“Commercial heat treater Specialty Steel Treating in Fraser, Michigan (USA) has invested in new AFC-Holcroft UBQ (Universal Batch Quench) furnace and a UBTN (Universal Batch Temper) annealing furnace as companion equipment, as part of a larger multi-year equipment standardization program intended to replace older equipment provided by another supplier. The UBQ and UBT are near duplicates to equipment recently provided by AFC-Holcroft as part of the same multi-year program. Specialty Steel Treating has had a long relationship with AFC-Holcroft, and uses several different types of AFC-Holcroft furnaces in their production facilities in Michigan and Connecticut, including multi-row pusher furnaces designed for high capacity output, as well as some large capacity UBQ batch equipment and accessories.

Tracy Dougherty, Vice President of Sales at AFC-Holcroft states, “We’re excited to be a part of the continued growth and expansion of Specialty Steel Treating. The customization of these furnaces combined with state of the art controls and IoT features (Remote Diagnostics™), enable both AFC-Holcroft and Specialty Steel Treating the ability to offer superior quality, performance and continuous improvement to customers.” Delivery of the UBTN is expected in the 2nd quarter of 2019 to the Specialty Steel Treating site on Malyn Road in Fraser, with the UBQ to follow in the 3rd quarter to the Commerce Road plant, also located in Fraser.”

“AMG Advanced Technologies announces the realignment of the North American Equipment Sales Companies, ALD Vacuum Technologies and ALD Vacuum Systems Into the new entity: ALD Vacuum Technologies North America, Inc., headquartered in East Windsor, Connecticut effective January 1^st 2019. David Esser, President of the new entity states, “Our organization supports AMG Advanced Technologies long term strategic approach to providing furnace equipment and customer services to the Vacuum Heat Treatment and Vacuum Metallurgy Furnace markets in North America”. ALD Vacuum Technologies North America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AMG Technologies GmbH.

Betcha you have never heard of Shanghai Qizhi Information Technology Co., Ltd., based in Ningbo, China before-we certainly hadn’t. If you are curious about the company you can get all the details at http://www.qijing-m.com/En/INTRODUCTION.html which will tell you it is a large conglomerate which produces auto parts, power tools, washing machines, home appliances and a host of other items. What the website does not tell you is that supposedly in the near future the company will be able to add vacuum furnaces to their list of products. This by the way fits very neatly with what the company does as they already have a large heat treating operation featuring sealed quench furnaces. If our information is correct they have just reached an agreement to buy a European manufacturer of vacuum furnaces and we will be telling you all about it.

In Bochum, Germany we find commercial heat treater REESE one of the largest commercial heat treaters in the country. This is a family owned business with a long established history and the distinction of hardening some of the largest gears, shafts and pinions in the world. As a matter of fact the company regularly receives large parts from North America to heat treat for the simple reason that no company in North America has furnaces as large as REESE does.

The centrepiece of their Bochum facility is a monster pit carburizing unit made by ROHDE Schutzgasöfen GmbH in Hanau, Germany. Able to handle parts up to 17’ in diameter, 17’ deep and up to 50 tons we never get tired of seeing this furnace in action which is why their name comes up today. We just received this video from the company showing a typical part (at least for REESE) being heat treated. The other photos show the management team in one picture and in the other the ROHDE furnace shortly after it was installed.

https://dms.licdn.com/playback/C4D05AQG5qLePo_WdWQ/09116fa4cfc64a02b648d9eb2adc48d8/feedshare-mp4_3300-captions-thumbnails/1507940147251-drlcss?e=1554836400&v=beta&t=FJJrQNLyMhM0lzPG4e_GB0oy8BD189o0blCYDtnaLiE

Ross does not come from a heat treating background rather an automotive background working with companies such as Magna  International. However a few years back he took over the GM position at the Bodycote facility in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada (which closed about a year ago) and did a very competent job running the plant until it was closed. Subsequent to that he worked at commercial heat treater Atlantic Heat Treat in Ajax, Ontario up until about a year ago when we lost track of him. We can now say that he has left the heat treat industry and is now Vice President and General Manager at Unilux VFC Whitby, Ontario, Canada. We would consider this a loss to the industry. The photo below shows from the left; Gord Montgomery, Jordan Montgomery, Jon Mathews (owner Atlantic HT) and Ross Hill.

“Gasbarre is pleased to announce the promotion of Mike Harrison to Engineering Manager for Gasbarre Industrial Furnace Systems (formerly J.L. Becker), in Plymouth, MI.   Mike started with Gasbarre in 2017 as a Sales and Metallurgical Engineer. Since that time, Mike has demonstrated great leadership and technical ability. In his prior role, Mike has shown a keen ability to develop and implement product and process standardization as well as technical solutions for the everyday challenges of customers.

He holds a BS in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Walsh College.  “Our entire organization is excited for Mike and his new role,” says Ben Gasbarre, President of Industrial Furnace Systems. Ben adds, “Mike’s skill set, education, and experience within the heat treating industry gives him the tools necessary to not only help our organization, but our customers as well.” We will add to this news item that Mike is an ex Bodycote guy and an ex American Axle Manufacturing guy so he must know his stuff.

Recently we mentioned that Mr. Dan McCurdy President, Bodycote Automotive and General Industrial Heat Treatment, North America and Asia would shortly be retiring and speculated on who might be replacing him. Well we are starting to think that Dan’s shoes are so large that nobody will be able to fill them. Specifically we have heard several individuals say that no decisions have been made and it is quite possible that his responsibilities might be shared amongst several people. We will keep you updated.

Well I guess we will make this a Bodycote day as we seem to have a lot of news about the company. Mind you that is not surprise considering Bodycote is a $1 billion USD per year company and the largest commercial heat treater in the world. If you recall back in July of 2017 the company had a very bad fire at their location in Syracuse, (formerly Syracuse Heat Treating). Little has been announced publicly about rebuild efforts but we are here to tell you that they are underway and we will probably be hearing more about a multi million dollar investment plan in the near future.  Robert Ballinger-Well He Didn’t Last Long. Robert was Divisional Engineering Manager for the Bodycote AGI/North America & Asia division starting August 2017 for a period of 1 year and 9 months before retiring. That was a short stint.

It always brings joy to our hearts to see manufacturers adding heat treating capacity which meant we got a kick out of this story; “Estwing Manufacturing Co. — the maker of hammers, axes and pry bars among other striking tools — is planning a $10 million expansion of its Eighth Street facility that would keep 296 employees in Rockford and add 30 more. Mayor Tom McNamara said the expansion is a big win for the city because the company had considered moving out of state. McNamara said Estwing has been great to work with and it is gratifying to see it “doubling down on the city.” Rockford’s Planning & Development Committee on Monday will consider a $50,000 Community Development Block Grant that would help defray the cost of $845,000 worth of heat-treating equipment that is part of the expansion, said Karl Franzen, the city’s community and economic development director.”

We will also say that Rockford, Illinois USA is known as the fastener capital of North America and has one of the largest concentrations of captive and commercial heat treaters in the world. It sounds like aerospace engine and components company, Continental Aerospace Technologies in Mobile, Alabama has added a couple of Plasma nitriding systems.  “Continental Aerospace Technologies™ (formerly Continental Motors), which is recognized for manufacturing piston engines for small aircraft, sought to improve its nitriding systems with high ammonia emissions and turned to RÜBIG Industrial Furnaces, an Austrian metal hardening company. RÜBIG supplied two “EVEREST 100/180 Duo” plasma nitriding and annealing furnaces, as well as a cleaning solution. The equipment provides independent multi-heating and cooling zones and the Micropuls® technology.”

Oh and speaking of RÜBIG we also have this news item; “RÜBIG continues its international expansion course. Optimal support of its customers in the booming US market is very important to the traditional Austrian company A valuable distribution partner for the Division of Industrial Furnaces could be found after intensive search with Mountain Rep in Cleveland. Rosanne Brunello, General Manager of Mountain Rep, has an international reputation. The winner of the ASM President Award Cleveland has 35 years of experience in the distribution of heat treatment furnaces, pumps and products. Their expertise is enriched with many years of experience in the aerospace industry. She is supported by John Young. The assistant professor of metallurgy at Macomb Community College has 40 years of professional experience. The “RÜBIG TEAM USA” during the first training (from left to right): Rosanne Brunello, John Young, service technician Ernst Schwarzlmüller, sales manager Sabine Kreuzmayr, process engineer Roland Kullmer, salesman Uwe Rahn and service technician Nermin Imsirovic.”

And to round things out commercial heat treater Listemann in Liechtenstein sent us this press release and photo of a recent student visit the company arranged; “17 students from all over Germany and the persons responsible for the DVS (German Association for Welding Technology) were participants in a one-day practical workshop at Listemann in Liechtenstein. The participants were given the potential and potential uses of vacuum soldering as lectures Joining and coating process brought closer.” Looks like the company is a big Ipsen fan.

“Ipsen USA is pleased to announce the transition of Andrew Yazot from International Sales Manager to Midwest Regional Sales Owner, effective immediately. In this position Yazot covers nine states in the Midwest, replacing former Midwest Regional Sales Owner Matt Clinite, who was promoted to Ipsen Customer Service Sales Manager last month. “My mission is to continue the level of customer service Matt established with customers and prospects in the territory,” said Yazot.

“My technical background and attention to detail will allow me to do that.” Yazot joined the company in 2009 and has provided sales support in Eastern Europe, Russia, Germany, China and parts of the United States. Yazot holds a degree in mechanical engineering, and has worked in technical sales for more than two decades. Yazot will be based out of Ipsen’s Cherry Valley facility. “Andrew is a great asset to Ipsen with more than a decade of working experience in the industry,” said Pete Kerbel, Vice President of Sales, Ipsen USA.

“His breadth of domestic and international experience is what makes him a balanced problem-solver, and I have no doubt our Midwestern client base will succeed with Andrew as their representative.” Ipsen’s Sales Team is made up of technical experts and engineers who devote themselves to being a partner in success. With more than 70 years of providing heat treatment solutions, Ipsen is committed to keeping our customer’s furnaces operational and efficient.” 

It is with regret that we mention the passing of Herb Bond at the age of 72. Herb spent his entire life in the heat treat controls industry with companies such as Super Systems Inc. and Marathon Monitors. When he retired a few years ago he moved to Denver, NC where he spent a great deal of his time fishing and camping. On a personal note we at “The Monty” worked with Herb many times over the years and always had a high opinion of his knowledge and professionalism. A memorial service was held for Herb March 14 and he was laid to rest at the Salisbury National Cemetery in NC.