If you are involved in commercial heat treating in Europe or North America, we can guarantee that you have run across the name “Aalbert Surface Technologies” as Aalberts is the second largest commercial heat treater on both continents (https://themonty.com/project/the-montys-50-largest-north-american-commercial-heat-treaters-2024/). So it was with eager anticipation that Gord Montgomery of “The Monty Heat Treat News” looked forward to visiting one of their larger locations in Europe located in Remscheid, Germany.

 

The last time we visited this location was over 20 years ago and we expected changes and changes we found. The facility is still the same size, a very impressive 10,000 square meters (110,000 square feet) but the nature of the equipment has changed over the years to reflect changes in commercial heat treating. As an example, this facility used to have a very substantial number of continuous style furnaces, this has now changed to more batch type systems. This includes a total of 11 batch IQ furnaces, 3 vacuum nitriders and two mesh belt furnace lines.

 

The whole facility even “feels” different in that most of the plant is cleaner, brighter and more spacious. While their main customers remain the auto industry it is obvious that the plant is looking at “diversifying” which most commercial heat treaters in Germany are also looking at.

 

The Plant Manager “Mr. Marcus Reuter”, gave us a very in depth tour the highlight of which is a brand new “sealed quench” (batch IQ for our North American readers) line provided by Ipsen. It features two new “XXL” units with companion tempers, endothermic generators and a “HEMO” washer. The entire line is completely automated and entered production fairly recently.

 

We commend Marcus on what he has done, it is obvious that he has a vision-a vision which he is turning into reality.

 

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