- JetFirst 200 – industrial semi-conductor manufacturer
- JetFirst 100 – private research laboratory
- JetFirst 100/200 – university R&D research facilities
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
A mechanical engineer by trade, Fred followed his father Harry’s example by entering into the heat–treating industry at Abar. Fred began in hot zone design and aftermarket services, before becoming Abar’s Aftermarket Manager, where he led hot zone designers and electrical and mechanical engineers. Fred believed in putting the customers’ needs first.
Fred followed Abar through the transition to Ipsen working in various sales and service roles, before eventually relocating to Illinois. In Cherry Valley, Fred managed the company’s Engineered Components Group, helping customers with retrofit sales and services.
Fred had a sincere love for life that included world travel—he especially liked visiting Japan—and supporting his favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Fred is survived by his wife Susan, daughters Laura and Alexa, and grandson Michael. Fred is preceded in death by his daughter Kristen. The world and Ipsen customers were better off with Fred being involved. He will be truly missed.
Fred’s family created a fundraising account to ease the financial burden of funeral expenses, which can be accessed here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-with-funeral-expenses-for-fred. Details on a celebration of life will be shared later.
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
Kolene Corp., a very well known name in the field of salt bath equipment is certainly busy these days. This announcement tells us how the company has just acquired Upton Industries. It follows hard on the heels of their announcement in June of this year about the company acquiring the chemical division of Park Thermal; “June 2021 Kolene Corporation has acquired the Chemical Division of Park Thermal International Corporation. The president of Park Thermal, Mr. Jay Mistry, will work with Kolene going forward to assure the transition of all Park Thermal standard and proprietary heat treat chemical blends, as well as providing customer support.”
“Kolene Corporation, a global leader of custom[1]designed and engineered molten salt bath equipment and specialty chemical formulations, announces the acquisition of Upton Industries, located in Roseville, Michigan. “Kolene has always looked for ways to grow revenues, both organically through our R&D efforts and externally by acquisition. When the opportunity presented itself to begin discussions with Upton, the similarities between the two companies and what we provide to the customers in the industries that we serve, made this marriage ideal,” said Roger L. Shoemaker, Chairman & CEO of Kolene. “We are proud to carry on Upton’s strong brand and legacy as a part of Kolene Corporation as we move forward.”
Founded in 1937, Upton Industries are experts in the design and manufacture of thermal processing systems in the Metal Heat Treating industry. Upton’s Engineered Thermal Solutions methodology has allowed the company to become a leader in traditional lines of heat treat equipment including box type, car bottom, lift-off and specialty furnaces utilizing either electric heating or gas-fired systems. Kolene will maintain both the Detroit headquarters location and the Roseville location, which will be home to all Kolene’s manufacturing and fabrication. By bringing the two companies together, the new Kolene will house nearly 50,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing, fabrication, and commercial processing capabilities.
Scott Schilling, Kolene’s President said, “After thoroughly evaluating Upton’s capabilities, it was apparent that there are tremendous synergies between the two companies. Capitalizing on these synergies will allow Kolene to expand into applications and revenue segments where we have not historically been. Kolene will also have the ability to become more vertically integrated due to Upton’s manufacturing and fabrications capabilities, which will allow us to strengthen our overall margins. The two companies are a perfect fit.”
In its 82nd year, Detroit-based Kolene Corporation provides custom-designed and engineered equipment, specialized chemical formulations, and processes for cleaning and conditioning metal surfaces. Kolene’s products are used worldwide for casting cleaning, alloy descaling, coatings removal, engine rebuild and other demanding automotive, industrial, and military applications. For more information visit www.kolene.com”
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
In 2016 Pawel Danielewicz who had worked for commercial heat treater TTI Group (now Aalberts) for a number of years realized his dream of starting his own heat treat shop. The result was Titanium Heat Treatment Services in Buckinghamshire, UK which specializes in heat treatment of titanium, aluminium and precipitation hardened alloys for the motorsport industry. In 5 short years the company has grown and prospered with the result that the firm now has 11 furnaces and ovens installed, the photo shows #12. This vacuum carburizing system just arrived (the first VC unit for the company) and Pawel is pretty pleased with the system-apparently he has looked forward to being able to offer low pressure carburizing since the day he started the company.
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
Aichelin, one of the largest furnace builders in the world recently appointed Mr. Michael Reisner to be Managing Director of their manufacturing facility in Mödling, Austria. As a sales professional, Michael Reisner was most recently managing director of a refractory group and has been in contact with “hot” topics for years. In this capacity he will be on a par with Mr. Bill Disler who is CEO of the Aichelin facility in North America, AFC-Holcroft in Wixom, Michigan.
In this photo Michael can be seen on the right, Mr. Thomas Peinkofer who is Managing Director of German Aichelin Service GmbH can be seen on the left.
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
The announcement that specialy chain manufacturer Webster Industris in Tiffin, Ohio, USA was closing their foundry division caught the attention of “The Monty Heat Treat News” because twice over the years we have spoken about the company and their in house heat treatment department (further down you will find a 2020 posting about how the company was investing in their heat treat facilities). This week the company issued a press release about how they were closing their foundry division which will effect a small portion of their heat treat department but only those heat treat operations associated with the foundry.
“Tiffin, Ohio — Webster Industries announced this week that they will be discontinuing foundry operations at their Tiffin facility. The company said in a news release that the move is designed to “build capacity and focus on our growing chain and sprocket business.” “Over the next six months, we will be phasing out products, customers, processes and equipment that are in the specialty castings category,” the release states. “Our #1 goal is for every employee to stay with Webster and help build capacity to meet our growing demand.”
According to the news release, employees currently working in the foundry will be given the opportunity to “support the other products [Webster] manufactures.” “We need them and more to support our chain, sprocket and vibratory equipment business,” the release states. “Our desire is to communicate as openly as possible and respect the fact that change is not easy. Thank you for your continued grit and dedication to making a difference.”
“July 2020 Posting; Webster Industries, Tiffin, Ohio Investing in Heat Treat Department; In Tiffin, Ohio, USA we find Webster Industries, a 140 year old, employee owned manufacturer of chain. Webster makes our news section today due to the fact that they just announced several million dollars worth of investments in the facility-this includes automated loading systems for their in house heat treat department. Just last year we visited this facility and what we saw in their heat treat department were a few batch IQ furnaces, some continuous lines and endo generators. While we were not allowed to take any pictures in the facility we did get this one of the individuals responsible for heat treating. On the left we see Mark Kuenzli, Operations Manager, Craig Agerter, Heat Treat Department and Gord Montgomery on the right.”
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
Recently we had a press release about a fastener manufacturer in Michigan placing an order for what will be their fourth Can Eng Mesh belt furnace line-we can now offer a few more details.
“Can-Eng Furnaces International Limited was recently awarded a contract to design and supply another 6000 lb/hr continuous mesh belt furnace system to a precision automotive and specialty fastener manufacturer located in the state of Michigan. The project marks the fourth Can-Eng Mesh Belt furnace line for this captive heat treater, which with the completion of this newest line will be operating within three facilities across the state.
The new, high-volume fastener system features: an automated bin-dumping loader, pre- washer, atmosphere-controlled mesh belt hardening system, oil quench, post wash system, temper furnace, in-line soluble oil system, bi-directional conveyor discharge, and CAN-ENG’s PETTM Level 2 SCADA system. By integrating CAN-ENG’s Level 2 Automation, the heat treater provides themselves access to vital tracking of products’ status, detailed process data for continuous process improvements, comprehensive equipment diagnostics, cost analysis, & inventory management. The state-of-the-art system also utilizes Can-Eng’s Energy Reduction System (ERSTM), significantly lowering energy requirements of the hardening furnace and providing up to a one-third reduction in required atmosphere. The line will also have the capability to bypass the soluble oil system to allow for specialty fasteners requiring post temper processing to be removed and collected.”
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
From US commercial heat treater Hi TecMetal Group (HTG) we have this press release about a plant consolidation. Want to know how HTG compares in size to other North American commercial heat treaters? The most complete list in existence can be found at “https://themonty.com/project/
“To better serve our customers, HTG is reducing operating costs by consolidating two of our manufacturing plants. Our Brazing & Metal Treating Division, East 55th Street, Cleveland, OH is moving into our larger and more modern, Lakeland Blvd, Wickliffe, OH facility.
– Our objective is to increase efficiency without impacting customer service or process integrity.
– The equipment, people and processes will largely remain unchanged.
– Customers will be individually advised when the location change will affect their particular items.
Beginning in 2018, we developed a plan to consolidate these operations, maximize benefit, and minimize operational risk and cost by:
– Analyzing and comparing financial and operational impacts of consolidation into each of the locations
– Summarizing the economic impact of the consolidation
– Creating a detailed floor plan for the consolidated plant layout that minimized reconfiguration of existing operations
– Developing an implementation plan to support the physical move while mitigating potential risk that defined timelines and ownership for each activity
– Baselining the current performance of the two plants to understand production processes, current and projected volumes/mix, cost performance, capacity/utilization, labor, infrastructure, supporting capabilities, etc.
– Assessing risks and developing a proactive risk mitigation plan
Cole Coe, President, stated, “This consolidation is logical because both plants perform thermal treatment processes. This measure will enable us to take another step towards an optimized and cost-efficient group structure, enabling us to focus on areas where we can achieve a sustainable market position with innovative and leading processes. This will result in a better customer experience for current and future customers.”
Phase 1 Consolidation is completed, with the first of five continuous brazing furnaces moved and producing parts. The total consolidation is expected to be completed by November. 30th.”
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
The VAB furnace on order is intended for vacuum brazing aluminum components. This furnace has one of the most innovative designs in Europe. Its unique design was based on detailed guidelines and the needs of the customer, which makes it a customized solution.
“We are always pleased with custom solutions, because they help us to grow, inspire and develop – both our company and our technologies. This project for sure was a challenge for the entire SECO/WARWICK team, as our partner’s assumptions in terms of the requirements for our furnace were really elevated. They were related to very complex and individual solutions in terms of automatic loading and transport of parts, along with a highly dynamic increase and precise control and uniformity of the temperature distribution”
– said Maciej Korecki, Vice-President, Business Segment Vacuum Heat Treatment Furnaces, SECO/WARWICK. What is characteristic of this solution is that it includes an extensive pumping system having an impressive capacity and delivering extremely high vacuum. The device is connected with a dedicated cooling station which significantly increases the performance of the system.
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
Today we have a real treat for you as our host Mr. Carlos Torres talks pusher furnace vs batch IQ furnace with Mr. Fred Hamizadeh who is in charge of heat treatment for one of the largest in house heat treaters in the world, American Axle & Manufacturing (for a few more details about heat treating at AAM we would refer you to the brief article below which was posted to “The Monty Heat Treat News” in early 2020 shortly after a visit by “The Monty” team to the AAM facility in Guanajuato, Mexico). To find out where Fred ranks on our list of the “Most Influential People in the North American Heat Treating Industry in 2021” please follow this link; 40 Most Influential People in The North American Heat Treating Industry 2021 | The Monty
Pusher vs Batch | Fred Hamizadeh | THE HEAT TREAT PODCAST #34 – YouTube
“April 2020 Posting. American Axle & Manufacturing-Guanajuato Manufacturing Complex Mexico; Any list of the largest captive heat treaters in North America would have to include auto and truck component supplier American Axle & Manufacturing (https://themonty.com/articles/10-largest-north-american-captive-heat-treaters/) In terms of sales the company reported $6.53 Billion USD in 2019, in terms of the amount of heat treating we can’t even guess. We know AAM has large heat treating departments in a number of locations around the world including the US, Mexico and Poland but what that translates into in terms of number of furnaces is anybody’s guess (although one of our favorite heat treaters, who is also one of the most influential in North America, Fred Hamizadeh of AAM would certainly know https://themonty.com/articles/25-most-influential-people-in-the-north-american-heat-treating-industry/ )
This all takes us to the AAM Manufacturing Complex in Guanajuato, Mexico which we visited last week. The complex includes several different facilities and several different heat treat departments. We are very constrained in what we can say and photos were an absolute no-go but we can at least give a broad summary. What we saw were multiple large pusher furnaces, numerous batch IQ furnaces and generators with a couple of large mesh belts thrown in. The equipment ranges in age from older right on up to almost brand new and all of it is in immaculate shape with state of the art controls.”
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/