Later on this month bearing manufacturer “Timken” will be holding an auction for surplus equipment located at a location in North Carolina, USA-an auction which will include a number of surplus heat treatment furnaces and ancillary equipment.
 
A look at the equipment list reveals a real “hodge podge” of equipment from a number of different manufacturers, some reputable some not so much.
 
For instance there appears to be a great deal of alloy components such as base trays and fixturing available, most of which appears to be in good condition. Our prediction is that this will sell quickly for fairly good prices-used, useable alloy always sells, guranteed.
 

 
Also included are a number of older, small pusher furnaces-why they were included in the auction is a puzzler to us, we would have suggested scrapping them right off the bat and not wasting anybody’s time.
 
 

 
We also see a few pit carburizing furnaces, several built by Lindberg, some of which appear to be in quite good condition. Used pit carburizing furnaces are never a big seller, however we would give you odds of 60:40 that buyers will be found for at least some of the furnaces based on their condition.
 

 
A few Despatch ovens are available, nothing special but we would suggest they will find buyers although probably only for a few hundred dollars. There is always some demand for low temperature ovens.
 

 
Pit tempers-we see several included alhough they appear quite “tired”compared to some of the pit carburizing furnaces. Our suggestion would be that they will probably sell for scrap value only which will be very little considering these are low temperature units.
 

 
We expect to be able to provide you with an update down the road as to our predictions-stay tuned.
 
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
 
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
(Editors Note; “The Monty” is unsure of who the customer for this furnace is although we can make some educated guesses. Obviously the customer has landed a very substantial order with some sort of definite financial commitments or they would not be making this large an investment.)
 
“In a move that builds further on an encouraging first half of 2025, NUTEC Bickley recently gained the order for a gas-fired car bottom furnace for one of the most well-established heat treat operations in the US Midwest. This furnace will be capable of handling both steel and aluminum ingots and has been designed to operate across a wide temperature range. The high levels of temperature uniformity to be delivered by the combustion system mean that this furnace will be qualified to undertake AMS 2750 compliant surveys.
 
The working dimensions of the furnace are 3.66m wide by 10.67m long by 4.42m high and it is able to accommodate substantial loads – up to 68,000kg per cycle. Normal operational temperatures range between 150°C and 900°C, with a maximum of 1095°C. With burners firing above and below the load, there are 11 automatic control zones (five top, six bottom).
 
In this case, the furnace uses top brand high-velocity nozzle-mix burners, each individually controlled with its own automatic ignition and safety systems. The burners are positioned in staggered configuration to fire above and below the load, maximizing heat transfer and providing optimum temperature uniformity. The IMPS system generates a predetermined pulse sequence to fire individual burners, or groups of burners, depending on the heat requirement of each of the 11 control zones.
 
Overall process stability is ensured through the innovative elements of NUTEC Bickley’s chamber pressure control system. A digital transmitter senses the pressure inside the furnace and provides feedback to the control system, which in turn modulates the linear flow-controlled exhaust damper to provide precise control of the exhaust gases and chamber pressure. The exhaust control damper comprises a multi-louver blade manufactured from cordierite with an internal shaft manufactured from reaction-bonded silicon carbide (SiSiC).
 

Arturo Arechavaleta, NUTEC Bickley’s VP, Metal Furnaces, said: “Our customer for this important project has been serving industry with a dedicated heat treat facility for many decades, and is a widely recognized and trusted name in steel and aluminum circles. We have a similar pedigree when it comes to designing car bottom furnaces and so this project is a great fit. We’re pleased and proud to be delivering once again to a successful customer that is expanding capacity and looking to benefit from the very latest combustion technologies.”

Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.

View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/

“Lark Heat Treating” in Houston, Texas has consistently made “The Monty Heat Treat News” list of “The 52 Largest Commercial Heat Treaters in North America”. 
 
As a matter of fact we profiled the company just last year-a profile which can by found at https://themonty.com/the-monty-visits-top-50-heat-treater-in-texas/,
 
We are very pleased to see that Mr. Matt Clark was just promoted to Plant Manager of the company,  a position which he richly deserves in our opinion.
 
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
 
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/

In this episode of The Heat Treat Podcast, we sit down with Philip Reese to explore the landscape of commercial heat treating in Germany. From operational strategies to the technical challenges of managing a plant abroad, Philip shares valuable insights and lessons for anyone in the industry. What to expect:

Don’t miss this cross-cultural perspective in heat treating!
 
It is worth pointing out that “Reese” is able to process some of the largest gears in the world in what we would consider to be one of the largest pit carburizing furnaces commercially available.  We include these photos from a recent visit by Gord and Jordan Montgomery of “The Monty Heat Treat News”.

Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.

View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/

Earlier this year “The Monty Heat Treat News” had an exclusive story about a Michigan, USA supplier of fasteners planning on bringing their heat-treating requirements in house “Fastener Manufacturer to Bring Heat Treat In-House” While there were a number of reasons behind this decision certainly one factor was that their local commercial heat treater, “Commercial Steel Treating” had decided to close the facility which was processing this work (Since that time at least two other commercial heat treaters in the area who specialize in processing fasteners have also decided to close down which in our opinion is going to result in more fastener manufacturers making the decision to bring this process in house-more on this later). 
 
As an update to this story we can now say that “B&D Cold Headed Products” has one of the two used Can Eng mesh belt furnace lines that they purchased up and running and processing parts. 
 
Fastener Manufacturer to Bring Heat Treat In-House; Located in Taylor, Michigan USA this is how B&D Cold Headed Products describes themselves; “B&D Thread Rolling, Inc. dba B&D Cold Headed Products, is a U.S. manufacturer of high strength cold-formed bolts, studs, pins and other metal fasteners. Our parts are found in products all around us from the buses that drive our kids to school to the appliances in our homes to the armored vehicles that protect our nation.”
 
The company was founded in 1969 and since that time it has grown and prospered, however as far as we know at “The Monty Heat Treat News” know the firm has always outsourced their heat treating requirements-but not for much longer. B&D recently invested in used Can Eng mesh belt furnace lines which were previously installed at Commercial Steel Treating in Madison Heights, MI, a facility which closed down in 2024. While the equipment is not yet in operation it will be under the direction of Mr. Gary Harrison who interesting enough use to work at Commercial Steel Treating.
 
It brings joy to our hearts to see a manufacturer making a substantial investment in what will be an impressive heat treat department.
 
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
 
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/
It would appear that North America and the EU Zone are not the ony areas proving to be challenging for commercial heat treaters these days. In this story we see that “GTB Components”, a commercial heat treater and supplier of powdered metal components has entered bankruptcy protection while looking for a new owner.
 
“More than 40 jobs are at risk after a St Helens heat treatment services business was placed into administration by its directors. Patrick Lannagan and Conrad Pearson, of Forvis Mazars, were appointed joint administrators of GTB Components, yesterday (July 23, 2025). The business was established in 1981 and developed into a key manufacturer of powder metal components, serving global sectors including automotive, building products and home and leisure.
 
The company employs 44 staff and in its last accounts filed at Companies House for the year to May 31, 2024, it had net assets of £1.918m, compared with £1.810m in 2023. Patrick Lannagan, joint administrator and partner – corporate restructuring, at Forvis Mazars, said: “The company has encountered cash flow challenges, resulting predominantly from challenging market conditions.
 
“After careful consideration of the financial position, the directors of the company have reached the difficult decision to place the company into administration.” He added: “The company possesses a well established manufacturing capability and dedicated and skilled workforce and continues to trade whilst a buyer for the business is sought by the administrators. “The administrators will be writing to all creditors in the coming days.”
 
Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.
 
View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/

“Dr. Karl Busch, the Busch Group co-founder and co-owner, died on July 17, 2025. He was 96. 

The engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur was born on April 20, 1929, in Lörrach, Baden-Württemberg, and grew up in Zell im Wiesental. In 1949, he began his mechanical engineering studies at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). There, he met Ayhan Gökay, who would later become his wife. In 1960, he completed his doctorate on the topic of friction and wear in water-lubricated rotary compressors.

Dr. Busch was not only a pioneer in the field of vacuum technology but also a deeply caring father, mentor, and role model. In 1963, together with his wife Ayhan Busch, he founded Busch Vacuum Solutions with just 5,000 Deutsche Mark and over the decades, built it into a global enterprise with more than 2 billion dollars in revenue. More than 8,000 people in 44 countries worldwide work for the Busch Group, which consists of the two well-known brands Busch Vacuum Solutions and Pfeiffer Vacuum+Fab Solutions. 

His life’s work continues to shape vacuum innovation across industries around the world.

He combined visionary thinking with an engineer’s love of detail. His groundbreaking inventions, like the Huckepack and R5 vacuum pumps for food packaging, were not just technical achievements. They were expressions of his commitment to practical solutions and product excellence. The design of the R5 was revolutionary and became the most successful vacuum pump design in the world, with millions sold.

Dr. Busch and Ayhan Busch always worked together as a team of equals: as husband and wife for 62 years, parents, and business leaders. He was a father who truly listened with patience, curiosity, and trust, and involved his children early in the company, sought their advice, and built a business culture rooted in family teamwork and shared purpose.

His motto, drawn from the Alemannic dialect, was “Nit luck lo!” – “Never give up!” This was a principle that guided his life, whether he was hiking in the Black Forest up to his mid-nineties, running a half marathon at age 87, or starting negotiations for the first German joint venture in China in 1978.

He was an adventurer and explorer at heart. He loved the world and its people, the company stated. Whether cycling from Maulburg to Istanbul, climbing Kilimanjaro, or racing in 80 days around the world in an old-timer Mercedes in 2000 with his sons Kaya and Sami, he embraced life with energy and joy. Dr. Busch believed deeply in giving back, and he carried his values into everything he did, raising funds for humanitarian causes, supporting his community, and mentoring his children as the next generation to continue his life’s work in our company.

He participated in the most recent Managers’ Meeting in the Netherlands. The last business trip together took place less than a year ago, when the family visited the Bavarian region of Germany. Just two months ago, they celebrated his 96th birthday together in Italy, surrounded by children and grandchildren. Only days ago, he shared that he felt at peace with his life, a reflection of his ever-positive spirit.

He is survived by his wife Ayhan, his children Ayla, Sami and Kaya, their spouses, six grandchildren, and a global family of colleagues and friends who will miss him dearly.”

“Pleasant Prairie, WI – July 24th, 2025 – ECM USA is excited to celebrate a fantastic milestone with one of our automotive parts manufacturing customers! 20 years ago, their ECM FLEX vacuum furnace systems started processing loads 24/7 – recently, they surpassed the 1,000,000 LOAD milestone. With the dedication of their exceptional heat treat team, ECM can proudly put another customer on the books to reach this achievement. Congrats to all on this accomplishment!”

Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.

View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/

Solar Manufacturing recently shipped a large, state-of-the-art vacuum carburizing furnace to a prominent aerospace company known for producing advanced, high-precision components for the global aviation and aerospace engine industry. Headquartered in North America, the company’s aerospace division has been a trusted supplier to the aeroengine sector for decades, with manufacturing operations spanning the globe.

To support the development of a specialized carburizing process, Solar Manufacturing partnered closely with the R&D team at its sister company, Solar Atmospheres, a commercial heat-treating affiliate. Collaborative testing was conducted at Solar Atmospheres’ Technology Center in Souderton, Pennsylvania, where engineers from both organizations worked together to fine-tune the process to meet the customer’s exacting metallurgical specifications.

“This collaboration was invaluable in achieving the desired metallurgical results,” said Rick Jones, Regional Sales Manager at Solar Manufacturing. “The successful process development, supported by the expertise of Solar Atmospheres, gave the customer full confidence in our ability to deliver a high-performance furnace solution.”

The delivered system features a graphite-insulated hot zone measuring 48” wide × 48” high × 60” deep, capable of reaching temperatures up to 2400°F (1370°C). The furnace can accommodate workloads up to 5,000 pounds and includes an internal gas cooling system that provides rapid 2-bar nitrogen quenching, powered by a 100 HP motor with variable frequency drive control.

Solar Manufacturing designs and manufactures a wide variety of vacuum heat treating furnaces. Replacement hot zones, spare parts, rebuilds, and professional service are available. For more information about Solar Manufacturing contact Rick Jones at 267-384-5040 x1533, or via email [email protected] or visit us at solarmfg.com.

Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.

View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/

Bluewater Thermal Solutions was honored to participate in a landmark event at Argonne National Laboratory, where U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright engaged in a far-reaching dialogue on the future of transportation, manufacturing, and critical materials research. As a trusted partner in advanced thermal processing, Bluewater was proud to showcase its contributions to innovation in the energy and industrial sectors, including future commercialization of Ultra-Fast Boriding.

Craig Zimmerman, Director-Technical at Bluewater, joined fellow leaders from national labs and industry at Argonne’s Materials Engineering Research Facility (MERF) – a premier site for scaling breakthrough materials from lab to production. During the visit, Bluewater highlighted its collaborations with Argonne National Laboratory’s pioneering work in Ultra-Fast Boriding surface hardening technologies for down-hole oil production operations, which play a vital role in supporting domestic energy production.

“At Bluewater, we’re deeply committed to advancing U.S. manufacturing through technical innovation,” said Zimmerman. “Participating in this event alongside Secretary Wright and our colleagues at Argonne highlights the successful development and transfer of new technology from Argonne to Bluewater Thermal Solutions.”

The event reinforced Argonne’s mission to accelerate innovation from discovery to deployment, strengthen domestic supply chains for critical materials, and make the movement of people and goods more efficient and sustainable. Bluewater’s contributions reflect this national vision—helping scale thermal technologies that bolster reliability and competitiveness across multiple sectors.

Bluewater joins Argonne and other partners in championing a future where American manufacturing leads with precision, resilience, and ingenuity.

About Bluewater Thermal Solutions. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, Bluewater Thermal Solutions is one of North America’s largest providers of heat treating and brazing services. The company operates ten strategically located facilities across the U.S., offering a wide range of thermal processing capabilities, including annealing, carburizing, carbonitriding, hardening, nitriding, nitrocarburizing, vacuum heat treating, boronizing, and more. For more information, please visit www.bluewaterthermal.com

Did you like this article? Click here to subscribe to The Monty.

View our recent magazines and podcasts by clicking the following link. https://themonty.com/magazine/