Kolene Corporation announced the promotion of Peter L. Shoemaker to Chief Operating Officer for the corporation effective January 1, 2025. Mr. Shoemaker will continue to lead Kolene’s chemical supply chain & order fulfillment departments, as well as the company’s critical replacement parts revenue segment for Kolene. Shoemaker, 45, who holds a BA and an MBAfrom Central Michigan University, joined Kolene in 2003 and has held numerous positions within the company –from commercial processing sales, field service, assisting in the deployment of Kolene’s heat treat salts. Throughout his career, Mr. Shoemaker has not only forged numerous strategic partnerships and key relationships with critical suppliers of Kolene’s raw materials, but also with the company’s most vital service providers.
His experience and understanding of the company’s unique chemistry needs has allowed Shoemaker to find creative ways to maximize and leverage Kolene’s requirements of crucial chemical constituents — which has greatly contributed to the company’s profitability and success over the years. In his new COO role, Mr. Shoemaker has not only gained responsibility for the company’s commercial processing revenue segment, but also has management responsibility and oversight for Kolene’s internal R&D efforts and Chemical Lab activities. The R&D and Lab Services responsibilities is a critical function within Kolene, as the corporation continues to make significant advances in its traditional cleaning & conditioning chemistries, as well asinroads into Kolene’s new portfolio of heat treat salts.
Outside of work, Mr. Shoemaker is a nationally ranked water skier – competing internationally and serves as President of the Michigan Water Ski Association. He is also an accomplished snow skier and coaches alpine ski racing part time. He and his wife Amy have two children, and reside in Northville, Michigan. Founded in 1939 by John H. Shoemaker, Detroit-based Kolene Corporation provides customdesigned and engineered equipment, specialized chemical formulations, and processes for cleaning and conditioning metal surfaces, as well as commercial heat treat applications. Kolene’s products are used worldwide for casting cleaning, alloy descaling, coatings removal, engine rebuild, in specialized heat-treating needs, and other demanding industrial, automotive, and military applications. For more information visit www.kolene.com.
Kolene Corporation announced the promotion of Timothy D. Shoemaker to Chief Operating Officer for the corporation effective January 1, 2025. Mr. Shoemaker will continue to lead Kolene’s sales efforts in several key revenue segments, including chemical sales, technical service, and equipment sales and project management. Joining the company in 2012, Mr. Shoemaker began his career as a mechanical design engineer designing custom industrial systems and furnaces for full-service traditional molten salt bath cleaning and conditioning, and salt bath nitriding applications. During his time as a design engineer, Shoemaker was instrumental in working directly with Kolene’s third-party fabricators, and the company’s field service team to lead and supervise the installation of various equipment projects at the customer or end-user’s production site.
In 2016, Shoemaker’s understanding of Kolene’s equipment and chemistry, along with his key relationships with the company’s customers, allowed for the perfect segue into sales — eventually earning the role of Sales Manager in 2019. In fall of 2021, he was named Vice President of Sales, and a Kolene Corporation officer. Recently recognized by the industry, Mr. Shoemaker’s consistent record of success earned him a place on the Heat Treat Today 40 Under 40 Class of 2024. In his new COO role, Mr. Shoemaker will not only have responsibility for sales of the company, but he will also oversee Kolene’s engineering, field service, and project management departments. Shoemaker, 37, earned a BS from the University of Detroit Mercy in Mechanical Engineering, while competing as a Division 1 lacrosse player for the U of D Titans – ultimately being selected as a two year captain of the squad.
Outside of work, Mr. Shoemaker is a scratch golfer and has played in numerous amateur events in Michigan. He, his wife Samantha, and their dog Sadie, reside in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Founded in 1939 by John H. Shoemaker, Detroit-based Kolene Corporation provides customd esigned and engineered equipment, specialized chemical formulations, and processes for cleaning and conditioning metal surfaces, as well as commercial heart treat applications. Kolene’s products are used worldwide for casting cleaning, alloy descaling, coatings removal, engine rebuild, in specialized heat-treating needs, and other demanding industrial, automotive, and military applications. For more information visit www.kolene.com.
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The team at “The Monty Heat Treat News” is hearing a rumor that Nitrex Heat Treat Services is making a multi-million dollar investment in their Aurora, IL, USA facility. What we have been able to gleam is that this will take the form of a new, rather unique furnace system, but beyond that details are very limited. Nitrex is ranked as one of the “50 Largest Commercial Heat Treaters in North America” as ranked by “The Monty”.
The attached photo shows a fairly recent photo of the Aurora facility-in this photo we see an ECM vacuum carburizing system.
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“The Monty Heat Treat News”constantly monitors our news stories to see which are the most popular amongst our readers. This is based upon reader feedback and social media viewings. For the week starting January 13th, 2025 these were are 3 top stories;
Commercial Heat Treater Moving Into New Facility; Aalberts Surface Technologies, the second largest commercial heat treater in North America as ranked by “The Monty Heat Treat News” is making very substantial investments into their North American facilities these days, this does not include their recent planned acquisition of Paulo Products late in 2024. In this case the firm just announced that their Manchester, CT, USA team is moving into a new, upgraded space – a 199,000-square-foot facility in Windsor Locks, CT. This former office and lab building is about to get a major makeover prior to the move. Big building for a commercial heat treat!
Furnace Builder Can-Eng Announces Promotions; Can-Eng Furnaces International, Ltd. (CAN-ENG) is excited to announce the promotion of two long-standing, highly valued employees to new leadership roles in 2025. These promotions reflect CAN-ENG’s continued commitment to strengthening its leadership team, with a focus on advancing state-of-the-art thermal processing systems and enhancing our ability to serve our customers worldwide.
Jason Clay has been promoted to Manufacturing Operations Manager. Jason joined CAN-ENG in 2004 as a Project Leader within the Engineering group. Through his dedication to improving equipment designs and customer service, Jason has progressed through several key roles, including Project Leader, Project Manager, Quality Manager, and Senior Project Manager. He holds a Mechanical Engineering Technologist diploma from Niagara College and a Bachelor of Technology degree from McMaster University. As Manufacturing Operations Manager, Jason will oversee the future direction of CAN-ENG’s manufacturing strategies, further improving our ability to exceed customer expectations.
Adam DeCiccio has been promoted to Purchasing and Logistics Manager. Adam has been with CAN-ENG since 2003, initially joining the Application Engineering and Sales group. His ability to support customers and contribute to the company’s success led to roles as Senior Technical Buyer, Purchasing Manager, and now, Purchasing and Logistics Manager. Adam holds a diploma in Electronics Engineering Technology from Niagara College and has completed Planning & Scheduling programs at Ryerson University. In his new role, Adam will focus on implementing innovative strategies and improvements within purchasing, supply chain, and inventory planning to support the ongoing growth CAN-ENG has experienced over the past decade.
World’s Most Popular Internal Quench Vacuum Furnace? Furnace builder Ipsen, the “Largest New Furnace Builder” in North America is quite rightly very proud of the fact that their popular “Turbotreater” line of vacuum furnace iss celebrating 40 years of production. This piqued the interest of the team at “The Monty” and prompted us to find out how many of these furnaces have been sold over the past 40 years. As it turns out Ipsen has built and installed over 750 of these units globally meaning it is probably the most popular Internal Quench vacuum furnace ever. Read on for the history;
“On January 14th, NBC’s morning news program “Today” debuted with host Dave Garroway in 1952, and Elvis Presley’s record-setting concert “Aloha from Hawaii” was broadcast live via satellite in 1973. In places that use the Julian calendar, the New Year is celebrated on January 14th, and we celebrate the birthdays of Roman general Mark Antony, director Steven Soderbergh, actor Jason Bateman, and Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift.
Here at Ipsen on January 14th, we celebrate the birthday of the TurboTreater® vacuum furnace, the date when its trademark was first filed in 1985. Designed by Ipsen’s Chief Engineer Craig Moller, the TurboTreater is one of the most popular vacuum furnace platforms, known for its fast and uniform internal quenching system.
“I had been with the company for five years,” recalled Moller, “when I was approached with a challenge. A competitor named Abar offered a furnace with an external quench system and a round hot zone that was having success in the aerospace market. At the time, we offered a furnace (the VFC) that was an internal quench system with a rectangular hot zone. We were challenged to design a furnace incorporating an internal quench system that could also offer a round hot zone. That was the drive behind the TurboTreater.”
The first prototype of the TurboTreater was assembled in 1984, a 2-bar internal quench furnace with a round hot zone. “In the process of designing and developing the TurboTreater, Ipsen’s engineering team was able to patent four new ideas essential to making the TurboTreater a success,” Moller recalled.”
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.
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Based in Oberasbach, Germany “Graphite Materials GmbH” is a supplier of CFC Fixturing for the heat treatment industry. The company is well known in Europe but less known in North America. Recently the firm appointed Mr. Bastian Schott as Head of Sales to replace Roland Weeske who left the company in 2024 for new opportunities. Bastian is on the left in this photo taken in 2023 at GKN ePowertrain in Newton, NC ranked as one of the “15 Largest Captive Heat Treaters in North America” by “The Monty Heat Treat News”.
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“Enhancing Automotive Aluminum Extrusions with Nitrex System; To meet the automotive industry’s growing demand for high-quality extrusions, a European manufacturer specializing in profiles for the automotive sector has integrated a Nitrex nitriding system into their production process. This addition optimizes die treatment capabilities, improves operational efficiency, and enhances die and profile quality.
The decision to invest in a Nitrex NX-815 batch-type nitriding system represents a strategic move to establish a modern die shop capable of nitriding extrusion dies weighing up to 500 kg (1,100 lbs).
Replacing an outdated nitriding furnace, the advanced Nitrex system incorporates Nitreg® technology, renowned for its ability to extend die life and ensure nitriding consistency. These features are crucial for reducing die failures and maintaining an organized die re-nitriding schedule. With the introduction of Nitreg®, the company can achieve higher efficiency and superior product quality—ensuring consistent wall thicknesses, precise dimensional accuracy, and minimal process variations in the final extrusions. Given the costs associated with tooling, corrections, and unscheduled press stops, the consistency and reliable quality of nitriding are indispensable.
The Nitrex system also supports the needs of the customer’s multiple extrusion presses, ensuring optimal performance across their operations. In addition to its technical advantages, the new system aligns with modern sustainability practices by reducing energy consumption, limiting production media waste, and minimizing emissions. By adhering to ISO-14001 standards, the nitriding system supports the customer’s environmental goals while delivering superior performance.”
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Furnace builder Ipsen, the “Largest New Furnace Builder” in North America is quite rightly very proud of the fact that their popular “Turbotreater” line of vacuum furnace iss celebrating 40 years of production. This piqued the interest of the team at “The Monty” and prompted us to find out how many of these furnaces have been sold over the past 40 years. As it turns out Ipsen has built and installed over 750 of these units globally meaning it is probably the most popular Internal Quench vacuum furnace ever. Read on for the history;
“On January 14th, NBC’s morning news program “Today” debuted with host Dave Garroway in 1952, and Elvis Presley’s record-setting concert “Aloha from Hawaii” was broadcast live via satellite in 1973. In places that use the Julian calendar, the New Year is celebrated on January 14th, and we celebrate the birthdays of Roman general Mark Antony, director Steven Soderbergh, actor Jason Bateman, and Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift.
Here at Ipsen on January 14th, we celebrate the birthday of the TurboTreater® vacuum furnace, the date when its trademark was first filed in 1985. Designed by Ipsen’s Chief Engineer Craig Moller, the TurboTreater is one of the most popular vacuum furnace platforms, known for its fast and uniform internal quenching system.
“I had been with the company for five years,” recalled Moller, “when I was approached with a challenge. A competitor named Abar offered a furnace with an external quench system and a round hot zone that was having success in the aerospace market. At the time, we offered a furnace (the VFC) that was an internal quench system with a rectangular hot zone. We were challenged to design a furnace incorporating an internal quench system that could also offer a round hot zone. That was the drive behind the TurboTreater.”
The first prototype of the TurboTreater was assembled in 1984, a 2-bar internal quench furnace with a round hot zone. “In the process of designing and developing the TurboTreater, Ipsen’s engineering team was able to patent four new ideas essential to making the TurboTreater a success,” Moller recalled.”
Commercial heat treater Nitrex who regularly appears on “The Monty Heat Treat News” list of the “50 largest Commercial Heat Treaters in North America” has just named a new Plant Manager for their facility in Franklin, Indiana, USA. Mr. Zach Cooney joined Nitrex Heat Treating Services in 2013 and since then he has held a number of different positions, all of which he has handled with ease. Earlier this month he reached the pinacle as Plant Manager, Nitrex HTS, Franklin, IN.
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Can-Eng Furnaces International, Ltd. (CAN-ENG) is excited to announce the promotion of two long-standing, highly valued employees to new leadership roles in 2025.
These promotions reflect CAN-ENG’s continued commitment to strengthening its leadership team, with a focus on advancing state-of-the-art thermal processing systems and enhancing our ability to serve our customers worldwide.
Jason Clay has been promoted to Manufacturing Operations Manager. Jason joined CAN-ENG in 2004 as a Project Leader within the Engineering group. Through his dedication to improving equipment designs and customer service, Jason has progressed through several key roles, including Project Leader, Project Manager, Quality Manager, and Senior Project Manager. He holds a Mechanical Engineering Technologist diploma from Niagara College and a Bachelor of Technology degree from McMaster University. As Manufacturing Operations Manager, Jason will oversee the future direction of CAN-ENG’s manufacturing strategies, further improving our ability to exceed customer expectations.
Adam DeCiccio has been promoted to Purchasing and Logistics Manager. Adam has been with CAN-ENG since 2003, initially joining the Application Engineering and Sales group. His ability to support customers and contribute to the company’s success led to roles as Senior Technical Buyer, Purchasing Manager, and now, Purchasing and Logistics Manager. Adam holds a diploma in Electronics Engineering Technology from Niagara College and has completed Planning & Scheduling programs at Ryerson University. In his new role, Adam will focus on implementing innovative strategies and improvements within purchasing, supply chain, and inventory planning to support the ongoing growth CAN-ENG has experienced over the past decade.
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In this case the firm just announced that their Manchester, CT, USA team is moving into a new, upgraded space – a 199,000-square-foot facility in Windsor Locks, CT. This former office and lab building is about to get a major makeover prior to the move. Big building for a commercial heat treat!
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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.
