Back in 2016 “The Monty Heat Treat News” had this press release about “Precision Resource”, a supplier of high-volume and high-tonnage fineblanked components and assemblies opening an in-house heat treat facility in Saltillo, Mexico;
“2016 POSTING; Precision Resource is pleased to announce that its Mexico Division has officially opened a heat treat facility in Saltillo.
Heat treating is a specialized process that aids in hardening material to meet customer part strength requirements. While Precision Resource was providing this service using outside suppliers, adding this strategically located facility will help PRMX be more responsive to local demand.
“This new heat treatment facility will use new state of the art furnaces with advanced process control capabilities in order to reduce process variation resulting in the more repeatable performance of our customers’ components” said Kaveh Vafaei, Precision Resource’s Director of International Operations. “Vertically integrating heat treating within our plant in Saltillo, creates a specific opportunity to improve the total quality of our products requiring heat treatment. Being able to fineblank and heat treat in adjacent facilities will create a constant feedback loop in real time in order to improve the overall quality and consistency of our products”.
Located in Saltillo, Coahuila, the Precision Resource Mexico specializes in the supply of high-volume and high-tonnage fineblanked components and assemblies. The division supplies its products primarily to the automotive and heavy-duty markets. The division also employs an array of secondary finishing technologies, including grinding and machining that coupled with heat treating enables them to supply complete ready to assemble component solutions to its customers.
Fineblanking is a high precision metal forming process used extensively in the automotive, heavy duty, electronics, medical, lawn and garden, and general industrial industries. This unique process creates parts with very tight dimensional tolerances, excellent flatness, and with very little variation from part-to-part throughout long production runs. These characteristics lead designers to specify fineblanked components for their most critical applications.
Precision Resource has seven production facilities globally. The company operates plants in Huntington Beach, CA; Shelton, CT; Mt. Sterling, KY; Vernon Hills, IL; Cambridge, Ontario, Hangzhou, China and Saltillo, Mexico as well as a Technical Center in Canada.”
When the heat treat officially opened it had carburizing, and nitro-carburizing capabilities, utilizing two UBC batch furnaces and a continuous belt furnace for efficient high-volume production. Additionally, the firm offers induction hardening across multiple locations. (Editors Note; While the company mentions two UBC batch furnaces we assume they mean UBQ furnaces, a trade name for AFC-Holcroft batch IQ furnaces).
We mention the firm today because we understand that the company is in the process of adding a Can-Eng 1500 pound/hour mesh belt hardening line with automated loading, oil quenching and temper. At this point in time we have few other details to offer beyond the fact that we would expect the line to be up and running later in 2026.
Our previous news item concerned “Precision Resource” adding mesh belt furnace capacity at their location in Saltillo, Mexico so we should at this point mention another new furnace install in Mexico.
One of our almost 10,000 “LinkedIn” followers sent us this photo of a new furnace install in Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. While we have very few details about the furnace we do know that it was installed at a “Honeywell” location very recently and the “Gasbarre” designed and built furnace is a mesh belt design most likely doing either sintering or brazing.
As we count down to the 2026 list of the “15 Largest Captive Heat Treaters-North America-2024” (coming the week of January 26th) “The Monty” looks look back at a company which was in the #2 position on our 2024 list of “The Largest”–“GKN ePowertrain Newton, North Carolina”.
Established in 1986, the Newton facility was acquired by GKN plc in 2011 when the company purchased Getrag Corp.’s all-wheel drive component business. Other products made at the facility include Trans Axle Solutions (gear sets and housing) as well as eDrive Systems.”
Gord Montgomery of “The Monty Heat Treat News” was very warmly greeted last week by Mr. Greg Cook, Heat Treat Maintenance Supervisor and his entire team-perhaps it is the Southern hospitality or perhaps their tremendous pride in their heat treat department, whichever it was the welcome was truly appreciated. These photos show the team and the heat treat department (Greg is in the back row with the tan shirt).”
Courtesy of furnace builder “SECO/WARWICK” we have a photo of the largest vacuum furnace we at “The Monty” have ever seen. This unit is capable of loads of over 100 tons and has a diameter of 12′ (4 meters). The furnace (which was installed a few years ago at a location in California) is designed to heat treat coils for a very specialized energy application. Pretty cool looking furnace.
(Editors Note; Yes, the name of the commercial heat treater mentioned in this SECO/WARWICK press release really is “More Heat Treatment A.S.”-threw us off also).
“It took just four weeks from the moment the order was placed for SECO/WARWICK to deliver one of its most versatile products, the single-chamber Vector vacuum furnace, to the Turkish service hardening plant, More Heat Treatment A.S. This device will not only expand the range of heat treatment services offered but will also serve as a showroom piece for future clients in Turkey. More Heat Treatment has become SECO/WARWICK’s official business partner in the Turkish market.
This is the third SECO/WARWICK device delivered to this hardening plant. The new furnace will allow the Turkish Partner to increase its processing capacity while maintaining high precision and quality of treated components. The collaboration between SECO/WARWICK and More Heat Treatment A.S. is strategic—the Turkish company serves as a showroom for potential SECO/WARWICK customers in the region. Prospective partners can witness SECO/WARWICK furnaces in action under real production conditions, further strengthening the Group’s position in the Turkish and Middle Eastern markets.
“Our partner approached us after signing a contract for a very large volume of processed components. Thanks to the very short delivery and production implementation time of the single chamber vacuum furnace, More Heat Treatment will be able to meet this new challenge and immediately ramp up its production and hardening processes. Additionally, we have entered into a long-term cooperation. More Heat Treatment will make our equipment available to potential customers as a demonstration furnace, enabling us to have a stronger presence in this part of the world,” commented Maciej Korecki, Vice President of the Vacuum Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.”
In a heat treatment industry exclusive “The Monty Heat Treat News” regularly publishes a list of the “15 Largest Captive Heat Treats-North America” . Currently we are in the process of putting together our 2026 rankings, a list which will see some substantial changes from our 2024 list in that we will be seeing a number of new entries.
In a very interesting note we see that this list is dominated by firms which are heavily focused on “LPC” (Low Pressure Carburizing)-to narrow this down even further we see that this means the furnaces in all cases come from one of only two suppliers.
The basic criteria for our rankings are explained below, keep your eyes open for our 2026 rankings which will be presented the week of January 26th, 2026.
“In 2022 “The Monty Heat Treat News” published a heat treatment industry exclusive, a list of the “10 Largest Single Location Captive Heat Treats” in North America. Since that time changes have occurred and in 2023 we published our list of the “11 Largest Single Location Captive Heat Treats in North America” We are now pleased to offer our 2024 list which has expanded to the “15 Largest Single Location Captive Heat Treats in North America”.
- Our criteria is simple in that this list only includes single locations and not total heat treating capacity in North America. As an example the ZF Transmission facility in South Carolina makes this list but overall this plant is only a small percentage of the heat treating capacity ZF has in North America.
- Our estimates are based upon a combination of number of furnaces and throughput. For instance vacuum carburizing cells have a much small throughput than a large pusher furnace-we have tried to take this into account.
- It is interesting that out of this list of 15, eleven are in the USA, three in Mexico and one in Canada
- While we do not for a second claim this list is 100% accurate we do claim that it is the most complete list which we have ever come across.
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As always we appreciate the input we received from each company on this list and we look forward to your thoughts and comments.”
ProfiTherm is a modular arrangement of bell furnaces and quench tanks with direct, rapid transfer from furnace to quench—positioned as a practical alternative to traditional integral quench batch furnaces.
Why ProfiTherm is different for North American heat treaters
1) Compact layout with minimal infrastructure ProfiTherm’s bell-furnace modular layout supports a more compact system footprint and simplifies installation requirements, reducing plant disruption and the infrastructure scope (no need for pits) often associated with conventional batch systems.
2) Lower operating and maintenance cost — by design ProfiTherm incorporates a metallic retort that supports fast furnace conditioning and quicker process changeovers, while helping protect refractory from process-gas exposure to improve refractory life. In addition, the design eliminates many traditional internal nickel-alloy material handling wear items (roller rails, chain guides, handler heads) that drive consumable spend and downtime in conventional systems—helping prevent furnace jams and simplifying service access.
Process coverage and applications
ProfiTherm supports key heat treat processes including austempering, marquenching, carburizing, carbonitriding, neutral hardening and more, with quench options including water/polymer, oil, and salt. Target applications include captive heat treat departments and commercial shops supporting general industry, aerospace, defense, and bearing markets.
About Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems; Based in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems designs and manufactures thermal processing equipment and provides service and aftermarket support for heat treating operations.
About SOLO Swiss SA; SOLO Swiss SA, headquartered in Porrentruy, Switzerland, designs and manufactures bell furnace systems, including the ProfiTherm product line. Learn more / Inquiries: www.gasbarre.com | www.soloswiss.com:
Jeff McLaughlin President and founder of the company had this to say; “We are tremendously excited to have John join us-his vast experience in both sales and operational positions in the commercial heat treatment industry is already proving to be a tremendous asset to our company”.
(Editors Note; For more recent news about Bodycote, the world’s largest commercial heat treater we would suggest these recent updates courtesy of “The Monty Heat Treat News” “Bodycote” Report-Recent Changes”, “Bodycote Achieves Independent Validation of Carbon Footprint Tools for Heat Treatment Processes” & “Bodycote “Optimise Programme” Leads to Changes at 10 French Locations”)
● Bodycote, the world’s leading provider of advanced heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services, has acquired Spectrum Thermal Processing
● The acquisition will expand Bodycote’s North American footprint and capacity to support customers across aerospace, defence, space and industry
● Spectrum will bring Nadcap-accredited and ITAR-compliant capabilities across vacuum heat treatment, Low Pressure Carburising, and gas nitriding services
“January 16, 2026 London, U.K. – Bodycote, the world’s leading provider of advanced heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services, today announced the acquisition of Spectrum Thermal Processing, a respected heat treatment provider based in Cranston, Rhode Island. The acquisition expands Bodycote’s North American footprint, enhances regional capacity in critical process categories, and reinforces the company’s ability to support aerospace, defence, space and industrial customers across the Northeast.
Spectrum brings established Nadcap-accredited and ITAR-compliant capability, including vacuum heat treatment, Low Pressure Carburising, and gas nitriding services. The site’s strong technical reputation, highly skilled team, and strategic position within one of the nation’s most dense aerospace and defence corridors make it a natural fit for Bodycote’s growing U.S. network.
The addition of Spectrum complements Bodycote’s broader network of Nadcap-accredited facilities across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania – creating a tightly connected regional platform of high-integrity thermal-processing capacity. This expanded footprint provides customers with improved proximity, shorter ramp-up times, and enhanced supply chain resilience.
Spectrum will be integrated into Bodycote’s Aerospace, Defence & Energy (ADE) division, with no immediate changes to customer contacts or service levels. Existing customers will continue to work with the same Spectrum team and will benefit over time from access to Bodycote’s broader global network and specialist technologies.
The transaction closed on January 14 and integration activities are now underway.”
(Background; Back in October of 2024 in a heat treat industry exclusive “The Monty Heat Treat News” announced that fastener manufacturer “Simpson Strong-Tie” would be setting up a manufacturing facility in Gallatin, Tennessee, USA which would include a new heat treat department. Details of the new department can be found further down this page. It would appear that the facility had a grand opening just last week.)
“California-based Simpson Strong-Tie marked the grand opening of its newest manufacturing plant, located in Gallatin, Tennessee, with a ribbon cutting, celebration and tours on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
The 500,250-square-foot, $125 million facility will test and manufacture a range of anchors, fasteners and Quik Drive fastening tools. The facility opened with 227 employees, including machine operators, maintenance technicians, heat treat techs, and process and product engineers, and is expected to create an additional 20 jobs in 2026.
“Simpson Strong-Tie is excited to open our state-of-the-art facility in Gallatin, enhancing our ability to serve our customer base and strengthening our distribution network while delivering even greater value and product innovation,” said Mike Olosky, CEO of Simpson Strong-Tie.
“OCTOBER 20/2024; Fastener Manufacturer Investing in New Heat Treat Department; Simpson Strong Tie, is a global supplier of fastening systems for the building industry-this is how they describe themselves; “Simpson Strong-Tie is the world leader in structural solutions — products and technology that help people design and build safer, stronger homes, buildings, and communities. As a pioneer in the building industry, we have an unmatched passion for problem solving through skillful engineering and thoughtful innovation. Our structural systems research and rigorous testing enable us to design code-listed, value-engineered solutions for a multitude of applications in wood, steel, and concrete structures. Our dedication to pursuing ever-better construction products and technology and to surrounding our customers with exceptional service and support has been core to our mission since 1956.”
Back in late 2023 the company announced a major investment at a facility in Tennessee, USA and it appears that this includes a new, in-house heat treatment facility. “The Monty” has been led to believe that this will include two brand new batch IQ lines and 2 mesh belt furnace lines with the orders placed recently. If this is true it would mean that production in the heat treat department would commence roughly 1 year from now.”
