Top Heat Treatment Stories for the Week of September 23
These are the top 3 heat treatment industry news stories for the week starting September 23, 2024 as ranked by our readers;
“Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems Introduces New Product Development Manager; Gasbarre, a leader in industrial furnace equipment, is pleased to welcome Dan Hill as Product Development Manager. With over 20 years of experience in engineering and technical sales, Dan will drive product innovation and develop customer solutions at Gasbarre.Dan brings a diverse background in capital equipment, spanning material handling, control systems, boilers and furnaces, combustion systems, and industrial washing/deburring equipment. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Michigan, and he is a licensed Professional Engineer. His expertise in project engineering, quality, and R&D is complemented by his leadership skills.
“Dan’s extensive experience and proven success in building relationships and developing customer solutions make him a valuable addition to our team,” said Ben Gasbarre, EVP of Sales & Marketing. “His passion for the industry and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our goals, and we are excited to have him on board.”
Dan has a strong track record in advocating for continuous improvement and new product development. He has served on various industry committees, including the ABMA Associate Council, the AGMA Metallurgy and Materials Technical Committee, and the National Fire Protection Agency Technical Committees. Based at Gasbarre’s Livonia, Michigan facility, Dan looks forward to using his skills and experience to support Gasbarre’s growth and innovation efforts.
With locations in Livonia, MI, and St. Marys, PA, Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems has been designing, manufacturing, and servicing a full line of industrial thermal processing equipment for over 50 years. Gasbarre’s equipment is designed for your process by experienced engineers and metallurgists that understand your requirements. For more information about Gasbarre and its products, please visit www.gasbarre.com Dan can be reached via email at [email protected] or via phone at 734-418-5575.”
“Ipsen USA Introduces Service HUB Model to Enhance Customer Support; Ipsen USA is excited to announce the formal launch of its Service HUB model, marking a significant shift in how the company delivers customer service and support across the United States. In the last two years, Ipsen has brought the HUB service model from concept to reality under the direction of Ipsen Global CEO Geoffrey Somary. Currently being led by Chief Service Officer John Dykstra, Ipsen’s HUBs now provide services across a large portion of the Midwest and Southeastern United States, addressing areas that have a high density of Ipsen customers.These regional service centers help ensure quicker response times, dedicated support teams, and thorough knowledge of each customer’s facility. By grouping customers in close geographic proximity, Ipsen can offer more efficient service tailored to their specific needs, reducing downtime and optimizing performance for heat-treating operations. The shift to the HUB model reflects Ipsen’s commitment to continuously improving customer experience while enhancing the quality of life for its Field Service Engineers (FSEs). With reduced travel time, FSEs are able to spend more time at home, contributing to better work-life balance while still providing high-quality, responsive service.
Lu Chouraki, Manager of Business Development, is leading the implementation of the HUBs. “Our goal is for the HUBs to tackle the immediate needs of our customers, eliminating long response times for operators experiencing outages,” Chouraki explained. Ipsen’s HUBs are now fully operational in four key regions, with plans to expand even further in the coming years. This transformation is part of Ipsen’s broader vision for service excellence, combining regional expertise with a personal touch that benefits customers and empowers the Ipsen team.
Additionally, to support the rollout of the HUB model, Ipsen has introduced the Ipsen Technical Development Center (TDC), an initiative led by Darci Johnson, Program and Transformation Manager, and Cavan Cardenas, Technical Training Lead. The TDC is focused on training and developing new FSEs, including the launch of the Field Service Engineer Academy, a specialized program that equips both new and current technicians with the skills needed to thrive in the HUB model. With more HUBs planned through 2025 and beyond, Ipsen is poised to redefine customer support in the heat treating industry, providing localized, expert service to meet the evolving demands of its customers. For more information, visit https://ipsenglobal.com/hub.”
US Furnace Builder Reports Record Breaking 2024; Earlier this year we reported that furnace builder “Aichelin” of Austria had a record breaking 2023 sales year and that the company was very optimistic that 2024 would follow suit https://themonty.com/aichelin-group-sales/. Not to be outdone “SECO/WARWICK” based in Poland also announced earlier this year a sales record in 2023 with the expectation that 2024 would be even better https://www.secowarwick.com/en/news/seco-warwick-usa/.Now comes word that “McLaughlin Furnace Group” https://www.mclaughlinsvc.com/ of Avilla, IN, USA also had a record breaking 2023 and anticipates that 2024 will be substantially better. Founder and President of the company, “Mr. Jeff McLaughlin” had this to say;
“2023 was our best year ever for the group in terms of sales and I can now confidently say that based upon shipments and order backlog 2024 will be even better-at this point we anticipate that our sales for the calendar year 2024 will be pushing $30 million USD. What makes me most pleased is that this sales growth is spread over all of our product lines. “Tru Mix” endothermic generator sales are strong, our partnership with “Rohde Furnaces” of Germany has been very productive for both sides, we shipped several mesh belt furnace lines and we have received a number of orders for temper furnaces. In addition, at the FNA show in October of this year in Colombus, Ohio we will be introducing a new product which we feel will attract a great deal of attention”.
“The Monty Heat Treat News” had the chance to visit McLaughlin last week and we came away with these photos of the assembly floor which shows 2 mesh belt furnace lines almost ready to ship, a “Rohde” Salt Recovery Unit under construction, a batch IQ being assembled and a partly built “Tru Mix” endo generator. The individual in the foreground of the one photo is “Mr. Ryan McLaughlin”. Jeff McLaughlin had this to add; “The entire McLaughlin team has done an incredible job this year-we have asked a lot of the team in terms of effort and overtime and without exception everybody has willingly pitched in. I can’t thank the team enough”.