In just over 3 years at Kondex Corporation and 12 years in the heat treating industry, Lead Metallurgist Casey Placek has made an enduring mark — not only through technical achievements but also through his approachable, collaborative nature. Known across the plant for his willingness to explain complex metallurgical concepts in clear, visual ways, Casey ensures that anyone, from engineers to shop floor operators, can confidently apply the right processes.

Armed with a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Casey has amassed a wealth of knowledge through continuous learning, earning CEUs from numerous conferences, webinars, and courses on heat treatment of irons and steels, as well as metallurgical analysis techniques.

His most significant accomplishment at Kondex has been leading the successful implementation of the company’s new atmosphere-to-salt austempering lines. This large-scale project transformed Kondex’s heat-treating capabilities from limited in-house processes to a facility whose capacity and performance rival commercial operations. Casey guided every stage, including developing racking methods, creating heat treat recipes for hundreds of components, establishing inspection protocols, and setting maintenance routines. The project’s success has brought high-performance heat treating in-house, saving costs, improving quality, and enhancing client value. Casey has also contributed to process improvements in salt-to-salt austempering and induction hardening, as well as new process development, including Kondex’s universal batch quench austemper (UBQA) system.

Casey’s collaborative spirit and good humor bring positivity and fun to the workplace culture. A self-described “jack of all trades” and master of his craft, he continually seeks to learn, improve, and inspire those around him.

Nominated by: Kondex Corporation