To start off one of the final weeks of 2025 lets look at some well known individuals in the global heat treatment industry who have been making career changes;
“The Ford Motor Company is recalling certain heavy-duty pickups for right rear axle shafts that may have been improperly heat-treated by the supplier. According to Ford, the shafts may break unexpectedly, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power or a risk of rollaway when placed in park.
“Mid-West Forge Corporation” is listed as the supplier of the suspect axle shafts, which the supplier failed to properly quench after heat treating. Affected trucks are specified with single rear wheels and 10.5-inch rear axle shafts. Their production dates range from October 2, 2025 through November 5, 2025.
(Editors Note; on their website Mid-West Forge Corporation emphasizes the fact that their heat treatment department offers Induction heat treating combined with mesh belt tempering furnaces).
An estimated 6,334 units of the F-250 are being recalled stateside, along with 485 units from the F-350 line of workhorses. The safety boffins at FoMoCo started investigating this concern back in early November 2025, prompted by failures identified by Ford Driveline Engineering during impact testing.
Ultimately, the supplier put the blame on malfunctioning equipment for the recall condition. Ford isn’t aware of any field reports or warranty claims attributed to the described problem. As you might have already guessed, Super Duty retailers have been instructed to inspect all suspect axle shafts.”
“Aichelin Group recently held a groundbreaking ceremony in Talegaon, Pune, for a new production facility for its subsidiary Aichelin Unitherm. The site will manufacture the Group’s full range of atmospheric furnace types in India, serving customers across the automotive sector, bearing manufacturing and contract heat treatment providers.
Located on a plot of approximately 11,500 square metres, the new facility will comprise a modern production and office complex that brings all manufacturing activities together under one roof. The site will include a 6,500-square-metre production hall and 1,300 square metres of office space spread across two floors.
The new location will support AICHELIN Group’s ambitions to strengthen its market leadership in India and continue to grow revenues. It will also enable the company to develop new heat treatment segments, beginning with aluminum heat treatment, while further expanding its export activities.
Through the relocation, Aichelin Unitherm is investing in long-term stability, modern working conditions and improved infrastructure for its employees. Completion of the new site is scheduled for mid-2026.
“India is one of the fastest-growing markets for industrial heat treatment worldwide, and we see enormous potential for sustainable growth and technological innovation,” said Christian Grosspointner, CEO of the AICHELIN Group. “With our new site in Talegaon, we are creating the foundation to further expand our market share, serve our customers even better and provide a modern working environment.”
In addition to its expansion in India, the company has moved into a new, modern office in the Future Science City in Beijing’s Changping district. Offering 3,000 square metres of office space, the facility brings together development, sales, service and training functions, making it a central pillar of AICHELIN Group’s regional growth strategy.
“China has always been more than just a sales market for us; it is a partner for development and innovation,” Grosspointner added. “The new site in Beijing symbolizes our long-term commitment to the Chinese market and to our dedicated local team.”
The company said the investments form part of its long-term Strategy 2030, which focuses on sustainable growth, technological innovation and close regional customer relationships”.
Six Ipsen service technicians were recognized at the Ipsen Vacuum Technology Excellence Center for completing the Ipsen Field Service Engineer (FSE) Academy: Todd Jones, Casey Guinn, Craig Monaghan, Eric Gould, Alfredo Mendoza, and Dom Wirthlin. The Ipsen FSE Academy is a 14-week, intensive, hands-on training program for field technicians who specialize in servicing Ipsen vacuum furnaces. The program began with three weeks of classroom instruction, where participants learned from engineers, designers, and technical service professionals about the design, assembly, operation, subsystems, and functions of vacuum furnaces. From there, technicians transitioned to field training. Each participant was paired with a mentor and gained hands-on experience with specialty Ipsen furnaces, hot zone replacements, new equipment installations, and a variety of retrofits, each presenting unique challenges and requiring different skill sets. After several weeks in the field, participants returned to Cherry Valley for calibration training, final evaluations, and a graduation ceremony.
“As a technical trainer we naturally have strong passion for teaching others the skills required to be successful in this industry,” said Cavan Cardenas, Ipsen Technical Training Lead. “When we get a group of technicians that matches our passion level, it makes it real easy for us to get excited about the training program.” “One of the best things I learned at the FSE Academy was to network with others in the field,” Eric Gould explained. “The training gave me the ability to take the time and learn the job so that I can figure out an issue by myself, but also know that I have a team of experts I can reach out to with specialized skills who can help.”
“The experience I’ve had working at Ipsen has been overwhelmingly positive,” Todd Jones said. “The FSE Academy, the instructors and the FSEs we’ve met in the field cement this as a place I want to work for in the very long term. This program helped us develop, giving us what we need to provide value to the company and our customers well into the future.” Participants are paid throughout the program and gain real-world experience by working with key customers at leading companies across a wide range of industries. Ipsen is currently seeking Field Service Engineers to join the next academy class, projected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
PROENERGY, a vertically integrated manufacturer of power generation equipment and services, has placed an order for four Ipsen vacuum furnaces to help meet growing demand for new fast-start gas turbines and lifecycle maintenance.
“PROENERGY customers demand high-quality turbine components to satisfy the exacting requirements of the fast-start power industry. As we expand production of the PE6000 aeroderivative engine, we also needed additional vacuum furnace capacity,” says John Spilker, Senior Vice President of Operations. “Ipsen furnaces have served us well for years in both manufacturing and repairing turbine parts. Based on the accuracy and reliability of these furnaces, we worked closely with the Ipsen team to meet operational requirements, optimize cost, and minimize lead time.” Included in this order:
• (1) TITAN H2 2-bar vacuum furnace with an 18 × 18 × 24-inch work zone and 1,000-pound weight capacity
• (2) TITAN H6 2-bar vacuum furnaces, each with a 36 × 36 x× 48-inch work zone and a 3,000-pound weight capacity
• (1) TurboTreater model H6672 featuring a 48 × 48 × 72-inch work zone and a 3,500-pound capacity
• (2) TITAN H6 2-bar vacuum furnaces, each with a 36 × 36 x× 48-inch work zone and a 3,000-pound weight capacity
• (1) TurboTreater model H6672 featuring a 48 × 48 × 72-inch work zone and a 3,500-pound capacity
Ipsen USA will deliver and install these units, chosen for their efficiency and reliability across several industrial sectors.
According to this very interesting press release a substantial USA bearing manufacture has invested in two new LPC (Low Pressure Carburizing) systems from SECO/WARWICK USA, although at the time of this posting “The Monty” is unsure of who the end customer is. Further down read the claimed advantages of LPC heat treatment for bearings;
SECO/WARWICK USA has received orders for two identical Vector single chamber vacuum furnaces from a major U.S. bearing manufacturer, reinforcing the company’s position as a leading provider of advanced heat-treatment technology in the North American market.
Each furnace features a 36″ × 36″ × 48″ hot zone, 15-bar high-pressure gas quench (HPGQ), and a horizontal loading configuration, delivering the versatility required for precision heat treatment of bearing components. The low-pressure carburizing (LPC) furnace design, known for performance and process repeatability, provides a scalable platform for both production throughput and metallurgical consistency.
Identical Furnaces, Different Applications; One furnace will augment production capacity at an established aerospace-grade component facility, while the second unit will support a newly acquired plant undergoing a multi-year modernization program. The latter site will use the furnace for a mix of production, specialty geometries, and potential R&D applications as it transitions from legacy heat-treat equipment to state-of-the-art LPC technology.
Both systems include standard SECO/WARWICK options such as a sound enclosure, automatic door, and maintenance platform, as well as customer-specified instrumentation—ensuring compliance with stringent internal quality and traceability requirements.
Advantages of Low-Pressure Carburizing for Bearings; LPC is favored for high-performance bearings and precision parts due to its superior metallurgical results and efficiency compared to traditional atmospheric carburizing:
- Reduced Distortion: The vacuum process minimizes part deformation, which reduces or eliminates the need for expensive post-heat treatment machining.
- Superior Quality: It avoids intergranular oxidation (IGO) and surface oxidation, leading to a cleaner, more uniform case-hardened layer.
- Process Control: The use of vacuum furnaces and precise gas control (boost and diffuse steps) allows for exceptional control over the case depth and carbon profile, ensuring repeatability.
- Environmental Benefits: It is a more environmentally friendly process, with lower energy consumption, no CO₂ emissions, and elimination of oil or salt bath residues.
Alcon Industries of Cleveland, Ohio, USA, one of the largest North American suppliers of high temperature, cast alloy components for the heat treatment industry has appointed a new “Vice President Sales & Supply Chain”. “Mr. Justin Henderson” recently assumed this position, taking over from “Mr. Jim Demarest” who recently parted ways with the company. 
“(December 16, 2025) – Ipsen Technologies Pvt Ltd. CEO Mr. Shubhendra Panse has announced his decision to leave the company by February 28, 2026. Until a new CEO is hired, Mr. Paul van Doesburg – CEO of Ipsen Germany – will support the transition
“We want to sincerely thank Mr. Panse for his dedication and many contributions to Ipsen’s success as CEO over the last twelve years. His efforts have supported the market presence and the development of our company over the last decade.
Mr. Panse leaves the company after a great rally of order intake during the last months. We are very thankful for his support and efforts.” “We regret that Mr. Panse is leaving us; he has inspired our Indian entity for over twelve years.” Ipsen is constantly working on improving its products and services. Technology leadership is our key focus. We will continue to do so in our Indian operations.”
Earlier this year “The Monty Heat Treat News” had this story about an upcoming commercial heat treat closing in Michigan, USA; “US Company to Exit Commercial Heat Treating”.
(Editors Note; To find out why so many commercial heat treaters are closing down these days we would suggest this in-depth article published by “The Monty” December 10/2025; “Why Are So Many Heat Treat Shops In North America Closing Down-Further Thoughts”).
Solar Atmospheres of Michigan Inc. is proud to announce that it has earned Nadcap 18-Month Merit Status for heat treating and brazing—an honor awarded only to organizations that consistently demonstrate the highest levels of quality, process control, and specification compliance. With this achievement, every Solar Atmospheres location nationwide now holds Nadcap merit status.
We appreciate PRI’s recognition of our team’s dedication to stringent process discipline, precise processing, and an unwavering commitment to quality in every operation.
Solar Atmospheres President Bob Hill stated: “With the purchase, name change, and relocation of our Michigan business in 2022, the PRI Nadcap standards reverted back to annual audits. The achievement of zero major findings over the past three (3) years of audits has allowed us to once again join all of our other Solar facilities across the country with Merit standing. This accomplishment further strengthens Solar Atmospheres’ promise to deliver reliable, world-class thermal processing solutions to our customers in Michigan and across the nation.”
About Solar Atmospheres of Michigan Inc.
Solar Atmospheres of Michigan Inc. is part of the Solar Atmospheres family of companies, offering a wide range of vacuum heat treating and brazing services. With a focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Solar Atmospheres serves industries including aerospace, defense, medical, power generation, and more.
For more information about the Solar Atmospheres Michigan facility contact Chris Molencupp at (586) 264-8100 ext. 1620, or [email protected], and visit us at www.solaratm.com.
