The obituary for Wally Bamford paints the picture of an individual who led a remarkable life full of many accomplishments. For the team at “The Monty” we will always think of Wally as the man who brought mesh belt furnace lines to North America, a feat which significantly changed the entire industry.

“CAN-ENG Co-Founder Waldron L. Bamford, P.Eng. passed way Wednesday evening, September 10.

Wally was fighting his 10th round of Cancer and at 93 years old it was a fight he was not going to win.

Wally had an incredible life story, enlisting in the RCN – Royal Canadian Navy who sponsored his Engineering Degree at the University of Detroit.

He was a flight deck officer (Lieutenant) on the Canadian Aircraft Carrier HMCS MAGNIFICENT and was involved in the Suez Crisis in 1956. HMCS MAGNIFICENT – CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

Post Navy he worked for WALKER METAL PRODUCTS in Walkerville, ON http://internationalmetropolis.com/images/2009/311.jpg and was transferred to the WELMET subsidiary in Welland ON shortly after.

WELMET was the largest Stainless Steel Foundry in Canada with over 500 people making Stainless and Heat Resistant Castings.

WELMET built Industrial Furnaces under license from SUNBEAM EQUIPMENT COMPANY (Meadville, PA) – later SECO-WARWICK.

In 1964 he formed CAN-ENG along with his partner Arthur Neufeld, P.Eng.  Art was the President and Wally was Vice President, and they convinced the Furnace Assemblers at WELMET to join their new Company.  Within 1 year (1965) they landed a Five (5) line Leaf Spring Contract in Chatham / Wallaceburg that would anchor the fledgling business.

In 1965 CAN-ENG founded the largest furnace builder in Mexico (SELMEC), and incredible accomplishment at the time.

In 1968 they acquired a Commercial Heat Treater in Kitchener, Ontario renaming it CAN-ENG METAL TREATING.  The plant still operates today as part of BODYCOTE Group.

Expansion to Europe (CAN-ENG UK) and successful partnerships with Japanese Industrial Furnace Companies cemented his legacy as one of the most influential individuals in the North American Heat Treat Industry.

Not all businesses were successful (Polythane, Pollution Controls, Cronite Foundry – Paris, ON, Other) but it did not dampen their appetite for growth.

Art passed away in 1988, Wally went on to purchase HARPER (High Temp. Electrically Heated Kilns)  in Buffalo NY, a company he remained close to until 2019.

HARPER today is an ESOP – Employee Owned Company and Wally was very proud to sell the business to the Employees.  

Mr. Bamford was the first Canadian President of the MTI – Metal Treating Institute and in 2023 made a donation of $1M CAD to the MTI Scholarship Fund to train the next generation of Heat Treat professionals.

The MTI was a very important part of Wally’s life and he included his participation in MTI as one of his greatest life achievements.

Wally officially retired June 30, 2025 after winding down the last of his Holding Companies.

On September 10, a Wally Bamford Roast Dinner was held at his retirement residence in Ottawa, ON.

There were (60) Invited Guests with Theresa Eagles (Executive Assistant) and Michael K. Klauck – CAN-ENG President attending.  

The evening was full of speeches, drinks, dinner, live music and socializing with many individuals important to the Heat Treatment Industry.

As a gift, all attendees received a pair of Wally’s famous “funky socks” 

Wally approached every day with excitement and optimism that few could match.

Our praise and thanks for Wally – a man who had the drive and courage to help invent an industry.

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