According to Solar Manufacturing of Sellersville, PA, USA they have a self-cleaning vacuum furnace-read on;
 
“Before any vacuum heat treatment can begin, components must be thoroughly cleaned to remove both organic and inorganic contaminants. Standard cleaning methods—such as solvent immersion, drying, and vapor degreasing—are essential for eliminating residues that might volatilize during processing. Left unchecked, these contaminants can redeposit inside the vacuum furnace, degrade part quality, and even damage the hot zone or cold wall.
 
For years, achieving consistent cleanliness in vacuum heat treating has been a persistent industry challenge, often requiring significant labor, expensive chemicals, and the use of stainless steel or titanium foil. Solar Atmospheres’ innovative dual-pump vacuum cleaning system changes that dynamic. Integrated directly into a standard heat treatment cycle, this technology establishes a new benchmark for cleanliness and process efficiency.
 
This “self-cleaning furnace” approach not only produces exceptionally bright, clean parts—it also enhances safety, minimizes environmental impact, and lowers operating costs. In a time when precision, cleanliness, and sustainability matter more than ever, this advancement delivers meaningful value across the board.”
“Grammer Vacuum Technologies” of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA has been around for many years as a manufacturer’s representative to the heat treatment industry and also as a growing supplier of Molybdenum products. Recently the company announced that they has hired Luke Glendening to assist in all aspects of the company while concentrating on Molybdenum products, fixtures and grids.
 
Ben Grammer had this to say; “Luke has been helping us on a part time basis for some time now and due to increased business volumes, it was a perfect time to add Luke on a full time basis. While he will be involved in all aspects of the business I am especially excited about Luke helping us grow our “moly” business” which for some time now has been expanding at a very rapid rate.”  
The world’s largest commercial heat treater and the only truly global one with 165 facilities across 22 countries is UK based “Bodycote”. “The Monty” has long said that if you want to know how the heat treat industry is doing overall, which markets are growing and shrinking and which manufacturing sectors are healthy or not, look no further than a Bodycote financial statement.
 
With this background out of the way lets look at some recent “Bodycote” changes in personnel and locations mainly in this report in North America.
 
Baris Telseren. After 20 years with Bodycote in Europe in a variety of positions Mr. Baris Telseren was recently made President, Corporate Growth. Mr. Telseren’s family sold their business to Bodycote many years ago and he stayed with the company doing what we have been told is a tremendous job for the firm.  
 
Paul Dymond. The heat treatment industry lost a “good one” when Paul Dymond recently retired after 51 years in the industry-41 of them with Bodycote. Over the years Paul held a variety of different positions with Bodycote including most recently Regional Technical Manager, Regional General Manager and Account Manager. Experience like his is impossible to replace.
 
Eric Hutton. Eric was recently promoted to “Senior Vice President Operation and Global Technology Advisor, Aerospace, Defense & Energy, Bodycote”. Eric brings a vast amount of knowledge to this position having worked with the company for 26 years in a number of different positions. 
 
Lukas Kracmar. Lukas was just appointed as Vice President, Operations, HIP & PHT Europe at Bodycote. While Lukas is new to Bodycote he certainly isn’t new to manufacturing in Europe. Over the past 20 years he has worked with several manufactures in Europe including over 12 years at a “Honeywell” facility in Halver, Germany.
 
The company continues to make investments in various facilities and consolidate other locations. For example in 2025 “The Monty” reported on a new location in Fairfield, Ohio, USA “Bodycote Opening New Facility in Fairfield, Ohio, USA”.
 
The firm also continues to consolidate plants with plans in the works for 3 USA locations to be merged or closed (this is in addition to others which were merged earlier in 2025).  These include the Athens, Alabama, Columbus, Ohio and Greensburg, Indiana plants-at least one of which is already closed. Plans call for the equipment to be relocated to other facilities.
 
As always, the team at “The Monty” will keep our readers updated on all developments in the North American commercial heat treatment industry.
 
SECO/WARWICK will supply a Vector vacuum furnace to the Marle Group, a global manufacturer of orthopedic prosthetics headquartered in Europe. The equipment will be installed in France at Marle Nowak’s facility, which specializes in the production of orthopedic implants, surgical instruments, spinal devices, and OEM manufacturing for the medical sector. The single-chamber furnace will be used for heat treating implants and surgical tools. The contract was secured thanks to successful reference trials conducted at SECO/WARWICK’s R&D department.
 

Marle Nowak faced a technological challenge—the need for rapid cooling of large implant loads. They required equipment capable of cooling a full load (800 kg) from 1200°C down to 400°C in a very short time. After completing a reference trial in the R&D division with a full load, SECO/WARWICK achieved the best rapid cooling results.

Following successful laboratory trials at SECO/WARWICK, the client decided to purchase the device that delivered the best performance among competing solutions. The SECO/WARWICK vacuum furnace will not only increase production independence but also facilitate the certification of heat treatment processes in line with ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 standards—crucial requirements in the medical industry.

“Hardening cobalt alloys requires processes that achieve extremely high temperatures, and the heating processes for these materials demand high purity, temperature uniformity, and very fast, efficient cooling. The Vector vacuum furnace meets these criteria, guaranteeing the highest quality of treated components. This is the third SECO/WARWICK device operating at the facilities of the European leader in medical manufacturing. Our equipment will allow our partner to become independent from external hardening services, providing greater control over the entire production process,” said Maciej Korecki, Vice President of the Vacuum Furnace Segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.

 
(AI Overview; Vacuum heat treating is a critical process for orthopedic implants—such as hip, knee, and spine replacements—to ensure they meet the rigorous mechanical and biocompatibility standards required for long-term human use. By 2026, this technology has become standard for processing advanced materials like titanium, cobalt-chromium, and 3D-printed alloys. 
Core Benefits for Orthopedic Implants

(Editor’s Note; According to Google Burst capacity refers to a system’s or service’s ability to temporarily exceed its normal, committed limits to handle sudden, short-term spikes in demand, like traffic surges or increased data usage, without failing or slowing down, essentially using “unused” headroom or pre-allocated reserves for a quick performance boost. It allows for flexibility in handling unpredictable loads, common during game launches or sales, preventing service degradation until normal capacity can catch up or scale. Find out where Bluewater ranks in sales compared to other North American commercial heat treaters “52 Largest North American Commercial Heat Treaters”)

“Bluewater Thermal Solutions’ Saint Marys Facility Delivers Burst Heat Treating Capacity for Tier 1 Automotive Supplier During Planned Maintenance; Greenville, SC — January 12, 2026 — Bluewater Thermal Solutions announced that its St. Marys, Pennsylvania facility provided rapid Burst Capacity to a Tier 1 automotive supplier during a planned maintenance shutdown of the customer’s in-house heat treating operations. Scaling production over the extended holiday season, Bluewater ensured uninterrupted deliveries for the customer while generating more than $1,000,000 in revenue tied to the outsourcing program.

“Our ability to scale quickly while meeting stringent automotive requirements highlights the strength of our operating model and our commitment to customer success,” said Jason Hanes, General Manager at Bluewater Thermal Solutions. “We’re proud to serve as a reliable partner when customers need flexible capacity without compromising quality.”

To discuss Burst Capacity outsourcing support, visit www.bluewaterthermal.com or contact [email protected] or +1-877-990-0050.

About Bluewater Thermal Solutions; Bluewater Thermal Solutions is a leading provider of heat treating, surface enhancement, and metallurgical engineering services for the energy, automotive, aerospace and industrial sectors. With multiple locations across North America, Bluewater delivers innovative solutions that enhance performance and reliability of critical metal components.”

Since 2007, the MTI Educational Foundation has awarded more than $455,000 in educational scholarships to attract and support young talent in the heat treating industry. Continuing this commitment, the Foundation is thrilled to announce the opening of its 2026 scholarship application process, offering a total of $123,000 in scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 for both technical school and college students.MTI Educational Foundation CEO, Tom Morrison states, “With the labor shortage and changing dynamics of the workforce, the MTI Educational Foundation is committee to attracting in new talent from the next generation through scholarships.”

Eligibility Criteria are as follows:

The scholarship program is open to students pursuing studies in:

Applicants must be enrolled, or recently accepted, as full- or part-time students at nationally accredited colleges or technical schools.

Key Dates:

If you or someone you know who is interested in applying for an MTI Educational Foundation Scholarship, visit MTIEducationalFoundation.com for detailed submission criteria and application process.

For additional questions, please contact DeAnna Morrison at [email protected].

In a heat treat industry exclusive “The Monty Heat Treat News” regularly publishes a list of the “15 Largest Captive Heat Treats-North America”–the topic comes up today because “The Monty” team is in the process of updating our list for 2026.
 
Our 2026 list will see some changes-as a matter of fact we mentioned one change just last week; “Acquisition Effects Largest North American Captive Heat Treaters”.
 
Another change will see the addition of a location which has never made our list in the past, “JATCO” (Japan Automatic Transmission Co., Ltd.) in Aguas Caliente in Mexico. The firm supplies continuously variable transmissions, CVTs (more details below) and maintains a very large vacuum carburizing (LPC) department which consists of 60 carburizing cells with hot and cold oil quenching along with gas quenching. This makes them one of the largest single location captive heat treaters in North America without a shadow of a doubt. Stay tuned for our final list.
 
“AI Overview; JATCO Mexico operates its own captive heat treatment facilities as part of its manufacturing process for continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). This allows the company to perform the necessary treatment for components like gears and pulleys in-house at its plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico. 
Key details regarding JATCO Mexico’s heat treating operations:

Just before Christmas, 2025 “The Monty” mentioned how one of the better known individuals in the North American heat treat industry, “Mr. Mark Hemsath” (formerly with firms such as UPC/Nitrex/GM Enterprises and SECO/WARWICK) had made a change and joined up with heat treat consulting firm “Wingens Consultants”. Mark provided us with this summary about what “Wingens Consultants” offers the industry-later this year Mark and Thomas will be featured in a “Monty” exclusive interview. 

“Hi Gord, I used to do thermal consulting work in my early years with my father.  I really enjoyed it and Thomas Wingens has created a great company, so I am excited to join Thomas and Wingens Consultants. You can find our full profile at www.wingens.com, but I’ve summarized our core capabilities below. What sets us apart in the Thermal and Heat Treating industry is our ability to provide immediate, senior-level impact without a learning curve. We specialize in two distinct areas:

 

Strategic & Executive Leadership

  • Interim Executive Roles: Serving as Interim CEO/COO for thermal and heat treat organizations.
  • Market Strategy: North American market entry for international firms and specialized sales/marketing strategies.
  • Supply Chain: U.S.-based sourcing and manufacturing for thermal products.
  • Specialized Training: Providing expert-led training in Metallurgy, Heat Treat Processes, and Sales.

Technical Engineering & Metallurgy

  • Furnace Systems & Design: Full-cycle furnace procurement, custom design, and installation project management.
  • Specialized Processing: Powder metallurgy (Titanium, Tantalum, Niobium, Rare-Earths, Specialty Metals), Diffusion/Bonding, and Hydrogen processing.
  • Operational Excellence: Efficiency studies, process simulation, and metallurgical consulting.
  • Investment Support: Technical due diligence for investors in the thermal sector.

Wingens Consultants and I are ready to hit the ground running to make our customer operations more competitive. I’d love to discuss how we can apply our specific strengths for anyone who may see this and who has aggressive goals and needs. You can reach me at [email protected]“ 

“Berea, Ohio — [Insert Date] — AECO Corp proudly announces the promotion of Maryann Remner to President, effective immediately.

In her new role, Maryann will lead AECO Corp and its three operating subsidiaries — Alloy Engineering, Mach3 Machining, and Thermcraft — driving strategic growth and operational excellence across the organization.

Maryann joined AECO nearly seven years ago as Vice President of Sales & Marketing, where she strengthened customer relationships, expanded market presence, and delivered consistent commercial growth. She later advanced to Chief Operating Officer, broadening her leadership across AECO’s operating companies and playing a pivotal role in improving operational performance and organizational alignment. Her proven leadership, industry insight, and track record of results position her to guide AECO into its next phase of growth.

As President, Maryann will oversee AECO’s three operating companies:

  • Alloy Engineering (Berea, OH) – Custom engineered metal fabrications for high-temperature and corrosive industrial applications.
  • Mach3 Machining (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) – Large-diameter turning and precision machining services.
  • Thermcraft (Winston-Salem, NC) – Thermal-processing equipment including industrial furnaces and ovens.

“I’m honored to lead AECO and its exceptional team into the future,” said Maryann Remner “As an ESOP company, our success is shared by every employee-owner, and I’m committed to upholding the values that make AECO unique. Together, we’ll continue to deliver innovative solutions, strengthen customer partnerships, and create opportunities that benefit both our people and our customers.”

Lee Watson will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer full-time through 2027, maintaining oversight of Finance/Accounting and Human Resources while focusing on long-term strategy and preparing AECO’s ESOP for a strong and sustainable future. Following his retirement at the end of 2027, Mr. Watson intends to remain an active member of AECO’s Board of Directors.”

(Editors note; “Kepston Limited” is a 110 year old, Nadcap approved commercial heat treater in the UK. The managing director of the firm says that due to the shockingly high energy costs in the country their future is in jeopardy. Read the entire article at “Businesses say Britain’s ‘jam tomorrow’ energy plans threaten their survival” and in particular pay attention to the graph of energy costs around the world). 
 
“One City veteran said that the UK’s “exorbitant” energy costs were top of the agenda in most boardrooms when it came to deciding where to invest in new facilities. Brent Millage, managing director at Kepston Limited which specialises in heat treating metal components, said the 110-year-old company was in “jeopardy” as a result of rising energy costs. “We’ve seen three recessions, survived Covid but we’re now facing the biggest crisis we’ve ever faced,” he said. Kepston, which employs a team of 56 in the West Midlands, has already had to axe staff as it braces itself to absorb higher energy bills on top of increased staffing costs caused by last year’s changes to national insurance contributions. Millage said Kepston, which pays £17,000 a month for energy, is now facing an extra £100,000 a year in transmission costs and an extra £13,500 to fund Sizewell C.”