It is always interesting to visit the firms that form the backbone of the supply chain for the heat treatment industry so it was with eager anticipation that Gord Montgomery of “The Monty Heat Treat News” visited “Fluid Cooling Systems” of Burton, Michigan, USA earlier this week. https://www.fluidcoolingsystems.com/

It will come as absolutely no surprise that the company has for many years provided fluid cooling systems for a number of different applications in the heat treatment industry. Founded in 2010 by Mr. Bob Antaya-longtime veteran of the industry, the company has grown to roughly 40 employees with sales rapidly closing in on $20 million USD for 2024. Their customer base covers a number of different industries but it would be fair to say that a very substantial portion of their business is with the auto industry, both the OEM’s and the Tier 1 suppliers.

Their varied product line includes evaporative cooling towers, chillers, air cooled heat exchangers, pumping stations and most importantly complete systems. In addition they are more than happy to “troubleshoot” installed systems and provide field services.

It was a very enjoyable visit this week, Bob is an interesting guy who has a passion for what he does which is always good to see. These photos tell the tale.

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Modular Mechanical Room (MMR) for an Induction Heating Application. Left to right;  Dylan Miller-Zelinko, Bob Antaya, Perla Shbaklo, Anthony Garrison, Jessica Rivard, Justin Demme

 

Vacuum Furnace Cooling Application; Left to right; Bob Antaya, Jessica Rivard, Perla Shbaklo, Justin Demme

Since 1999 “The Monty Heat Treat News” has been publishing annually a list of the largest commercial heat treaters in North America based upon yearly sales, our 2023 list can be found at https://themonty.com/articles/auto-draft-3/

Before we get into our 2024 list we will make a few points;

#50 Akron Steel Treating

The history of Akron Steel Treating in Akron, Ohio makes for fascinating reading. In 1943, the U.S. army helped Prosper P. Powell convert his garage at 654 Glenwood Avenue in the North Hill area of Akron into a mini-heat treating facility for firing pins. Operating in the secrecy of soaped windows and late-night deliveries, with overflow work conducted in the family’s kitchen oven, Powell launched a successful company. When World War Two was over Prosper asked the US government when they wanted the furnaces back. The answer was “they are yours now” and thus one of the oldest commercial heat treaters in the USA was born. Akron is still a family owned business and offers a very wide variety of heat treating. https://www.akronsteeltreating.com/

#49 Winston Heat Treating

In 1959 Winston Heat Treating was formed to service the local tool & die market. Since then the company has always focused on moving forward with new technologies and in the 1970’s the firm became a real pioneer in vacuum hear treating which resulted in Winston becoming one of the first to achieve both ISO and NADCAP status. Like so many on this list this is a family owned business with David Reger acting as President. We have watched Winston grow and invest and it is a fine example of a modern commercial heat treater. https://winstonht.com/

#48 Engineered Heat Treat-Subsidiary of BMT Aerospace

A new entry on our list of “The 50 Largest Commercial Heat Treat in North America” is Engineered Heat Treat in Madison Heights, Michigan, USA. “Founded in 1959, Engineered Heat Treat, LLC provides a variety of heat treat services to the Aircraft, Agriculture, Automotive, Earth-moving equipment, High Performance Racing, Military, and Tooling Industries. As a Nadcap & AS9100 approved company, Engineered Heat Treat’s foundation for quality is coupled with rigorous controls in place for maximum customer confidence and satisfaction. https://engineeredheattreat.com/“

EHT was owned and run by the Pilibosian family until it was acquired by BMT Aerospace of Belgium in 2022, although members of the Pilibosian family are still very active in the company. While the company offers a number of different processes the firm is particularly strong in the aerospace industry. EHT operates out of a 55,000 square foot facility with approximately 50 employees.

#47 American Steel Treating

Founded in 1989 by three Surface Combustion employees including the current owner and CEO, Mr. Roy Waits, American Steel Treating is located in Perrysburg, Ohio. While the company offers most types of heat treating covering a variety of industries we tend to think of them for high volume automotive work processed through a number of pusher furnaces. The company operates out of a 300,000 square foot facility close to Toledo, Ohio. https://www.americansteeltreating.com/

#46 Applied Thermal

Located in Warsaw, Indiana Applied Thermal like many of the companies on this list it is a family owned and run business started by Mickey Bradican-this is how the company describes themselves;  “Applied Thermal Technologies Inc. is a metal processing company specializing in bright vacuum heat treating and brazing of stainless steel and exotic alloys. Founded in 1992 to service the medical and specialty products industries in Northern Indiana and has grown to over 30,000ft² with international sales. Our specialty furnaces feature temperatures to 2800°F, levels to 10-6 Torr, all metal hot zones and extremely rapid cooling.” Applied Thermal is NADCAP approved and works very closely with with the aerospace and medical industries. https://www.appliedthermaltechnologies.com/

#45 Voestalpine AG

Voestalpine AG is an Austrian steel-based technology and capital goods group based in Linz, Austria. With over 30 locations around the world offering heat treating the company would rank as one of the larger commercial heat treaters in the world. While their heat treating operations in North America are relatively modest compared with their global footprint they do operate two very impressive facilities in North America, one in Canada and one in Mexico. Their heat treat operations are both captive heat treating of their own products and commercial heat treating. This photo shows their Canadian facility. https://www.voestalpine.com/group/en/

#44 Pacific Metallurgical

Pacific Metallurgical in Kent, Washington makes our list for the first time this year. Founded in 1968 the firm covers many of the bases when it comes to processes offered-carburizing, gas nitriding, stress relieving, press quenching, neutral hardening and a substantial vacuum hardening department consisting of 3 GM 48x48x90 furnaces as well as two Ipsen 924s.  http://www.pacmet.com/

#43 Southwest Metal Treating

Southwest Metal Treating Corp., (SWMT) Heat Treating Texas – Southwest Metal Treating is a family owned commercial heat treater in business for over 40 years run by Mr. Ryan Fussell. The company is full service in that it offers most heat treating processes including but not limited to; vacuum heat treating, carburizing, nitro carburizing, flame hardening, normalizing, stress relieving and Plasma Nitriding. The company operates out of a 50,000 square foot facility located on 7 acres. http://southwestmetaltreating.com/

#42 Pinson Valley

Pinson Valley is owned and run by the Hendry family and is now in its third generation. Founded in 1970 the company has a very unique mix of capabilities including vacuum heat treating, atmosphere and some very interesting and unique tip up style furnaces. https://www.pvht.com/

#41 Thermal Vac, Orange

Founded in 1985 by Steve Driscol and based in Orange, CA, Thermal–Vac Technology now has two locations, the first in CA, the second brand new facility in Arizona. The company offers brazing, heat treating and finishing much of it destined for the  aerospace industry. The company continues to be privately held and is run by Steve Driscol’s son and daughter. With almost 100 employees it is one of the larger heat treats on the US west coast. https://www.thermalvac.com/

#40 ETSA Mexico

ETSA Group, Mexico; Founded in 1979, Especialidades Termicas, S.A (ETSA Group) is one of the two largest commercial heat treaters in Mexico with 350 employees spread over 6 locations,  Guadalajara, Celaya, Aguascalientes, San Juan del Rio and Mexico City. In actual number of furnaces the company has 6 vacuum furnaces, 4 nitrocarburizing units, 20 batch IQ’s, 3 mesh belt lines, 2 large pit carburizers, 4 bell type for annealing and 1 austemper line. ETSA is a family owned business and the current CEO is Mr. Mario Fabian Mendez son of the founder of the company. The company also has an entire division dedicated to rebuilding and installing furnaces. https://www.especialidadestermicas.com/

#39 Specialty Steel Treating

Specialty Steel Treating, founded 1956, has been performing precision heat treating for more than 60 years. The privately held company has 4 locations in the US, three in the Detroit, Michigan area and one in Connecticut. While Specialty is located in the auto capital of the world it has broadened its customer base over the years and now has a very strong presence in the aerospace and bearing industries. https://www.sst.net/

#38 Lark Heat Treating

“Lark Heat Treating was founded in 1978 by brother’s Frank and Gene Clark with the guidance and inspiration of their father, Wade Clark, whose heat treating career started in 1936. Now owned and operated by Frank and Gene, Lark Heat Treating is one of the top commercial heat treaters in the southern United States. Lark operates out of a 55,000 square foot facility and can be classified as a “full service provider” in that they offer most commercially available processes, carburizing, nitriding, vacuum hardening, induction and a few others. https://www.larkheat.com/

During a tour of the plant early in 2024 what “The Monty” found was a commercial heat treater who has been growing and investing substantially in just the past few years. For all the details as well as future plans please follow this link; https://themonty.com/the-monty-visits-top-50-heat-treater-in-texas/?no_cache=1707835733

#37 Lone Star Heat Treating

Founded in 1945 Lone Star is one of the older commercial heat treats in the USA. As far as we know the company has always been owned and run by the Van Dorfy family, the current President is Mike Van Dorfy, Jr. Like all heat treaters in Texas, Lone Star’s business is based upon the oil and gas industries although the company has diversified to some extent over the years. Lone Star offers induction hardening, atmosphere carburizing, deep hole drilling and vertical heat treating. https://www.lsht.com/

In February of this year Gord and Dale Montgomery of “The Monty” had the privilege of touring this facility courtesy of Mr. Bud Van Rooyen, Vice President. The story of this visit and the company can be found at https://themonty.com/heat-treatment-in-texas-lone-star-heat-treating/

#36 Byron Products

Founded in 1982 by Mark Byron in a 1 car garage, Mark has grown Byron into a very significant player in the Thermal Processing Industry in North America. The NADCAP approved company offers brazing, heat treating, welding and coatings all with a strong emphasis on the aerospace industry. Byron excels in the heat treating of stainless steel and high temperature aerospace alloys. The company operates out of 2 facilities in Ohio. https://byronproducts.com/

#35 Vac Aero

​Vac Aero is our third and final Canadian heat treater to make our list this year. “VAC AERO International provides heat treating and brazing of advanced materials for the aerospace and other high technology industries.  Specializing in vacuum processing, VAC AERO holds numerous heat treating and quality system approvals from prime manufacturers, with AS9100 and NADCAP accredited plants strategically located within the Toronto to Montreal aerospace manufacturing corridor of Canada.  The Oakville, Ontario operation is one of North America’s largest subcontract heat treaters of aircraft landing gear components while the St Laurent, Quebec operation is focused primarily on gas turbine engine and airframe component.” Under relatively new management we are seeing substantial growth in both their heat-treating division and in their furnace manufacturing division. https://vacaero.com/metallurgical-services/heat-treating.html

#34 Thermetco

Thermetco located near Montreal, Quebec, Canada is the second Canadian commercial heat treater on our list. Thermetco is a second-generation heat treat founded by Mr. Andre Houle. The firm has over 150 employees, 4 locations and offers Carburizing, Vacuum Hardening, Austempering, Plasma Nitriding and Carbonitriding along with several other processes. Thermetco has seen tremendous growth over the past several years which includes acquiring two competitors, a new location and a number of new furnaces. Sales continue to grow for the company and there are rumors the company is once again considering expanding.   It is ranked as the second largest in Canada.
 
#33 Sun Steel Treating
 
Sun Steel Treating in Michigan is best known as one of the largest plasma nitriding firm in North America; Since 1958, Sun Steel Treating has specialized in providing our customers exceptional quality, expertise, and timeliness. Whether it’s hardening alloys, carbon steels, tool steels or high speed specialty steels, our engineers know the precise metallurgical processes to apply. In 1981, Sun Steel Treating pioneered the use of plasma Nitriding as a viable surface hardening treatment.  Sun Steel Treating has Trade-marked and registered this process as Ionitriding®.  Sun Steel Treating has also pioneered combining the benefits of Ionitriding® and Steam Treating to develop IonWear®. Sun Steel is privately owned by Mr. Jim McGuirk and operates out of large facility close to Detroit, Michigan. The company concentrates on two areas, vacuum heat treating and Plasma Nitriding. https://sunsteeltreating.com/
 
#32 Kittyhawk
 
Kittyhawk was a new entry for us on our 2023 list at which point “The Monty” ranked them as #32. However March 7, 2024  it was announced that Kittyhawk, Inc.  backed by their parent company Dallas-based private equity firm Trive Capital had acquired Stack HIP, LLC (“Stack HIP”) from Stack Metallurgical Group. This acquisition will increase their sales to over $20 million USD and “The Monty” is moving the company up to 18th spot on our list.
 
“Founded in 1981, Kittyhawk is a leading provider of Hot Isostatic Pressing (“HIP”) services on the West Coast from its locations in Garden Grove, CA and Canby, OR. The Company is trusted by many of the largest aerospace, defense, and space OEMs to increase the performance and safety of their most iconic platforms. HIP is an integral service that improves the strength and metallurgical properties of casted and additively manufactured parts. Kittyhawk specializes in servicing parts for high-temperature, high-pressure, and high cost of failure applications such as rocket and jet engine componentry.” Hot Isostatic Pressing | Kittyhawk (kittyhawkinc.com)
 
#31 Century Sun
 
You would not expect to find one of the largest commercial heat treaters in North America in Northern Michigan, however such is the case with Century Sun Metal Treating which for over 30 years have been offering heat treating services in Traverse City, Michigan. Century Sun has a great deal of vacuum and plasma nitriding capacity which they use to service a wide variety of industries. In 2021 the company was acquired by Hillcrest Investment Partners, LLC, a private investment group. https://www.century–sun.com/
 
#30 Industrial Steel Treating Jackson
 
Industrial Steel Treating Company (IST) began operations in Jackson, Michigan in 1943, initially servicing the growing tool and die industry in mid-Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. The company is owned and run by the Levy family and operates out of a 350,000 square foot location in Jackson, Michigan. Two separate, across-the-street facilities house production, prototype sample and warehouse-inventory management capabilities. IST offers gas nitriding, carbonitriding, induction hardening and several other processes. The firm is now fourth generation which few commercial heat treaters can boast of. https://www.indstl.com/
 
#29 Q-Tech, DFW
 
Q–Tech Heat Treat LLC., makes our list for the first time this year. Located in Dallas, Texas it was founded in 1972 by R.D. Fussell and sons in a 1,000 sq foot building with 2 furnaces. “We have grown to our current size of 100,000 sq feet and over 40 furnaces. Our main focus is on customer needs, and servicing them on a personal level. We have been ISO 9001:2015 approved since 2003. We have also been approved for steel parts through General Dynamics, and Komatsu from Osaka, Japan.” Q–Tech remains a familyowned business to this day with Sean Fussell as President which marks the third generation. http://www.qtechht.com/
 
#28 Accurate Steel Treating, Southgate

Accurate Steel Treating was founded in 1962 on a strong commitment to quality and customer service. In 1989, Accurate Steel Treating was acquired by a new management team and embarked on a carefully planned expansion program. During the next 25 years, new processes and equipment were added to keep pace with growing demand including high-pressure gas quench vacuum heat-treating, precision carburizing, and ion nitriding. In 2012, management decided, along with encouragement from several key customers, to enter the Aerospace market to be better diversified and capitalize on the many opportunities developing in this sector.

Today, Accurate Steel Treating continues to be the fastest growing commercial aerospace heat treat service provider in the western US. We are AQS AC7004 certified and accredited by Nadcap for a wide range of thermal processes and support services, including vacuum & atmosphere hardening, gas carburizing, ion & gas nitriding, stress relieving, annealing, aging, pre & post cleaning, oil, salt, water & polymer quench mediums, titanium processing, straightening and metallurgical evaluations. The transformation to a full service Aerospace Heat Treat provider accelerated in 2014 when we achieved our first Nadcap accreditation, we have since accomplished many milestones that we are proud of. Accurate is a privately held company with Mr. Chris Hall, President. https://accuratesteeltreating.com/

#27 East Carolina

Family ownedEast Carolina Metal Treating was founded in 1976. Through a commitment to continual improvement and reinvestment, ECMT has garnered a reputation for providing high quality service with great turnaround and the best customer service.  ECMT has a state-of-the-art metallurgical lab and maintains Nadcap, ISO 9001, AS9100, and Appendix B certifications with the goal of achieving the automotive certification – IATF 16949.

Servicing the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions, the company has grown into a 45,000 square foot facility located just outside of downtown Raleigh, and ECMT’s second location, Virginia Metal Treating, has recently constructed a 20,000 square foot facility in Lynchburg, VA with room to grow!  ECMT offers a full range of heat-treating services including Vacuum, Batch IQ, Nitriding/FNC, Induction, Cryogenics, Salt bath hardening with austempering and marquenching, Stress Relieving, Age Hardening, as well as Black Oxide. ECMT partners with the best equipment manufacturers to provide repeatable quality results for our diversified customer base. https://ecmtinc.com/

#26 Modern Heat Treat, DFW

The company was founded in July of 2009 by Brad Luce and Rudy Saucedo (unfortunately Brad passed away in 2019 at a very young age, Rudy is now President and owner). What started as a relatively small operation featuring several batch IQ furnaces has grown into a very substantial company which includes numerous batch IQ furnaces, vacuum furnaces, induction equipment, flame hardening, deep freeze and straitening capabilities.

Currently the company has over 50 pieces of equipment and over 60 employees making it one of the larger privately owned commercial heat treaters in North America. Watch for our updated list to find out where we rank Modern Heat Treat. www.modernht.com – Modern Heat Treat

#25 Hansen Balk, Grand Rapids

We are going to rely on Hansen Balk to summarize the company, we will add that it is one of the largest vacuum heat treaters in North America. “Since 1955, Hansen/Balk in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA has built a reputation as a state-of-the-art provider of steel heat-treating services. Our 85,000-square-foot facility features a full cohort of best-in-class batch vacuum and batch atmosphere furnaces, capable of processing orders of all sizes. We offer a variety of services, but are best known for the breadth and depth of our vacuum heat-treating capabilities-including high-pressure quenching up to 15 Bar-as well as unique services such as cryogenic treating, flame hardening and induction heat-treating services. We adhere to the most technologically advanced heat-treating methods with modern equipment to ensure your parts meet the required specifications-from hardness tolerance to surface finishes. We also bring customers a deep well of metallurgical knowledge, formed over six decades of work on millions of parts. Hansen/Balk Steel Treating Company (hansenbalk.com)

#24 Texas Heat Treating

Texas Heat Treating offers a wide range of heat treatments, testing and support services, operating 24 hours a day and seven days a week. CEO C.H. “Buddy” Crossley started Texas Heat Treating in 1977 as a small company in a 6,000 square foot shop. Today, the company has expanded to two large facilities, the first in Round Rock, Texas, and the newest plant in Fort Worth, Texas. It is run by Buster Crossley and features batch heat treating equipment including IQ’s, pit furnaces, vacuum furnaces and nitriding systems. It is one of 7 commercial heat treaters in the great state of Texas to make our list of the 50 Largest. Texas Heat Treating – AS9100D, ISO 9001 Certified. ISO 17025 Accredited

#23 Metex Heat Treating

Metex Heat Treating is the largest commercial heat treater in Canada and the first of three Canadian firms on our list. While there are few heat treat processes the company doesn’t offer they are best known for their mesh belt heat treating of fasteners. Metex operates several continuous furnaces including 3 of the largest in Canada-each with a capacity of 6,000 pounds per hour meaning they can process over 300,000 pounds per day. The company moved up 3 positions this year due to their acquisitions of commercial heat treater Exactatherm in Mississauga. https://themonty.com/metex-heat-treating-ltd-announces-a-strategic-acquisition-of-exactatherm-limited/

“Metex Heat Treating Ltd. In 1983, Metex Heat Treating Ltd. was founded by Mr. Surjit Bawa to serve the heat treating needs of the manufacturing industry in the Greater Toronto, Canada Area. Since that time Metex has grown into the largest commercial heat treater in Canada and the company services customers as far as Montreal, Cleveland and Michigan. We specialize in Continuous and Batch Neutral Hardening, Carburizing, and Carbonitriding. We also have 10 state of the art induction hardening systems. https://metexht.com/

#22 Specialty Heat Treating, Houston

Specialty Heat Treat, Inc. http://specialtyheattreat.com/home/ is a family owned business founded in 1993 by Tom Moore in Houston, TX. SHT operates a 100,000 square foot facility on 9 acres and has grown to 42 furnaces up to 25’ in length. Like all heat treaters in Texas the company’s fortunes are closely tied to the oil and gas industries. Earlier this year Gord and Dale Montgomery of “The Monty Heat Treat News” had the opportunity to tour this facility at the invitation of Sam Moore-the story can be found here; https://themonty.com/heat-treating-in-texas-is-different-specialty-heat-treat/

#21 Continental Heat Treating Santa Fe

Nadcap approved Continental Heat Treating is an aerospace approved heat treating company located in Santa Fe Springs, California. Established in 1957 in Downey, CA the company moved to their current location in Santa Fe Springs in 1969 where it has grown and prospered under the leadership of Mr. Jim Stull. Home – Continental Heat Treating (continentalht.com)

#20 Pressure Technologies

Pressure Technology Inc. (PTI). Do companies doing strictly Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) deserve to be on our list of the largest commercial heat treaters in North America? Well the answer is yes in our minds as the precedent has already been set. Bodycote, Paulo, Aalberts, Stack and Lake City are already on our list so for that reason we have a new entry on our list of the largest commercial heat treaters in North America-PTI.

“Pressure Technology is a leading provider of high quality hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) to the aerospace, medical, ceramics, electronics, precision casting, powder metallurgy, additive manufacturing and a variety of other industries.” The company has 3 locations in the USA, PA., OH., and Florida. PTI makes our list this year for the very first time based upon their strong position in the Hot Isostatic Pressing industry. Hot Isostatic Pressing – PTI (pressuretechnology.com)

#19 FPM Heat Treating

Founded in 1979 FPM has two locations in the US Midwest, Elk Grove Village, IL and Cherry Valley IL. FPM has the capability to offer most heat treating processes including Through hardening, Carburizing, Carbonitriding, FNC and Nitriding, from a variety of furnaces including batch IQ furnaces, mesh belt, vacuum and salt bath. The company has NADCAP approval along with CQI-9. Home – FPM Heat Treating (fpmht.com)

#18 Flame Metals

Privately owned Flame Metals was founded in 1985 and operates out of a 102,000 square foot facility with over 100 employees working 7 days a week in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. Focus is on the General Industrial Markets-Off Highway, Construction, Marine, Outdoor Recreational, Agricultural, Mining and Wind Energy. With eleven integral quench furnaces (9000 lb max capacity) and two pit furnaces (25,000 lb capacity), the company is best known for its ability to process large critical components. Additional capabilities include continuous processing, vacuum, salt bath nitriding, neutral salt, induction, aluminum and car bottom.  Home – Flame Metals Processing Corporation

#17 ALD

ALD Heat Treat Services is considered to be one of the world’s premier heat treatment organizations, providing consistent and predictable distortion control through its expertise in Low Pressure Carburizing (LPC) and High Pressure Gas Quenching (HPGQ). ALD’s Global footprint includes two operations in North America; ALD Thermal Treatment, Inc., in Port Huron, MI, and its sister plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, a state-of-the-art facility in Saxony, Germany, and recently launched operations in Suzhou China.  ALD is well-positioned to service the needs of its diverse and growing customer base.

The Company has a long history of providing superior quality vacuum heat treatment services, with a strong international presence and the support of a worldwide organization that includes furnace sales and equipment. Their robust production capabilities, quality systems, automation controls, Research & Development, and in-house laboratory have earned them the prestigious General Motors Supplier Quality Excellence Award for Nine consecutive years. ALD is IATF 16949, AS9100, and ISO 9001 certified, as well as ISO 27001 and ISO 14001 compliant. Earlier this year the Company achieved its NADCAP Accreditation and has begun servicing the aerospace community. ALD’s thermal treatment processes minimize the distortion of precision manufactured components and are ideal for the increasingly stringent requirements of tomorrow’s electric drive transmissions and drivetrain units. Additional information can be found on their website at: www.heat-treatment-services.com

#16 Dowa Thermotech

Globally Japan based Dowa Thermotech is one of the largest commercial heat treaters in the world so it is no surprise that it also ranks as one of the largest in North America. Their facilities in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and Bowling Green, Ohio are both dedicated to servicing the Japanese automakers which means that they largely “fly under the radar” and don’t usually appear on lists of commercial heat treaters. The company almost exclusively uses furnace built in Japan and their focus is very narrow-the automotive industry. Locations (Overseas) | DOWA Thermotech Co., Ltd.

#15 Thermtech

ThermTech in Waukesha, Wisconsin is a privately held commercial heat-treating company that offers a wide range of services to a diverse and discerning set of customers. It was founded in 1982 by Charles Wiberg and remains a family owned business under the guidance of Mary Springer and her brother Steve Wiberg. We would consider ThermTech to be a full service shop in that it offers most commercially available heat treat processes.  Metal Heat Treating and Metal Finishing – ThermTech

#14 Rex Heat Treat

Rex Heat Treat is a family owned-and-operated business that began the year of 1938 in Pennsylvania making it one of the oldest commercial heat treats in North America.  In its beginning, Rex Heat Treat supported the United States military efforts during World War II. Since then, Rex has also managed heat treating plants in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The company has two locations in PA which service industries such as Mining and Drilling, Energy, Aerospace and Defense, and Transportation. With the installation of the world’s largest Vertical Vacuum Oil Quenching Furnace, Rex Heat Treat is primed for continued growth. Rex Heat Treat – The Heat Treater of Choice! (rexht.com)

#13 Heat Treating Services

Based in Pontiac, Michigan HTS is a privately owned commercial heat treater founded in 1978.Being in Michigan the company is heavily involved in the auto industry and the Hynes family have done a tremendous job of guiding the company through the ups and downs of the last few years. HTS has 4 plants in Michigan and serves the ferrous metal industries with thermal process and clean capabilities, which exceed sixty-four (64) million pounds per month. In total HTS had over 200,000 square feet under roof and 250 employees. Heat Treating Services | Home (htsmi.com)

#12 Thermal Process Holdings

THERMAL PROCESS HOLDINGS is a dynamic growth company providing critical Metallurgical services to virtually every industrial sector. Our strategy is to provide industry leading thermal services throughout North America from our expanding network of facilities. Currently the company operates 5 locations around the US. Thermal Process Holdings | A Unique Partnership for the Future You Want

#11 Stack Metallurgical

​Stack Metallurgical Group consists of four sites strategically located throughout the Pacific Northwest.  Stack specializes in advanced heat treating, aluminum anodizing and painting, and hot isostatic press (HIP) services. With a rich history dating back to 1946, Stack has become a trusted partner to demanding clients in industries such as aerospace, power generation, precision cutlery, oil and gas, and general industrial.  Stack has been privately held by the Ederer family since 1974.  Over the last 46 years, the business has grown and expanded into new markets.  The most recent expansion, Stack HIP, was launched in 2020 Albany, Oregon. About Us – Stack Metallurgical Group

#10 Nitrex

Nitrex consists of three divisions, Nitrex Turnkey Systems, United Process Controls and Heat-Treating Services-our focus is on their heat-treating services in North America. The firm has 4 locations, Franklin, Indiana, Aurora, Illinois, Mason, Michigan and Querétaro, Mexico. While Nitrex is best known for their nitriding services their heat treat facilities offer most processes including LPC. https://www.nitrex.com/en/

#9 Parker Trutec

Parker Trutec is a North American subsidiary of Japan based Nihon Parkerizing, a very substantial player in the global heat treat industry. In North America Parker has 4 heat treat locations in Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mexico. The Springfield, Ohio facility is fairly typical of the plants and has this equipment;

  • Salt Bath Nitriding Furnaces (FNC) processing our Isonite process to AMS 2755 (High Cyanide Salt).
  • Salt Bath Nitriding Furnaces (FNC) processing our Isonite QPQ process to AMS 2753 (Low Cyanide Salt).
  • Salt Bath Nitriding Furnaces (FNC) processing our Isonite LiFe process.
  • Gas Ferritic Carburizing Furnaces (FNC) processing to AMS 2757.
  • Batch Carburizing with Dowa, Surface Combustion and AFC-Holcroft Furnaces.
    • Carburizing, Carbonitriding, Neutral Hardening (Quench & Temper), Normalizing.
  • Continuous Roller-Hearth Carburizing Furnaces (Dowa).
  • Vacuum Degreasing Systems for pre- and post-carburizing.
  • Hanging and barrel shotblasters.
  • Vibratory polishing equipment.

Their business largely relies on the Japanese automotive transplants. https://www.parkertrutec.com/

#8 Bluewater Thermal

Bluewater Thermal Solutions which operates 10 different heat treat and brazing facilities around the USA. The company offers different heat-treating processes throughout their facilities depending upon the geographic area. For instance, the Ridgway, PA location (located in the heard of the powdered metal industry) offers different processes than say the facility in Houston, Texas. Bluewater is very strong in brazing and also in the boronizing process. It is similar to a few companies on our list in that it is owned by a venture capital firm.  https://bluewaterthermal.com/

#7 Advanced Heat Treat Corp

“Established in 1981, Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) is a recognized global leader in providing heat treat services and metallurgical solutions. The company has 4 locations in Alabama, Iowa and Michigan and offers over 20 surface treatments such as UltraGlow® Ion & Gas Nitriding, UltraOx®, Nitrocarburizing, Induction Hardening, Carburizing, Quench & Temper and more.” What makes Advanced such a fascinating company is that it is the creation of Mr. Gary Sharp who started off with the idea that there was a place in the North American heat treating industry for Plasma (Ion Nitriding). Gary started off with a small investment and has never looked back. He is still involved in the day to day operations of the company. Advanced Heat Treat Corp (ahtcorp.com)

#6 Braddock

Braddock Metallurgical. Family owned Braddock Metallurgical was founded in 1953 by William Braddock. The company has eight production facilities mainly in the US Southeast, however the company also has a location in NJ and Puerto Rico. Certainly in the growing US Southeast region Braddock is the dominant commercial heat treater. The company is a full service heat treater in that they offer virtually every process available. We are quite confident saying that they are the fourth largest family owned commercial heat treater in North America. Quality Metal Heat Treating | Braddock Metallurgical (braddockmt.com)

#5 Woodworth

The fifth largest North American commercial heat treater on our list is a company which operates 4 facility in two countries and specializes in large volume automotive work. “Woodworth Inc. provides a wide range of heat treatment services through our four facilities. We are currently located in Pontiac, Homer, and Flint, Michigan, as well as Puebla, Mexico. The company operates 40 large furnaces in North America. Woodworth Inc. has installed capacity to run 16 million + rotors per year. (2.2 million Lbs / Day).” Woodworth is similar to many heat treaters on our list in that they are almost exclusively dedicated to the automotive industry, albeit on a very large scale. FNC brake rotors rust free brakes nanotechnology oil and gas industry corrosion resistance woodworth inc heat treatment (woodworthheattreating.com)

#4 Solar Atmospheres

Solar Atmospheres is one of the largest commercial vacuum heat treaters in North America and their sister company “Solar Manufacturing” is in turn one of the largest vacuum furnace builders in North America.
 
“The “Solar Nation” consists of eight operating companies in the USA, all 100% owned by Mr. & Mrs. Jones.  Six perform thermal processing and two are related to vacuum furnace manufacturing. Projected sales for 2024 for the six heat treating companies are over $95.5 Million.  The six companies currently employee 323. The two manufacturing companies project 2024 sales of $37.1 Million.  Currently the two companies have a total of 75 employees. So, for the “Solar Nation” projected sales, all companies, is $132.6 million with 398 employees for year end 2024.” https://solaratm.com/

#3 Paulo

Founded in 1943, Paulo is the largest privately held provider of thermal processing and metal finishing solutions in North America. Headquartered in St. Louis, Paulo operates six divisions servicing the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Southeast regions of the United States and northern Mexico. Paulo has been family owned and operated since the beginning, now the fourth generation carry on the business Ben and Pauline Rassieur started 77 years ago. The processes offered by Paulo cover austempering in mesh belt furnaces, Hot Isostatic Pressing, carburizing, nitriding, vacuum, brazing, zinc plating and black oxide to name a few. What makes Paulo unique to some extent is that the company has built in redundancy for most of their processes-if for some reason a process is not available at one particular location it can be quickly and competently shifted to another location.  Paulo: Thermal Processing. Brazing. Heat Treating. Metal Finishing.

#2 Aalberts

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Aalberts surface technologies has five divisions on three continents and is part of the worldwide leading and globally positioned technology company Aalberts N.V. which has 132 locations worldwide and more than 14,000 employees. Aalberts is committed to adaptation and innovation with a clear focus on customers. For many years Aalberts (under the name Hauck) was one of the largest commercial heat treaters in Europe with a very small footprint in North America. This changed rather dramatically over the past number of years with the acquisitions of Premier Thermal, Applied Process, Alfe and several others which between them offer most forms of heat treating.  We have not the slightest doubt about Aalberts Surface Technologies being the second largest commercial heat treater in North America. https://www.aalberts-st.com/

#1 Bodycote

Without a shadow of a doubt UK based Bodycote is the largest North American commercial heat treater and indeed the largest globally. Want to know exactly what the company’s sales are? As a publicly traded company their financial results are easily found on their website at  The leading provider of heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services worldwide – Bodycote plc

For the purposes of this report we are only looking at Bodycote’s North American sales and operations. Our understanding is that 2024 sales in North America will be approximately $450 million USD, a substantial increase from 2023. This is partly as a result of organic growth and partly because of the firm’s acquisition of Lake City Heat Treat at the beginning of this year. https://www.bodycote.com/press-releases/press-release-2024/acquisition-update-and-announcement-of-60m-share-buyback-programme/

Back in September of 2022 we had a story about commercial heat treater “Dependable Metal Treating” in Kendallville, Indiana, USA finding success through “standardizing”-read about is further down.
 
As an update to this story Gord Montgomery of “The Monty Heat Treat News” visited the facility this week to see what updates had occurred since our last visit-plenty as it turned out. Dependable has continued with their strategy of having standardized furnaces and to this end they invested in 3 more “Super 30” Allcase furnaces, completely rebuilt to “like new” condition by McLaughlin Furnace Group. The firm also invested in updated ancillary equipment which includes tempers and a new 6,000 CFH “Tru-Mix” endothermic generator.
 
The attached photos show the outside of the facility and also the “new” batch IQ furnaces. On the left we have Mr. Jeff Stork, General Manager, a veteran of over 40 years in the heat treat industry. Next to him we find Mrs. Linda Jones, one of two daughters of the founder of the company Mr. Ross Noble and on the right Ryan McLaughlin of McLaughlin Furnace Group.
 
“SEPTEMBER 2022; Heat Treater Finds Success Through Standardizing-Dependable Metal Treating
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Every successful commercial heat treater in the world has achieved that success through a slightly different formula, concentrating on a particular process, having a process which the competition doesn’t have, offering better pricing and deliveries, being a “one stop” shop-the possibilities are endless. Dependable Metal Treating in Kendallville, Indiana, USA has been quite successful for a variety of reasons, the main one probably being standardizing. “Dependable Metal Treating, Inc. is a locally owned and operated heat treating facility located in Kendallville, Indiana. Incorporated in 1995, we have grown from a small 2 furnace operation to 10 integral batch furnaces with support equipment, automatic monitoring controls and a full metallurgical laboratory. Home – Dependable Metal Treating, Inc. ”
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Earlier this week “The Monty Heat Treat News” had the opportunity to visit this facility after a hiatus of several years and what we saw was an above average sized commercial heat treat which has standardized on one particular make and model of furnace-a Surface Combustion Model “Super 30” batch IQ furnace with internal dimensions of 30” X 48” X 30”. Few if any were purchased new but all were lovingly rebuilt before being installed. The result is that every spare part including cylinders, radiant tubes, roller rails, fans and even fixtures are standard to all furnaces. Another obvious benefit is that the operators are familiar with the controls and functions of each furnace.
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We certainly don’t mean to take away from the fact that Dependable is run by an experienced team who are extremely attentive to customers needs and we don’t mean to imply that the company doesn’t have other types of equipment but the mainstay of the plant is the ever reliable “Super 30” and they have served the company well.” 
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For a number of years “The Monty” has offered a heat treat industry exclusive-a list of the 15 largest single location captive heat treaters in North America-this list can be found at https://themonty.com/articles/15-largest-captive-heat-treats-north-america/
 
This week Gord Montgomery of “The Monty” will be visiting Dana Fairfield Manufacturing in Lafayette, Indiana one of the largest single location captive heat treaters in North America which is ranked 3 on our list. Look forward to photos and a story about this very impressive facility. 
 
“Number 3 Dana Fairfield Manufacturing, Lafayette, Indiana. Our 2023 list prompted a number of large manufacturers with substantial heat treatment departments to reach out to “The Monty” to see how they ranked on our list-one that reached out was Dana Fairfield Manufacturing in Lafayette, Indiana, USA https://www.fairfieldmfg.com/fairfield-experience-for-gears-and-drive-systems/ a supplier of custom gears and drive systems.
 
The heat treat department of this facility covers over 65,000 square feet (6,000 square meters) and in it we find 9 pusher lines, 2 nitriding systems, 2 large annealers, several pit carburizing systems, multiple batch IQ lines and a very substantial induction hardening footprint. Incidentally while this is a very impressive heat treat facility it represents only a fraction of the over 700 heat treating systems which Dana operates around the globe.”
 
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USA Based, premier Design/build manufacturer of Isostatic Presses is excited to announce the recent expansion of our Manufacturing Operations in Central Ohio. This expansion further increases our footprint, capacity and technological capabilities while building custom isostatic pressing systems Worldwide for over 30 years!
 
With this new expansion, we look forward to continuing meeting the unique demands of our diverse customer base, ensuring high-quality and comprehensive Isostatic Pressing solutions. As AIP, inc. continues to grow and expand our capabilities, our focus remains on leveraging our combined strengths to provide unparalleled service and support our customers’ growth and invest in our capacity to meet the complex demands of evolving manufacturing needs.
 

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“KALLER®” is a brand name for gas springs and gas hydraulic systems for stamping dies and counterbalance, as well as gas hydraulic suspension systems for heavy-duty off-road vehicles. The company behind “KALLER” is “Strömsholmen” in Tranås, Sweden which in turn is part of the Barnes Group Inc. in the U.S
 
In February of 2023 the firm placed an order with Ipsen, in Kleve, Germany for four VDR(N)-1714-E/AutoMag units (vacuum nitriders). The furnaces are fully automated with a newly designed loader and furnace concept as well as the use of roller conveyors.
 
Just last week the furnaces were inaugurated in a special ceremony and are now in production. It would appear that this was a very successful project. 
 

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Now this is quite a story so please pay attention. Early this year it was announced that Commercial Steel Treating in Madison Heights, Michigan, USA was closing their doors (the original story is below). This 200,000 square foot facility housed everything from batch IQ lines to induction systems to three 4,000 pounds per hour mesh belt furnace lines. Quite a bit of the equipment is still available and going to auction, however the mesh belt lines sold reasonably quickly-here is the interesting part. First two of the lines were going to a Turkish fastener manufacturer setting up a new plant in Michigan with the third line going to Curtis Metal Finishing in the Chicago area. Then the story changed and the furnace lines were going to another fastener manufacturer in the US with the third line still going to Curtis Metal Finishing. Next up Curtis changed their minds and decided not to take the one line putting it back on the used market. It would now appear to be a done deal with two of the lines still going to a US fastener manufacturer with the third line now sold also.
 
We are assuming that this is now the end of the story. (The accompanying photo shows a typical 4,000 pound/hour Can Eng mesh belt line)
 
 
“MICHIGAN HEAT TREATER TO CLOSE, FEBRUARY 22, 2024It is the understanding of “The Monty Heat Treat News” that commercial heat treater Commercial Steel Treating in Madison, Heights, Michigan will be closing in the near future. The company has a long and distinguished history which we will try and summarize.
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Commercial was founded by Ralph Hoensheid in 1927 making it what we believe is the oldest commercial heat treater in North America. At some point in time Commercial became part of  Curtis Metal Finishing which has several locations including in the Chicago, IL area. 
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In 2023 Curtis was acquired by an Italian Company by the name of Primat Curtis with locations in Brazil, Europe and the US. What precipitated the decision to close the Madison Heights facility we can’t comment on but it is our understanding that this only effects this location.
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At one point in time Commercial was a very substantial commercial heat treater with batch IQ furnaces, induction hardening and continuous furnaces, we believe only the continuous furnaces are still in operation. We will keep you posted on any updates which become available.”
 

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“A leading European automotive component supplier has successfully digitized its heat treatment operations with the implementation of the QMULUS digitalization platform from UPC-Marathon, A Nitrex Company. This strategic upgrade is set to significantly boost operational efficiency and performance, aligning with the stringent accuracy and precision requirements of the global automotive market.
 
Imagine trying to piece together a complex puzzle where each piece comes from a different set. This is often the reality in heat treat environments where data is scattered across various systems—sensors, controllers, machines, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems, quality management software, and more. Each of these systems speaks its own language, making it nearly impossible to create a coherent picture of operations. This fragmentation leads to inefficiencies, errors, and delays that can cost companies time and money.
 
Previously, the manufacturer relied on multiple systems to manage its heat treatment operations. While functional, these legacy systems lacked remote control capabilities and required separate management for different furnaces. Recognizing the need for a unified, modern digitalization solution, the company transitioned to QMULUS to integrate and streamline all furnace operations.
 
The chosen solution, QMULUS Essential & Analytics with the add-on Operations app, provides a comprehensive suite of features, including advanced asset management, chart recording, remote control, recipe building, performance dashboards, and comprehensive operational analytics. QMULUS now oversees three nitriding furnaces and two carburizing belt furnaces, enhancing the management, utilization, efficiency, and overall performance of these five assets.
 
The integration of QMULUS has already begun transforming operations, leading to more responsive and streamlined processes. Production workers benefit from real-time data and alerts, enabling more accurate monitoring and process adjustments. Maintenance staff can leverage remote diagnostics and alert notifications for swift issue resolution and preventive maintenance, ultimately extending the equipment’s lifespan. Plant managers now have access to extensive performance dashboards and analytics, facilitating informed decision-making and optimized plant efficiency. Heads of heat treatment are utilizing detailed operational analytics and recipe management features to enhance the precision of heat treatment processes and ensure consistent product quality.
 
Daniel Gonschorek, UPC-Marathon Technical Sales Manager, commented, “Our collaboration with this tier 1/2 supplier has yielded significant improvements in their operational workflows. The integration of QMULUS is not only advancing their internal processes but also delivering tangible gains in efficiency and performance. By enhancing production efficiencies and reducing waste, QMULUS supports their commitment to innovation and aligns with the highest quality and sustainability standards. This digital transformation positions them strongly within the competitive automotive supply chain.”
Attention Heat Treatment Professionals! 🌟 For decades, systems like the PROTHERM 9000 and 9800 have set the standard for plant automation and management. But now, the next evolution is here! QMULUS is transforming the future of heat treatment, and we’re thrilled to offer you a first look in our upcoming webinar Sep 26, 2024 10:00 AM Eastern Time. Join us to explore the advanced features of QMULUS and experience cutting-edge technology that’s driving the industry forward. Don’t miss this chance to see what’s next! Sign up today: https://hubs.la/Q02PQ9C00
 
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