Several times recently “The Monty Heat Treat News” has mentioned a growing litany of North American commercial heat treaters closing their doors, the most recent mention can be found here: “Another USA Commercial Heat Treater Closes it’s Doors”

 

Very unfortunately it would appear that yet another company is exiting the commercial heat-treating business later this year, Elm Plating in Jackson, Michigan. 

 

The company which was founded in 1951 has a long and distinguished history-this is how they describe themselves; “We’re a high-volume production metal finisher, providing zinc barrel plating, heat treating, dip spin coating and anodizing services to auto, auto-related and other industries.”

For the past number of years, the company has operated three continuous furnaces lines, specializing in high volume work. Our understanding is that after shutting down the heat-treating department the firm will concentrate on their plating, coating and anodizing services. The closure of the continuous lines will leave a gap in the continuous market with at least two high volume manufacturers in the US Midwest scrambling to find new commercial heat-treating sources.

 

Several commercial heat treaters have told us the problem is profitability, while costs for commercial heat treaters have soared over the years pricing has not increased enough to cover their cost increases.