Top Heat Treatment News Stories for the Week of September 16th
Each week “The Monty Heat Treat News” looks back on our news stories from the previous week and based upon reader feedback, website anlaytics and social media “views” arrives at 3 heat treatment stories that most interested our readers. For the week starting September 13th here they are from the most read to the third most followed;
Can-Eng Mesh Belt Lines Sold-That Was Fast! 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) https://themonty.com/can-eng-mesh-belt-lines-sold-that-was-fast/
“MICHIGAN HEAT TREATER TO CLOSE, FEBRUARY 22, 2024. It 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. 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.
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. 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.” ECM Installs Low Pressure Carburizing Line; Furnace builder ECM of Grenoble, France is pretty happy to announce that they have completed installation of a Low Pressure Carburizing Line at Thermi Lyon in Marignier, France. Thermi Lyon is a family owned commercial heat treater and one of the largest in France; “We are very pleased to have been able to collaborate with Groupe Thermilyon at their “Trempelec” site for the integration of their new vacuum heat treatment line.
“Groupe Thermilyon” is a French group, service provider and expert in heat treatment and vacuum coating. This new automated line consists of cells for low-pressure carburizing as well as gas quenching cells and oil quenching cells. This investment demonstrates their desire to improve their industrial facilities by guaranteeing their end customers a gain in machining, metallurgical quality and consequently in unit cost. This all-electric vacuum heat treatment line is an additional way for the Groupe Thermilyon – Traitement thermique to guarantee clean production for their customer while reducing their own energy consumption.” https://themonty.com/ecm-installs-low-pressure-carburizing-line/ 
Gas Spring Manufacturer Installs 4 Vacuum Nitriding Systems; “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. https://themonty.com/gas-spring-manufacturer-installs-4-vacuum-nitriding-systems/