“Phillips Federal is honored to support the U.S. Air Force through this partnership,” said Kelley Padham, President, Phillips Corporation, Federal Division. “Our collaboration with DELTA H Technologies continues to expand the boundaries of advanced manufacturing for the Department of Defense—empowering readiness, resilience, and rapid innovation wherever our warfighters serve.”
Richard Conway, Director and CTO of DELTA H Technologies and a U.S. Air Force veteran, added: “Ten years ago, the Air Force asked us to help solve a problem. As an engineer and veteran, it became a personal mission to provide the best heat-treating solutions possible. Today, knowing the USAF relies on DELTA H and Phillips Federal for this critical technology is deeply humbling.”
About DELTA H Technologies; Based in Carroll, Ohio, DELTA H Technologies, LLC is an American manufacturer of advanced heat-treating and thermal-processing furnaces for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. The company specializes in dual-chamber and custom-engineered furnace solutions designed to meet stringent AMS2750 and NADCAP requirements. As a veteran-owned and operated business, DELTA H is committed to supporting U.S. defense readiness through innovation, quality, and service. Learn more at www.delta-h.com.
About Phillips Corporation; Phillips Corporation is a global leader in manufacturing solutions and services, dedicated to advancing the metalworking industry by delivering expert knowledge, innovation, and technology. We partner with manufacturers to enhance their capabilities and productivity, fostering growth and competitive advantage. With a rich history of collaboration with thought leaders and creators, Phillips aims to transform human society through significant contributions to manufacturing technology. Our commitment to excellence and sustainability positions us as the preferred partner for those shaping the future of manufacturing. Learn more at www.phillipscorp.com.
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The North American heat treatment event of the year “Heat Treat 2025” is being held in Detroit, Michigan, USA this week, October 21, 22 & 23 to be exact. “Gord & Jordan Montgomery” of “The Monty Heat Treat News” will be in attendance along with every major industry supplier and most captive and commercial treaters-in short this event is the one event of 2025 that can’t be missed.
Before you go though here are 10 “trivia” points you need to know to prove yourself a real heat treater;
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The largest single location “in-house” heat treater in North America is the “Ford Motor Company” Sharonville, Ohio, Transmission facility. “We are quite comfortable in suggesting that the Ford Sharonville, Ohio Transmission facility is the single largest captive heat treat facility in North America. Ford was one of the first automotive companies to embrace vacuum carburizing and the end result is that this plant now has 64 ECM LPC cells with 20 bar nitrogen gas quench systems.” “15 Largest Captive Heat Treats-North America”.
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UK based Bodycote remains the largest commercial heat treater in North America. “52 Largest North American Commercial Heat Treaters 2025″
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The title of the “World’s Largest Single Location Commercial Heat Treater” belongs to a German company by the name of “SHU” in Ulm, Germany. This single location has over 500 employees and a truly mind-boggling number of furnaces of all types and configurations.
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Title of the “Largest Privately Owned North American Commercial Heat Treater” goes to “Solar Atmospheres” of Souderton, PA, USA. “Solar Atmospheres” has 6 locations around the USA offering commercial heat treating (mainly vacuum) and two other locations related to vacuum furnace manufacturing which go under the name “Solar Manufacturing”. Total sales for the company in 2024 were $127,534,000.00 USD for all locations. The companies are owned by William and Myrtle Jones.”
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When it comes to the “Largest Number of Batch IQ Furnaces” in one location it is hard to beat “Allison Transmission, Speedway, Indiana”. This facility is the world’s largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Their very extensive in house heat treating department boasts the largest number of 36” X 48” X 36” batch IQ furnaces under one roof in North America-26 to be exact.
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Commercial heat treater “Nitrex” wins the award for having the “Largest Nitriding Furnace” in North America. This beast has working dimensions of approximately 14′ diameter and 11′ deep with a weight capacity of 80,000 pounds.
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A German company wins the award for the “Largest Commercially Available Pit Carburizing Furnace” in the world. “Haerterei Reese”, a commercial heat treater has a unit with working dimensions of 5 meters in diameter and 5.5 meters deep (approximately 15’ X 16.5’ deep), working in conjunction with this system is a 400,000 litre quench tank 21’ in diameter and 21’ deep and pit temper units. Weight capacity is over 100,000 pounds.
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How many commercial heat treaters are there in North America? It is estimated that there is a little over 500 facilities in North America, certainly down from pre-Covid levels.
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How big is the commercial heat treating market in North America? Estimates vary wildly according to your definition of what constitutes heat treating-the figure we at “The Monty Heat Treat News” use is a little over $3 Billion USD in 2025.
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How large is the total North American heat treat market? Again this is nothing more than an educated guess, but several estimates put the total market in 2024 at approximately $27.6 Billion USD.
So there you go, memorize this trivia about the heat treatment industry and you can impress both friends and acquaintances at this week’s “Heat Treat 2025 Show”. See you there.
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The company has been going “full speed ahead” on increasing production in a bid to achieving a larger share of this growing market and the results were obvious during a recent visit by Gord & Jordan Montgomery.
More production equipment is in the process of being installed and brought on line, and the growing product line was obvious. As an example, Daniel Broodo, Director of Technology and Mehrdad Jafarabadi both of “Americarb” showed us this 48″ diameter Carbon/Carbon fixture designed for use in a large bottom load vacuum furnace. While this type of fixturing has to date represented a very small portion of the North American heat treatment industry it is growing as the advantages become more obvious to end users.
2024 POSTING; Now That’s a Furnace-Americarb; CFC furnace fixturing has always been quite popular in Europe for a number of reasons including its light weight, lifespan and the fact that it doesn’t distort, however it has never caught on to the same extent in North America although it is slowly growing.
The fact that it is growing lead us to accept an invitation from Americarb, Inc., the only North American producer as far as we can tell to visit their manufacturing facility in Niagara Falls, NY, a visit which took place just last week. As it turns out it was fascinating to see how the material is created from scratch and turned into a finished product suitable for fixturing parts in either a vacuum or atmosphere furnace-this is how the company describes themselves;
While the company has a number of reasons to be proud, one of the main ones is their 16,000 cubic foot carbonization furnace which is shown in these photos. The system is capable of 850C temperatures and furnace cycles are measured in days or even weeks as required. To give you a feel for the size of the furnace we would point to the one photo which shows Gord Montgomery (“The Monty Heat Treat News) and Matt Reineke (Owner Americarb) standing inside of the furnace, a second photo shows the outside of the furnace.
If you have an interest in CFC fixturing and find yourself in Upstate, NY we would suggest that the fellows at Americarb would be happy to give you a tour.
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Metals Technology, one of the largest heat treaters in the area was in the news earlier this year when it was “Acquired by SWD Inc”.
“SWD Inc. Acquires Metals Technology Corporation; Addison, IL – February 5, 2025 – SWD Inc., a leader in the Metal Finishing and Fastener Sorting fields, is proud to announce the acquisition of the assets and retained the employees of Metals Technology Corporation, a renowned Commercial Heat Treater based in Carol Stream, Illinois. This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone in SWD Inc.’s growth and commitment to providing comprehensive Metal Processing Solutions. SWD Inc specializes in Black Oxide, Passivation, Phosphating as well as superior corrosion resistant Magni, Doerken and Yuken Coating Systems.
Rick Delawder, President of SWD Inc., expressed his excitement about the acquisition, stating, “We are excited to welcome Metals Technology Corporation into the SWD family. This acquisition aligns with our vision to expand our capabilities and offer our customers an integrated solution for their metal processing needs. The combined expertise and resources of both companies will enable us to deliver even greater value to the essential manufacturing community we serve.”
Metals Technology Corporation has been a trusted name in the industry for over 60 years. Known for their high-quality Austemper and Vacuum Heat-Treating Services and dedication to customer satisfaction. The acquisition will allow SWD Inc. to enhance its service offerings and strengthen its position as a market leader in the Metal Finishing and Fastener Sorting sectors.
The newly formed entity, Better4, LLC, will operate Metals Technology Corporation, ensuring continuity and maintaining the strong relationships built with customers over the years. The integration process is already underway, and both companies are committed to a seamless transition that will benefit all stakeholders.”
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The firm’s “Safran Blades” division recently commissioned a brand new facility in Belgium which includes the first of two vacuum furnaces. Provided by “BMI” of France the company recently delivered and commissioned a Model B55T vacuum furnace which is designed for the heat treatment of turbine blades. One of the features of the furnace is an energy optimization system which will contribute to reduced energy consumption. A second identical furnace will be provided to this location in 2026. The first photo shows the installed furnace along with part of the “Safran” team alongside two individuals from “BMI”
Over the years “The Monty Heat Treat News” has been able to visit several Safran locations around the world and each has a heat treatment department tailored to the specific product being produced.
For instance this photo from a “Safran” facility in Mexico shows a gantry style furnace provided by a Swiss furnace builder by the name of “Codere”.
In this photo we see the heat treat department at a “Safran” facility in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada which produces landing gear. What we see here is a pit carburizing furnace provided by a UK based furnace builder.
This is how “Wikipedia” describes Boronizing; “Boriding, also called boronizing, is the process by which boron is added to a metal or alloy. It is a type of surface hardening. In this process boron atoms are diffused into the surface of a metal component. The resulting surface contains metal borides, such as iron borides, nickel borides, and cobalt borides. As pure materials, these borides have extremely high hardness and wear resistance. Their favorable properties are manifested even when they are a small fraction of the bulk solid.[1] Boronized metal parts are extremely wear-resistant and will often last two to five times longer than components treated with conventional heat treatments such as hardening, carburizing, nitriding, nitrocarburizing, or induction hardening. Most borided steel surfaces will have iron boride layer hardnesses of 1200–1600 HV. Nickel-based superalloys such as Inconel and Hastalloys will typically have nickel boride layer hardnesses of 1700–2300 HV.”
This service is provided by a few commercial heat treaters in North America, as a matter of fact “The Monty Heat Treat News” had a brief news item about this October 12th; “USA Heat Treater Lands Very Substantial “Boronzing” Order.
At least two commercial heat treaters offering this process have bought the boron powder required for this process from a distributor by the name of “Avion Manufacturing” of Cleveland, Ohio, USA. However, Avion was recently acquired “Avion Manufacturing Acquired” and we are being told that the company is no longer acting as a distributor for this product.
The boron powder “Avion” was distributing came from a German firm by the name of “BorTec” and we would assume they will either distribute this product directly or through another agent-we will keep you posted when more details are available. (often) and immersing it in a boron-rich medium. The resulting surface provides excellent protection against abrasion, erosion, and corrosion, extending the lifespan of components used in demanding applications like industrial valves, pumps, and tools.
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It is with regret that we mention the passing of Mr. Jeff Machcinski, a good man who “The Monty Team” met a number of times over the years in his role as VP of Engineering with Advanced Heat Treat Corp.
Jeff was a man of many passions. He found joy in riding his Harley and was a dedicated member of Ft. Industry Masonic Lodge #144, where he served as a Master Mason, as well as a Royal Arch Mason. A talented musician, Jeff cherished playing the organ gifted to him by his mother.
He was an avid fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes and loved watching them play football. Jeff also followed Redwings Hockey. He liked to listen to live music from local area musicians and attending local festivals. Jeff loved science and “tech stuff” so he spent a lot of time watching documentaries and reading. He also treasured family vacations to Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
Jeff shared a close bond with his mother, often surprising her with thoughtful gifts and meaningful moments. Though he was a private individual, Jeff’s devotion to his family and friends was unwavering.
He was preceded in death by his father, David Machcinski; stepfather, Gerald Sheckler; grandparents, Ed and Alice Machcinski and Clarence and June Holub and uncle, Jim Machcinski.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving mother, Linda S. Sheckler; sons, Jacob and Justin Machcinski; beloved brother who he was very close to, Brian (Nina) Machcinski; uncle, Keith (Lori) Holub; niece, Alli; nephew, Nick; special friend, Gary Sharp; and many extended family members and dear friends.
Family and friends are invited to gather on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions, Northwest Chapel, 4150 W. Laskey Road (419-473-0300). A Masonic Service will be led by Temple Members Thursday evening beginning at 7:30pm. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 24, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers Memorial Contributions can be made to the Toledo Humane Society or to the Golden Retriever Rescue Resource, Inc in Jeffery’s memory.”
October 9th, 2025 we had a news item about “Aichelin Meeting to Discuss Strategy about the Nitrex Integration”, in this news item we mentioned we did not see a Nitrex representative. A sharp eyed viewer corrected us. Apparently the individual standing on the latter second from the left is “Mr. Pawel Oleszkiewicz” of Nitrex-we thank the readers who pointed this out.
The recent acquisition of furnace builder and controls company Nitrex by Austrian furnace builder “Aichelin” has been one of the top news stories in the heat treatment industry in 2025 “AICHELIN Group Completes Acquisition of NITREX Divisions”.
A big question for the industry is; “how will this acquisition be structured and what will it look like going forward?“-according to this press release from Aichelin the discussion is ongoing as we speak.
In this picture we see all of the top individuals from the “Aichelin Group” most of which we at “The Monty” recognize-this includes; “Tracy Dougherty” CEO AFC-Holcroft of Wixom, Michigan “Christian Grosspointner“, CEO of Aichelin Group, “Wolfgang Brosche“, Aichelin, Austria, “Phillip Krenn“, Head of Sales, Aichelin, “Matthias Wolf“, Noxmat Division and “Marco Karnthaler“, Marketing, Aichelin Group. to name a few. What we don’t see is a Nitrex Rep, so we’re not sure who this individual was (as mentioned below).
We look forward to hearing more about the path forward.
“𝗔𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗷𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵, 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲; Once a year, the management of the AICHELIN Group from all regions comes together – this year in Beijing (China). The participation of a leading NITREX representative, following the successful acquisition, was especially appreciated.
The focus was on the 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬 and the 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗫 – an important milestone in strengthening our global presence and shaping our shared future. Other key topics included valuable personal exchanges between the regions and discussions on current economic developments and their impact on business development.”
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Ipsen furnaces use resilient seated butterfly valves that require periodic replacement as seals wear. While the installation appears straightforward, following proper procedures prevents part failure and extends valve life.
Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for any parts installed on your furnace.
Pre-Installation
Before disassembling the old valve, take a photo of the orientation of the valve and direction of the valve stem. Most new valves have a position indicator that should be mounted so it’s visible to the operator.
As you uninstall the previous valve, inspect the two intersecting flanges for scratches, dents, or damage. If a flange is scratched on a seal or compression area, particularly if the scratch is crossing the seal, do not install the valve. Take photos of the damage and note the depth and orientation. Email the photos to your regional service vendor and request further instructions. They will determine if the pipe and flange are usable or if repair is needed.
Valve manufacturers may have specific documentation relevant to installation on their website. Be sure to search by manufacturer and model for the proper specifications and instructions before installing your valve.
Installation Procedure
- With the new valve on the table, manually open the valve with an adjustable wrench.
- Using a clean, lint free rag, wipe down the sealing area with alcohol.
- Apply a light coat of high vacuum grease with your finger to the sealing area and the adjacent end caps of the valve body, coating all of the exposed rubber areas.
- Wipe off any heavy amounts of grease with the clean, lint-free rag. When finished, the rubber surfaces should have a sheen on them, but no visible globs of grease.
- Manually close the valve. Do not use force to close it.
- Wipe the two mounting flanges with alcohol and re-inspect the flanges for scratches, dents or damage.
If you discover any previously unnoticed scratches, dings or dents:
Take photos of the damage, make a note of their depth and orientation, email the photos to your regional service vendor, and request further instructions before continuing. - Install the valve body between the two mounting flanges, but do not fully tighten the bolts yet.
- Manually open the valve.
- Tighten the bolts in a crisscross or star pattern to facilitate even flange tightening. Keep moving back and forth across the center of the valve as you tighten. Think North, South, East, West, Northeast, Southwest, etc.
- The bolt tightness depends on the size of the valve being installed. Make sure to review the proper torque specifications given by the OEM in the instructions.
- Manually close the valve (Again, do not use force).
- Install the powered actuator. Verify movement and confirm the smoothness of operation.
- If your valve has travel limit switches, make sure to set them up according to the settings documented with your system drawings.
- If your valves have speed controls and/or adjustable mechanical hard limit stops, refer to the system drawings and set up those controls and stops accordingly.
If you run into an issue with a valve replacement or other maintenance project and need help troubleshooting the issue, contact 1-844-Go-Ipsen for technical support or to schedule a field service visit.
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When you think of heat treating in Texas you think oil & gas a “boom or bust” industry if there ever was one. Unfortunately, times are tough in the “oil patch” and most heat treaters in the state, both commercial and captive are finding business to be “challenging”.
From adversity springs innovation and the result is that commercial heat treaters are looking at new markets not as tied to the oil & gas industries.
Rumor has it that within a month a new commercial vacuum heat treating facility will be opening their doors in Texas with the aim of offering both vacuum hardening and brazing. While details are very scarce currently, we do expect to be able to provide more details in the near future.
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