HEAT TREAT NEWS

News from Abroad: Safer Technologies and Carbon Cutting

/ BURNERS & COMBUSTION SYSTEMS, BURNERS COMBUSTION SYSTEM NEWS, FOUNDRY CASTING, FOUNDRY CASTING NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Today’s News from Abroad installment highlights more carbon-cutting trends from the steel industry, ranging from robots in the cast house to recycling best practices.  

Heat Treat Today partners with two international publications to deliver the latest news, tech tips, and cutting-edge articles that will serve our audience — manufacturers with in-house heat treat. heat processing, a Vulkan-Verlag GmbH publication, serves mostly the European and Asian heat treat markets, and Furnaces International, a Quartz Business Media publication. primarilyserves the English-speaking globe. 

Robots Bring Safety to Casting 

Primetals Technologies’ new customized LiquiRob robotics system in operation at Siam Yamato Steel’s Map Ta Phut plant Source: Primetals Technologies

“Thai steel producer Siam Yamato Steel has implemented a new robot concept from Primetals Technologies, including LiquiRob, at its steelworks in Map Ta Phut . . .. Thanks to the robotics solution, safety and occupational health in the steelworks have significantly improved. Previously, workers who manually operated the shadow tube had to stand directly next to the distributor and the stream of steel flowing out of the ladle. In the case of a so-called ‘frozen pan.’” 

READ MORE: “Primetals Technologies: New robotics concept for safer casting processes” at heat-processing.com

Carbon Cut with Induction Solution at High Heats

CELES EcoTransFlux™ brings green high heating abilities to the induction heating technology. Source: Furnaces International

“Nippon Steel Stainless Steel Corporation and Sojitz Group met with our induction team at Fives headquarters in Paris for a detailed design review of the transverse flux induction heating system. CELES EcoTransFlux™ is an induction heating technology with very high heating rates at extremely high temperatures, and a compact footprint. It also has a minimal environmental footprint, making it beneficial for steelmakers to improve their carbon, stainless or electrical steel production.” 

READ MORE: “Breakthrough technology for steelmakers” at furnaces-international.com

Standards To Maximize Can Recyclability

EAGP members signed an agreement to engage in a standardisation project for beverage cans. Source: Anrita1705/Pixabay

“Four leading flat-rolled aluminium manufacturers and members of the European Aluminium Packaging Group (EAPG), Constellium, Elval, Novelis and Speira, have signed an agreement to engage in a standardisation project to maximise the recycled content levels of the beverage can and thus substantially lower carbon emissions, focused on increased recyclability of the can end.” 

READ MORE: “European Aluminium Producers Agree on Standardisation Project for Cans” at heat-processing.com

Mini-Mill Investment Transforms Future for Swedish Metal Manufacturer

Fossil-free mini-mill Source: Furnaces International

“SSAB’s Board of Directors have taken the decision to proceed with the next step in SSABs transition, building a state-of-the-art fossil-free mini-mill in Luleå, Sweden. When completed SSAB will close the current blast furnace-based production system. This will reduce Sweden’s CO2 emissions with 7% in addition to the 3% from the Oxelösund mill conversion.” 

READ MORE: SSAB continues the transformation with a fossil-free mini-mill in Luleå, Sweden” at furnaces-international.com

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Is It Time To Rethink the “Quality” Movement?

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“It’s really difficult to speak against ‘quality.’ Who doesn’t want quality?” Read on to discover Doug’s thoughts on this topic.

Heat Treat Today publishes eight print magazines a year and included in each is a letter from the publisher, Doug Glenn. This letter first appeared in the March 2024 Aerospace Heat Treat print edition.

With door plugs flying out of airplanes at scary-high altitudes, it seems an appropriate time to revisit where we are in quality initiatives in the North American heat treat industry from an equally high, 30,000-foot perspective.

It’s really difficult to speak against “quality.” Who doesn’t want quality? Those who even bring it up are bound to be looked at with suspicion. Let the suspicion begin, because I would like to bring it up.

One Standard To Rule Them All

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Since my early days in the heat treat industry (late 1980s), there have been discussions about “quality” standards and certifications. I first remember QS-9000, a standard imposed on automotive industry suppliers by the Big 3: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. The understanding was if you (a supplier to the Big 3) work and achieve QS-9000, then you won’t need to worry about complying with any other quality certifications, especially from one of the Big 3; it was one standard to rule them all, to borrow language from Lord of the Rings.

Before QS-9000, each of the Big 3 could demand that you comply with their specific quality standards, and each of them could (and would) audit your processes, costing suppliers significant time and money. Saving these costs by complying with JUST ONE standard that would make the Big 3 happy was the driving force behind QS-9000.

But QS-9000 ceased to exist on December 14, 2006, and was replaced by one or two other standards systems (depending on how you look at it). So much for one standard.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the quality industry saw enormous growth. “Quality Assurance” (QA) departments burgeoned, “Quality Managers” became more prevalent, and standards organizations, like SAE and ISO, flourished. Quality had become an industry of its own. In fact, my previous employer, BNP Media, publishes Quality Magazine just to serve the growing quality industry. Quality is now a living, breathing organism that, like all living things, is interested in self-propagation and survival.

“Quality” or Consistency?

One of the first thoughts I remember having about the corporate quality initiative I was involved with was the distinct lack of a definition of what “quality” really meant. For many of the standards, they did not really care what you did (whether or not you did quality work), they just wanted you to prove you had documented your work, that your people knew said documentation existed, and they were following the processes you had described in documentation.

That doesn’t sound so much like true quality so much as it sounds like a consistency check for documentation. Certainly, documenting and complying with documentation is a good thing. To that extent, the quality movement has certainly helped many companies.

“. . . current “quality” standards . . . act [more] as an anchor on a fully throttled ship . . . .”

Doug Glenn, Publisher, Heat Treat Today

“Quality” or Conformity?

As the current “quality” movement stands, it seems to be more of a hindrance to quality than a help. Today, most of the current quality standards that exist, as much as they may help in some instances, act as an anchor on a fully throttled ship — slowing progress and innovation.

Regularly, we hear about new technologies that are very innovative. These new technologies, if they could be adopted, would undoubtedly increase true quality and lower costs. They are, however, not being commercialized at a significant rate because suppliers have to conform to quality standards, and it would take heaven and earth to change those standards. In this sense, the quality movement is inhibiting quality instead of supporting it.

Love-Hate Relationship

Even many in the quality industry are aware of this hinderance. Over the past several months, I’ve spoken with quite a few quality people who think their industry is bloated and, in many cases, counterproductive. But it is a huge part of their livelihood. When I ask them if they think the industry would be better off without a quality movement, nearly all of them have a hard time letting go . Most think it would be a bad thing if quality standards and audits went away.

Perhaps in a future column, I can give you one scenario of how we could pivot away from the current “quality” system to a more market-oriented quality system which would do a better job promoting both quality and innovation .

Doug Glenn, Publisher, Heat Treat Today

For more information contact Doug at doug@heattreattoday.com.

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Heat Treat Economic Indicators: April 2024 Results

/ HEAT TREAT ECONOMIC NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

There are four heat treat industry-specific economic indicators gathered by Heat Treat Today each month since June 2023, and this month, we are seeing a marked downturn in expectations across all indicators.

The numbers, compiled in the second week of April, show that responding parties strongly anticipate all four indices — number of inquiry, value of bookings, size of backlogs, and health of manufacturing economy — to grow. However, all projections are significantly down, which would seem to indicate that industry suppliers are approaching April with far more conservative expectations as compared to Q1 2024.

The results from this month’s survey (April) are as follows; numbers above 50 indicate growth, numbers below 50 indicate contraction, and the number 50 indicates no change:

  • Anticipated change in the Number of Inquiries from March to April: 51.9
  • Anticipated change in Value of Bookings from March to April: 56.5
  • Anticipated change in Backlog Size from March to April: 51.9
  • Anticipated change in the Health of the Manufacturing Economy from March to April: 51.3

Data for April 2024

The four index numbers are reported monthly by Heat Treat Today and made available on the website. 

Heat Treat Today's Economic Indicators measure 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.

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US DOE Strategy Affects Heat Treaters

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As heat treaters strive for a sustainable future, pressure mounts to make the right choices while running commercially viable operations. This guest column by Michael Mouilleseaux, general manager at Erie Steel, Ltd., explores how and why heat treat operations are now coming under the focus of the U.S. Department of Energy.

This informative piece was first released in Heat Treat Today’s March 2024 Aerospace print edition.

The iron and steel industry contributes approximately 2.1% of energy-related CO2 emissions from primary sectors in the U.S. These statistics may seem insignificant or far removed, but the federal government has now determined that heat treating is a significant contributor and has set in motion critical changes for U.S. heat treaters.

Background

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On December 8, 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that committed the federal government to “lead by example” in U.S. efforts towards carbon-free and net zero emissions solutions. Since then, the executive has delegated the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to spearhead these initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and promoting energy efficiency across various sectors of the U.S. economy. To support these efforts, $10,000,000,000 in incentives are being allocated for the DOE and EPA to investigate and promulgate regulations.

Specifically, the government sees the “industrial sector” as responsible for close to a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE); the five industries named within this sector are chemical processing, petroleum processing, iron & steel production, cement production, and food & beverage manufacturing. The DOE is leading the efforts of “supercharging industrial decarbonization innovation” and leveraging the potential of “clean hydrogen.”

Following these directives, the DOE unveiled the “Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap” in September 2022. This strategic plan will guide decarbonization efforts of the five key industrial sectors to mitigate GHGE. The four pillars are:

  • Energy efficiency
  • Industrial electrification (using green electricity)
  • Adoption of low-carbon fuels, feedstocks, and energy sources (LCFFES)
  • Carbon capture, utilization, and storage at the generated source (CCUS)

The DOE determined that process heating — accounting for 63% of energy usage within the iron and steel industry — would be the best opportunity to apply these four pillars. However, until May 2023, heat treating had not been explicitly mentioned as a target for decarbonization efforts.

Why Should Heat Treaters Care?

In May 2023, the Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office — an office within the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy — held a symposium to refine its commitment to the decarbonization of the industrial sector. It was then that heat treating was specifically defined as a process targeted for the reduction of GHGE in the steel, aluminum, and glass manufacturing industries.

The DOE’s refined commitment focuses on two things: reduce GHGE attributable to “process heating” by 85% by 2035 and achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. To reach these ambitious goals, the DOE emphasized the importance of adopting LCFFES, green electrification, and implementing strategies that promote industrial flexibility, advanced heat management, smart manufacturing, and alternative technologies.

The potential ramifications of the DOE’s efforts on the heat treating industry are momentous. With the development of regulations to support these efforts, businesses within this sector must prepare for significant changes. The focus on green hydrogen, biofuels, and electrification, coupled with advanced technological solutions like ultra-efficient heat exchangers, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and alternative no-heat technologies, are strategies being considered for potential regulation.

Conclusion

The heat treating industry stands at a crossroads, with the DOE’s decarbonization initiatives signaling a shift to adopt cleaner energy practices. As these regulations take shape, businesses will need to adapt, investing in new technologies and processes that align with the nation’s clean energy goals. In the next column, we’ll address potential ramifications of the DOE effort for industrial decarbonization in the heat treating industry to help you be better informed and prepared.

About the Author:

Michael Mouilleseaux
General Manager at Erie Steel, Ltd.

Michael Mouilleseaux is general manager at Erie Steel, Ltd. He has been at Erie Steel in Toledo, OH since 2006 with previous metallurgical experience at New Process Gear in Syracuse, NY, and as the director of Technology in Marketing at FPM Heat Treating LLC in Elk Grove, IL. Michael attended the stakeholder meetings at the May 2023 symposium hosted by the U.S. DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. He will be speaking on the MTI podcast about this subject on March 5, 2024, 2:30 EST, and will present on this topic at the April 3, 2024, MTI Mid-West chapter meeting.

For more information: Contact Michael at mmouilleseaux@erie.com.

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Tube China | Upgraded THERMPROCESS China Unlocking Opportunities

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The development of China’s steel industry has been a crucial driver of the country’s rapid economic growth. Within the steel industry, steel pipes are hailed as the “blood vessels” of modern industry, playing an irreplaceable role in the development of the national economy and industrial upgrading. From January to June 2023, China’s steel pipe production reached 48.67 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 12.2%, solidifying China’s position as a major producer of steel pipes.

Processing Technology:

A Key Driver of Progress in the Steel Pipe Industry

Processing Technology directly impacts product specifications and performance. High-precision processing techniques enable steel pipes to better meet diverse application requirements, enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs. Innovative processing technologies are crucial elements in ensuring industry competitiveness and sustainable development.

The rise of heat treatment technology has transformed the mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of metal components, significantly improving their quality. More importantly, green environmental protections have become the core of the future development of the steel industry. Heat treatment-related technologies provide greater feasibility for steel production, supporting the industry’s transition towards a low-carbon and environmentally friendly direction.

Source: THERMPROCESS China

Depending on the excellent reputation and international acclaim of the “Heat Treatment” theme within the Düsseldorf GMTN (GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST), as well as the strong support from domestic industry associations, this year, the organizers upgrade the Thermprocess China Pavilion which was held at Tube China 2023.

Holding Thermprocess China aims to provide a solid communication bridge for heat treatment  system and equipment suppliers from all over the world. 

▼ Only part of exhibitors are listed, ranking in random

Source: THERMPROCESS China

📍 Range of exhibits:

– Industrial furnace, industrial heat treatment equipment

  • Vacuum heat treatment equipment
  • Chemical heat treatment equipment
  • Induction heating heat treatment equipment
  • Cryogenic treatment equipment
  • Other heat treatment equipment (continuous, periodic, and other surface modification heat treatment equipment)

– Auxiliary equipment, components and materials

  • Heating components and materials
  • Heat-insulation and refractory materials
  • Surface cleaning equipment
  • Auxiliary tooling and other equipment
  • Industrial gas production, application and processing equipment
  • Cooling medium
  • Oil fume treatment, wastewater treatment and concentration
  • Detection technology
  • Die steel and other high-quality alloy materials

– Consulting, design, service and communication

📍 Industry of the visitors:

  • Commercial heat treatment industry
  • Iron and steel industry
  • Non-ferrous metals industry
  • Aerospace industry
  • Automobile and parts manufacturing industry
  • Machinery manufacturing industry
  • Die & Mould industry
  • Foundry industry
  • Forging industry
  • Welding industry
  • Military industry
  • Petroleum and chemical industry
  • Household appliances industry
  • Trade and commerce
  • Service

The 11th All China-International

Tube & Pipe Industry Trade Fair

THERMPROCESS China

Saw and Laser Cutting China

2024.9.25-28 | Shanghai New International Expo Centre​​​​​​​

Source: THERMPROCESS China


Lock your booth now

https://www.tubechina.net/links?id=296

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Discover Your Next Solution at Ceramics Expo 2024

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No matter where you sit on the advanced manufacturing supply chain, discover game-changing solutions at Ceramics Expo

Ceramics Expo is North America’s leading technical ceramics exhibition and conference that provides the opportunity to discover how the unique properties of advanced ceramics materials enhance high-tech manufacturing industries.

No other event offers the opportunity for professionals working across sectors such as Automotive, Aerospace & Defense, Electronics, Energy, Telecoms/5G, and Medical to delve into cutting-edge use cases for ceramics materials and components, helping to solve manufacturing and engineering challenges. Attendees can tap into the advantages of cross-sector networking and in-person engagements with the latest material engineering solutions and concepts.

Co-located with Thermal Management Expo, this event is scheduled for April 29 – May 1, 2024, at Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi, Michigan, USA. Global market-leading suppliers and manufacturers including 3M, Almatis, ERG Aerospace, Exentis Group, Fiven, GeoCorp, IPS Ceramics, McDanel, and Saint-Gobain will be showcasing the materials and manufacturing process innovations that are driving innovation across high-tech applications,

In addition to the exhibition, the free-to-attend conference will feature sessions led by technical experts from industry heavyweights such as Lockheed Martin, McDanel, The American Ceramics Society, Himed, Intel, Henkel, and more. These sessions will provide insights into innovation in ceramic materials, supply chain sustainability, piezoelectric ceramics, workforce and talent development, 3D printing, advanced ceramic innovations in aerospace and electronics, and next-generation solid-state batteries.

Ipek Saltik, Exhibition Director, emphasizes, “The pivotal role of advanced ceramics in fueling innovation across critical sectors cannot be overstated. This yearly gathering serves as a catalyst for innovation, fostering crucial exchanges of knowledge, progress, and optimal strategies, thereby propelling the future of advanced ceramics.”

Registration is now open, and Ceramics Expo encourages interested visitors to pre-register for free via the website at https://www.ceramicsexpousa.com/

Stay connected with us:

Twitter: @CeramicsExpo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceramics-expo/

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Happy Easter Weekend!

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May you have a blessed Easter weekend! Heat Treat Today offices are closed today (Friday, March 29), but will be back open Monday morning.

As we’ve come to Good Friday, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the gift of the resurrection of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. Through his death and resurrection, we can have eternal life! At Heat Treat Today, our prayer is that as we are helpful to you, you would also see the light of Christ shine through us. See you Monday!

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All 13 News Chatter To Keep You Current

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Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 13 news items.

Company

  1. IHEA celebrate 95 years with an anniversary dinner at the industry association’s annual meeting. 
  2. Furnaces North American 2024 registration is open, with the event scheduled for October 14–16, 2024. 
  3. EVERGREEN KILN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, located in Niagara Falls, U.S., and SUZHOU KILNPARTNER Mechanical Technology Co., Ltd., located in China, officially announced their strategic partnership to service and support the growing demands of the North American lithium-ion battery market. 
  4. SECO/WARWICK opened SECO/LAB, a production automation and mechatronics laboratory, at the University of Zielona Góra in Poland.  
  5. Tenova will partner with De Nora, Snam, and other European steel producers and RTOs on the HyTecHeat project, a Horizon Europe program funded by the EU with the goal to validate hybrid heating technologies based on natural gas with a progressive increase of hydrogen up to 100% in downstream processing. Within this project, Tenova will install an electrolyzer at the Demo headquarters in Castellanza (Italy).  
  6. Tenova’s SafeForPorts project has won a call for proposals issued by the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) under the banner of RAISE (Robotics and AI for Socio-economic Empowerment). The project is aimed at revolutionizing the safety and efficiency of port operations through cutting-edge Industry 4.0 technologies.  
  7. Indian steel producer JSW STEEL (Dolvi Works) has placed an order with SMS group to supply its trailblazing CSP® Nexus plant, which will fundamentally transform flat steel production. 
EVERGREEN KILN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, and SUZHOU KILNPARTNER Mechanical Technology Co., Ltd., announced their strategic partnership
Tenova electrolyzer
Tenova’s SafeForPorts project

Company & Personnel 

  1. Hubbard-Hall welcomes John Forlenzo as supply chain manager. In this role, he will oversee the global purchasing activities for the company, including logistics and inventory. 
  2. David Wolfe joins ECM USA as senior sales engineer. As a former east coast sales representative for ECM, Wolfe brings important industry knowledge to the role. 
John Forlenzo, Supply Chain Manager, Hubbard-Hall
David Wolfe, Senior Sales Engineer, ECM USA

Kudos 

  1. Akron Steel Treating is pleased to share we are now in the Nadcap 18 Month Merit Program. The Nadcap Merit Program is an allowance for extending the accreditation lengths between audits and is only awarded to companies which have proven themselves as exceeding Nadcap’s already highly stringent standards. 
  2. Steelhead Technologies is proud to be a winner of the Top Performer award from SourceForge, the world’s largest software reviews and comparison website. 
  3. Ipsen USA celebrated 75 years in operation on February 27, 2024.  
  4. Advanced Heat Treat Corp. has renewed its Nadcap accreditation in heat treating and passed its Aerospace Quality System (AC7004) audit. 

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HTD HTEI March_Featured

Heat Treat Economic Indicators: March 2024 Results

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The four heat treat industry-specific economic indicators, gathered by Heat Treat Today each month since June 2023, indicate high expectations for economic growth on all four heat treat industry indices as we look ahead to March. Read on to see which indices are hitting above last month’s growth expectations and which one is lower in growth compared to February’s expectations.

The numbers, which were compiled in the second week of March, show that responding parties strongly anticipate all four indices — number of inquiry, value of bookings, size of backlogs, and health of manufacturing economy — to grow. Interesting, the number of inquiries is a bit down, as compared to last month, but suppliers are still expecting growth, more so than any previous month, with the exception of February.

The results from this month’s survey (March) are as follows; numbers above 50 indicate growth, numbers below 50 indicate contraction, and the number 50 indicates no change:

  • Anticipated change in the Number of Inquiries from February to March: 64.0
  • Anticipated change in Value of Bookings from February to March: 68.4
  • Anticipated change in Backlog Size from February to March: 70.0
  • Anticipated change in the Health of the Manufacturing Economy from February to March: 61.7

Data for March 2024

The four index numbers are reported monthly by Heat Treat Today and made available on the website. 

Heat Treat Today’s Economic Indicators measure 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.

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Letter from the Publisher: 2023: The Year that Was . . .

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Heat Treat Today publishes eight print magazines a year, and included in each is a letter from the publisher, Doug Glenn. This letter first appeared in December 2023 Medical and Energy Heat Treat print edition.

 Feel free to contact Doug at doug@heattreattoday.com if you have a question or comment. 

. . . not as bad as predicted. In fact, it was a pretty darn good year for the North American heat treat industry.

Russia and Ukraine

Doug Glenn, Publisher, Heat Treat Today

This time last year, there were many predictions about a pending economic slump in varying degrees of severity. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 22, 2022, was front-page news most of 2022. When Russia cut off the flow of natural gas from Russia to Europe through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in September 2022, Europe, and much of the world, planned on a very cold winter and cooling economies around the world in 2023. While Europe certainly took a hit with energy prices that were sometimes 3x what they had been, most of the rest of the world adjusted quite nicely. Even the
United States did well in 2023 despite our federal government’s insistence on reducing and eliminating petroleum-based flows of energy which are in abundant supply.

Titanium supplies were also predicted to take a huge hit with Russia being one of the chief suppliers. But since a May 2022 high of roughly $19/ kg, the price of titanium has been dropping steadily back into a pre-conflict price of roughly $6/kg. Only $2/kg higher than the average price of titanium from 2017 to 2022. Not bad.

Of course, the macro effects of the billions of dollars that the U.S. has sent to Ukraine remain to be seen; in economic terms, 2023 turned out to be not as bad as predicted when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, at least for the U.S.

2023 Recession . . . that Wasn’t

“And for 2024, let’s be optimistic and prayerful that God will again be merciful and not reward us as we deserve!”

Thanks to the U.S. federal government’s now widely agreed upon over-reaction to COVID in the form of “quantitative easing” (meaning pumping the economy full of money created out of thin air), nearly everyone in 2022 was predicting a significant economic recession in 2023. It was just a matter of when, not if. At the time of writing this (early November), it doesn’t appear likely that the U.S. will see a recession in the remaining months of the year. In fact, most of the company leaders that I’ve spoken to this year have reported (surprisingly) strong orders, growing backlogs, and very little signs of slowing inquiry levels. Nearly everyone is busy with no end in sight. Even in the face of rising interest rates — the highest in nearly 30 years — capital equipment purchases seem to be clipping along very nicely. Everyone is surprised, but happy.

Israel, AI, and Other Disruptors

That’s not to say the world and the North American heat treat market’s place in the world is all roses. It is not. 2024 will have its own list of significant
challenges, not the least of which is growing global instability à la China, Iran, Russia, Israel, etc. and the U.S.’s participation therewith. The advent of digital currencies could be another disruptor. Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be approaching at warp speed — no one is quite sure what it is, but we’re all pretty sure it will have an impact.

Regardless of what God has in store for us in 2024, 2023 has certainly not been as bad as it was predicted to be in December 2022. For that we can be thankful. And for 2024, let’s be optimistic and prayerful that God will again be merciful and not reward us as we deserve!

All of us at Heat Treat Today wish you, your family, and your business a Merry Christmas and a blessed and prosperous 2024.

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