“Aalberts Surface Technologies” is ranked by “The Monty Heat Treat News” as the second largest commercial heat treater in North America and also in Europe-their Värnamo, Sweden location is our focus today.
Recently the company completed a Swedish plant merger which is now complete. While the Värnamo plant offers several heat treatment processes (more details below) their focus is on nitriding which is very obvious when you look at this picture which features several large nitriding furnaces at least some of which are from German furnace builder KGO (not sure about all of the furnaces as there are no name tags). This photo shows the completed facility which is now operating at full capacity.
Back in 2021 the plant manager, Mr. Mirko Dandic (now Business Unit Director, Sweden) offered us this summary about a recent upgrade the plant had just made;
“2021 POSTING; Aalberts Surface Technologies, Värnamo, Sweden Completes Major Upgrade; Today we are looking at the Aalberts Surface Technologies facility in Värnamo, Sweden part of one of the largest surface treatment and commercial heat treating organizations in the world. Our host today is Mr. Mirko Dandic, who became plant manager in November 2018-Mirko gives us this summary of what has been accomplished in a little over 2 years.
– November 2018 I started as a plant manager for Värnamo plant.
– 2019 we bought a new HEMO hybrid washer and a new environmental container with AC for storage of cleaning solvent.
– 2020 we overhauled our entire ventilation and heating systems in the entire plant, including a new kitchen and dining room.
– Entire packaging area is overhauled. Painted, cleaned and equipped with lifts and crane, hydraulic tables etc.
In the beginning of 2020 we also decided to shut down 2 of our last mesh belt furnaces, one manufactured by Sarlin and the other one by Safed. Even though a market still exists in Sweden for small parts and components that are processed in this type of furnace, pricing and the age of the furnaces made it easy to decide about our future.
At the same time, we made a decision to expand our sealed quench line so we can grow with this type of process that we are experts at. The market is growing, our customers are growing as well so we decided to adapt and expand in order to be more competitive in the market.
We bought a new RTQ size 10 furnace, a new tempering DC-10 furnace with protective atmosphere and we decided to replace the old loading/unloading car with a new one. All 3 machines were manufactured by Ipsen, who also provided the rest of the line. Our line is very long (40 meters) and really wide, so we ordered a custom-made unloader to fulfil our standards.
After we sold the old belt furnaces we did overhaul 2000 square meters in the oldest part of the plant, fixed the ventilation system, cleaned walls and painted them, filled old oil pits and installed a KGO gas nitriding furnace. This is a new process for us in Värnamo, but our colleagues in Anderstorp are experts in this area and their training and support is extraordinary. This is just one of the benefits of being part of the Aalberts Group, investments, growth and knowledge is limitless. Mirko Dandic, Plant Manager”
And speaking of “KGO” nitriders in Europe lets look back at another captive/commercial heat treater which “The Monty Heat Treat News” visited just last year which also features KGO nitriders;
“MARCH 18th/2025; Gord Montgomery” of “The Monty Heat Treat News” had the opportunity just yesterday, March 18th, 2025 to see a really impressive captive/commercial heat treating facility in Dravogradu, Slovenia.
Let’s start at the beginning of our story;
Family owned “Miheu d.o.o.” located in the town of Dravogradu, Slovenia was founded in 1974 as small, humble commercial heat treater featuring “pit carburizing” furnaces. A big step in the evolution of the company occurred in 2008 when the firm acquired an automated carburizing line from Switzerland based “Codere”, a line which is still in service-since that time the company has added many more furnaces and has never looked back.
Overview of the “Miheu” Facility Featuring “SECO/WARWICK” Vacuum Hardening Furnaces
Over the years the firm has expanded from commercial heat treating only into one which offers heat treating and also manufacturers high precision shredder blades and distance rings used in industrial shredders for recycling of various materials-hence the fact that Miheu is both a captive and commercial heat treater.
As of this printing the company’s revenue is 50% commercial heat treating and 50% new machined products which translates into roughly 8 million Euro in total sales for 2025-mumber of employees is now 45.
As our focus is on the heat-treating side of the business, we will mention that over the past 10 years Miheu has invested over 10 million euros (roughly the same in USD) in the heat treat department and it shows, meaning it is a very clean, modern heat treat facility.
Heat treating is housed in its own brand new (since 2022), 2,000 square meter facility located just a few kilometers from the main office. Current business conditions mean that it is processing over 4,000 tons of steel per year.
Except for Induction hardening and salt quenching there are virtually no heat treating processes which the company does not offer, LPC (Low Pressure Carburizing), Carburizing, Gas Nitriding, Plasma Nitriding, Nitrocarburizing-the company offers every single one of these heat treat processes.
“KGO” Model “SON 12-20E” Pit Gas Nitrider Built 2020
Our visit was hosted by “Mr. Ales Prikerznik”, Director of the company and joining us was “Mr. Harald Roth” of German furnace builder “KGO” . KGO provided a pit nitriding furnace to the company which entered production in 2021-Harald, Ales and the furnace can be seen in two of the pictures below.
“Miheu d.o.o.” has featured prominently in several press releases issued by furnace builder “SECO/WARWICK” over the years and we can see why, “Miheu” has a number of quite new furnaces from the company including a “LPC”(low pressure carburizing) system which entered production in 2022-this is in addition to several “SECO” vacuum hardening systems which can be seen in at least two of these photos.
We thank “Mr. Ales Prikerznik” of “Miheu”, besides the fact that he is a very knowledgeable heat treater he is also a tremendous host. “Gord Montgomery”, “The Monty Heat Treat News”
A Year Defined by Confidence and Growth
In 2025, Ipsen strengthened its position as a trusted partner for high-precision heat-treating solutions across critical manufacturing sectors. Continued demand from aerospace, defense, medical technology, advanced manufacturing, and energy markets reflected growing customer confidence in Ipsen’s ability to deliver quality equipment, responsive service, and dependable performance. Throughout the year, repeat orders from established customers, targeted investments in manufacturing and service capabilities, and a continued focus on training and education reinforced Ipsen’s long-term commitment to operational excellence and customer success. Together, these efforts created strong momentum heading into 2026.
Market Demand Driven by Precision and Reliability
High-stakes manufacturing sectors continued to expand in 2025, particularly in commercial aviation, space launch, defense, and power generation for data centers. Growth in data centers and AI-related infrastructure increased demand for rare-earth metals manufacturing, while continued innovation in electric vehicles and battery technology supported demand for lightweight and specialty metal components.
Broader economic trends also contributed to increased interest in in-house heat treatment as manufacturers sought greater control over quality, throughput, and delivery timelines. Customers investing in their own heat-treating capabilities increasingly looked for partners with deep process knowledge, proven reliability, and the ability to support long-term operational needs—areas where Ipsen’s experience and scale continue to differentiate the company.
Engineering Solutions Aligned to Customer Processes
In 2025, customers consistently chose Ipsen for its ability to engineer furnace solutions optimized for specific applications and production requirements. Rather than one-size-fits-all systems, Ipsen applies deep metallurgical and process expertise to help customers maximize throughput, efficiency, and long-term performance.
Ipsen also continued development of its next-generation furnace operating system, informed by how customers interact with their equipment in real-world environments. Scheduled for launch in 2026, the new controls platform is designed to deliver clearer, more intuitive visual interfaces that provide operators and maintenance teams with relevant information quickly and effectively.
Building on the success of existing digital tools such as PdMetrics, Ipsen continued enhancing the customer experience through improvements to online parts ordering and Ipsen Connect. These updates—driven by direct customer and internal feedback—are already helping customers identify and order replacement parts more efficiently, reducing downtime and simplifying routine maintenance.
Quality at Speed Drives Repeat Business
Ipsen’s Quality at Speed initiative continued to guide decision-making across manufacturing, service, and customer support in 2025. The result has been measurable customer confidence, demonstrated most clearly through repeat business.
Multiple established customers placed additional furnace orders throughout the year to expand their Ipsen fleets, citing consistent equipment quality, responsive service, interchangeable spare parts, and familiarity with Ipsen systems as key factors in their decision-making.
Investing in Knowledge, Training, and Expertise
Ipsen continued to invest heavily in education and training programs in 2025 to support both customers and internal teams. More than 80 trainees completed in-house Ipsen U programs, while several customers scheduled on-site Ipsen U training to support their operators and maintenance personnel.
Twelve field service technicians graduated from the Ipsen Field Service Engineering Academy across two sessions, combining classroom instruction with hands-on experience to further strengthen Ipsen’s service capabilities.
The Ipsen Knowledge Center also expanded significantly in 2025, with more than 60 new articles published. These resources—ranging from technical guidance to customer stories—provide practical insights into heat-treating processes, furnace operation, and best practices, reinforcing Ipsen’s role as a trusted technical authority in the industry.
Continuous Improvement Across Manufacturing and Service
Ipsen’s commitment to continuous improvement remained a core focus in 2025, guided by lean manufacturing principles including Kaizen and 5S. At the Souderton manufacturing facility, investments in new CNC equipment improved accuracy and throughput, contributing to shorter lead times for customers.
Enhanced enterprise resource planning tools and a real-time manufacturing execution system improved visibility and planning across operations. These investments helped double hot zone output year over year while supporting the fulfillment of more than 4,000 parts orders out of the Souderton location in 2025.
Ipsen also continued expanding its Service HUB network, announcing its seventh active HUB and extending coverage to more than 350 customers across North America. HUB customers benefit from quicker response times, consistent technical support, and access to familiar field service technicians.
Additionally, Ipsen’s calibration laboratory successfully renewed its ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation for pyrometry while investing in advanced pyrometry certification for ten field service engineers—further strengthening compliance, accuracy, and customer confidence.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As demand continues across aerospace, defense, data center, and advanced manufacturing markets, Ipsen enters 2026 well positioned for continued growth. Ongoing testing of the new furnace operating system, additional investments in manufacturing equipment—including a new fiber laser system—and continued expansion of service capabilities will further strengthen Ipsen’s ability to support customers worldwide.
That momentum is already evident early in the year. In the first month of 2026, Ipsen secured the largest equipment order in company history, awarded by a long-standing aerospace manufacturer with rigorous qualification standards and global operations. While the customer remains confidential, the order reflects decades of trust, proven performance, and Ipsen’s ability to deliver mission-critical thermal processing solutions at scale.
At the same time, Ipsen remains committed to investing in its people through professional development, targeted recruiting, and expanded referral programs. By growing teams in Cherry Valley, Souderton, and throughout the global service network, Ipsen is building the expertise and capacity needed to support customers today and into the future.
With a clear focus on Quality at Speed, technical excellence, and long-term partnerships, Ipsen is prepared to carry the momentum of 2025 forward into the year ahead.
We now have updates on both stories, the first update looks at the explosion from the standpoint of a local family and includes photos of the building which housed the furnace after the explosion; “Canby Family Displaced After Industrial Explosion Damages Home”.
Our second story “Are Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) Accidents Common?” generated a number of responses adding information about prior “HIP” incidents with one individual telling us about another incident we were not familiar with.
“In June 2004 two employees at the Bodycote HIP Ltd. manufacturing plant in Hereford, UK died after argon gas leaked into their workplace. The gas displaced oxygen in a confined space, leading to asphyxiation. (Source; Process Engineering).
The victims we a works manager and a maintenance engineer. Both were found unconscious in a concrete-lined pit into which argon had leaked and later died in hospital. (Source LabourNet).
The oxygen alarm was switched off and the ventilation system was not running at the time, meaning the atmosphere became deadly without warning.” (Source Process Engineering).
In our story “Are Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) Accidents Common?”, we mentioned three previous incidents, one of which involved a “HIP” furnace exploding in an Andover, MA facility back in 1998-it was later determined that the explosion occurred due to a forging defect.
Stories such as these serve to emphasize the fact that heat treating can be dangerous if all rules and regulations are not followed. In these examples failure to follow “Confined Space” guidelines directly lead to several deaths over the years.
It sometimes appears that furnace builder “SECO/WARWICK” announces a new “CAB” (Controlled Atmosphere Brazing) order weekly. We exaggerate of course but here is another one;
“The SECO/WARWICK Group will deliver a continuous Controlled Atmosphere Brazing (CAB) line to a Chinese manufacturer specializing in thermal solutions. This is the first project carried out for this Partner. The equipment will be used to braze a variety of components, ranging from cooling plates for data centers to parts for rail transport.
The CAB line on order featuring a 1000 mm (39.2 in) belt width, will consist of several key components. The CAB (Controlled Atmosphere Brazing) line with a 1000 mm belt includes a Dry-Off Oven for moisture removal and part preparation, a Radiation Brazing Furnace that performs brazing in a controlled atmosphere, a Clean-Out Chamber designed to eliminate process residues and stabilize internal conditions, an Air-Jacketed Cooling Chamber, and a Final Cooling Chamber which cools components to a safe temperature for further processing or transport. The entire system is complemented by an integrated control and process management system. The system will be equipped with a dedicated control system
“What makes this project unique is the ability to braze two distinct product groups—3D-VC (3D vapor chambers) and cold plates—on a single line. Thanks to precisely calculated throughput and a specially tailored cooling system, the line ensures exceptional temperature uniformity and process repeatability, which is crucial for the high quality of components used in modern technologies,” said Piotr Skarbiński, Vice President of the Aluminum and CAB Products Segment at SECO/WARWICK.
The 3D Vapor Chamber is a three-dimensional heat spreader based on the liquid phase change phenomenon. This component is used, for example, to cool processors in data centers. Cold plates, in turn, are efficient heat exchangers that dissipate heat from electronic components using coolant that flows through a specially designed metal plate. They are primarily used for cooling traction batteries in electric vehicles (EVs).”
Cherry Valley, ILLINOIS (February 5, 2026) – Ipsen USA has announced updates to its 2026 Ipsen U schedule, introducing new instructors, interactive elements and hands-on demonstrations to the company’s vacuum furnace training program.
Ipsen U is a three-day program designed for vacuum furnace operators and maintenance personnel, focusing on equipment operation, performance and long-term reliability. “Ipsen U is an immersive experience, focusing on what it takes to build, use, and maintain vacuum heattreating equipment,” said John Dykstra, Ipsen’s Chief Service Officer. “Participants hear directly from the engineers, builders, and support technicians about the vacuum furnace, how it functions, how to operate the technology, and how to maintain the equipment for a lifetime of service.”
New for 2026, the program will include vacuum bell jar demonstrations and opportunities for attendees to participate in leak-testing exercises alongside Ipsen quality control staff. Participants will receive instruction on proper helium mass spectrometer setup and best practices for identifying and diagnosing common vacuum system leaks. The hands-on sessions are designed to connect classroom instruction with real-world scenarios involving pressure changes and system integrity.
“Our curriculum is always evolving to address the most current trends within our industry,” Dykstra said. “We continually take feedback from attendees and evolve what is taught and who teaches portions of the class to ensure a well-rounded learning experience.” Ipsen U sessions in 2026 are scheduled for:
• April 7–9 • June 16–18 • August 4–6 • October 6–8
To learn more about Ipsen U, or to reserve a seat in an upcoming session, visit ipsenglobal.com/ipsenu.
Yesterday we had a news item about an explosion in a “HIP” furnace at a location in the USA “Massive “HIP” Explosion at USA Commercial Heat Treater”, this story prompted us to look into the history of any accidents in the “Hipping” industry.
“Wikipedia” describes the process thusly; “Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) is a manufacturing process used to reduce the porosity of metals and increase the density of many ceramic materials. This improves the materials’ mechanical properties and workability. HIP is also used to bond either metal powder or ceramic powder into shapes via powder metallurgy HIP, or PM-HIP.
The HIP process subjects a component to both elevated temperature and isostatic gas pressure within a high-pressure containment vessel, unlike cold isostatic pressing (CIP), where the component is kept at room temperature.[1] The pressurizing gas most widely used is argon. An inert gas is used so that the material does not chemically react. The choice of metal can minimize negative effects of chemical reactions. Nickel, stainless or mild steel, or other metals can be chosen depending on the desired redox conditions. The chamber is heated, causing the pressure inside the vessel to increase. Many systems use associated gas pumping to achieve the necessary pressure level. Pressure is applied to the material from all directions (hence the term “isostatic”).”
In layman’s terms we can say that the process is only used in high value applications such as aerospace and medical and that the cost of entry (ie; the initial cost of the equipment and the high maintenance costs) restrict the process to just a handful of companies. Chief among them are “Bodycote” followed by “Aalberts Surface Technologies”, “Pressure Technologies Inc.” and “Kittyhawk Inc.”, although there are certainly others.
It would appear that Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) accidents are rare but typically severe due to the extreme pressures (up to 30,000 psi) and temperatures (up to 2,000°C) involved. Reported incidents fall into two categories, suffocating due to inert gas leaks (ie; Argon) or vessel failure. The only reported incidents we have been able to find in North America include these three examples below, two of which involve suffocating with the third being a vessel failure;
In short it would appear that “HIP” accidents are far less common than other accidents in the heat treatment industry but they certainly have the potential of producing a far larger “bang” than other furnaces if something goes wrong.
“KATU2 News”in Oregon, USA is reporting a massive explosion at commercial heat treater “Kittyhawk Products” in Canby, Oregon, USA. (Editors note: “The Monty Heat Treat News” reports that Kittyhawk” is one of the“52 Largest Commercial Heat Treaters in North America”. The firm specializes in “Hipping” (Hot Isostatic Pressing) and it is our belief that the tanks referred to in this article are actually Hipping furnaces. Considering that “HIP” furnaces operate at pressure up to 30,000 PSI it is absolutely astounding that there was only one minor injury. More on this story later.)
“An explosion at a commercial building in Canby injured one employee and prompted officials to issue a Level 3 (Go Now!) evacuation order for the immediate area on Tuesday night, according to Canby Fire.
The explosion happened at301 S. Redwood Street shortly after 3:30 p.m. The business there is Kittyhawk Products, which heat treats metal parts under high pressure.
Canby Fire Chief Matt Dale said one of the two tanks the company uses to do that exploded and blew the roof off the building.
He said there is a risk the other tank may explode as well, even though they do not expect that to happen. But the possibility of another explosion means fire officials will keep the evacuation order in place until at least 8 a.m. Wednesday because the second tank will take around 12 to 16 hours to cool. Dale said at that time, they will reevaluate the situation on whether they will lift the evacuation order.
Dale asked for the patience of the evacuated residents. The Red Cross will help those displaced. Three employees were working at the time of the explosion. Dale said one of the employees suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. The explosion heavily damaged the building and caused some damage to nearby buildings. He said no hazardous materials were released into the environment.
“All and all, minor injuries, no loss of life, property damage can be fixed. This is a very successful outcome for a very devastating situation,” Dale said. He said that everything worked as it should.”
Just last week “The Monty Heat Treat News” presented the 2026 list of the “15 Largest Captive Heat Treats-North America”. Included on the list were “Dauch Corp.”, (formerly American Axle & Manufacturing) in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico and “GKN Driveline”, Newton, North Carolina. Well as of yesterday, the two companies are now one, creating what is probably the largest captive heat treater in all of North America in terms of overall heat treat capacity.
“DETROIT, MI, February 3, 2026 – Dauch Corporation (Dauch), (NYSE: AXL) today announced it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Dowlais Group plc (Dowlais) and its subsidiaries – GKN Automotive and GKN Powder Metallurgy.
“This is a defining and transformational time for both companies,” said David C. Dauch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “By uniting the capabilities of both organizations under one brand, we’re creating a premier Driveline and Metal Forming supplier serving the global automotive industry that is built to perform—one positioned to meet today’s demands and lead into the next era of propulsion.”
With the completion of the transaction, trading in Dowlais shares was suspended at 7:30 a.m. GMT on February 3, 2026. The Dowlais shares will be delisted from the London Stock Exchange effective as of February 4, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. GMT.
The combined company will operate under one unified brand: the Dauch Corporation. Dauch brings together two organizations with deep engineering roots, global manufacturing capability, and a shared entrepreneurial spirit. To mark the completion of the acquisition, the company introduced its brand platform, Built to Perform, underscoring Dauch’s commitment to engineering excellence, operational discipline, and long-term value creation. This platform reflects not only the company’s heritage but the expectations of its global customers who rely on Dauch for consistency, reliability, quality and performance.”
This will make your day-the February 2026 Edition of “The Monty Heat Treat News”, for 30 years the largest heat treat industry news source in the world is now available! In this 95 page edition you will find these top stories and lots more;
As always the entire team at “The Monty Heat Treat News” looks forward to your thoughts and comments. Sincerely Gord, Jordan & Dale Montgomery.
“The Monty Heat Treat News” is a division of “WG Montgomery Ltd.”, a family owned and operated business serving the global heat treatment industry since 1969. Phone; 705 259-3650 Gord Montgomery; [email protected] Jordan Montgomery; [email protected]
