Top Heat Treat News Items Week of November 4
Every week “The Monty Heat Treat News” looks back at our news items from the previous week to see what our most popular heat treatment news items were based upon our readers responses, social media views and “hits” on “The Monty Heat Treat News”.
When we look back upon the week starting November 4th 2024 we see that an item about an acquisition in the European commercial heat treating market was our top item, our second most read story concerned a supplier to the global vacuum furnace industry and in third place was a story about the passing of a very knowledgeable heat treater in the North American heat treat industry;
Acquisition in the European Heat Treatment Industry; According to this press release HÄRTHA GROUP, one of the larger commercial heat treaters in Europe has made yet another acquisition. Over the years Gord Montgomery of “The Monty Heat Treat News” has been fortunate enough to visit a number of the HÄRTHA locations including Aldenhoven, Germany. The attached photo shows the facility, Mr. Sven Killmer is on the left in this photo.“Acquisition bolsters market position in southern Germany and strengthens HÄRTHA GROUP’s position in the competitive surface and coating technology segment.
Their strategic purchase in southern Germany allows the company group from Alsdorf (NRW) to augment their position in the attractive hardening market in southern Germany and to strengthen their core business in the field of heat treatment and coating. The transaction was put into effect in October of 2024.
Based in Neu-Ulm, Donau-Härterei GmbH is an established company in the heat treatment business and has been operating in this area since 1989. With the acquisition, the HÄRTHA Group widens their geographical presence in southern Germany while further enlarging their network for metal refining in this key industrial region. DonauHärterei GmbH boasts a broad portfolio that includes such processes as heat treatment under protective gas and in a vacuum, salt bath nitriding, salt bath hardening and inductive hardening. The company supplies customers from many areas, including mechanical and plant engineering, construction and agricultural machinery, toolmaking and mobility. This acquisition allows the HÄRTHA GROUP to expand their capacities and gives them the ability to now offer customers in southern Germany even more comprehensive services in the field of heat treatment.
Vacuum Pump Supplier Makes Another Acquisition; Busch Group, one of the world’s largest suppliers of vacuum pumps for the heat treatment industry, has made a number of acquisitions over the past few years and it would appear they are continuing to do so. Two examples as pointed out by “The Monty Heat Treat News” would include “VESCO-McLaughlin, Inc.” (VESCO) in East Windsor, CT in early 2023 and “Vacuum Furnace Engineering” (VFE) in the UK back in 2021.According to this press release the company recently acquired another similar firm in Germany-read on. “Dr.-Ing. Karl Busch GmbH, part of the global Busch Group, has acquired AVT GmbH from Kleve, Germany. AVT (Atmosphere and Vacuum Technology) offers spare parts and services for industrial furnaces used for heat treatment of workpieces.
AVT offers high-quality, durable spare parts and services for all established industrial furnace manufacturers in the field of atmosphere and vacuum technology. With the integration of the company, the Busch Group expands its position in the market for industrial vacuum solutions and opens new market opportunities.
“In AVT GmbH we are winning a competent partner for the heat treatment equipment service business. The acquisition of the company will enable us to enter this market. Together with AVT, we look forward to further driving the growth of the Busch Group as a complete solution provider in numerous industrial applications,” explains Roland Zundl, Managing Director of Dr.-Ing. Karl Busch GmbH.
During heat treatment in industrial furnaces, predominantly metal workpieces are heated and cooled in a controlled manner to optimize their properties. In this way, for example, these metal objects can be hardened. If the industrial furnace is a vacuum furnace, particularly high temperatures are possible, and gases and gas mixtures can be introduced.
AVT GmbH focuses on the provision of spare parts, technical services, and heat treatment systems for various industries such as the automotive industry, aerospace engineering, the tool and mechanical engineering industry, medical technology and for heat treatment service providers. AVT was founded in 2019 by Marc Angenendt and Frank Schaefer, who remain in the company’s management.”
Dr. Troy Greene March 4, 1968 – October 24, 2024; Earlier this week we mentioned the unfortunate passing of one of the most experienced “chain” heat treat engineers we have ever met, Dr. Troy Greene. This obituary provides details of a gathering to remember Troy. “Dr. Troy A. Greene, age 56, of Dixon, died Thursday, October 24, 2024 at Loyola Medical Center. Troy was born March 4, 1968 in Detroit, MI, the son of Ben and Iva Jean (Robbins) Greene. He was employed at Reynold for 30 years and later at Allied Locke in Dixon for 5 years. Troy enjoyed gardening and landscaping.
He is survived by his daughters, Faith (Alex) Smith of Morrison and Hope Greene of TN; his mother, Iva Jean Greene of Arthur, TN; one sister, Kay (Dennis) Miracle of Arthur, TN; one brother, Kevin (Darlene) Greene of Arthur, TN; and his dog, Poppy. He was preceded in death by his father and his first wife, Paula.
A gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM at the McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls.”
