7] ’s come in related to green energy, but they are very slow-moving projects with a lot of R&D on the buyers’ end. Additionally, we have been asked to partner with these clients to develop a solution to help them meet the end goal.”
Premier Furnace Specialists: “For a minor segment of clients, the push for sustainability seems to be driving a demand for electrically heated equipment rather than natural gas. Even for those clients, however, the main deciding factors are still local utility costs, existing facility restrictions, and familiarity with existing equipment.”
SECO/WARWICK: “Environmental sustainability has definitely affected what our clients are looking for on most new inquires. Most have strict emissions requirements and are looking for combustion systems with lower NOx and higher fuel efficiency. Peripheral hooding is also commonly requested to capture emissions from around door openings and over charge wells. I would not say that sustainability has diminished the demand, however it has affected what they need with regard to emissions compliance.”
Wisconsin Oven: “Clients occasionally request energy-efficient features and designs, but not more often than in the past.”
Anticipating Growth and Novel Aluminum Applications
What plans are you making to meet future market demand?
AFC-Holcroft: “We are a global group and have recently restructured our organization to better serve our customers. We have also undergone a facility expansion to help reduce our carbon footprint and provide our clients with the best products and deliveries available in the market. This includes an expansion of our build to stock production planning to greatly reduce lead times on UBQ furnaces and EZ endothermic generators among other products.”
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl., Ltd.: “We have increased emphasis on electric battery vehicle component and materials processes and equipment design development. Additionally, we are planning further use of electric energy as an alternate heating source for system designs.”
Lindberg/MPH: “We are looking to work with vendors to create vendor managed inventory in order to reduce lead times, as well as hire additional employees to reduce labor driven lead times. We continually look for additional vendors to remain cost competitive and reducing the overall cost of manufacturing.”
Premier Furnace Specialists : “We’ve expanded vendor and supplier listings. We have also gained experience implementing existing and new alternatives for almost all of our furnace components. By reassessing our standard component choices and offering a variety to clients, we have been able to substantially reduce lead times which allows for more efficient and flexible production while reducing costs.
“We have also added new technology to aid in our manufacturing. Building parts in-house significantly cuts down on lead times and pricing. Thus, clients know that their equipment will have little or no downtime, saving them the time and stress of not running product.”
SECO/WARWICK: “We are adding engineers, field service technicians, etc. and having our “seasoned veterans” bring them up to speed! We have also moved to a larger new office location to accommodate future growth.”
Wisconsin Oven: “We have acquired additional floorspace in recent years and have been hiring aggressively in the last six months.”
We will be celebrating the holidays with family, and our offices will be closed from December 22 to January 1. Look for your next Heat Treat Daily e-newsletter on January 2nd!
2023 has been a year of many new things, and we are thankful to have seen many of you in-person. The heat treat community is one that is warm (pun intended) and vibrant.
We are looking to 2024 with much anticipation and hope for even more opportunities to work together and challenge ourselves and others with new ideas in the North American heat treat industry.
Thank you for the opportunities every day to serve and encourage you in our heat treat corner of the world. From the entire Heat Treat Todayteam, we wish you a very joyous and restful Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!
Heat TreatToday publishes eight print magazines a year, and included in each is a letter from the publisher, Doug Glenn. This letter first appeared in November 2023 Vacuum Heat Treatprint edition.
Forty-one relative newbies to the North American heat treat industry attended this year’s Heat Treat Boot Camp in Pittsburgh.
Contact us with your Reader Feedback!
There are four reasons why sending someone to Heat Treat Boot Camp is a good business decision:
Technical and Commercial Content
The content is right on target. The technical information is presented in layman’s terms so beginners can understand. Thomas Wingens, of WINGENS LLC, does a great job explaining rudimentary concepts like austenite, martensite, phase transformations, lattice structures, and other potentially intimidating concepts.
The non-technical content is presented by yours truly and gives attendees a solid understanding of the importance of heat treating, the equipment and components used, the companies that manufacture the equipment, and resources for staying up to date.
Attendees did have one request: extend the event so that more time could be spent on the topics. That’s a nice criticism to hear, and we’re considering extending the event to include another half day.
Connecting with People
Penna Flame Industries in Zelienople, PA, hosted nearly 30 Heat Treat Boot Camp attendees. On the right, Andrew Orr of Penna Flame and Doug Glenn of Heat TreatToday listen to a question from Christopher Carson, Modern Industries, Inc. (Source: Heat TreatToday)
One of the most valuable parts of the event was the networking. It’s nice to know there are others in the industry who are also early in their careers and need to learn heat treat basics. The mix of attendees was quite diverse, including in-house heat treaters, commercial heat treaters, and industry suppliers.
Two Excursions
Following an evening adventure on the Duquesne Incline, attendees gathered at the DoubleTree in Downtown Pittsburgh for some classic “yinzer” dining and fellowship. (Source: Heat TreatToday)
At the end of the first full day of classes, the entire group loaded a school bus (yes, a yellow school bus) and took a brief drive to the famous Duquesne Incline which goes to a fantastic view of downtown Pittsburgh.
The final day ended with another school bus trip to a local commercial heat treat plant where attendees saw heat treat equipment in operation. Penna Flame Industries in Zelienople, PA, hosted nearly 30 of us. Andrew and Michael Orr, third-generation family owners, did an excellent job showing the group around their flame and induction hardening heat treat operation.
Food
There were also plenty of good opportunities for networking during the six food functions — and the food was fantastic. There is nothing better than chatting over food. This year’s group excelled at mealtime fellowship!
Most Importantly
Deidra Minerd, owner of Euclid Heat Treating, summed up the most important benefit of sending someone to Heat TreatBoot Camp:
“Thank you for taking good care of one of our new employees . . . at the Heat Treat Boot Camp. He said he really enjoyed it and learned a lot. As soon as he returned, he said he’d like to take part in more training. It’s encouraging that his time at Heat Treat Boot Camp inspired him to pursue more knowledge to further his career.”
Hopefully, we’ll see you or someone from your company next year. Dates for Heat TreatBoot Camp 2024 will be announced before the end of this year. Stay tuned.
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