Once a month, Heat Treat Today publishes an episode of Heat Treat Radio, a unique-to-the-industry podcast that covers topics in the aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, and general manufacturing industries. Each episode features an interview with an industry leader and is full of in-depth descriptions of technical content as well as heart-felt stories from industry legends.
Today's article features three industry leaders, ranging from young rising stars to seasoned industry staples. With two former 40 Under 40 honorees and one Heat Treat Legend, these are leaders you don't want to miss getting to know!
Enjoy this highlight reel of three industry leaders recently featured on Heat Treat Radio: John Becker, Sasha Tupalo, and Nic Willis.
Heat Treat Radio: Heat Treat Legend John Becker
President
Heat Treat Equipment
Source: Heat Treat Today
Meet the heat treat legend who describes himself as "tenacious like a bulldog." John Becker, experienced salesman, manufacturer, and founder/president of Heat Treat Equipment (est. 2011), shares his heat treat story and offers advice to the next generation of heat treaters in this Heat Treat Radio episode.
Before becoming the inspirational leader in the industry that he is today, Becker got his start in the early 60's as a janitor working in for his now-wife's father, sweeping up the steel division. Becker quickly progressed from a janitor to a small business owner, running the J. L. Becker Company out of the basement of his Michigan home.
An example of true American grit and determination, he expanded his company internationally, building equipment in places as diverse as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, China, Korea, Russia, and Ukraine. In 2011, Becker sold his first company to Gasbarre and founded Heat Treat Equipment, which he still runs today at the age of 79. His advice to the young heat treater: "If you don’t come home laughing and having a good time and enjoying yourself, you’re in the wrong business."
Read the transcript, and listen to or watch the podcast here.
Heat Treat Radio: Heat Treat NextGen Sasha Tupalo
Manager of Thermatool Labs
Thermatool Corp.
Source: Heat Treat Today
It is rare to find a young person who says they are working their dream job, but in Sasha Tupalo, just such a person can be found! A 2019 40 Under 40 honoree, Sasha has since more than lived up to this award in her years in the industry. Born and raised in the Ukrainian town of Dnirpo, Tupalo offers a unique and helpful perspective to the North American Heat Treat Industry. Tupalo says she got into metallurgy by sheer curiosity after graduating from high school. This curiosity first led her to obtain a master's degree in Material Science and Engineering in 2014 and to her current role as the Manager of Thermatool Labs at Thermatool Corp.
In this episode, Tupalo speaks about her experience as a female in a male-dominated industry, her expertise in the heat treat industry, and her progression from applications engineer to materials engineer to senior materials engineer, and now to lab manager. When asked to offer a word of encouragement to the rising heat treating generation, Tupalo says, "There are lots of opportunities for growth. It’s fun. It’s a really fun industry — for me, it is, at least. If it’s something that interests you, I say go for it."
Read the transcript, and listen to or watch the podcast here.
Heat Treat Radio: Making the Leap to Laser Heat Treat with Nic Willis
Metallurgist/heat treat supervisor
Emerson Professional Tools — RIDGID® TOOLS.
Source: Heat Treat Today
This heat treat leader is not only the major player implementing laser heat treat in-house, but he is also a recipient of Heat Treat Today's 40 Under 40 recognition in 2020. Nic Willis is the metallurgical authority for all Emerson Professional Tools operations worldwide and is the metallurgist/heat treat supervisor of the RIDGID® TOOLS division.
It is no wonder that this young industry leader would accomplish great things in the world of heat treating. Willis has only been in the heat treat industry for about five years, but in that time, he has been a key figure in the modernization of the company's heat treat department, and he projects that laser heat treating will be brought in-house and on site for his company within the next few years.
"But what," the reader may ask, "is laser hardening?" Such a reader has come to the right podcast! Willis states, “It’s a form of selective hardening where you want some of the part to have a hard case for wear resistance. The rest of the part keeps its ductility. In this case, you’re using a laser — rather than an induction field or a flame — to heat up this specific area that you want to harden.” To find out more about Nic Willis and the laser-hardening process for heat treat, tune in to the full episode!
Read the transcript, and listen to or watch the podcast here.
