The four heat treat industry-specific economic indicators have been gathered by Heat Treat Today each month since June 2023. For the second month in a row, all four economic indicators reflect anticipated growth.
The indicators, which were compiled in the first week of December, show that suppliers expect the economy to experience growth throughout the month of December across all indices. This is the first month since March 2024 that the numbers in all four categories rose above 60, anticipating wide-scale improvements across the entire North American heat treat economy. In particular, the numbers increased by 6.5 and 7.5 points in the value of bookings and the size of backlog, respectively.
The results from this month’s survey (December) are as follows; numbers above 50 indicate growth, numbers below 50 indicate contraction, and the number 50 indicates no change:
Anticipated change in Number of Inquiries from November to December: 65.0
Anticipated change in Value of Bookings from November to December: 62.5
Anticipated change in Size of Backlog from November to December: 65.0
Anticipated change in Health of the Manufacturing Economy from November to December: 61.3
Data for December 2024
The four index numbers are reported monthly by Heat Treat Today and made available on the website.
Heat TreatToday’sEconomic Indicatorsmeasure and report on four heat treat industry indices. Each month, approximately 800 individuals who classify themselves as suppliers to the North American heat treat industry receive the survey. Above are the results. Data started being collected in June 2023. If you would like to participate in the monthly survey, please click here to subscribe.
Maintaining clear communication for high precision processing, critical with medical component heat treating, requires sophisticated operations. In today’s Technical Tuesday, Mike Grande, vice president of Sales at Wisconsin Oven Corporation, provides an overview of how the industrial internet of things (IIoT) advances heat treat performance capabilities and ensures accurate, repeatable results.
This informative piece was first released inHeat Treat Today’sDecember 2024 Medical & Energy Heat Treat print edition.
Today’s technology is evolving at an exponential rate. Over the last several years, digital technology has provided more and more connectivity between devices and processes. One of the most impactful is IoT technology. From smartphones to virtual assistants, touchscreen refrigerators to thermostats and interconnected home management systems, these products are quickly changing the way people interact and connect.
In addition to consumer products, the industrial world is also seeing increased reliance on this technology to improve throughput, decrease energy use, and increase equipment longevity by capturing and analyzing the data generated by their machines.
What Is IoT and IIoT Technology?
IoT (internet of things) refers to everyday items that have been equipped with sensors that transfer data over a network. Refrigerators, lights, thermostats, smart speakers, and entire homes are now available with IoT technology. Devices equipped with IoT options provide conveniences like remote monitoring, advanced programming, and smart learning, which make daily and household tasks easier. What seemed like science fiction just a few years ago has become reality.
This impressive technology does not only apply to the consumer world. The application of IoT to the manufacturing sector is even more impactful. Industrial internet of things (IIoT) is the term used to describe the application of connected IoT technology to industrial machinery. These systems collect and analyze data, learn from that data (“machine learning”), perform predictive maintenance, and then share that information with personnel, manufacturers, including manufacturers of the machines being monitored, and even other devices. This type of data collection and analysis gives valuable insight into the facilities, processes, and equipment to ensure that everything from energy usage in a facility to equipment performance for a process is optimized.
Figure 1. The IoT gateway collects the data from oven-mounted sensors and wirelessly transmits it to the cloud. Source: Wisconsin Oven Corporation
How Is IIoT Used in Industrial Ovens and Furnaces?
IIoT technology tracks the performance and health of the most critical components and conditions in the ovens and furnaces they are monitoring. The system utilizes an IoT gateway (Figure 1), which collects information from predictive maintenance sensors that gathers performance data and stores it over time. The gateway also wirelessly transmits the data to a cloud platform where it can be displayed in dashboards, designed for easy viewing and monitoring. Thresholds are set at warning or alarm conditions. When exceeded, the system alerts the user or the oven manufacturer that there is a problem. This type of system predicts component failures before they occur, allowing time to schedule maintenance and minimize unplanned downtime.
Figure 2: An example of a dashboard used on an oven IIoT system Source: Wisconsin Oven Corporation
The data is displayed in a dashboard format (Figure 2) which permits visual analysis of the information, and intuitive understanding of the process being performed in the oven. In the example of an oven used to process parts in an inert atmosphere, the x-axis represents the elapsed time, which can be expanded or collapsed by the user in order to provide a more (or less) detailed view of the process. The y-axis tracks variables such as temperature, pressure, oxygen level, nitrogen flow rate, and humidity level.
A few examples of the oven data gathered and analyzed by an IIoT system are as follows:
The output of the temperature controller is monitored. If, for example, the controller output is normally running at 30% for a specific oven (meaning the oven is using 30% of its full heat capacity), and for no apparent reason it increases to 60% output, this indicates either an exhaust damper is stuck open and causing the oven to exhaust too much of its heat, there is a heater failure, or a door is not closing fully, or something else.
Vibration sensors installed on recirculation blowers can monitor the health of the oven. Since blowers are rotating machines, they have a predictable vibration frequency and amplitude. As the blower bearings wear over time, these vibration parameters change. The IIoT system uses proprietary algorithms to determine acceptable vibration levels at different temperatures and RPMs. As the vibration values change over time, the system can predict when blower failure is likely, prior to it occurring. This allows replacement parts to be ordered before a “hair on fire” situation where the equipment suddenly stops working, interrupting production and workflow.
In order to monitor the burners on gas-fired ovens, the flame safety system is wired to the IIoT system. This allows remote evaluation of the flame sensor, purge timer, and other components that are critical to safe and proper burner operation. On older ovens, nuisance shutdowns can occur due to a dirty combustion blower, dirty flame rod, faulty airflow switch, or other reasons. An IIoT system allows the oven manufacturer to remotely diagnose this type of issue without ever sending a service technician to the job site, saving time and money.
An oven IIoT system is often used to measure the oven chamber pressure. Ovens can be intentionally operated at a neutral pressure, a slightly negative, or slightly positive pressure, for various process-related reasons. A pressure sensor measures this value and, via the IIoT gateway, delivers it to the dashboard in real time. If the chamber pressure strays outside of a predetermined range, this indicates a failure such as an improper damper setting or a malfunctioning exhaust blower.
The Benefits of IIoT Technology
Predictive maintenance is one of the most important benefits of IIoT. The ability to prevent potential equipment breakdowns and resulting process bottlenecks is invaluable. Not only does IIoT allow plant managers and operators to schedule maintenance ahead of time, it also reduces maintenance hours by knowing exactly what the issue is that needs to be serviced. This reduction in unplanned downtime increases productivity, which translates to higher profits.
The quantity of detailed, relevant data available (real time and retroactive) via the IIoT system exceeds the information a service technician can gather oven side, especially if the oven has stopped working. Using IIoT to remotely gain information to service the equipment, the problem can often be resolved the same day.
Perhaps the most impressive benefit of IIoT is remote diagnostics. Whether a furnace or oven is experiencing occasional unexplained shutdowns, or is completely out of commission, it typically takes days or weeks to schedule a service technician to inspect the equipment and diagnose the problem. However, if the oven is equipped with IIoT, a call can be made to the oven manufacturer who can remotely log into the system dashboard. They will be able to view and analyze the data gathered by all the sensors going back over time, without sending a service technician to the job site. Also, the quantity of detailed, relevant data available (real time and retroactive) via the IIoT system exceeds the information a service technician can gather oven-side, especially if the oven has stopped working. Using IIoT to remotely gain information to service the equipment, the problem can often be resolved the same day. Further, the IIoT system gathers and records the data going back in time for months, which is invaluable when trying to diagnose a chronic or intermittent failure.
Another use of IIoT technology is energy management. Through IIoT monitoring, facilities and equipment can be set to optimize energy efficiency. By ensuring the oven uses only the amount of heat energy necessary, and no more, its energy consumption is minimized. The system can reveal, for example, that a second shift oven operator opens the oven doors for five minutes to unload the parts and then load the next batch, while the first shift operator takes ten minutes to do the same process, wasting a great deal of energy as heated air spills out of the oven for an extra five minutes with every batch.
Data Security
IIoT devices use encryption to protect against unauthorized access to the oven operational data. Data transmitted between IIoT devices and the cloud is encrypted using protocols like Transport Layer Security (TLS). This provides confidence that only approved parties can access the information, safeguarding it from those with malicious intent. This ensures that even if data is intercepted, it will appear as jumbled information that cannot be read without the decryption key.
Because the data collected relates to the oven or furnace being monitored, and is not descriptive of the parts being processed, it would be of limited use to anyone who gained unauthorized access. If a malicious actor discovered, for example, the vibration levels, temperature controller output, or the status of the burner system while the oven is processing a load, it would be of limited proprietary value and would not directly reveal information about the parts being processed since no information about the load is included in the data.
In considering the security risk of an IIoT system collecting and transmitting data to the cloud, it must be compared to the alternative, which is bringing a service technician to the job site to perform the required maintenance or troubleshooting. When a service technician is invited on site, they have the opportunity to view the parts being processed, which temperature profiles apply to which parts, material handling methods, ancillary processes performed before or after heating, and even unrelated proprietary processes performed in the facility. This level of intrusion is much greater than simply sending the oven IIoT data to the cloud and avoiding the service technician entirely.
The Future of IIoT
Since the introduction of IIoT to the industrial oven market, it has gained acceptance by a wide range of manufacturers, and it is expected to continue to grow. Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a part of IIoT, as it can optimize the algorithms used in predictive maintenance. Also, IIoT can incorporate AI’s cognitive capabilities to better be able to learn at what thresholds of vibration, pressure, etc., to send alert notifications.
To Summarize
Consider purchasing an IIoT system with your next industrial oven. The successful implementation and use of IIoT provides a competitive advantage to the owner of the equipment. In today’s world of “doing more with less,” IIoT can increase productivity, reduce maintenance costs and unplanned downtime, and decrease energy use, all at minimal cost, and with no additional personnel required.
About the Author:
Mike Grande Vice President of Sales Wisconsin Oven Corporation
Mike Grande has a 30+ year background in the heat processing industry, including ovens, furnaces, and infrared equipment. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and received his certification as an Energy Manager (CEM) from the Association of Energy Engineers in 2009. Mike is the vice president of Sales at Wisconsin Oven Corporation.
Taiwan Hodaka Technology, an aerospace and automotive manufacturer, extends its market reach by adding an aluminum aging furnace to its heat treatment capabilities. The furnace, which is designed for aging using T77 technology, will allow the company to meet the highest safety and strength standards.
This is the first transaction between Taiwan Hodaka Technology, which is involved in the design and processing of parts made of aluminum alloys, and SECO/WARWICK. The furnace operates in the temperature range from 176° to 428°F (80° to 220°C) with a temperature uniformity in the last heating phase, of ±47.4°F (3°C) in accordance with the AMS 2750 standard.
“The solution supplied by SECO/WARWICK will allow us to enter a new market segment. We are a partner for many key players in the aviation industry. The T77 aluminum aging furnace will enable us to serve customer requirements even better. At the same time, the new technology will support our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment,” said Dr. Sam Chiang, vice president for R&D at Taiwan Hodaka Technology Co. Ltd.
Tomasz Kaczmarczyk, Sales Manager of the Aluminum Process and CAB Furnaces Teams, SECO/WARWICK
For heat treated alloys (2xxx, 6xxx and 7xxx series), the letter T and one or more digits are used after the alloy series symbol. The first digit is the most important, as it indicates the type of heat treatment applied to the alloy, while the remaining digits (if provided) indicate heat treatment variants or their modifications. The 7000 series of aluminum alloys have the highest strength of all other aluminum alloy series and are commonly used in aviation since they are held to the highest safety and strength standards.
“T7 denotes the process of solution heat treatment and artificial aging to an overaged state to obtain specific properties, e.g. increased corrosion resistance,” said Tomasz Kaczmarczyk, sales manager of the Aluminum Process and CAB Furnaces Team at SECO/WARWICK. “Sometimes, in addition to the digit denoting the standard heat treatment, an additional digit is used to denote modifications to the given treatment or stress relief procedures. For example, for 7xxx alloys, the symbol T77 denotes retrogression and re-aging. The use of this process improves the alloy’s corrosion resistance, which is so crucial in the production of aircraft parts. The applied technology will allow Taiwan Hodaka Technology to produce high-quality profiles used in the aviation industry in accordance with the AMS standard.”
Piotr Skarbiński Vice President of Aluminum and CAB Products Segment SECO/WARWICK
“The furnace on order equipped with electric heating will process 1500 kg of aluminum profiles with a maximum length of 5500 mm. This is a two-zone solution with a total heating power of 420 kW. The solution for aluminum aging, powered by electric heaters, eliminates the problem of CO2 emissions and is in line with the ecological trend increasingly common in heavy industry,” said Piotr Skarbiński, vice president of the CAB and aluminum products segment at SECO/WARWICK.
The furnace will be used at the company’s newly built plant in Taiwan.
The project partner was PEERENERGY, which offers thermal process consulting, project management, and equipment supply for the aerospace, military equipment, and semiconductor industries.
The press release is available in its original form here.
We’re celebrating getting to the “fringe” of the weekend with a Heat Treat Fringe Friday installment: a project that targets reducing the environmental impact of the bright annealing process. Learn more about this EU-funded initiative that is expected to impact industries using high-hydrogen-content atmospheric gas.
While not exactly heat treat, “Fringe Friday” deals with interesting developments in one of our key markets: aerospace, automotive, medical, energy, or general manufacturing.
Energy efficiency, specifically reducing the environmental impact of the bright annealing process in seamless stainless steel and nickel alloy tube production, is the goal of a new European Union-funded initiative. The recently launched LIFE H2ReuseProject seeks solutions for hydrogen recovery and reuse.
The project, coordinated by DMV (Cogne Group, formerly Mannesman Stainless Tubes) in partnership with Tenova, is expected to impact industries using high-hydrogen-content atmospheric gas, which could apply the project’s results to reduce their carbon footprint, optimize resource use, and lower operating costs.
In the bright annealing process, 100% hydrogen is used in high-temperature furnaces to produce high-performance tubes with superior surface quality, corrosion resistance, and durability. Currently, hydrogen is flared after each production cycle, leading to significant waste. The LIFE H2Reuse project aims to address this issue by developing two innovative technical solutions: recovering the wasted hydrogen from the annealing process and reusing it as fuel in radiant tubes working 100% of hydrogen. This approach represents a market-first innovation, as the recovery of atmospheric gas for reuse in industrial processes is not yet commercially available.
While hydrogen burners are already on the market, they remain in a developmental phase. The initiative will focus on enhancing their efficiency and effectiveness in real-world industrial environments. The project’s expected outcomes include significant reductions in carbon footprint, energy consumption, and resource waste, all of which will be rigorously tested to demonstrate their technical, environmental, and socio-economic benefits.
The press release is available in its original form here.
Main image: Technologies used by Tenova in the bright annealing process
A major North American aerospace manufacturer has placed an order for a seventh vacuum furnace to expand capacity. This furnace is specifically designed for the heat treatment of high-performance engine components and is built to support rigorous production schedules.
Mark Hemsath President Nitrex Turnkey Systems
The vertical, large-precision vacuum furnace, built by G-M Enterprises, a Nitrex Vacuum company, is engineered to meet the aerospace company’s growing production needs and its demand for critical engine components. Six VVF series vacuum furnaces have previously been installed for the manufacturer to produce aircraft engine parts across a range of aerospace applications. The latest furnace order includes a 60” x 60” (1,524 mm x 1,524 mm) chamber with bottom loading, capable of handling loads up to 3,000 lbs (1,360 kg).
“The customer’s decision to expand with Nitrex reflects G-M Enterprises’ proven track record in furnace reliability,” said Mark Hemsath, president of Nitrex Turnkey Systems. “Our commitment to quality has anchored this partnership for over three decades.”
Jay Jefsen Regional Sales Manager Nitrex Vacuum
“Our long-standing relationship with this aerospace customer underscores Nitrex’s commitment to providing durable equipment backed by robust technical support,” said Jay Jefsen, regional sales manager for Nitrex Vacuum. “We are proud to contribute to their ongoing success and look forward to supporting their production goals with this latest addition.”
The furnace is scheduled for commissioning in April 2025.
The press release is available in its original form here.
Did you know that November 6 was National Stress Awareness Day? It seems an appropriate designation to cover the days and weeks that follow Election Day as well as those leading up to the holidays. For many who are well aware of the stress of the events of the season, Heat Treat Todaywants to help with a different kind of stress relief.
Today we’re highlighting technical content that we’ve published over the last couple of years about stress relieving processes. Read an overview about stress relieving stainless steel components, listen to a Lunch & Learn dialogue about this underrated process, and explore a mechanical testing method for measuring material strength.
It is critical to provide things like stainless steel appliances and the Tesla truck with proper maintenance to keep the corrosion resistance and appearance lasting as long as possible.
Stainless steel shines in our kitchens and is becoming more popular in auto showrooms, mostly because of the promise that it is corrosion resistant. What most people don’t realize is that stainless steel will rust in a lot of circumstances. Sarah Jordan explores how stainless steel can be compromised by improper heat treatment and the steps heat treaters can take to prevent corrosion:
“Improper heat treating can also contribute to stress corrosion cracking. When material is quenched, it can cause residual stresses that, if not relieved, can become an issue.
“Corrosion in stainless steel can often be traced to improper heat treatment. When stainless steel is heated between 842–1562°F (450–850°C), chromium carbides can form at the grain boundaries, depleting the surrounding areas of chromium and making them susceptible to corrosion.”
Click on the image to hear this episode of Heat Treat Radio and read the transcript.
In this Lunch & Learnepisode from Heat Treat Radio, Dave Mouilleseaux discusses the three most underrated heat treat processes, including stress relieving manufactured components. If a comprehensive analysis of a heat treat operation needs to be performed on a manufactured component, such as a gear or a shaft, it is necessary to take into consideration any prior existing stresses in the part and what effect that has on the part.
The detrimental effects of not having stress relieved Source: pixabay
“Many times during the course of my career, I’ve had a customer come to me and say, ‘The part I gave you was correct, and you’ve given it back to me and then fill-in-the-blank. It’s warped, it’s changed size, it’s shrunk, all of those things.’
“What have you done in your heat treating process?” asked Mouilleseaux. “You have to back up all the way to the beginning of how this part was manufactured and deal with all of those component steps in order to answer that question properly. Stress relieving is one of the answers. It’s not the answer. It’s not the only answer, but it is one of them that has to be considered.”
To listen to this episode of Lunch & Learn, click here.
Photograph of the Hardox steel samples, with and without the WC insert attached, showing high levels of oxidation following from the brazing process. Source: Plastometrex
Mechanical testing is a standard production step in heat treating operations, but conventional methods of testing don’t always yield stress values consistent with the testing calculations.
Indentation plastometry allows users to obtain material strength characteristics in a way that is faster, cheaper, and simpler than conventional mechanical testing procedures. James Dean explores this novel mechanical testing method developed to infuse efficiency and accuracy into the process.
“The testing process is fully automated and involves three simple steps. The first is the creation of an indent using the indentation plastometer which is a custom-built, macromechanical test machine. The second is measurement of the residual profile shape using an integrated stylus profilometer.
“The third is the analysis of the profile shape in a proprietary software package called SEMPID, which converts the indentation test data into stress-strain curves that are comparable to those that would be measured using conventional mechanical testing methods. The entire procedure takes just a few minutes, and the surface preparation requirements are minimal.”
The Heat Treat Doctor® has returned to offer sage advice to Heat Treat Today readers and to answer your questions about heat treating, brazing, sintering, and other types of thermal treatments as well as questions on metallurgy, equipment, and process-related issues.
Contact us with your Reader Feedback!
Clients often want to know or specify that their component part surfaces are “bright” or “shiny” or “clean.” Other times they desire to have a surface condition that is “scale free” or “oxide free” after heat treatment. But how, if at all, can we quantify what these terms mean? Let’s learn more.
“Shiny” and “bright” are words that are highly subjective. This is often a source of confusion not only for the heat treater, but the manufacturer and, in some cases, even the end user of the products. Heretofore, the answer depended on one human being’s interpretation as opposed to another, and evaluations depend not only on the type of material but also the mill practices used, manufacturing methods employed, heat treatment processes, and the level and type of contamination introduced before and after processing.
Traditional Approach
Figure 1. Temper color chart atmosphere or tempering in air or an “inert” gas such as nitrogen. Source: Abbott Furnace Company
Traditionally, we have relied on color charts (Figure 1) to tell the approximate temperature at which discoloration took place, that is, an oxide formed on the (steel, stainless steel, or tool steel) surface of a component part. This method is still in use today when cooling parts in a furnace
As mentioned, the perception and interpretation of color is different for different people. Lighting (natural light or plant illumination), the environment in which one views color, eye fatigue, the age of the observer, and a host of other factors influences color perception. But even without such physical considerations, each of us interprets color based on personal perception. Each person also verbally describes an object’s color differently. As a result, objectively communicating a particular color to another person without using some type of standard is difficult.
There also must be a way to compare one color to the next with accuracy.
New Approach
Today, portable spectrophotometers (Figure 2) are available to measure color and help quantify brightness measurements. These types of devices are designed to meet various industry standards including:
In simplest terms, a spectrophotometer is a color measurement device used to capture and evaluate color. Every object has its own reflectance, or the amount of light it reflects, and transmittance, or the amount of light it absorbs. A reflectance spectrophotometer shines a beam of light and measures the amount of light reflected from different wavelengths of the visible spectrum, while a transmission spectrophotometer measures how much light passes through the sample. Spectrophotometers can measure and provide quantitative analysis for just about anything, including solids, liquids, plastics, paper, metal, fabric, and even painted samples to verify color and consistency.
Spectrophotometers provide the solution to the subjective problem of interpreting the color of the surface of a component part that has been heat treated, brazed, or sintered because they explicitly identify the colors being measured; that is, the instrument differentiates one color from another and assigns each a numeric value.
As an example, the brightness of steel tubes annealed in a rich Exothermic gas atmosphere was measured against tubes that had not been processed (Figure 3). Having this definite measurement of the surface changes allowed the heat treater to provide their client with a definitive statement on the change after processing.
CIE Color Systems
The Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) is an organization responsible for international recommendations for photometry and colorimetry. The CIE standardized color order systems include specifying the light source (illumination), the observer, and the methodology used to derive values for describing color, regardless of industry or use case.
Though spectrophotometers are the most common, for some applications colorimeters can also be used, but these are in general less accurate and less suitable for a heat treat environment.
There are three primary types of spectrophotometers on the market today used for print, packaging, and industrial applications: traditional 0°/45° (or 45°/0°) spectrophotometers, primarily used for the print industry; sphere (or diffuse/8°) spectrophotometers, primarily used in the packaging industry; and multi-angle (MA) spectrophotometers, for use in industrial environments. These instruments capture color information, and in some cases can capture appearance data (e.g., gloss).
Multi-angle (MA) spectrophotometers are best suited for measurements involving special surface effects, such as those found on metal surfaces and coatings and include those with surface contaminants and even can quantify cosmetic appearance. These are typically used on the shop floor, in the lab and in quality control, and even can be found in shipping areas.
MA spectrophotometers require users to verify five or more sets of L*a*b values or delta these terms). They typically have an aperture size of 12 mm, which is too large for measuring the fine detail that occurs in many small-scale industrial applications. Primary illumination is provided at a 45° angle. Some models have secondary illumination at a 15° angle.
Figure 3. Example of a product test — color and oxidation level test. Source: X-RIte
An application example for an MA spec trophotometer lies in their use for collecting colorimetric data on special effects coatings in the automotive industry, capturing reliable color data in cases where special effect coatings are used.
Final Thoughts
In this writer’s opinion, a spectrophotometer should be in every heat treat shop! You will be doing both yourself and your customers a valuable service and take the guesswork out of one of the most commonly asked questions – is it bright?
References
Herring, Dan H. Atmosphere Heat Treatment Volume 1. BNP Media, 2014.
X-Rite Pantone. “A Guide to Understanding Color.” Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.xrite.com/learning-color-education/whitepapers/a-guide-to-understanding-color.
X-Rite Panatone. “Tolerancing Part 3: Color Space vs. Color Tolerance.” Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.xrite.com/blog/tolerancingpart-3.
X-Rite Pantone. “X-Rite Portable Multi Angle Spectrophotometers.” Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.xrite.com/categories/portable-pectrophotometers/ma-family.
About the Author
Dan Herring “The Heat Treat Doctor” The HERRING GROUP, Inc.
Dan Herring has been in the industry for over 50 years and has gained vast experience in fields that include materials science, engineering, metallurgy, new product research, and many other areas. He is the author of six books and over 700 technical articles.
A provider of process technology for harsh and corrosive process streams has expanded its operations with an additional 13,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility in Twinsburg Township, Ohio, to meet a growing demand for critical components in metal processing systems. This second location will include a crane-served production center with the capacity suitable for assembling large modular systems.
CG Thermal’s Impervite shell and tube assembly at new location
CG Thermal‘s new facility will be dedicated to assembling and testing pilot plants and turnkey modular systems and is designed to meet the growing demand for chemical processing systems and heat exchangers from the industry sectors it serves, which include chemical processing and emerging energy technology.
The company’s original building will continue to be a production center, handling the majority of heat exchangers and small systems manufacturing. Additionally, a larger office space will house a modern office environment for the team to engineer, design, and manage systems projects.
The press release is available in its original form here.
Heat TreatToday publishes eight print magazines a year and included in each is a letter from the editor, Bethany Leone. In this letter, Bethany reports on her visit to the September meeting of Purdue Heat Treating Consortium where industry leaders presented key technical and operations decisions in heat treating. The academic partnership encourages research into topics such as sustainability and technology alternatives. Read more of what Bethany learned from her attendance at this dynamic and forward-looking consortium in this letter, which first appeared in the November 2024 Vacuumprint edition.
Feel free to contact Bethany at bethany@heattreattoday.com if you have a question or comment.
What heat treat issue do you need fixed? At Purdue Heat Treating Consortium’s (PHTC’s) September meeting, I witnessed industrial manufacturers targeting key technical and operations decisions in heat treat through an academic partnership.
Since summer of 2022, the research driven School of Materials Engineering at Purdue has positioned itself as a partner to industrial leaders in the Midwest. Their main goal: advance research of precompetitive projects.
I spoke with one member who commented on the beginnings of PHTC: “Some of the Midwest, I’d say, user companies . . . wanted a Midwest school and more research-oriented university. To have Purdue be able to fill that was perfect; that’s some place that we recruit from, where we know has a lot of depth of professors that would be able to contribute, and which has facilities that would be able to be a part of. So, it was a really good partner to make that change with.”
At the recent quarterly meeting, I sat amongst several dozen representatives from Amsted Rail, Caterpillar, Cummins, Rolls Royce, ECM USA, and other member companies as we settled in for a day of research presentations. Foremost in members’ minds was feasibility in real world application.
Topics included developing sustainable quenchant alternatives and identifying a method for greenhouse footprint analysis that would meet standards. The presentations of ongoing research were each met with intent nods of satisfaction, questions scrutinizing the data, and proposals on what specific direction industry players wanted to see examined.
Purdue Heat Treating Consortium’s (PHTC’s) September meeting where projects about developing sustainable technology were presented, as well as research topic findings
A mix of faculty and graduate students presented the five research topic findings. Guided by professors, the young people develop and execute research plans to address objectives determined by member voting at previous sessions. When I inquired what type of value this research held and the quality of the presenters, industry members were quick to speak highly of their abilities and the actionable research results.
Specifically, one member commented to me that the lifecycle work was proving to be helpful. Explorations like this give a “gauge of what we are able to meter on some of our own furnaces . . . and to have some common ways of describing emissions.” He continued, “that leads to either confirmation that we’re doing things right or to adjusting what we’re doing.”
Other topics that have been of interest address property variations when austempering certain materials and the quench oil work. Even when members may not apply all research results gained from the studies, ancillary work being done within a study — such as machine learning — offers additional value.
The group’s strength is collaborative action: as research objectives evolve, the academic contingent adapts. One paper was met with a peppering of cross-examination questions, the result being a large consensus as to the end value of this research. A plan to reconvene outside of regular sessions to provide industry testing data was determined, and industry members eagerly voiced their desire to contribute to this special moment.
Following presentations, the meeting came to a close. Voting members first determined which research to continue. Then, we toured the Manufacturing and Materials Research Laboratories at Purdue. The members witnessed various methods of metal 3D printing materials in action and handled printed parts of different alloy compositions.
Rounding out the day was an optional networking reception at a local pub and grill, Walt’s, where conversations around personal interests bled into reflections on research at PHTC.
My special thanks to Mark Gruninger, Managing Director for Industrial Consortia and Centers, and Mike Titus, Associate Professor of Materials Engineering and Technical Director of PHTC, for their invitation and warm welcome.
Heat TreatTodayis thankful for the role we have been blessed to play in this industry, for our partners who generously collaborate with us to bring outstanding content to our readers, and for the readers who make Heat TreatToday one of the first sites they open when their workday begins. Thanksgiving is inherent to a life of joy and happiness. As many of our readers know, our motto is “We believe that people are happier and make better decisions when they are well informed.”
With this in mind, the Heat TreatToday team wants to inform our readers about what makes us happy and thankful. Read below our thoughts and greetings, interspersed with favorite quotes about gratitude — our combined prayer of thanks for what our God and Savior has done for us this year.
For housekeeping purposes: our offices will be closed on November 28 and 29. Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m thankful for my husband who always reminds me to celebrate the little things in life, for incredible friends (both old and new), for supportive family, and for Christ’s sustaining and unending love. Happy Thanksgiving! ~ Aubrey Fort, Production Manager
I’m thankful for God’s provision of a home for our family. ~ Jayna McGowan, Proofer (who recently moved)
I’m thankful for my faith and church family, in addition to my husband, children, and extended family. Our oldest got engaged, our youngest started college, and we had some lovely opportunities to travel this year. I’m grateful for my job at Heat TreatToday, our talented team, and wonderful customers. ~ Michelle Ritenour, Sales
“I have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness.”
Thomas S. Morrison
This year I am especially thankful for my family. Most specifically for my husband, David, who works tirelessly to provide for us while being a steady anchor for our family. (No small task!) I am also thankful for the opportunity to work for Heat TreatToday, be a stay-at-home mom, and work with good people in a good industry. I am thankful for a very fulfilling year! ~ Ellen Porter, Administration/Sales/HeatTreatBuyersGuide.com
This year, I’m grateful we took advantage of the salsa dancing and opera scene in Pittsburgh, filling the visual arts need in my soul. Better yet, family and friends both in town and out of town joined us on these excursions. I treasure our peaceful home. ~ Bethany Leone, Managing Editor/Heat Treat Radio Producer
At Heat TreatToday, one of our core values is “always kind.” This year, I am thankful for people who have been always kind, most notably, my boss, Bethany Leone. Bethany is a great example of someone who never hesitates to think of others before herself. I’m very thankful to work for her! ~ Evelyn Thompson, Editorial Assistant/Copy Editor
“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.”
William Blake
In gratitude for life, I echo Jesus’ promise of abundant life (John 10:10). This year, amid life’s peaks and valleys, I’ve truly embraced that promise through the love of family and the support of community. My heart is full, experiencing abundance every day. ~ Brandon Glenn, Webmaster/Art Director
I’m incredibly thankful to the Lord for my loving and supportive family, faithful friendships, and fabulous Heat TreatTodayteam. Thankful, too, for the adventure we get to live every day knowing that we’re not alone. Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. ~ Karen Gantzer, Senior Editor/Associate Publisher
“Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.”
Leroy Satchel Paige
2024 has been a great and difficult year. I’m grateful for both. God has been so gracious to us, yet He’s not always placed His smiling face and smiling providence on us. Nonetheless, He deserves our thanks. Heat TreatTodayhas a tremendous staff. I am so thankful for them. And the number of relationships we’ve been developing with advertisers, suppliers, and consultants has been super enjoyable and encouraging. Wishing all of you a great Thanksgiving and Christmas. ~ Doug Glenn, Publisher/Advertising
It’s easy to mark losses and sorrows — this year has held plenty for me. The challenge comes in seeing mercy through the tears and trials. Goodness and mercy and hope, however, come from the Lord, not from within. I am grateful this Thanksgiving 2024 for all the ways that Jesus has shown me that His promises are for me. ~ Laura Miller, Associate Editor
When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?”
