Since 1997 “The Monty Heat Treat News” has been publishing a list of the largest commercial heat treaters in North America, a list which has grown from the 10 Largest to the 50 Largest- the 2024 list can be found here; “The Monty’s” 50 Largest North American Commercial Heat Treaters 2024″.
April 5th, 2025 we will be offering our 2025 list of the 50 largest, a list which see more changes than at any other time in the past almost 30 years. For instance;
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“Paulo” has always been in our #2 or #3 position-with their acquisition by “Aalberts Surface Technologies” late in 2024 (an acquisition which is still waiting for final approval) they disappear from our list.
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For the first time ever a manufacturer by the name of “Tube Bending Technology” will enter our list of the 50 Largest.
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3 Facilities which have made our list for the past number of years will disappear to be replaced by 3 new entries which will certainly catch our readers attention.
In short our upcoming list will be substantially different than what our readers are used to seeing. Stay tuned.
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Yesterday “The Monty Heat Treat News” had a news item about a Devastating Fireat SPS Technologies in Jenkintown, PA, USA. We mentioned this because the facility has always included a reasonably large in house heat treatment department and the fact that initial reports referred to “Heat Treat Chemicals” being the cause which could mean just about anything. No surprise that the cause of the fire is as yet unknown. “The Monty” has visited this plant over the years and the heat treat department included a variety of furnaces inlcuding batch IQ and vacuum furnaces.
In related news it is being reported that some of the products produced by this facility are sole sourced from the US military. https://www.inquirer.com/news/sps-technologies-fire-abington-manufactured-specialty-parts-20250219.html
“ABINGTON TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — A Disaster Emergency has been declared in Abington Township after a massive industrial fire at SPS Technologies in Montgomery County. There continues to be an active scene as investigators work to figure out what caused the blaze. The shelter-in-place and voluntary evacuations were lifted at 11 a.m., officials said during a press conference on Wednesday.
The state Department of Environmental Protection has conducted samplings of the Tookany Creek. They said there are low levels of chemicals in the water but that there are no drinking water intakes in that creek. There are no chemicals in the Delaware River, and officials say drinking water is safe.
They also said the air quality tests have not detected any chemicals in the air. Officials say people should feel safe going back to their homes. However, they did note that just because the orders are being lifted, does not mean they cannot be established again if the scene redevelops.
Now, two days later, smoke is still rising and much of the rubble is coated in a layer of ice from nonstop spraying. “When you look at the size of this building, some 500 thousand square feet and multilayers the difficulty to access our firefighters out in that weather and with equipment, it’s very difficult for them to completely extinguish this fire,” said Patrick Molloy, Chief of Abington Township Police.
The fire, which rose to four alarms at the height of it, prompted a shelter-in-place, voluntary evacuations and school closures. Roughly 700 people were asked to voluntarily evacuate late Tuesday afternoon “while conditions permit” because of concerns over air quality, which environmental officials are continuing to monitor.
No injuries have been reported, although officials said there are concerns that first responders could have been exposed to the hazardous materials. Sixty employees were also evacuated from the building. As of now, officials say no hazardous materials have been detected. But the EPA and the DEP continue to conduct air quality tests inside the perimeter where the fire happened and also in the neighborhood.
“We do know that they use very harsh chemicals in the aeronautical engineering process of making bolts and fasteners. So out of an abundance of caution, we made that decision to self-evacuate,” Molloy said. “It could be week before you see the effect of this type of an exposure,” said Dr. Jamie Garfield, a Temple Health pulmonologist. “And everyone is at risk, just to be clear.” The thick plumes of smoke and raging fire could be seen for miles on Monday and Tuesday as it destroying the facility, which makes fasteners for aerospace equipment.” https://6abc.com/post/sps-technologies-fire-factory-fallout-massive-blaze-industrial-complex-abington-twp-pa/15931185/
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From the “Philadelphia Inquirer” we have this story about a massive fire at aerospace fastener supplier “SPS Technologies”in Jenkintown, PA, USA. We mention this story as the company has a very substantial in house heat treat department although at this point in time it is unknown whether the fire originated there.
“A shelter-in-place was still active within a one-mile radius and area schools were closed Tuesday after a 4-alarm fire ripped through an aerospace parts supplier in Montgomery County on Monday night, officials said.
Shortly after 9:30 p.m., police received multiple 911 calls of an explosion at SPS Technologies industrial complex on Highland Avenue, in Jenkintown, Abington Police Chief Patrick Molloy said at a Tuesday morning news conference. When first responders arrived, they were met with multiple explosions at the complex, he said.
Firefighters from 68 fire companies responded to battle the blaze, Molloy said, and many were still on scene Tuesday morning trying to put the fire fully under control. As of Tuesday morning, no injuries were reported, he said.
Due to concerns over air quality and water contamination, a shelter-in-place was activated for residents within a one-mile radius of the scene, Molloy said. Hazmat teams are still monitoring air quality and water runoff from the scene, but have not detected any threats to the public, he said.
SPS Technologies manufactures fasteners and other small metal equipment for the aerospace and other industries, said Abington Fire Marshal Chris Platz. Fire officials were initially concerned that if some of the heat treating chemicals used at the facility mixed, they could form arsenic, said Abington Fire Chief Mike Jones.
The company was founded more than a century ago as Standard Pressed Steel Company. The Abington complex is described as 560,000 square feet and is a source for parts throughout the aerospace industry.
The site is within a few hundred feet of the nearest homes and an athletic field with several baseball diamonds.”
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From controls company UPC-Marathon we have word about an order the firm has just received for an endo generator-this marks the fifth order for an endothermic generator from the same customer; “The 4th repeat order of an Endothermic Gas Generator has been installed for the biggest steel coil annealing customer in China. The 5th system will be delivered in March of 2025 and with this system the customer will have endo gas capacity of 800M3H for one single steel coil annealing plant.”
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The furnace will have a load setting of 123cm wide x 91cm high x 358cm long. This will accommodate up to three baskets, equivalent to around 1635kg of aluminium parts per cycle.
Given the nature of the process, this furnace has a single temperature control zone, and it normally operates at 573°C, with a maximum of 580°C. There is an upper limit temperature controller to protect the product and furnace insulation from overheating.
Arturo Arechavaleta, NUTEC Bickley’s VP, Metal Furnaces, said: “Efficient and effective solution heat treatment is a vital part of the aluminium casting process, and we are delighted to have been chosen to provide a key component to a highly prestigious customer in the industry. This is the fifth NUTEC Bickley furnace ordered by this brand leader.”
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To keep you in the know about the global heat treatment industry here are a number of heat treat news items from around the globe;
Defense Supplier Close to Completing New Heat Treat Facility. In 2024 “The Monty Heat Treat News” announced that IMT Corp., Was Investing in a New Heat Treat Department. It is our understanding that the six (6) new batch IQ furnaces have been installed and are currently being tested with production slated for the near future. 
“Center for Heat Treating Excellence Names Advisor; Worcester, Mass. (Feb. 13, 2025)–Thomas Wingens, founder and president of Wingens Consultants and an internationally recognized expert in the thermal processing and metallurgy industry, has been named an advisor to the Center for Heat Treating Excellence (CHTE) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), the center announced today.
Wingens Consultants, established in 2011 specializes in advanced heat treatment processes, metallurgical problem-solving, and furnace technology development. Wingens’ practical experience as a metallurgist and process developer is complemented by his deep technical understanding of thermal systems, materials behavior, and equipment design, making him a singularly important and trusted advisor for complex industrial heat treatment challenges. As Industrial Advisor to CHTE, Thomas will provide CHTE with strategic guidance in business development and assist with CHTE’s project research portfolio.
Perhaps celebrates is too strong a word but for good or for bad the headquarters of “The Monty” in North America is seeing near record snowfalls in 2025. This photo taken just a few hours ago shows “Gord Montgomery” of “The Monty” standing in the parking lot of our facility backed by snowbanks almost 7′ high. And the forecast for the next few days-lots more snow, anywhere up to two more feet.
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Late in 2024 “The Monty Heat Treat News” announced in an industry exclusive that fastener manufacturer Simpson Strong Tie was investing in a Brand New Heat Treat Department at their Gallatin, Tennessee, United States facility. In an update to this story Mr. Pat DeRose was very recently hired as Production Manager, Heat Treat & Coating at this facility. Pat brings a lifetime of heat treat experience to this position having worked at companies such as commercial heat treaters Bodycote, Dependable Metal Treating and MP Steel.
Back in late 2023 the company announced a major investment at a facility in Tennessee, USA and it appears that this includes a new, in-house heat treatment facility. “The Monty” has been led to believe that this will include two brand new batch IQ lines and 2 mesh belt furnace lines with the orders placed recently. If this is true it would mean that production in the heat treat department would commence roughly 1 year from now.”
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“CAN-ENG Furnaces International, Ltd. (CAN-ENG) is excited to announce its strategic partnership with Piotr Pelian, founder of Industrial Process Technology (IndProTech), to enhance support for existing customers and expand CAN-ENG’s presence across Europe.
With over 30 years of experience in the heat treatment industry, Piotr Pelian has held key roles in both local and international industrial furnace companies, including design engineer, chief engineer, and technical director. His extensive expertise encompasses the design, engineering, and commissioning of both batch and continuous heat treatment systems for both atmospheric and non-atmospheric conditions. Since founding IndProTech in Świebodzin, Poland, Piotr has developed a strong customer base by providing essential support to local manufacturers. His services include pyrometry support, thermal uniformity studies, equipment servicing, rebuilds, and chamber furnace offerings. Piotr holds an Engineering Degree from the Technical University of Zielona Gora, with a solid background in mechanical engineering, metallurgy, and heat treatment equipment. This wealth of experience will strengthen CAN-ENG’s long-standing commitment to providing exceptional support and development for its customers.
Through this collaboration with IndProTech, CAN-ENG is well-positioned to deliver cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service to European customers. This includes pre-commissioning support, ongoing service, routine follow-up and replacement component assistance.
Piotr Pelian of IndProTech shared, “I am thrilled to join the CAN-ENG team. CAN-ENG has long been recognized as an industry leader in thermal processing equipment. Their technical expertise, innovation, and flexibility are impressive. With an extensive installed base of high-quality, reliable equipment in 17 countries, this partnership presents a fantastic opportunity.”
About IndProTech: Founded in July 2007, IndProTech quickly established itself by leveraging the experience Piotr Pelian gained through various roles in several renowned companies. IndProTech now serves a broad range of clients, offering medium-sized chamber furnaces heated by both gas and electricity. Their services include gas burner adjustments, pyrometric measurements, and technical consulting. Piotr believes that the partnership with CAN-ENG will help them further expand their reach in the European market and further satisfy our customers.”
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“Aalberts Surface Technologies Expands Gas Nitriding Capabilities at Livonia, MI location; We’re excited to announce that our new gas nitriding furnace is now up and running! Along with our existing capabilities in Greenville, SC, we now offer gas nitriding services at our Livonia, MI location. This new furnace in Livonia, MI allows us to provide Nitriding, Ferritic Nitrocarburizing (FNC), Tempering, and Stress Relieving in addition to Austempering, Carbo-Austempering™, and Marquenching, to meet your precision heat treatment needs. Our latest furnace meets AMS 2750, AMS 2759/10, and AMS 2759/12 standards, ensuring top-tier quality and compliance. It features advanced pre- and post-oxidation control, an ammonia dissociator for zero white layer control, and cutting-edge technology for automatic atmosphere and electronic process gas flow control.
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