Top Heat Treatment News Stories Week of January 20th
Based upon reader feedback, visits to “The Monty Heat Treat News” and social media the top 2 heat treatment news stories for the week starting January 20, 2025 are these 3 ranked from highest to lowest;
US Defence Supplier Increases Heat Treat Capacity; Watervliet Arsenal located in Watervliet, New York was founded in 1813 and is the oldest continuously active arsenal in the United States, and today produces much of the artillery for the army as well as gun tubes for cannons, mortars and tanks. In 2023 the US government announced that it was investing $1.7 Billion USD into upgrading the facility over the next two decades. This massive investment meant a newly expanded and upgraded heat treat department which included a new endothermic generator provided by “McLaughlin Furnace Group” in 2023 “U.S. Army Arsenal Commits to New Endothermic Generator”.
The most recent investment includes a horizontal heat treat furnace which the arsenal describes this way; “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project replaced the arsenal’s aging system without disrupting workflow. The new system improves quality and expands the arsenal’s capabilities and capacity.” Not a great deal of detail we realize but no surprise as this is a defence project. This photo shows the ribbon cutting ceremony for the furnace line which took place just a month ago.
For more details about why this investment was required we would suggest this very interesting article below; “The Pentagon has allocated $161 million to create a second production line for the barrels of the M777 and M109 155mm howitzers, as the only plant in the US – the Watervliet Arsenal – cannot cope with Ukraine’s demand for more than 30 new barrels a month.
The intensive use of howitzers by the Ukrainian Defence Forces leads to their rapid wear and tear, reducing accuracy and range, and increasing the risk of failures due to barrel rupture or damage. According to a recent document from the US Department of Defence, a decision was made to upgrade the production facility to produce up to 10 additional barrels for the M777 howitzers per month.
Ukraine has received more than 200 155mm howitzers from the US since the invasion began, including the M777, but much of it is already damaged or worn out. The high intensity of the fighting results in a constant need to repair and replace barrels, putting a strain on U.S. production capacity.
It is also interesting that the Ukrainian Defence Forces have mastered an almost complete cycle of repair and maintenance of M777 howitzers (including the assembly of a single howitzer from several unrepairable ones). In addition, it is also known about the localisation of production of a number of spare parts (consumables) that require constant replacement.”
Salt Bath Nitriding Company Appoints COO’s; Kolene Corporation announced the promotion of Peter L. Shoemaker to Chief Operating Officer for the corporation effective January 1, 2025. Mr. Shoemaker will continue to lead Kolene’s chemical supply chain & order fulfillment departments, as well as the company’s critical replacement parts revenue segment for Kolene. Shoemaker, 45, who holds a BA and an MBAfrom Central Michigan University, joined Kolene in 2003 and has held numerous positions within the company –from commercial processing sales, field service, assisting in the deployment of Kolene’s heat treat salts. Throughout his career, Mr. Shoemaker has not only forged numerous strategic partnerships and key relationships with critical suppliers of Kolene’s raw materials, but also with the company’s most vital service providers. STORY CONTINUED
Fastener Manufacturer to Bring Heat Treat In-House; Located in Taylor, Michigan USA this is how B&D Cold Headed Products describes themselves; “B&D Thread Rolling, Inc. dba B&D Cold Headed Products, is a U.S. manufacturer of high strength cold-formed bolts, studs, pins and other metal fasteners. Our parts are found in products all around us from the buses that drive our kids to school to the appliances in our homes to the armored vehicles that protect our nation.” The company was founded in 1969 and since that time it has grown and prospered, however as far as we know at “The Monty Heat Treat News” know the firm has always outsourced their heat treating requirements-but not for much longer. B&D recently invested in used Can Eng mesh belt furnace lines which were previously installed at Commercial Steel Treating in Madison Heights, MI, a facility which closed down in 2024. While the equipment is not yet in operation it will be under the direction of Mr. Gary Harrison who interesting enough use to work at Commercial Steel Treating.
It brings joy to our hearts to see a manufacturer making a substantial investment in what will be an impressive heat treat department.
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