Heat Treatment Industry Updates
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. 
Heat Treat Giant Bodycote Appoints President – Global Automotive and Industrial. Bodycote, the world’s largest commercial heat treater has appointed Mr. Rick Llope to the position of President Global Automotive and Industrial effective January of 2025. Mr. Llope joined the company in January of 2023 as President Automotive & General Industrial North America. “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.
The Center for Heat Treating Excellence is a unique industry-university consortium at WPI serving the thermal processing industry by providing the needed knowledge base and confidential problem-solving solutions. Most importantly, it educated future leaders in the thermal processing industry.”
Heat Treat Cleaning System Company Enters US Market With a “Bang”. Germany based HEMO GmbH is known around the world as a leader in very high-end cleaning systems (and not just for the heat treat industry, although that is how we know them). The firm announced in late 2024 that they would be setting up a new facility in Michigan which would include technical support, sales, parts and demo systems. The project is well underway with construction of the offices almost completed. By Easter of this year the firm expects the offices will include two demo systems for cleaning trials and two technicians. In the meantime, HEMO landed two new orders from US customers. This photo shows Andreas Fritz, CEO of the company at the German Heat Treat show in Cologne October of last year where he announced the new investment. 
Furnace Builder Appoints Manufacturing Manager. Furnace builder AFC-Holcroft of Wixom, Michigan recently appointed Mr. Rob Killius as Manufacturing Manager. This is an interesting change for Rob as previous to this he worked with manufacturers such as KAMAX and Acument Global Technologies, both of which have in-house heat-treating departments. 
And Speaking of AFC-Holcroft we Have This Mention About Mr. Mike Coburn; “I’m pleased to announce that I have taken on the role of Busiess Development Manager for our sister company Atmosphere Group Inc where I will be representing our commercial austemper heat treat operations.” Previous to this Mike was a Sales Engineer with AFC-Holcroft selling new furnaces. 
James Hoensheid Joins Ford as Heat Treat Engineer. For most individuals once you enter the heat treatment industry you never leave, such is the case with Mr. James Hoensheid. James’s family owned one of the oldest commercial heat treats in North America, Commercial Steel Treating of Michigan, USA which is presumably where he got his start. After one brief stop at another company he recently joined Ford Motor Company as a Heat Treat Engineer.