Recently “The Monty Heat Treat News” has had several news items about the UK heat treatment market, unfortunately many of them have been rather depressing as they mention tales of closures and bankruptcies. However this item is more positive in that it announces the acquisition of a commercial heat treat facility, a facility which at one point boasted of having the first commercially available 10 bar vacuum furnace in the entire UK.
We start off this story with a profile of the company by “The Monty” which appeared on our site back in 2013, it is followed by the announcement of the acquisition and who the purchasing party is;
“MARCH 11, 2013;Lush Heat Treatment/UK. So is captive and commercial heat treating any different in the UK than anyplace else in the world? We all know the answer which is that heat treating around the world is pretty much the same everywhere you go. Just to make sure though we at “The Monty “are visiting several locations around the country this week and our first stop was at a commercial heat treater by the name of Lush Heat Treatment Ltd., Birchwood Industrial Estates, Hatfield, Herts, UK. http://lush-heat.co
What we saw was a medium sized commercial operation, family owned which was started back in 1952 and is currently run by George Lush son of the founder. While this company can provide batch carburizing, gas nitriding and vacuum heat treatment it is pretty plain the direction the company is going, vacuum heat treating for the aerospace industry. Lush was the first commercial operation in the UK to offer 10 bar quenching and in addition to this furnace and a few others has a fairly recent TAV bottom loading vacuum furnace with 6 bar nitrogen/argon quenching. In our opinion this is not a large company but very well organized, very clean and with technology and certification (such as Nadcap) which is surprising in a company of this size. In the photos below you see the TAC furnace and in front Mr. George Lush, Matt Cross (SSI UK) and Gord Montgomery.”
“MARCH 17 2026; BRATTLEBORO, Vt.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–G.S. Precision (“GSP” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of complex, highly engineered products used in mission critical aerospace, defense, and semiconductor systems, has completed two transactions that significantly expand the Company’s unique capabilities and provide for strategic platform expansion. The Company has acquired Lush Heat Treatment LTD (“Lush”) and the assets of Headwater Precision (“Headwater”).
“These acquisitions support our platform growth strategy and vision to be the most trusted global partner in precision manufacturing and assembly of highly engineered mission critical products, recognized for our commitment to innovation and quality,” said James R. Callan, Chief Executive Officer of GSP. “We welcome the addition of these distinctive capabilities, which include advanced coating and specialized heat treat technologies to enhance our customers’ success. Our acquisition process and partnership with AE Industrial brings an enhanced experience for family/founder companies; honoring their history, expert teams, and industry knowledge while leveraging our own unique family culture that emphasizes deep respect of those relationships.”
Founded in 1952 in Hatfield, United Kingdom, Lush is an industry leading provider of vacuum and endothermic processing and brazing services for the aviation space, nuclear and defense sectors. Lush will be integrated into GSP subsidiary F.T. Gearing Systems, a supplier of precision submicron gear systems to the aerospace and defense sector.
GSP has also acquired the assets of Headwater, which include high precision manufacturing assets, including state of the art robotics, laser, CNC, and advanced coating technologies.”
Vacuum Furnace Builder Ipsen USA based in Rockford, IL has appointed Mr. Matt Clinite VP of Sales. For almost 12 years Matt has worked with Ipsen in a variety of sales positions. Very recently Matt was appointed to the top sales position with the company, VP of Sales a position in which we at “The Monty” believe he will do a tremendous job. In the group photo Matt is second from the right.
“Burloak Technologies Inc, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, has completed its most recent Nadcap audit, supporting the use of the company’s heat treatment capabilities in demanding sectors.
Burloak’s Ontario facility also offers standalone specialized thermal processing, including:
Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP)
Vacuum heat treatment
Ageing, tempering & stress relieving
Solution/anneal & quench for aluminium alloys
Thermal cycles for aluminium, stainless steels, titanium, Inconel alloys, etc
Beyond these thermal processing solutions, the company also offers metal Additive Manufacturing services. The company works within the aerospace, space, defence, oil & gas, automotive and medical sectors. In addition to Nadcap certification, Burloak holds AS9100 and ISO 17025 accreditations. It is also registered with Canada’s Controlled Goods Program (CGP).”
For more on this captive/commercial heat treater “The Monty Heat Treat News” has this exclusive background story;
“MARCH 17, 2021; Burloak Technologies Completes In House Heat Treating Department; Over the course of this year we have watched with interest as additive manufacturing firm Burloak Technologies in Burlington, Ontario, Canada has developed their in house heat treating department. With the addition of their new Quintus Technologies Hot Isostatic Press (pictured below) the installation is now complete. This by the way is the first commercial HIP unit available in Canada.
“September 14, 2020 Burloak Technologies Installing In-House Heat Treatment Department; Earlier this year we had an exclusive news item about how Additive Manufacturing firm Burloak Technologies was installing a brand new in house heat treating department at their Burlington, Canada facility. We can now say that this AS9100 and Nadcap compliant facility is now in operation and in a very interesting development also taking on commercial heat treatment business for vacuum, air, solution and T6/aging cycles. We say interesting because generally captive heat treaters do not make good commercial heat treaters although there are exceptions-Gleason Works in Rochester, NY, USD is a good example of a company successfully blending captive and commercial heat treating. Having said that the individual in charge of the department at Burloak, is a former Schaeffler Bearings employee and a very experienced fellow with a great deal of knowledge of both captive and commercial heat treating.”
“July 9 2020. “Burloak Technologies Installing In-House Heat Treatment Department; In Burlington, Ontario, Canada we find Burloak Technologies who describe their company thusly; “Burloak Technologies is Canada’s leading supplier of highly engineered additive manufactured components for demanding applications.” https://burloaktech.com/ The company makes our news section today due to the fact that for months, if not years the company has been planning their brand new, state of the art in house heat treating department and just this week one of the first pieces of equipment arrived-a new Titan vacuum furnace from Ipsen in Rockford, Illinois, USA. Installation and Nadcap qualification are the next steps. Future plans are very ambitious to say the least, with several more large pieces of equipment on order, this includes a furnace for processing aluminum. Additive manufacturing is proving to be a rapidly growing market for furnace manufacturers, already this year we have announced several large heat treatment investments in the field and we would expect this will grow rapidly in the future.”
Listed below, alphabetically below are the largest heat treatment events around the world for 2026. “The Monty Heat Treat News” has attended many of these events over the years and have found some to be worthwhile and others a waste of time. Read on for our recommendations;
Xi’an International Heat Treatment Exhibition (March 19–22, 2026 | Xi’an, China). If you miss one Chinese Heat Treat Exhibition, don’t worry there will be another one the following week. This is one of the smaller Chinese shows which can probably safely be missed.
5th Heat Treatment & HIP User Conference (April 8–10, 2026 | Wuxi, China). If you have an interest in Hot Isostatic Pressing this is the event for 2026.
Heat Treat Mexico 2026 (April 14–16, 2026 | Monterrey, Mexico): A premier event focused on the Mexican market, organized by the ASM Heat Treating Society. It features technical sessions, workshops, and over 50 exhibitors. ”The Monty” has attended this event several times over the years and while this is a relatively small show it is far and away the most important one if you have an interest in the booming Mexican, heat treat market. Very well organized.
Beijing International Heat Treatment Exhibition, (April 15-17, 2026) China National Convention Center, Beijing. Out of all the Chinese heat treatment events this is the one we would be most likely to attend.
26th China (Guangzhou) Int’l Heat Treatment & Industrial Furnace Exhibition (May 16–18, 2026 | Guangzhou, China): One of Asia’s largest platforms for heat treatment technologies, covering routine furnaces, vacuum equipment, and surface modification. While this is an enormous show a great deal of it is dedicated to the casting and forging industries with a small percentage dedicated to “traditional” heat treating.
Heat Treatment 2026 (September 16–18, 2026 | Moscow, Russia): The 19th edition of Russia’s only specialized exhibition for thermal equipment, featuring induction equipment, vacuum systems, and refractory materials. We have been to this show in the past and while it is reasonably well organized it tends to be on the smaller size. Unless you plan on selling into the Russian market this is a definite pass.
Heat Treatment 2026 (September 22–24, 2026 | Kielce, Poland): Part of the Metals Heat Treatment Expo at Targi Kielce, focusing on modern processes and equipment for the European market. This show covers a lot of ground, much of which is not really applicable to heat treating, skip this one.
Spain Heat Treatment Congress (September 23, 2026 | Bilbao, Spain). This is a one day event with little information given on the website. This is a definite pass.
Furnaces North America (FNA 2026) (October 12–14, 2026 | Indianapolis, USA): Hosted by the Metal Treating Institute (MTI), this is North America’s largest “heat treat only” event, co-located with the MTI Fall Meeting. This is the only substantial show in North America in 2026-if you have any interest in the North American market this is the only show to attend.
82nd Heat Treatment Congress (HK 2026) (October 13–15, 2026 | Cologne, Germany): Europe’s largest congress and trade fair for heat treatment, conducted in English and organized by AWT (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wärmebehandlung und Werkstofftechnik). While the focus of this show is Germany, in actual fact it covers all of Europe and most of the events are in English. Best show in Europe in our opinion.
Heat Treat Forum, Wroclaw, Poland, (October 28-29, 2026). This is a small event, very much focused on the Polish heat treatment market, however it is friendly, well organized and worth the time if you have an interest in the Polish market.
“Surface treatment specialist Bodycote has announced the addition of S³P ADM® (Austenitic, Duplex, Martensitic) to its range of services in the United States, expanding the company’s Specialty Stainless Steel Processes (S³P) portfolio and bringing advanced stainless steel surface hardening capability closer to North American customers.
The new US capability helps reduce transportation costs and tariff exposure for North American customers, while strengthening Bodycote’s global S³P network and adding operational resilience across its facilities.
The investment in ADM marks a significant expansion of Bodycote’s S³P offering at its facility in Mooresville, North Carolina. The new treatment vessel can accommodate components up to 79 inches (2 metres) in length and 47 inches (1.2 metres) in width, enabling the surface hardening of larger and heavier stainless steel parts than previously possible in North America in industries such as oil and gas, food and beverage, and medical technology.
In addition to increased component size capability, ADM can treat martensitic alloys which are widely used in load-bearing and high-strength applications.
Temitope Oluwafemi, Bodycote’s S³P Technical Manager, North America, explained: “Demand is growing for stainless steel components that can deliver longer service life in harsh operating environments and to demanding standards, without introducing the risks associated with coatings. Bringing ADM capability to the US allows us to support customers locally, reduce lead times, and expand what’s possible for larger stainless steel components across multiple industries.”
Performance advantages of ADM; ADM is a low-temperature, diffusion-based surface hardening process that significantly improves the surface hardness of stainless steel components. Performed below 500°C, it helps maintain the corrosion resistance that makes stainless steel the material of choice for many demanding applications, while improving surface hardness and tribological performance.
Unlike coatings and plating, ADM does not create a separate layer on the surface of the component. Instead, it forms a hardened diffusion zone within the material itself, meaning there is no risk of cracking, chipping or delamination in service. The process is also designed to preserve dimensional stability, enabling treatment of finished components without affecting part geometry or tolerances.
Bodycote has established expertise in ADM, based on more than a decade of delivering the process in Europe.”
For those looking for the abbreviated report, “Mr. AI” has this to say;
“Bodycote’s 2025 results showed a mixed performance with total revenue declining 4% to £727.1m, though core organic revenue was relatively stable. The company experienced a second-half recovery (3.2% growth), driven by strong aerospace demand. Adjusted operating profit dropped 11.4% to £114.3m.
Key 2025 financial results:
Revenue: £727.1m (down 4.0% year-over-year).
Core Revenue: £671.6m (down 0.3% organically).
Adjusted Operating Profit: £114.3m (down 11.4%).
Statutory Operating Profit: £83.6m (up from £37.9m in 2024).
Adjusted Earnings per Share (EPS): 44.4p (down 8.6%).
Dividend: Maintained at 23.0p per share.
Key Takeaways:
Growth Segments: Aerospace & Defense and Industrial Gas Turbines showed strong demand, with Aerospace & Defense growing by 14% in H2 2025.
Weak Segments: Oil & Gas revenues fell by 40% in the Specialist Technologies division, while automotive and industrial markets remained challenging.
Strategic Initiatives: The “Optimise” program is underway, with a new £80 million share buyback program launched for 2026.
Outlook: 2026 is expected to see core organic revenue growth, supported by continued strength in Aerospace & Defence, despite anticipated headwinds in Automotive and Industrial markets.”
(Editors Note; Metco Industries is located in St. Marys, PA, USA the powdered metal capital of the world)
“Abbott Furnace Company has successfully delivered and commissioned a seven-zone continuous belt sintering furnace for Metco Industries. The system incorporates Abbott’s latest generation of fully digital atmosphere control technology, engineered and manufactured in-house.
The system is designed to deliver tighter process control, improved repeatability, and real-time visibility into furnace performance. Fully digital flow control, advanced monitoring, and data-driven diagnostics allow Metco to optimize sintering conditions of the furnace, supporting higher quality parts and more consistent results.
Abbott Furnace Company is proud to support customers such as Metco Industries who continue to invest in advanced thermal processing solutions. Projects like this reflect a shared commitment to process control, operational consistency, and long-term manufacturing performance within the powdered metal industry.”
(Editor’s Note; GE Aerospace is one of the largest in-house heat treaters in the world in terms of vacuum heat-treating capacity. Over the years “The Monty Heat Treat News” has had numerous stories about GE Aerospace divisions adding vacuum heat treat capacity, along the same lines our understanding is that the GE Aerospace facility in Quebec, Canada also recently invested in more vacuum furnace capacity.)
“General Electric Aerospace has announced a major investment at its Wilmington site alongside a billion-dollar national modernization effort.
GE Aerospace will invest $60 million at its Wilmington site, according to a news release from the company. The investment will modernize equipment to accommodate growing demand. The upgrades include advanced machining equipment, upgraded heat treatment furnaces and building improvements.
Located on Castle Hayne Road, Wilmington’s GE Aerospace site produces components for engines used in narrowbody and widebody aircraft, military fighter jets and ships.
“We’re bringing more equipment online to better serve our customers and meet growing demand, and that is good news for this community as the team grows,” site leader Mark Moon said in the news release. “We are all in on U.S. manufacturing, Wilmington, and our customers.”
Over the past three years, the company has announced plans to invest more than $135 million in Wilmington. The latest $1 billion investment includes more than $160 million across North Carolina, bringing total investment across the state to $300 million since 2024.
GE Aerospace’s second consecutive $1 billion U.S. investment will benefit more than 30 communities across 17 states. The investment builds on the annual $3 billion that the company invests into research and development. The company plans to hire 5,000 workers in manufacturing and engineering across its sites.
The Cincinnati-based manufacturer’s other 2026 North Carolina investments include $20 million in Durham, $35 million in West Jefferson and $48 million in Asheville.
“Maintaining U.S. aerospace leadership requires sustained investment in our people, our facilities, and the technologies that will define the future of flight,” Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp Jr. said in the release. “This investment is for our customers, our communities, and our country.”
At one point in time the “Bosch Fuel Systems” location in Kentwood, Michigan, USA boasted what was probably the largest plasma nitriding location in the world (Source; the late David Pye who knew as much or more about plasma nitriding as anybody in the world).
At one point in time this location had 12 “Ipsen” plasma nitride furnaces, 2 “Eltro” plasma nitriding furnaces, 4 “Kloeckner” plasma nitride furnaces, 3 “Ipsen” 10-bar gas quench furnaces, 3 “Surface Combustion” vacuum oil-quench furnaces, 5 “Surface Combustion” vacuum temper furnaces and 1 “Ipsen” vacuum temper furnace.
As of a couple of months ago the final two Ipsen plasma nitriding furnaces were scrapped which means the end of an era for plasma nitriding at this location. Perhaps a shame but the world keeps changing.
Advanced Heat Treat Corp.® (AHT), a recognized leader in heat treat services and metallurgical solutions, has invested in two additional pieces of equipment at its Cullman, Alabama location. The equipment will expand capacity for induction hardening and gas nitriding, supporting increased production volumes, faster turnaround times, and more complex part geometries.
The Alabama location recently installed a larger induction hardening unit to support continued growth in customer demand. The new system accommodates parts up to 60 inches in diameter and more complex part geometries. While earlier systems were primarily suited for cylindrical components such as shafts, gears and pins, the new unit enables induction hardening of more intricate part designs, opening the door to a broader mix of applications and industries.
AHT has also expanded gas nitriding capacity with the addition of another nitriding unit, enhancing the site’s ability to support high‑volume nitriding programs while maintaining quick lead times and consistent quality.
“These investments allow us to scale with our customers,” said Tim Garner, AHT plant manager. “We are well-positioned to handle a wide range of part sizes, geometries, and production volumes without compromising turnaround time.”
Advanced Heat Treat Corp.® operates four locations: one in Cullman, Alabama; two in Waterloo, Iowa; and one in Monroe, Michigan. Across these locations, AHT offers more than 20 surface treatment processes, including ion nitriding, gas nitriding, ferritic nitrocarburizing, UltraOx®, induction hardening, stress relieving, and more.
With a focus on technical expertise, fast response times, and scalable capacity, AHT continues to invest in people, equipment, and processes to meet the evolving needs of manufacturers worldwide.
For more information about Advanced Heat Treat Corp.® and its services, please visit www.ahtcorp.com or call 319-232-5221.
About Advanced Heat Treat Corp. Established in 1981, Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) is a recognized leader in providing heat treat services and superior metallurgical solutions to companies across the globe, with locations in Alabama, Iowa and Michigan. Their UltraGlow® family of processes includes plasma ion nitriding, ferritic nitrocarburizing (FNC), gas nitriding, UltraOx®, through hardening, carburizing, carbonitriding, induction hardening and many more.
Furnaces North America (FNA 2026) (October 12–14, 2026 | Indianapolis, USA): Hosted by the Metal Treating Institute (MTI), this is North America’s largest “heat treat only” event, co-located with the MTI Fall Meeting. This is the only substantial show in North America in 2026-if you have any interest in the North American market this is the only show to attend. 
82nd Heat Treatment Congress (HK 2026) (October 13–15, 2026 | Cologne, Germany): Europe’s largest congress and trade fair for heat treatment, conducted in English and organized by AWT (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wärmebehandlung und Werkstofftechnik). While the focus of this show is Germany, in actual fact it covers all of Europe and most of the events are in English. Best show in Europe in our opinion. 
