Top Heat Treat News Items Week of August 12th
Unfortunately, our “top 3” heat treatment news items for the week starting August 12th, are dominated by obituaries. Regular readers of “The Monty” will know that our “top 3” are selected by readership both on www.themonty.com and on social media and the passing of well known individuals in the industry always attracts a lot of attention as it should.
1. “Roger Jones, Solar Atmospheres a “Giant” in the industry; “Roger A. Jones, of Perkasie, PA, passed away on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at the Community at Rockhill, Sellersville, PA. He was 69.He was the loving husband of Patti A. (Renner) Jones. The couple celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary on March 8, 2024.
Born in Abington, PA, he was the son of William R. and Myrtle E. (Jacobs) Jones, of Telford, PA. He was 1974 graduate of Phil-Mont Christian Academy, Dresher, PA. He then attended Hocking Technical College, Nelsonville, OH.
Roger began his career in the heat treating division of ABAR Corporation in 1975. In 1978 joined the newly formed Vacuum Furnace Systems Corp., known as VFS, and began working with his father, the founder of VFS.
In 1983, Roger assisted in the founding of Solar Atmospheres, Inc., serving as Vice President until 1993 when he was promoted to President. As the company grew, Roger was promoted to Corporate President in 2001 and eventually Chief Executive Officer in 2017. After 45 years of service, Roger retired in 2019 with the title of CEO Emeritus. During Roger’s time as CEO of Solar Atmospheres, the company became an award winning company.
He was a member of the American Society for Materials International (ASM) and locally, the Philadelphia Liberty Bell Chapter, where he chaired nine committees and served as Chapter Chairman. He was an instructor for the chapter’s MEI courses. ASM has awarded Roger with the William Hunt Eisenman Award, the President’s Award, the Meritorious Service Award and the Adolph Schaefer Special Achievement Award.
Roger was also a member of the Metal Treating Institute, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees, President of the Institution and served on various committees. He was awarded the Heritage Award in 2018, MTI’s most prestigious award.
He was a member of Immanuel Leidy’s Church, Souderton, PA where he served on the Finance, Lay Visitors and Hospitality Committees as well as an Usher Coordinator. He has also served on the Board of Trustees for the Grand View Health Foundation, Sellersville, PA.
Roger was a dedicated Life Member of the Perkasie Fire Company where he served as President, Vice President, Trustee and Engineer, a position that he held for over 30 years. He was awarded the Burpee Emergency Services Award in 2006 and the William E. Baringer Distinguished Service award in 2017. He was also a Life Member of the Bucks County Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Association.
In his free time, he enjoyed golfing and spending time at the mountain home in New Milford, PA.
In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by his children, Jamie A. Jones and his wife Lindsay, of Sellersville, PA, Jennifer A. Jones and her companion Raheem Johnson, of Quakertown, PA and Trevor M. Jones and his wife Brittney, of Doylestown, PA; six grandchildren, Mikayla Jones, Saonna Johnson, Tyshine Johnson, Raheem Johnson, Cole Jones and Presley Jones, a sister, Holly Craven and her husband Bruce, of Carlisle, PA and his two dogs, Teddy and Cooper.
His funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Immanuel Leidy’s Church, 273 W. Cherry Lane, Souderton, PA, where family and friends may call from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in Immanuel Leidy’s Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Leidy’s Church, 273 W. Cherry Lane, Souderton, PA 18964 or the Perkasie Fire Company, P.O. Box 203, Perkasie, PA 18944. Arrangements are by the Suess-Gahman Funeral Home & Crematory, Perkasie, PA.” https://themonty.com/roger-a-jones/
2. USA Commercial Heat Treater in Receivership-“Metals Technology”; Yesterday we had a news item entitled “USA Commercial Heat Treater Enters Receivership” https://themonty.com/usa-commercial-heat-treater-enters-receivership/ and as promised “The Monty Heat Treat News” followed up on this story-this is what we found out;While it would be difficult to say this is a good news story, we can certainly claim that it is not a bad story either. The company is a long-established commercial heat treater by the name of “Metals Technology” in Carol Stream, IL, USA https://metalstechnology.com/. Established in 1963 it has consistently had sales of over $14 million USD in the past few years and offers austempering, carburizing, vacuum hardening, induction hardening, marquenching and straightening to name a few processes-all in a 70,000 square foot facility.
While the company is temporarily in receivership all suppliers are getting paid on time, all customers are being serviced, no employees are being laid off and plans are that the company will continue operating as it has in the past. Watch for more updates from “The Monty”. https://themonty.com/usa-commercial-heat-treater-in-receivership-metals-technology/
3. HARRY HALL Obituary; “Harry” George Henry Hall, husband of Etta (Jordan) Hall, passed away peacefully, on Saturday, August 3, 2024, with loved ones by his side, in his 75th year. Harry was born on August 1, 1949, in Belfast, Northern lreland. He was born to late “Prue” Prudence Alexandra (Wylie) and late George Henry “Geordie” Hall. Harry was the eldest boy – he had three sisters, Joan (Archie), Maureen (late John), Anne (Billy); and two brothers, David and Ray (Marie). Harry and Etta were married on September 16, 1967, in Belfast, Northern lreland, and were married 54 years.Father to Mandy (Tim) and Colin (Christine). Granda to Stuart, Kyle (Jade), Kayla, Cory and Jordan. Great-Granda to Logan, Keatyn, Aria and Rowen. Step-Granda to Brad (Madison). Great-Step-Granda to Jaxson. ln 1970, with $140.00 in his pocket with his wife, Etta, and daughter, Mandy, immigrated to Canada. Harry started his working career, first with SKF Bearing Manufacturing and then McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Manufacturing in Ontario. After a slowdown in the aerospace industry, Harry landed a job at Toronto lronworks, which started his path in Heat Treating. ln 1989, his strong entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Aberfoyle Metal Treaters Limited near Guelph, Ontario.
Harry established a special business conducting large-scale heat treating for heavy industry including steel mills, nuclear power, hydroelectric, petrochemical and large machining. Harry had participated in many trade and business associations over many years. He was a long-standing board member of Metal Treating lnstitute (MTI), serving as president in 2002, and was recognized as Master Craftsman Heat Treator of the Year for North America. ln 2011, he received the Heritage Award, the most prestigious award from MTI. ln 2009, he was nominated as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. He also served on the board of directors for Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME Ontario) from 2009 to 2015.
Harry sold Aberfoyle Metal Treaters Limited 2012 to Canerectors which was Toronto lronworks, where his heat-treating career began. Recreationally, Harry was a musician. One of the proudest moments was in 1980 as C.W.O. of the Queen’s York Rangers (1st American) regimental band. Harry led a marching performance for the late Queen Elizabeth and the late Prince Philip with a live audience of 60,000 cheering spectators (CNE grounds) Toronto, Ontario. Harry, with his wife, Etta, loved to travel, and were able to see 80 countries, where they met a lot of friends and still have many of them to this day. Socializing, being with friends and family was Harry’s biggest joy.
Harry’s passion for car racing, mostly Formula 1, which he was able to see many races in Montreal, Canada, Circuit Zandvoort (Dutch) and Autodromo Nazionale Monza (ltaly). He was proud to own and drive his yellow Corvette. Harry is loved and will be dearly missed from his family and friends here in Canada, Northern lreland, London, Scotland, United States, Netherlands and other countries that he had travelled. Visitors will be received at McKersie & Early Funeral Home, 114 Main St. E., Milton, (905) 878-4452, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., with a funeral service to follow at 5:00 p.m. A limo service from Hwy. 25/401 car park and Aberfoyle car park to and from the family home will be provided immediately following the service. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.mckersieearly.com.
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