“The Monty Heat Treat News” is seeing very unstable times around the world these days in the commercial heat treat industry with far more closures of plants than the normal attrition rate.

     “SFS is a worldwide leading supplier of application-critical precision components and assemblies, mechanical fastening systems, quality tools and procurement solutions. Positioned as a value engineering specialist, SFS creates added value for its customers with tailored solutions for mission-critical end applications. SFS Group AG operates in three segments; Engineered Components, Fastening Systems and Distribution & Logistics, which represent the company’s different business models.”

• 2 Batch IQ lines with a total of 5 hardening furnaces
• 5 Mesh Belt Furnace lines with oil quenching with a capacity up to 1,000 kg/h
• 3 Mesh Belt Lines for annealing operations
• 9 Aluminum Aging Furnace
• 5 Vacuum Furnaces
• 1 Pit Furnace
• 1 LPC (Low Pressure Carburizing) line

In terms of total production and processes we are looking at 80 tons of steel per day being cold formed and/or machined, of which approx. 40 tons is heat treated. The total size of the heat treat department is 10’400 square meters (112,000 sq ft). Heat treatment includes Quench & Temper, case hardening, carbonitriding, annealing (Cu, Al & magnetic properties for steel parts), aging and some special processes.

Our host for the tour were two very experienced, knowledgeable and very friendly individuals, Harald Meier, Project Manager Heat Treatment Aerospace and Björn Penz, Project Manager Research and Development, T-RD Materials & Heat Treatment who are seen in these photos. We thank them for their time and hospitality.

​Cincinnati Radiator, a leading American manufacturer of radiators and cooling products, has recently expanded its production capabilities at its Fairfield, Ohio facility with the addition of a new Ipsen Vacuum Aluminum Brazing (VAB) furnace. This investment enables Cincinnati Radiator to perform in-house radiator core brazing, reducing reliance on overseas suppliers and significantly improving lead times for their customers.

The decision to onshore production came after months of vendor delays for parts processed in China, which extended lead times up to four months. Prasenjit Ray, General Manager at Cincinnati Radiator, emphasized the need for greater control over production timelines. “We knew that we needed a way to make cores here. When customers had to rely on cores processed in China, it could mean a four-month lead time. If we had our own furnace, we could operate a just-in-time production,” Ray explained.

After considering several options, Cincinnati Radiator’s leadership team selected Ipsen’s VAB furnace for its proven performance and domestic support network. “We went with John Pease (Ipsen Regional Sales Representative) and Patrick McKenna (Ipsen USA President & CEO) to California to see a company operating two Ipsen VAB furnaces. Our team knew that, once we saw them in operation, we wanted to work with another company within the United States. Ipsen could offer great aftermarket support, and the delivery was worth the wait.”

The new furnace, a model AL-38x40x90, boasts a weight capacity of up to 2,000 lb and offers versatile processing capabilities. “This furnace has so many recipes for us to use. We were planning to test it out for two months, but we weren’t expecting to get production-quality within those two months,” Ray explained. “What shocked and surprised me was that the first cores that came out were perfect. We’ve produced 10 (in the first month) and it runs like a new Cadillac.”

For more information about Cincinnati Radiator, visit https://ipsenglobal.com/knowledge-center/customer-profile-cincinnati-radiator/.

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Three generations of “Montgomerys” at “The Monty Heat Treat News” have been seeing images such as this one and it never gets tiring. What you are looking at is a fairly new “Ipsen” XXL Model, Sealed Quench (Batch IQ for our North American readers) furnace line in Europe that we viewed just the other day. 

As a “prelude” to attending HK24, Germany’s largest heat treatment exhibition of 2024 in Cologne, Germany Gord Montgomery of “The Monty Heat Treat News” took the opportunity to visit a number of heat treaters in Switzerland, two of which we have already commented on  “Manufacturer Successfully Combines Captive & Commercial Heat Treating”and Niggli AG.

Currently it has approximately 110 employees in a 25,000 square meter facility which offers most commercially available heat-treating processes-12 in total to be exact. In terms of equipment this includes an automated Ipsen Sealed quench line, Vacuum Hardening furnaces, Vacuum Nitriding systems, Induction hardening, Laser Heat treating, Flame Hardening, Annealing furnaces and several other styles of furnaces.

What will make all commercial heat treaters envious is the fact that “Gerster’s” customer base covers a myriad of industries. medical, aerospace, energy, automotive and “general” heat treating with no one customer monopolizing a large percentage of their capacity.

Solar Atmospheres of Michigan Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles (Charlie) Caldwell as the Quality Manager for its new facility in Chesterfield. With over a decade of experience in the commercial heat treating industry, Charlie brings a wealth of expertise in quality control, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence to our growing team.

A 2011 graduate of Walsh College, Charlie has built a distinguished career in heat treating, with particular specialization in pyrometry. He has managed all aspects of pyrometry processes in strict accordance with AMS 2750 standards and has been instrumental in developing procedures to ensure compliance with industry-critical standards such as Nadcap and AS9100. His extensive experience spans plant operations, quality control, scheduling, and maintenance, driving continuous improvement and high-performance outcomes.

Bob Hill, President of Solar Atmospheres of Michigan, Inc., shared his enthusiasm for this key addition: “We are thrilled to welcome Charlie Caldwell and his family to the Solar Atmospheres team. His extensive background in heat treating, particularly in pyrometry and quality management, will be invaluable to the continued growth and success of our Chesterfield facility.”

With Charlie’s expertise, Solar Atmospheres of Michigan is poised to maintain the highest quality standards while driving operational excellence at its Chesterfield site.

For more information about the Solar Atmospheres Michigan facility contact Chris Molencupp at (586) 264-8100 ext. 1620, or [email protected], and visit us at www.solaratm.com.

“Charlie Hushek & Ceramic Diffusion Technologies”; Charlie Hushek is a 5th generation heat treater at family-owned commercial heat treater Phoenix Heat Treating in Phoenix, Arizona, USA-so why the heck did he just announce that he is now co-founder of Ceramic Diffusion Technologies? We believe the answer can be found in the description below and how this process can lead to improved results in furnace alloy. I am sure we will be hearing more about this technology in the future.

 

“Ceramic Diffusion Technologies are the creators of the Ceramic Diffusion® process. Our Ceramic Diffusion® process features our proprietary blend of ceramic elements known as CD-30G. Using this blend of elements, we embed ceramic into the base alloy. It is a groundbreaking heat-treating process for the most rugged applications. Ceramic Diffusion is poised to redefine materials engineering and manufacturing. The Ceramic Diffusion® process yields high surface hardness, its ability to process portions of parts without masking, and its exceptional environmental friendliness. Furthermore, we discuss its versatility across materials, expanded design parameters, supply chain consolidation, and its suitability for wear-prone parts, making it a transformative solution for numerous industries.”

“Furnace Builder “Aichelin Group” Adds to Management Team; With the upcoming heat treatment exhibition in Cologne, Germany Gord Montgomery of “The Monty Heat Treat News” will be spending some time seeing a number of companies involved in the heat treatment industry in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Consequently expect to see a number of news items from the European heat treat industry.

 

“The AICHELIN Group is further expanding its team in the field of industrial vacuum heat treatment and battery materials. With the appointment of Dominic Kraus as Sales Manager Europe for vacuum furnaces and Patrick Lamprecht as Business Development & Sales Manager Battery Materials, two experts will support the Group in its strategic development and international expansion.

 

In his new role, Dominic Kraus (30) will be responsible for setting up the sales of AICHELIN’s new vacuum division in Europe. The joint venture between the AICHELIN Group and Sistem Teknik, which was founded in the spring, will sell technologies for industrial vacuum heat treatment and related services in Europe. With this expansion of the product portfolio, the AICHELIN Group is meeting the growing demand for vacuum solutions. With the expertise of Dominic Kraus, sales in this area will now be systematically built up in order to establish the new vacuum division internationally. Kraus brings in-depth experience from his previous job as a sales engineer at IVA Schmetz, where he was responsible for the development of the North American market, among other things.

 

Patrick Lamprecht (42) will take over the strategic development of the business in the field of heat treatment of battery materials. In close cooperation with the Chinese joint venture partner Kilnpartner, he will support the battery industry in the European market in producing sustainable and high-performance batteries. Lamprecht has extensive international experience in the field of business development and key account management in various industries, most recently in the field of IoT technologies at Freeeway AG, which he brings to his new area of responsibility.”

 

“Heat Treatment Switzerland; While Switzerland is known as a manufacturer of precise and “state of the art” manufacturing we very much doubt than anybody has ever taken a close look at the heat treatment associated with it-until “The Monty Heat Treat News” that is.

 

Yesterday “Gord Montgomery” of “The Monty” visited the largest commercial heat treater in the  country, followed by a visit to an in house heat treater and manufacturer of fuel injection systems  who just made a very substantial investment in their heat treat technology. 

What was most interesting to us was that DUAP is part of a very small group of manufacturers who have successfully combined captive and commercial heat treating. The heat treat department which consists of a number of Ipsen Batch IQ furnaces, 2 vacuum furnaces and the new Rohde pit nitriding system is 70% commercial heat treating with 30% capacity for their own products. As we say it is unusual to see a manufacturer who is able to profitably serve the commercial heat treatment market but it would appear that DUAP has been able to.

“SEPTEMBER 3/2024; Injection Nozzle Manufacturer adds Nitriding Furnaces; DUAP AG a supplier of fuel injection nozzles in Switzerland has just added pit nitriding capacity. The company operates both as a manufacturer and as a commercial heat treater. The 2 Rohde supplied furnaces have working dimensions of 1500mm x 2000mm with a weight capacity of 3000 kg and a second unit 700mm x 1000mm with an 800 kg capacity. Operating temperature is 750C and both will capable of Nitriding, nitrocarburizing, post-oxidation, stress-relieving and annealing using nitrogen, ammonia and propane.  In addition to the new furnaces DUAP also updated their crane and washing systems. Both furnaces entered production very recently.” 

The owner of the company Mr. Stefan Niggli, made a very astute decision when he bought OWT in that he made a clear distinction between processes-all oil quenching is at the Neuhausen location only.