About Andis
About ECM Technologies
ECM Technologies is an innovative low pressure vacuumfurnacemanufacturer with headquarters in Grenoble, France. With subsidiaries and ventures around the world, including ECM USA located in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin USA. ECM’s global presence is well known in the automotive, aerospace, nuclear, energy, electronic, induction and 3D additive industries. With such versatile product lines and service capabilities, ECM is the ideal furnace system supplier for heat treatment processes ranging from rapid thermal processing(RTP) to low pressure vacuum carburizing (LPC). Our service capabilities include advanced automation, robotics, after sales, spare parts, on-site training and more.
“J&M Plating” in Rockford, IL, USA offers plating, coating, electroplating, sorting, heat treating and Patch-“The Monty” would hazard a guess that there are not more than 10 companies in North America that offers this combination. While it has been a challenging time for fasteners manufacturers in the US Midwest, J&M has found business to be robust enough to add further heat-treating capacity.
Recently the company brought on line a 4,000 pound/hour Can Eng mesh belt furnace line capable of neutral hardening and case hardening. The line has an automated loading system, a complete datalogging system, oil quenching with an in line tempering furnace. With the addition of this line, the company now has over 200,000 pounds per day of continuous heat-treating capacity.
About J&M Plating; Since J&M Plating’s beginning in 1986 as a zinc electroplater, the cornerstone of our business philosophy has been that our customers are our business partners. That philosophy still holds true today as a full-service provider offering heat-treating, dip-spin coating, zinc/zinc-nickel electroplating, sorting and patch. In all of our business operations, our employees are constantly looking for ways to improve our business relationships and to truly become active partners in our goal of attaining a greater competitive advantage for each and every one of our customers and ourselves.
“Solar Atmospheres of Western PA marked a major milestone with an inspiring 25th anniversary event that brought together employees, customers, partners, and community members.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone and to all who have been part of the journey. Here’s to the next 25 years!”
Furnace builder “ROHDE Schutzgasöfen GmbH” of Hanau, Germany has delivered a “Bell-Type Furnace system for heat treatment under hydrogen to a customer in Switzerland. It is expected that the system will be commissioned in the very near future.
A key technical feature of the system is the integrated rapid gas cooling unit. It enables efficient and controlled cooling of the load after the heat treatment process. This helps reduce cycle times, precisely adjust material properties and significantly increase the overall productivity of the system.
Special attention was paid to achieving maximum energy efficiency. The high-quality thermal insulation and optimized furnace design ensure that process heat remains exactly where it is needed: inside the working chamber. The thermal image shows the furnace after 4.5 hours of operation at 1,150 °C. The low external surface temperatures at the measuring points — approximately 26–30 °C — clearly demonstrate the excellent insulation performance and efficient use of energy.
We are pleased to contribute with this system to powerful, efficient and future-oriented heat treatment technology.
Technical highlights:
• HO 100/150 bell-type furnace system
– Operation under hydrogen atmosphere
– Rated temperature: 1,150 °C
– Integrated rapid gas cooling unit
– High temperature uniformity and process reliability
– Energy-efficient insulation with very low external surface temperatures
– Designed for reproducible industrial heat treatment processes
“For more than six decades, the Pritchard family has been closely connected to the story of VAC AERO.
In 1959, following the cancellation of Canada’s iconic Avro Arrow program, 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 turned a moment of uncertainty into opportunity. Drawing on his experience at Orenda Engines, he helped establish what would become VAC AERO International — laying the foundation for a company that would grow into a global leader in solving the toughest material and coating challenges on the most mission-critical components in aerospace and defence. From designing and manufacturing vacuum furnaces to thermal spray and diffused coatings Ross put Vac Aero at the forefront of materials engineering.
Years later, his son 𝐉𝐞𝐟𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 carried that legacy forward, serving as President from 1998 to 2011 and guiding the company through growth, innovation, and expansion into international markets. From Canada to Poland and India, Jeff charted a course to bring customer delight through engineering execution.
More recently, the third generation of the family joined the journey. 𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝, Ross’s grandson and Jeff’s son. He first came to VAC AERO as an engineering co-op student while studying at the University of Waterloo. He later returned as a Project Engineer, where he quickly became known for his leadership, versatility, and willingness to take on any challenge.
As Michael Miasek, CEO, shared “It has been a pleasure working with Ross, Jeff, and Ryan over the year; each playing a unique role, but together, telling a powerful story of perseverance, hard work, and legacy.”
As Dave Farmery, President & COO, shared: “Today is bittersweet as Ryan is leaving Vac Aero and ending the Pritchard generational story. Ryan has chosen to pursue a career in public service as a first responder. His passion to get things done will be greatly missed but his willingness to serve the community makes us very proud . “
Brent Rosart, Director of Engineering, Quality & Pyrometry, added: “Ryan has always been well-rounded, not afraid of any task thrown at him, and he completes the mission. His leadership on the shop floor earned the trust of both management and the operations team.”
Ryan, thank you for your contributions to VAC AERO and for continuing a proud family connection to the company.
We wish you every success in this exciting new journey.”
“A European aircraft engine manufacturer has purchased a VIM furnace from the vacuum metallurgy segment of SECO/WARWICK. The system ordered is a two chamber 50 kg VIM induction furnace designed for equiaxed (EQ) casting. The furnace features a non standard design in which the mold heater, together with the mold, moves horizontally on a specially designed rail mounted trolley after casting, allowing the mold to exit the chamber.
The industrial furnace sold will be used to produce equiaxed turbine blade castings for aircraft engines. This is the Partner’s first order for a SECO/WARWICK melting furnace.
The SECO/WARWICK Group specializes in manufacturing metal heat treatment and metallurgical furnaces tailored to the specific needs of its business partners. Instead of offering only standard solutions, the Group develops technologies tailored to specific production processes, quality requirements, and industry characteristics. As a result, the systems delivered high efficiency, advanced technology and flexibility, helping customers optimize processes and build a competitive advantage.
The “Tailor-made” solutions in industry is not a passing trend, but an important direction in the development of modern manufacturing. For years, SECO/WARWICK has been moving away from the “one product fits all” approach toward a model of “flexible production for many different needs.” The SECO/WARWICK Group combines customization with automation, data, and an efficient supply chain to gain a strong competitive edge. The same approach was applied to this project.”
“The system design was adapted to the customer’s specific needs and capabilities. The furnace has a non‑standard design in which the mold elevator was replaced with a special trolley that moves horizontally on rails. Thanks to this solution, the furnace fits perfectly into the available space without any impact on its performance,” said Earl Good, Managing Director of RETECH, a company within the SECO/WARWICK Group, and Vice President of the Vacuum Metallurgy Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.”
“ADAMSVILLE, PA — Signature Vacuum Furnaces, a company that originated in a breakfast meeting between two friends and co-founders, with the first order prosecuted in one partner’s kitchen and the second partner’s basement, is now partially owned by its employees through a structure new to the US called an Employee Ownership Trust, or EOT.
“We explored a couple of avenues with some folks that were interested in buying the company,” said Greg Kimble, one of two co-founders. “But ultimately, we wanted to continue our legacy and keep our team employed here. We’ve developed a real family-like environment here over the years, and we care about our people and their wellbeing.”
“Employee-owned businesses have a much greater capability to retain their existing culture than those that sell externally,” Kevin McPhillips, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Center of Employee Ownership (PaCEO) said. “Signature’s owners understand the value of that.”
Greg Kimble and co-founder Tim Horning first met in 1978, and it didn’t take long for them to agree that, should the opportunity arise, they would love to work together. A couple decades later, their dream came to fruition. Signature Vacuum Systems was incorporated in June of 2002, and they took their first order in November of the same year.
Now, Signature has 15 employees and the furnaces they’ve manufactured are installed internationally as far away as Japan.
“We chose the EOT structure for a couple different reasons,” Heather Bell, Operations Manager at Signature said. “We liked the ease of structure of an EOT, as well as being able to modify aspects as necessary down the road. We’re also a smaller company, and the cost of an EOT was much more feasible for our size and revenue.”
An Employee Ownership Trust, or EOT, is a form of employee ownership that is new to the United States, but common in the United Kingdom. Under an EOT structure, the owner creates a trust that will hold some or all of the business; the purposes of the trust are often to benefit the community and employees, and preserve legacy. The company then makes a contribution of cash to the trust, which in turn buys shares from the current owner. In the majority of transactions, the owner offers seller financing.
Signature now joins the roughly 40 other companies nationally that have Employee Ownership Trusts.
To make the transition, Signature worked with Common Trust, an organization that assists owners exploring and transitioning to EOTs.
“Working with Common Trust was essential to the transition process,” Bell said. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the help from them and from Jeff Parnell.”
“Study after study confirms that employee-owned companies typically outperform their non-employee-owned peers, and with Signature’s dedicated employee base, I’m excited to see how this translates,” Jeff Parnell, Founder and CEO of JHP Advisors said.
The Strategic Early Warning Network (SEWN) also played an important part in enabling the transaction.
“Signature Vacuum’s decision to embrace employee ownership is perfectly aligned with our mission,” Michael Perfetti, Western Regional Director for SEWN noted.
“I’m greatly looking forward to higher engagement from all of our employees,” Bell said. “They have so much to offer and valuable suggestions to give, but they didn’t always have an avenue in the past to make them heard as easily.”
“I would suggest it to other business owners,” Kimble concluded. “I think it’s a great option to have.”
“It’s well worth it,” Bell agreed. “We feel that we’ve paved the way for the future of both the company and our employees.”
A fully automated, electrically heated “Ipsen” chamber furnace line (size M) has been installed at fastener manufacturer “Hassmann S.A.” in record time.
The system consists of two complete, chamber (sealed quench) furnace lines. The furnaces have been installed with commissioning having already started-it is expected the furnaces will enter production shortly.
About Hassmann S.A.; Hassmann S.A. is one of Brazil’s leading fastener manufacturers and supplies customers in the automotive, agricultural, truck and construction machinery sectors, among others. It produces over 40,000 different screws, rivets and custom parts, and exports to more than 25 countries.
Earlier this year “The Monty Heat Treat News” reported an explosion of a “Hipping” furnace (an abbreviation for hot isostatic pressing) at a commercial heat treater in Canby, Oregon, USA-the story can be found at “Massive “HIP” Explosion at USA Commercial Heat Treater”.
While this incident happened back in early February of this year, details and conclusions remain very vague. We know that the two furnaces at this location use argon gas under extreme heat and high pressure (up to 30,000 PSI) to process aerospace and medical components. We also know that the explosion occurred in the furnace and was directed upward by the pit it was installed in, which blew the roof off the building.
We also have learned that while the general cause was a failure of the pressure vessel, the specific reason for that failure—such as equipment fatigue or a procedural error—remains under official investigation.
It is also unclear at this point who originally manufactured the furnace.
Interestingly enough news reports say that the second furnace was eventually stabilized by submerging it in water for 16 hours to cool.
“The Monty” will keep you updated as this investigation continues.
For more information on “Hipping” accidents we would suggest this more in-depth article from “The Monty Heat Treat News” “Are Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) Accidents Common”?
“AICHELIN Group holds its ground in a challenging environment in 2025 – strong growth expected for 2026
- Stable annual result despite volatile market environment
- NITREX integration on track – positioning as a full-service provider progressing
- International expansion: new locations in India and China
- Digitalization established as an independent business unit
- Brand relaunch in the first half of 2026
Solid business performance in a differentiated market environment; Regional market development in 2025 showed a clearly differentiated picture. While Asia continued to develop very dynamically and North America recorded solid growth, Europe fell short of expectations. Continued investment restraint, structural uncertainties, and an overall subdued economic environment shaped the European business. The Group responded with a strong focus on efficiency and by strengthening local structures. “2025 was a year of clear strategic decisions. Despite headwinds in Europe, we were able to set important course directions for sustainable growth and consistently implement the strategy we presented a year ago,” says Christian Grosspointner, CEO of the AICHELIN Group.
The realization of synergies – in the product portfolio, market presence, and customer support – will be a key focus in 2026. The goal is to position the AICHELIN Group as a full-service provider in industrial heat treatment, serving customers worldwide with one of the most comprehensive technology portfolios in the industry – from large-scale industrial furnaces to highly precise vacuum and nitriding systems.
International expansion: Focus on India and China; A key pillar of the growth strategy is the consistent expansion of the international presence following the principle “think global, act local.”
In India, the AICHELIN Group opened a new office in Pune on April 1, 2026. In addition, another site with production and office space is currently under construction, with commissioning planned for the second half of 2026. India is one of the most dynamic growth markets worldwide, and the Group is specifically strengthening its local presence there – with its own teams, technical expertise, and a strong on-site organization.
The AICHELIN Group has also expanded its activities in China: last year, the Group moved into its new headquarters in Future Science City in Beijing. With AICHELIN Metal Heat Treatment, Ma’anshan, a new production site was opened, and another new site for the production of NITREX systems in Wuxi is about to be launched. These expansion steps underline the strategy of serving customers locally with regional value creation, high technological expertise, and short response times.
