Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Catch up on these 26 news items, including Solar Atmospheres of Western PA’s new water quench furnace for titanium components, RUBIG’s partnership with MetalPro Resources to improve regional access to nitriding technologies, MTC Powder Solutions’ Nadcap Heat Treating accreditation, and more!
Equipment
1. Neuman Aluminium is partnering with Hirschvogel Group to establish an aluminum production operation in San Juan del Río, Mexico, featuring a 40-ton tiltable melting furnace supplied by Jasper GmbH. Scheduled to begin production in early 2028, the integrated operation will enable on-site remelting of process scrap, strengthening North American aluminum forging capabilities for the automotive industry.
2. DELTA H Technologies has delivered heat treating furnaces to aerospace and defense contractors, aviation OEMs, and the U.S. Armed Forces. The systems increase heat treating capacity to meet growing aircraft production and maintenance demands.
3. Croatia-based Tvornica plinskih turbina has ordered its first vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK to bring aerospace and gas turbine component heat treating in-house. The investment will improve quality control, increase production independence, and reduce reliance on external heat treating services.
4. Solar Atmospheres of Western PA is commissioning a new water quench furnace designed to solution anneal large titanium components, adding capacity for rapid quenching of workloads serving aerospace, defense, medical, and other critical applications. The system is expected to enter production in November 2026.
5. ECM Technologies developed the CCN cell with a cold-wall, graphite-free design and a load capacity of 1000 x 610 x 750 mm (39.4 x 24 x 29.5 inches). The system provides 150 kW convection heating and is designed around the furnace manufacturer’s modular equipment concept.
6. A U.S. bearing manufacturer has ordered a vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK for in-house hardening and low-pressure carburizing. The investment will increase heat treating capacity for larger bearing components used in aerospace and other industrial applications.
7. An international aerospace manufacturer is investing in a large high-vacuum furnace from Aichelin ST Vacuum GmbH for in-house titanium alloy heat treatment. The system will enable carbon-free processing of large components weighing up to 10,000 pounds, meeting stringent aerospace manufacturing requirements.
8. JSW JFE Electrical Steel, a captive heat treater in India, is installing three processing lines supplied by Tenova for annealing, pickling, decarburizing, flattening, and coating. The investment will enhance grain-oriented electrical steel production for energy-efficient transformers and power distribution systems.
9. Evolution Metals & Technologies (EM&T) has begun receiving ULVAC vacuum sintering and magnet production equipment for its South Korean facility. The investment is expected to increase annual rare earth magnet capacity tenfold to 10,000 metric tons, serving defense, automotive, and aerospace industries.
10. A new hot strip mill at U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works will incorporate walking beam furnaces for slab reheating as part of a nearly $3 billion modernization project aimed at increasing steel production capacity and improving efficiency.
11. JSW Utkal Steel Limited has awarded SMS group a contract to supply a 5.75-million-ton-per-year sinter plant for its new integrated steelworks in India. Scheduled for commissioning in May 2028, the plant will improve steel production efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and lower emissions through waste heat recovery and off-gas recirculation technologies.
12. A global aerospace manufacturer is installing an automated heat treatment line from SECO/WARWICK at its new facility in Poland, featuring 12 atmosphere and vacuum furnaces with integrated quenching systems. The investment will improve process control and production efficiency for aerospace forgings currently manufactured in the United States.
13. Algoma Steel has produced the first heat of liquid steel from its second electric arc furnace, advancing the Canadian steelmaker’s transition to a two-furnace EAF platform. The first heat was subsequently processed into finished hot-rolled coil as the company moves toward increased production for infrastructure, construction, defense, and other markets.
14. IperionX has commissioned an additional Elnik hydrogen sintering furnace at its Virginia facility and begun production of titanium fasteners and components. The increased capacity will strengthen domestic titanium manufacturing for U.S. defense and commercial programs.
15. Toptech Polska, a precision metal components manufacturer, is bringing vacuum heat treatment in-house with a new furnace, supplied by SECO/WARWICK, capable of high-pressure gas quenching at up to 15 bar. The investment will support hardening, tempering, and annealing of tool steel components while giving the manufacturer greater control over production scheduling, processing parameters, and component quality.
16. Nucor Steel Berkeley has begun production on a new continuous galvanizing line in South Carolina, supplied by Primetals Technologies and CLECIM SAS. With an annual capacity of approximately 500,000 tons, the line will produce advanced high-strength and coated steels for automotive applications.
17. Deacero has cast its first steel billet at a new mini-mill in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, marking a milestone in the facility’s commissioning. The plant’s continuous caster is operating using an existing electric arc furnace (EAF) while commissioning continues on a new EAF, advancing the facility toward production of large structural steel sections.
18. An Indian manufacturer of precision metal components has ordered two AMS2750H-compliant tempering furnaces from SECO/WARWICK, marking its third equipment purchase from the supplier. The investment will strengthen in-house stress relieving and tempering capabilities while improving process consistency for aerospace components.
Company & Personnel
19. Amaero Inc., a Tennessee-based producer of refractory and titanium alloy metal powders and near-net-shape components using powder metallurgy-hot isostatic pressing (PM-HIP), plans to invest up to approximately $10 million in capital equipment over the next 12 months using proceeds from its U.S. initial public offering.
20. RUBIG has partnered with MetalPro Resources (MPR) to provide regional sales representation for nitriding and coating technologies across six U.S. states. The agreement improves access to heat treating solutions for automotive, heavy industrial, and metalworking manufacturers.
21. INTALUS, a U.S.-based advanced materials manufacturer, has secured financing to establish domestic manufacturing facilities and expand hot isostatic pressing (HIP) capacity. The investment will increase U.S. capabilities for densifying metal components, reducing internal defects, and improving material performance for defense, aerospace, energy, and other critical industries.
22. US Forged Rings (USFR) has signed a manufacturing agreement with Oklo Inc. to reserve production capacity at its planned North Carolina facility for advanced nuclear reactor components. The partnership will strengthen domestic steel manufacturing capabilities and reduce reliance on overseas suppliers for the U.S. nuclear energy industry.
23. Solar Atmospheres of California has promoted Courtney Castillejos to quality manager at its Fontana facility, where she previously served as Senior Quality Technician. She will oversee quality management systems to maintain compliance with customer requirements and industry standards for vacuum heat treating services.
Kudos
24. GKN Aerospace has become the first company worldwide to achieve Nadcap accreditation for Laser Wire Directed Energy Deposition (L-DED-w) at its facility in Trollhättan, Sweden. The certification validates its additive manufacturing processes against aerospace industry standards, strengthening its capabilities for aerospace and defense production.
25. MTC Powder Solutions has achieved Nadcap Heat Treating accreditation for hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and pyrometry following a successful PRI audit. The certification strengthens its HIP services for aerospace manufacturers requiring stringent process control, traceability, and quality assurance.
26. Radyne Corporation has been named the 2026 Associate Member of the Year by the Metal Treating Institute (MTI) for its commitment to industry collaboration and technological innovation. The award recognizes Radyne’s contributions to advancing induction heating solutions that improve manufacturing efficiency, precision, and productivity.
