Heat Treatment “Monday Morning Briefing”

• “BWX Technologies, Inc.”, headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA supplies nuclear components. Recently the firm committed to a new, multi-million dollar carbottom furnace being provided by at USA furnace builder.
• “Hestia Heat Treat”, Racine, WI, USA. For over 70 years, commercial heat treater Hestia in Racine, WI has been offering heat treating services. Unfortunately the owner of the company Mr. Darius Szczekocki passed away very unexpectedly and leadership of the company was taken over by his wife Jill;  “Hestia Heat Treat, Racine, WI, USA-The Next Step”. Recently the firm was profiled by the local newspaper-the article can be found at “A Loss is Tempered by Loyalty” 
• “Bodycote Share Price”. The worlds’ largest commercial heat treater, UK based Bodycote has been in the news quite a bit recently, mainly as it has been the target of several purchase offers-how has this effected the share price? Very positively as you can see;  “Bodycote plc stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as GBX 960 and last traded at GBX 959.50, with a volume of 15802 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 953.
• “Bodycote, Fort Wayne, IN”. Speaking of Bodycote the company has been making very substantial changes over the course of the past year, these changes include plant mergers, closures along with investments and new facilities. A recent casualty was the facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana which has either closed or will be closed.
• “Major USA Foundry Laying off Employees”. A USA foundry and substantial supplier of cast furnace fixturing and components laid off most of their employees two weeks ago. Some employees remain but our understanding is that production has largely ceased. We will have updates on this story as they become available.
• “Pratt & Whitney, Poland Adding Heat Treat Capacity”. While this press release really doesn’t tell us much about a heat treating investment-trust us at “The Monty” that heat treating is part of this project; “RTX’s Pratt & Whitney will invest $25 million to expand its manufacturing plant in Niepołomice, southern Poland, increasing production capacity for commercial and military aircraft engines. Scheduled to begin operations in 2028, the expanded facility will produce high-precision tube assemblies for various aircraft engine systems. The Niepołomice plant already produces components for several Pratt & Whitney engine families. These include the GTF engine used on commercial airliners, the PW800 for business jets, and the F135, which powers all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II fighter.” 
• “Largest Captive Heat Treaters”. For years “The Monty” has been publishing a list of the 15 largest captive heat treaters in North America; “15 Largest Captive Heat Treats-North America”. While we have never done one for the world it would most likely include steel producer “voestalpine” in the vacuum category.  The firm has 25 locations around the world offering vacuum hardening and coatings (no atmosphere). In total this includes over 100 vacuum furnaces.
• In case you missed it “The Monty” Talks Vacuum Furnaces with “Jay Jefsen, Furnacare”
• Why are vacuum furnace providers so busy these days? “The Monty” tells you; “Gas Turbine Industry Continues to Add Vacuum Furnace Capacity”

• Heat Treatment Names in the News