For 30 years “The Monty Heat Treat News” has been publishing “The Monty” which offers the most up to date news and trends in the global heat treatment industry. By clicking on the link below you can read about these heat treatment articles from the world’s best known 
In addition to our heat treatment industry news and trends we have also added to our Used Equipment Listings a number of top quality, well priced items which include these;
This month is one of the busiest of the year for the heat treatment industry with two exhibitions in October, one in Cologne, Germany and one in Columbus, Ohio, USA. “The Monty Heat Treat News” will be in attendance at both and we look forward to seeing you. In the meantime the entire team at “The Monty” looks forward to your thoughts and comments. Sincerely, Gord, Dale, Jordan and Anne. 
 
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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.”
 
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As mentioned over the course of the next 10 days “The Monty Heat Treat News” will be visiting a number of firms involved in the heat treatment industry in Europe. First up is a quick look at furnace builder ROHETHERM in Hanau, Germany. In spite of a slow German economy the firm reports strong sales and what we witnessed was a very full shop.

What was most prominent was the furnace shown in this photo. It is designed for solution annealing of precious metal coils and utilizes a nitrogen/hydrogen atmosphere operating at 1,000C.  Delivery is expected this quarter to a customer located in Germany. 

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Each year “The Monty Heat Treat News” puts together a list of the largest and most impressive single location, captive (in-house) heat treats in North America (the list and our criteria to be considered can be found at https://themonty.com/articles/15-largest-captive-heat-treats-north-america/). 

It is interesting to note that 3 of the locations on this list are represented by Dana Inc., facilities, 2 in Mexico and 1 in Lafayette, Indiana, USA-it is the Indiana facility which is our focus today. Just last week Gord Montgomery of “The Monty Heat Treat News” had the chance to visit this location for the first time and what we found was very impressive. (At this point I would like to thank my hosts, Bryce Tanner, Manufacturing Engineering Project Manager, Aaron Flesher, Metallurgist and Zenah Baker, Control Metallurgist).

Our experience with visiting Dana facilities over the years lead us to think of large volume auto and truck components. However this location is quite a bit different, we will let Dana summarize this facility.

“Dana Fairfield® engineers, manufactures, tests, certifies, and supplies precision-made gears and gear drives for an expansive range of industrial and mobile applications.” https://www.fairfieldmfg.com/ 

The result is that the facility can be considered High Mix/Low Volume in that typical orders might be 100-200 high precision gears which are destined for such various industries as agriculture, oil & gas, power generation and defense. 

There is no way to describe the heat treat department other than by saying it is mammoth. 80,000 square feet houses 7 two row pusher furnace lines, a large roller hearth hardening line, 2 annealers, 7 batch IQ furnaces, 2 nitriders, 5 induction hardeners (scanning and tooth to tooth), 4 pit carburizing furnaces, 6 endothermic generators and 21 press quench systems. Datalogging and state of the art controls round out the picture of this clean heat treat.

In terms of capabilities the company can process gears up to 36” in diameter, with a weight of up to 900 pounds, shafts up to 2,000 pounds while the Induction systems can handle up to an 80” internal diameter. 

In summary anybody with an interest and knowledge of in-house heat treating would find this a fascinating tour and after our visit we have no doubt but that Dana, Lafayette, Indiana deserves to be on our list of “The 15 Largest Single Location Heat Treats in North America”. 

Gears Prior to Processing through a two row pusher furnace.

Press Quenching

Heat Treat Department

Aaron Flesher, Metallurgist, Zenah Baker, Control Metallurgist, Bryce Tanner, Manufacturing Engineering Project Manager
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.”
 
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Josh Hale and Jessica Maier of “International Search Partners”, a heat treat recruitment firm in the USA are without a doubt the experts in the industry when it comes to employment. We have always appreciated their input on everything from “Salaries” in the industry to “Will the Heat Treat Industry Embrace a 4 Day Work Week” and “Finding and Retaining Good People” “-all of their articles can be found at https://themonty.com/articles-interviews/.
 
It is very opportune that their most recent article has to do with this question;  “How can I effectively network for new employment opportunities in a manner that is professional, but doesn’t arouse suspicion with my current employer?
 
Attending a tradeshow can be a golden opportunity for professionals to expand their network and uncover new career prospects (and for managers and owners a great way to directly reach potential candidates for hire). However, it’s essential to navigate this terrain carefully. Job seekers don’t want to alert their current employer that they’re looking to make a change, and hiring managers may have their reasons for wanting to keep their recruitment efforts confidential. All of this is especially amplified in a niche like heat treating where word spreads fast amongst a tight knit community… so, what to do?”
  1. Set Clear Goals. Before you step into the tradeshow, define what you hope to achieve. Are you looking for potential job openings, new hires, or general business connections? Having clear goals will help you navigate the event efficiently. Keep your objectives focused on learning and relationship-building rather than directly seeking job opportunities, which can help you avoid raising suspicions.
  2. Optimize Your Online Presence. Ensure your LinkedIn profile and other professional online profiles are updated and polished before the tradeshow. This way, when you make new connections, they can easily find and review your credentials. Position yourself as a knowledgeable industry expert rather than overtly job-hunting. Highlighting your recent accomplishments, skills, and interests relevant to the tradeshow’s focus is a good way to garner attention before, during, and after the event.
  3. Engage in Meaningful Conversations. When networking, focus on engaging in genuine conversations rather than pitching yourself directly. Ask questions about the other person’s experiences, challenges, and insights related to the industry. By showing interest in their work and opinions, you build rapport and position yourself as a thoughtful professional. Subtly steer conversations towards your interests and strengths to naturally highlight your qualifications.
  4. Leverage Industry Trends. Participate in discussions about current industry trends and challenges (consolidation of smaller commercial heat treats, clean energy requirements, furnace technology upgrades are a few noteworthy topics that jump to mind for heat treating right now…). Demonstrating your knowledge about emerging news items and how they impact the industry can position you as a valuable resource. This approach allows you to showcase your expertise without overtly signaling that you’re seeking new opportunities.
  5. Attend Seminars and Panels. Tradeshows often feature seminars and panel discussions (FNA certainly does!). Attend these sessions to gain insights and meet speakers or panelists who are leaders in the field. Engage with them during Q&A sessions or in informal settings afterward. This strategy helps you build connections based on shared interests and expertise rather than directly seeking job leads.
  6. Utilize Informal Networking Opportunities. During breaks, social events, or networking mixers, take advantage of less formal settings to strike up conversations. These environments are conducive to building relationships and can provide a more relaxed platform for discussing professional interests.
  7. Exchange Contact Information Carefully. When exchanging contact information, be strategic. Use a professional but non-intrusive approach. For example, offer your business card and suggest connecting on LinkedIn. If asked about your current employment, focus on the exciting projects you’re working on rather than discussing potential career changes.
  8. Follow Up Thoughtfully. After the tradeshow, follow up with the connections you made by sending personalized messages or LinkedIn requests. Reiterate something specific from your conversation to strengthen the connection. Use this opportunity to share relevant content or insights related to your discussions, reinforcing your expertise and interest in the field.
  9. Monitor Industry Job Boards. If you’re exploring job opportunities, keep an eye on industry job boards (https://www.ispards.com/wp/careers/ is a great place to start) and company websites. Use tools like job alerts to stay informed about potential openings without actively advertising your job search. Pro Tip for Managers: if you’re hiring, keep an eye on recently updated LinkedIn profiles for clues as to who might be looking for a career change.
  10. Maintain Professionalism. Throughout the tradeshow and in all follow-up interactions, maintain a high level of professionalism. Ensure that your actions and communications reflect positively on your current role and employer. This approach minimizes the risk of raising concerns or drawing unwanted attention.

By employing these strategies, you can effectively network and explore new opportunities while attending a tradeshow, all without tipping off your current employer or anyone else who you don’t want to alert. The key is to approach networking with a focus on building genuine relationships and demonstrating your expertise, rather than explicitly seeking new positions.

Bonus Tip #11: Engaging the help of a professional recruiter is another great way to ensure anonymity! ISP will be at FNA in October, so feel free to come introduce yourself to Josh, Jessica, or Jim or just slip us your business card with a “wink and a nod” and we’ll be glad to help!

Josh Hale has collaborated with companies to identify, engage, and hire top performers as a professional “headhunter” where he’s focused exclusively on the heat treat industry as part of International Search Partners since acquiring the firm in 2015. He works closely with Jessica Maier to support the practice, and, together, they’ve helped dozens of companies and hundreds of candidates find the match within the industry, including roles for engineering, sales, quality, metallurgy, management, and more. For additional information email [email protected] or call 619-465-9621

These are the top 3 heat treatment industry news stories for the week starting September 23, 2024 as ranked by our readers;  
 
“Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems Introduces New Product Development Manager; Gasbarre, a leader in industrial furnace equipment, is pleased to welcome Dan Hill as Product Development Manager. With over 20 years of experience in engineering and technical sales, Dan will drive product innovation and develop customer solutions at Gasbarre.
 
Dan brings a diverse background in capital equipment, spanning material handling, control systems, boilers and furnaces, combustion systems, and industrial washing/deburring equipment. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Michigan, and he is a licensed Professional Engineer. His expertise in project engineering, quality, and R&D is complemented by his leadership skills.
 
“Dan’s extensive experience and proven success in building relationships and developing customer solutions make him a valuable addition to our team,” said Ben Gasbarre, EVP of Sales & Marketing. “His passion for the industry and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our goals, and we are excited to have him on board.”
 
Dan has a strong track record in advocating for continuous improvement and new product development. He has served on various industry committees, including the ABMA Associate Council, the AGMA Metallurgy and Materials Technical Committee, and the National Fire Protection Agency Technical Committees. Based at Gasbarre’s Livonia, Michigan facility, Dan looks forward to using his skills and experience to support Gasbarre’s growth and innovation efforts.
 
With locations in Livonia, MI, and St. Marys, PA, Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems has been designing, manufacturing, and servicing a full line of industrial thermal processing equipment for over 50 years. Gasbarre’s equipment is designed for your process by experienced engineers and metallurgists that understand your requirements.  For more information about Gasbarre and its products, please visit www.gasbarre.com Dan can be reached via email at [email protected] or via phone at 734-418-5575.” 
 
“Ipsen USA Introduces Service HUB Model to Enhance Customer Support; Ipsen USA is excited to announce the formal launch of its Service HUB model, marking a significant shift in how the company delivers customer service and support across the United States. In the last two years, Ipsen has brought the HUB service model from concept to reality under the direction of Ipsen Global CEO Geoffrey Somary. Currently being led by Chief Service Officer John Dykstra, Ipsen’s HUBs now provide services across a large portion of the Midwest and Southeastern United States, addressing areas that have a high density of Ipsen customers.
 
These regional service centers help ensure quicker response times, dedicated support teams, and thorough knowledge of each customer’s facility. By grouping customers in close geographic proximity, Ipsen can offer more efficient service tailored to their specific needs, reducing downtime and optimizing performance for heat-treating operations. The shift to the HUB model reflects Ipsen’s commitment to continuously improving customer experience while enhancing the quality of life for its Field Service Engineers (FSEs). With reduced travel time, FSEs are able to spend more time at home, contributing to better work-life balance while still providing high-quality, responsive service.
 
Lu Chouraki, Manager of Business Development, is leading the implementation of the HUBs. “Our goal is for the HUBs to tackle the immediate needs of our customers, eliminating long response times for operators experiencing outages,” Chouraki explained. Ipsen’s HUBs are now fully operational in four key regions, with plans to expand even further in the coming years. This transformation is part of Ipsen’s broader vision for service excellence, combining regional expertise with a personal touch that benefits customers and empowers the Ipsen team.
 
Additionally, to support the rollout of the HUB model, Ipsen has introduced the Ipsen Technical Development Center (TDC), an initiative led by Darci Johnson, Program and Transformation Manager, and Cavan Cardenas, Technical Training Lead. The TDC is focused on training and developing new FSEs, including the launch of the Field Service Engineer Academy, a specialized program that equips both new and current technicians with the skills needed to thrive in the HUB model. With more HUBs planned through 2025 and beyond, Ipsen is poised to redefine customer support in the heat treating industry, providing localized, expert service to meet the evolving demands of its customers. For more information, visit https://ipsenglobal.com/hub.”
 
US Furnace Builder Reports Record Breaking 2024; Earlier this year we reported that furnace builder “Aichelin” of Austria had a record breaking 2023 sales year and that the company was very optimistic that 2024 would follow suit https://themonty.com/aichelin-group-sales/. Not to be outdone “SECO/WARWICK” based in Poland also announced earlier this year a sales record in 2023 with the expectation that 2024 would be even better https://www.secowarwick.com/en/news/seco-warwick-usa/.
 
Now comes word that “McLaughlin Furnace Group” https://www.mclaughlinsvc.com/ of Avilla, IN, USA also had a record breaking 2023 and anticipates that 2024 will be substantially better. Founder and President of the company, “Mr. Jeff McLaughlin” had this to say;
 
“2023 was our best year ever for the group in terms of sales and I can now confidently say that based upon shipments and order backlog 2024 will be even better-at this point we anticipate that our sales for the calendar year 2024 will be pushing $30 million USD. What makes me most pleased is that this sales growth is spread over all of our product lines. “Tru Mix” endothermic generator sales are strong, our partnership with “Rohde Furnaces” of Germany has been very productive for both sides, we shipped several mesh belt furnace lines and we have received a number of orders for temper furnaces. In addition, at the FNA show in October of this year in Colombus, Ohio we will be introducing a new product which we feel will attract a great deal of attention”.
 
“The Monty Heat Treat News” had the chance to visit McLaughlin last week and we came away with these photos of the assembly floor which shows 2 mesh belt furnace lines almost ready to ship, a “Rohde” Salt Recovery Unit under construction, a batch IQ being assembled and a partly built “Tru Mix” endo generator. The individual in the foreground of the one photo is “Mr. Ryan McLaughlin”. Jeff McLaughlin had this to add; “The entire McLaughlin team has done an incredible job this year-we have asked a lot of the team in terms of effort and overtime and without exception everybody has willingly pitched in. I can’t thank the team enough”. 
“Łukasiewicz – the Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, a member of the Łukasiewicz Research Network, selected SECO/WARWICK as the supplier of a VIM vacuum furnace for melting metals and metal alloys on a laboratory scale as a result of a tender for the supply of research equipment. It will be used to develop new types of alloys, make individual castings, and conduct research on melting processes.
 
The purchase was financed from a targeted subsidy for the implementation of an investment related to scientific activities for the purchase of research equipment granted by the Ministry of Education and Science (currently the Ministry of Science and Higher Education). SECO/WARWICK is cooperating with Łukasiewicz – Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals (Łukasiewicz – IMN) for the second time. The Institute already has one similar solution from the vacuum metallurgy segment. The furnace on order, with a maximum operating temperature of 2000˚C, is a single-chamber VIM furnace with induction heating for melting, designed to produce metal and alloy castings weighing up to 20 kg in vacuum, or under pressure using an inert gas (argon).
 
The VIM furnace is a compact solution with small dimensions, designed for work in research laboratories. It can be equipped with a sampling system, an alloy additive feeder and many other functionalities which allow for flexibility in conducting research and development work. The multitude of additional options makes research institutions willing to choose SECO/WARWICK solutions, because they provide the ability to conduct various observations.
 
“Scientific institutions are one of the group of recipients for our solutions. For example, we have supplied solutions to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), which ordered a non-standard, 12-meter vertical rotary retort furnace for the heat treatment of a gyrotron part, as a contribution to the ITER experimental thermonuclear reactor.  We have also supplied laboratory furnaces for the Institute of Precision Mechanics. We invest heavily in research and development ourselves. We have our own R&D centers, which allow us to continuously improve the technology we offer,” – says Sławomir Woźniak, CEO, SECO/WARWICK Group.”
 
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September 23rd we had the news item below about Vac Aero International, one of the 50 largest commercial heat treaters in North America (https://themonty.com/articles/the-montys-50-largest-north-american-commercial-heat-treaters-2024/) celebrating their 65th year in business;
 
“Vac Aero International to Celebrate 65 Years in Business; Thursday, September 26th, 2024 Vac Aero International is celebrating 65 years in business with an open house at their location in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. The company was founded by Mr. Ross Pritchard in 1959 as Canadian Vac-Hyd Processing Ltd., a subsidiary of Detroit, Michigan-based Vac-Hyd Processing Corporation. Since that time the company has grown and expanded and its services now include commercial heat treating, coatings and new vacuum furnaces from 5 locations in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. “The Monty Heat Treat News” will be in attendance at the open house and provide a report on the event.
 
As a background to this story, Mr. Jordan Montgomery of “The Monty” visited the firm’s location in St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada just last week. The Quebec Division is situated in the heart of Quebec’s aerospace community with the Ville St. Laurent plant providing Thermal Processing services and the Boucherville plant providing Coating services. The St. Laurent location is long established and boasts over 20 employees offering commercial vacuum heat treating and associated processes. In this photo we see Jordan Montgomery in the back row 4th from the right.
 
There has been a marked difference in this company since new ownership and management was announced early in 2023. As an outsider “The Monty” can say that we have seen a revitalized company, with extremely ambitions plans for the entire company right from commercial heat treating to coatings to an expanded product offering from their furnace manufacturing division. We expect we will be able to announce some of these changes in the near future.” https://themonty.com/vac-aero-international-to-celebrate-65-years-in-business/
 
Gord and Jordan Montgomery did indeed join the celebration, a celebration which included a number of Vac Aero’s largest customers and the result are these photos. We should add that Vac Aero is very unique in that they are one of just a handful of heat treaters around the world who are able to heat treat aerospace landing gear-several examples of this can be seen in these pictures. While they do occupy a very unique space in the heat treat industry, they also provide more conventional heat treating and brazing, an example of which can be found in the one photo featuring Gary Younger and Gord Montgomery.  https://vacaero.com/
Dave Farmery, President Vac Aero
Gary Younger, General Manager VAC AERO Furnace Manufacturing Division, Gord Montgomery
Ismail Kus, Plant Manager, Vac Aero, Jordan Montgomery, “The Monty” 
Pawel Udrycki, Gord Montgomery
Pawel Udrycki, Jordan Montgomery
Recently “The Monty Heat Treat News” had the opportunity to visit one of the 50 largest commercial heat treaters in North America (the list can be found here 50 Largest), an experience which turned out to be fascinating. What you see in this photo is a 12′ long part weighing several thousand pounds being heat treated in a monster bottom loading vacuum furnace with oil quenching. Full details on Monday.
 

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