Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 18 news items.
Company/Equipment Chatter
Nitrex has supplied a nitriding system for Baida Electronic Equipment Co. Ltd. in China.
ECM USA has partnered with the global manufacturer, SEW-EURODRIVE, to commission a modular NANO vacuum furnace system completely integrated with advanced automation for their Lyman, South Carolina, facility.
Wallwork Group, a specialist heat treatment and hard coating company, has opened a new HIP facility in Manchester.
Chiz Bros, a high temperature insulation specialist, has opened a new warehouse in Detroit, Michigan. This facility will aid in the production of ceramic fiber blankets, papers and felts, boards, and modules.
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, a maker of cast iron, plastic pipe, and fittings for plumbing applications, which has been in operation for over 100 years, has opened its new site in North Carolina.
Abbott Furnace has joined the U.S. Battery Machine Builders coalition to increase awareness of the American-made battery machinery supply chain, to encourage battery facilities to buy American-made products, and to strengthen the buildout of machinery and machinist capacity across the nation.
SMS group GmbH, a metallurgical company with North American locations, is building its own “private 5G Campus network” for research and development at its Hilchenbach location in the Siegerland.
OTTO JUNKER GmbH, a leading system supplier for metallurgical processes and the refinement of metals, looks forward to celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
One of the integrated robots for the vacuum furnace systemThe new warehouse facilityThe newly opened Charlotte Pipe and Foundry facilityThis development will allow for the development of new materials and the reduction of energy consumption and emissions.OTTO JUNKER site at Simmerath-Lammersdorf
Company and Personnel Chatter
Gefran, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial sensors, controls, and instrumentation, announced the appointment of Karston Just as the company’s chief sales officer (CSO).
Solar Manufacturing has received a patent for an improved vacuum furnace control thermocouple. The patent inventor is William R. Jones, owner of Solar Manufacturing, Inc.
Rockford Combustion has entered into an exclusive partnership with Anderson Thermal Solutions, a cooperation which is predicted to “revolutionize the landscape of combustion solutions in the United States.”
Aaron Mambrino has been named as chief operating officer (COO) and executive vice president of Hubbard-Hall.
Akron Steel Treating Company (AST) welcomes new ownership, as Joe. A Powell has sold his remaining shares to a 4th generation of new “family” ownership.
AST’s new shareholder team and Joe A. Powell, Chairman of the Board, are pictured from left to right: Matt Moldvay, President; Steve Powell, Vice President of Quality; Christina Powell Somogye, Vice President of Administration; Joe A. Powell, Chairman of the Board; and Joe N. Powell, Vice President of Sales.The design for the newly patented vacuum furnace control thermocoupleAaron Mambrino COO and Executive VP of Hubbard-Hall
Kudos Chatter
Diane Courtney-Voss, financial specialist/accountant at SECO/VACUUM, retires after several years with the company.
Bodycote of Berlin, CT, was recognized for 100 years of manufacturing byMayor Mark Kaczynski.
Stack Metallurgical Group celebrates 40 years of business.
Alan Hick, secretary of the Contract Heat Treatment Association (CHTA), has received Meritorious Service to the Heat Treatment Industry Award.
Bodycote plc has announced the appointment of Jim Fairbairn as group chief executive to succeed Stephen Harris upon his retirement.
Hick- Alan Hick, recipient of the Meritorius Service to the Heat Treatment Industry AwardJim Fairbairn of Bodycote plcBodycote team in Berlin, CT, with Mayor Mark Kaczynski
Find Heat Treating Products And Services When You Search On Heat Treat Buyers Guide.Com
Aalberts surface technologies, a global provider of specialized thermal processing, surface treatment, and material coating solutions, announced on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, that it is making changes to its U.S. portfolio in response to changing market dynamics. The provider has made investments in its Canton, OH, facility, adding austempering capabilities which will provide a logistically favorable option to clients located in the Midwestern, Eastern, and Northeastern U.S. markets. To balance the capacity available in the market with demand, the heat treat provider will be closing its plant in Ft Smith, AR.
Steve Wyatt President Aalberts surface technologies – HIP | Braze | Heat Treatment
Source: Aalberts Surface Technologies
“The decision to exit the austempering market in the South was a difficult one, but the market for austempering in the addressable market for our Ft Smith, AR plant simply is not sufficient to sustain the operation. We recognize the hardships that this difficult decision may create and will be working with our Ft Smith Team to minimize the impact as much as possible, including exploring opportunities at one of the many other Aalberts locations,” says Steve Wyatt, president of Aalberts surface technologies – HIP | braze | heat treatment.
The austempering capabilities in Canton, OH, will startup in mid-February 2024 and be fully production ready by the end of March 2024. The decommissioning of the Ft Smith, AR, plant will begin in mid-February 2024, with production expected to cease when we have completed working with clients to transition their product, but not later than April 2024.
Oliver Jaeger CEO Aalberts surface technologies LinkedIn
“We are focused on optimizing our portfolio around the globe; this initiative is about responding to what the market needs and where it is needed. In our business, logistics is a significant percentage of the total cost of our services, therefore, we must constantly be seeking ways to minimize that cost for our customers. We are committed to growing in the U.S. and look forward to partnering with our customers to develop solutions that contribute to our mutual success,” says Oliver Jaeger, CEO of Aalberts surface technologies.
The original press release from Aalberts surface technologies is available upon request.
Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 34 news items, originally featured in the November and December print magazines.
Equipment Chatter
UPC-Marathon, a Nitrex company, commissioned an endothermic gas generator for a major automotive manufacturer in Brazil.
SECO/WARWICK will supply a Vector® vacuum furnace to a South American international manufacturer of weapons and military equipment.
Stahl Gerlafingen ordered from Danieli a K-Weld machine as well as a 2-MW Automation Q-Heat-system.
NITREX has installed a second set of nitriding/nitrocarburizing systems for a European hydraulics manufacturer.
An AQUAVAIRE Q3300H furnace from Algas-SDI is ready for shipment. This equipment is a gas-fired water bath vaporizer that converts liquefied petroleum gas into superheated vapor at a balanced pressure.
A vertical vacuum furnace from SECO/ WARWICK is heading to a company that provides repair and maintenance services for jet engines.
Turkish heat treater Reymak Makine As has integrated a Nitrex nitriding/ nitrocarburizing system.
Tratamientos Termicos Avanzados (TTA), a leader in plasma nitriding services for steel, recently received their first vacuum furnace from Ipsen. The Turbo2 Treater was shipped to their facility located in Monterrey, Mexico.
Endo generator for automotive manufacturerNew systems for Stahl GerlafingenAQUAVAIRE Q3300H
Company and Personnel Chatter
SAMPE North America announced LaNetra Clayton Tate, Ph.D. as the new vice president; Sarah Cox as the new president; and Daren Davis as the new secretary for the 2023–2024 term.
Donald Crist has been promoted to director of Global Sales at RoMan Manufacturing, Inc.
AFC-Holcroft announced a partnership with Sanken Sangyo, a Japan-based company in the thermal processing equipment industry
Partners Outokumpu and SMS group GmbH inaugurated a metal powder atomization plant in the presence of Minister President Hendrik Wüst.
Turgay Ozan started his new additional role as the president and regional manager of Pfeiffer Vacuum in North America.
Vamshi Vardhan Rapole has joined Danieli Group as a graduate engineer trainee.
Sheffield Forgemasters appointed Amy Grey as the chief financial officer.
Michel Siemon has been appointed CEO of Primobius, the lithium-ion battery recycling joint venture between SMS group GmbH and Neometals Ltd.
Bobbi Warren has been promoted to chief financial officer at RoMan Manufacturing, Inc.
Sheffield Forgemasters has announced the signing of a five-year contract renewal with Harsco Environmental.
SMS group GmbH and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) have joined forces in a memorandum of understanding aimed at decarbonizing steel production in SAIL’s integrated steel plants.
Mark Przybylski started a new position as material handler of Manufacturing at Retech, a SECO/WARWICK Company.
SMS group GmbH welcomed Orascom Construction PLC to conclude the agreement signing of an alliance to help with future projects.
Thermal-Vac Arizona has announced the opening of a new Chino Valley, CA, shop for brazing, heat treating, testing, and machining services.
Hydro is set to install solar power at its extrusion factories in Sweden.
Mark Hemsath becomes the new president of Nitrex Turnkey Systems.
Joseph Scala of Leybold USA, Inc. wins Lifetime Achievement award for outstanding lifetime philanthropy after being named regional sales manager of VTS-Midwest for Leybold.
Nitrex and Linde renewed heat treating-focused joint marketing agreement and expansion into Europe.
Pfeiffer Vacuum’s President and Regional Manager,
Turgay Ozan AFC-Holcroft announced a partnership with
Sanken Sangyo, a Japan-based company in the
thermal processing equipment industry.A big year for Joseph Scala
Kudos Chatter
The GTS Mexico team completed a successful ISO/IEC 17025 audit with their accrediting entity.
The Driven to Reach Excellence and Academic Achievement for Males (DREAAM) program in Champaign, Illinois, toured Wirco, Inc.’s Champaign, Illinois, foundry.
SAMPE North America Board of Directors announced that Tim Shaughnessy, president and CEO of Rapid Cure Technologies, has been selected as the SAMPE 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipient. They also announced that Dr. Scott Beckwith, a renowned expert in the field of Materials Science, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Mort Kushner Lifetime Achievement Award.
After a 25-year career, Paulo’s heat treat manager in Murfreesboro, TN, Dave Lee, has retired.
Dan Essenmacher retired from AFC-Holcroft after 28 years with the company.
Paulo celebrates 80 years of heat treating history.
Bill Gasbarre, co-founder of Gasbarre Products, Inc., retired after 50 years.
Ipsen celebrates 75 years in Cherry Valley, IL, with a ceremony emceed by Heat Treat Today publisher, Doug Glenn.
Retirement of Paulo’s Dave LeeDoug Glenn with Patrick McKenna, president &
CEO of Ipsen USAStaff of the GTS Coahuila
Find Heat Treating Products And Services When You Search On Heat Treat Buyers Guide.com
Are there rapid changes in the North American aluminum industry to accommodate trending technology, or does the aluminum market have a different focus? Enjoy this Technical Tuesday article, in which six industry players responded to the following survey from Heat Treat Today’s editorial team in August 2023.
Steady and Increasing Melters’ Demand
Contact us with your Reader Feedback!
Is demand increasing or decreasing for aluminum processing/melting equipment?
AFC-Holcroft: “Yes, we continue to see opportunities for a variety of furnaces for T5, T6, and other aluminum heat treating processes. We recently signed a license agreement with Sanken Sangyo in Japan to offer their aluminum rotary furnace designs in the U.S. and Canada.”
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl., Ltd.: “Yes, particularly in finished component heat treatment systems (T4, T5, T6, and T7 processes). The processing demand is coming from new vehicle (ICE, hybrid, electric) model line-ups that are focusing heavily on lightweighting body in white (BIW), structural, and suspension components that are being converted from steel to aluminum.”
Lindberg/MPH: “We have seen an increase in aluminum scrap melting in the recent past with larger capacity melters being quoted.”
Premier Furnace Specialists: “We’re seeing a steady demand for aluminum processing equipment. Typically, our clients are requesting either aluminum solution furnaces, drop bottom furnaces, or pre-heat furnaces. There has been an increased demand for larger furnace chamber sizes and heavier load capacities as more customers are requesting furnaces that can handle a variety of materials, temperature ranges, and processes. It seems the aerospace industry is driving most of the demand at the moment.”
SECO/WARWICK: “On the molten metal side of the SECO/WARWICK business, there are a few significant projects out there which are active, and the level of inquiries is good!”
Wisconsin Oven: “We have seen an uptick in aluminum solution treat and aging equipment in recent years.”
Tracy Dougherty Chief Operating Officer AFC-Holcroft LLC Tim Donofrio Vice President of Sales Can-Eng Furnaces International, Ltd.Kelley Shreve General Manager Lindberg/MPHJacob Laird Mechanical Engineer Premier Furnace Specialists, Inc./BeaverMaticDan Peterson Product Manager Molten Metal Furnaces SECO/WARWICK Corp.Mike Grande Vice President of Sales Wisconsin Oven Corporation
AM/3D: Allusive Adoption
Has additive manufacturing/3D printing contributed to current business levels?
AFC-Holcroft: “It’s been an ongoing topic, but volumes are still low, which has kept heat treating equipment investments at a minimum.”
Lindberg/MPH: “There have been more requests than in the past few years for sintering applications which, I believe, is largely driven by the increase in 3D metal printing manufacturing.”
Premier Furnace Specialists: “The company has been receiving a number of requests for smaller batch style ovens for the processing of additive manufactured/3D printed materials. We have also fulfilled a number of requests to alter existing or used systems to meet new process requirements.”
SECO/WARWICK: “On the molten metal side, this would be what we call the powdered metals industry, we has not seen much interest in that area this year. One exception is an inquiry that our sister company Retech was fielding.”
Have international supply chain disruptions impacted demand for your company’s equipment?
AFC-Holcroft: “There are certainly disruptions, but we’re finally starting to see some improvements. Our team has worked hard to mitigate the supply chain challenges through unique forward-looking programs with our suppliers and clients. As far as demand goes, it has not had an impact at all. In fact, we are currently experiencing booking levels that we haven’t seen in more than 20 years.”
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl., Ltd.: “Clients are planning ahead to address the longer lead times.”
Lindberg/MPH: “We have noticed that supply chain issues in general, both domestic and international, have created an environment where lead times to build equipment have more than doubled. This has caused many clients to begin looking for alternative solutions to meet their needs, as they cannot wait two-thirds of a year for equipment. The largest delays are with refractory, gas burners, alloy, and many various control components.”
Premier Furnace Specialists: “Actually, we’ve seen an increase in demand for our equipment from various industries impacted by disruptions. Many companies seem to be reassessing their supply chains and expanding production capacity to avoid future disruptions.”
Dual pit furnace and water quench tank system designed and built for a client in the aluminum castings industry. It is used for aluminum solution heat treating of thick walled castings. Each furnace has a 4,000 pound gross load capacity and an operating temperature range of 300°F – 1100°F. (Source: Premier Furnace Specialists/BeaverMatic)
SECO/WARWICK: “Lately our clients are for projects that are further out, 1–2 years in some cases. Most of our end users are aware that prices are still moving up and deliveries are stretched out, however there have been some improvements of deliveries on MCC’s and PLC’s.”
Wisconsin Oven: “Not that we know of.”
The State of Sustainability in Aluminum Market
Has the sustainability push affected demand for your equipment?
Horizontal quench system used for the solution treatment of aluminum parts (Source: Wisconsin Oven)
AFC-Holcroft: “Again, no impact on demand, but our group has been offering many ‘green’ options on our equipment for years to assist our clients in the drive for a reduction in their carbon footprint.”
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl., Ltd.: “Yes, there’s more emphasis on reduced environment impact processes and equipment designs.”
Lindberg/MPH: “Not really. We have had a couple of RFQ[ET7] ’s come in related to green energy, but they are very slow-moving projects with a lot of R&D on the buyers’ end. Additionally, we have been asked to partner with these clients to develop a solution to help them meet the end goal.”
Premier Furnace Specialists: “For a minor segment of clients, the push for sustainability seems to be driving a demand for electrically heated equipment rather than natural gas. Even for those clients, however, the main deciding factors are still local utility costs, existing facility restrictions, and familiarity with existing equipment.”
SECO/WARWICK: “Environmental sustainability has definitely affected what our clients are looking for on most new inquires. Most have strict emissions requirements and are looking for combustion systems with lower NOx and higher fuel efficiency. Peripheral hooding is also commonly requested to capture emissions from around door openings and over charge wells. I would not say that sustainability has diminished the demand, however it has affected what they need with regard to emissions compliance.”
Wisconsin Oven: “Clients occasionally request energy-efficient features and designs, but not more often than in the past.”
Anticipating Growth and Novel Aluminum Applications
What plans are you making to meet future market demand?
AFC-Holcroft: “We are a global group and have recently restructured our organization to better serve our customers. We have also undergone a facility expansion to help reduce our carbon footprint and provide our clients with the best products and deliveries available in the market. This includes an expansion of our build to stock production planning to greatly reduce lead times on UBQ furnaces and EZ endothermic generators among other products.”
Can-Eng Furnaces Intl., Ltd.: “We have increased emphasis on electric battery vehicle component and materials processes and equipment design development. Additionally, we are planning further use of electric energy as an alternate heating source for system designs.”
Lindberg/MPH: “We are looking to work with vendors to create vendor managed inventory in order to reduce lead times, as well as hire additional employees to reduce labor driven lead times. We continually look for additional vendors to remain cost competitive and reducing the overall cost of manufacturing.”
Premier Furnace Specialists : “We’ve expanded vendor and supplier listings. We have also gained experience implementing existing and new alternatives for almost all of our furnace components. By reassessing our standard component choices and offering a variety to clients, we have been able to substantially reduce lead times which allows for more efficient and flexible production while reducing costs.
“We have also added new technology to aid in our manufacturing. Building parts in-house significantly cuts down on lead times and pricing. Thus, clients know that their equipment will have little or no downtime, saving them the time and stress of not running product.”
SECO/WARWICK: “We are adding engineers, field service technicians, etc. and having our “seasoned veterans” bring them up to speed! We have also moved to a larger new office location to accommodate future growth.”
Wisconsin Oven: “We have acquired additional floorspace in recent years and have been hiring aggressively in the last six months.”
We will be celebrating the holidays with family, and our offices will be closed from December 22 to January 1. Look for your next Heat Treat Daily e-newsletter on January 2nd!
2023 has been a year of many new things, and we are thankful to have seen many of you in-person. The heat treat community is one that is warm (pun intended) and vibrant.
We are looking to 2024 with much anticipation and hope for even more opportunities to work together and challenge ourselves and others with new ideas in the North American heat treat industry.
Thank you for the opportunities every day to serve and encourage you in our heat treat corner of the world. From the entire Heat Treat Todayteam, we wish you a very joyous and restful Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!
Heat TreatToday publishes eight print magazines a year, and included in each is a letter from the publisher, Doug Glenn. This letter first appeared in November 2023 Vacuum Heat Treatprint edition.
Forty-one relative newbies to the North American heat treat industry attended this year’s Heat Treat Boot Camp in Pittsburgh.
Contact us with your Reader Feedback!
There are four reasons why sending someone to Heat Treat Boot Camp is a good business decision:
Technical and Commercial Content
The content is right on target. The technical information is presented in layman’s terms so beginners can understand. Thomas Wingens, of WINGENS LLC, does a great job explaining rudimentary concepts like austenite, martensite, phase transformations, lattice structures, and other potentially intimidating concepts.
The non-technical content is presented by yours truly and gives attendees a solid understanding of the importance of heat treating, the equipment and components used, the companies that manufacture the equipment, and resources for staying up to date.
Attendees did have one request: extend the event so that more time could be spent on the topics. That’s a nice criticism to hear, and we’re considering extending the event to include another half day.
Connecting with People
Penna Flame Industries in Zelienople, PA, hosted nearly 30 Heat Treat Boot Camp attendees. On the right, Andrew Orr of Penna Flame and Doug Glenn of Heat TreatToday listen to a question from Christopher Carson, Modern Industries, Inc. (Source: Heat TreatToday)
One of the most valuable parts of the event was the networking. It’s nice to know there are others in the industry who are also early in their careers and need to learn heat treat basics. The mix of attendees was quite diverse, including in-house heat treaters, commercial heat treaters, and industry suppliers.
Two Excursions
Following an evening adventure on the Duquesne Incline, attendees gathered at the DoubleTree in Downtown Pittsburgh for some classic “yinzer” dining and fellowship. (Source: Heat TreatToday)
At the end of the first full day of classes, the entire group loaded a school bus (yes, a yellow school bus) and took a brief drive to the famous Duquesne Incline which goes to a fantastic view of downtown Pittsburgh.
The final day ended with another school bus trip to a local commercial heat treat plant where attendees saw heat treat equipment in operation. Penna Flame Industries in Zelienople, PA, hosted nearly 30 of us. Andrew and Michael Orr, third-generation family owners, did an excellent job showing the group around their flame and induction hardening heat treat operation.
Food
There were also plenty of good opportunities for networking during the six food functions — and the food was fantastic. There is nothing better than chatting over food. This year’s group excelled at mealtime fellowship!
Most Importantly
Deidra Minerd, owner of Euclid Heat Treating, summed up the most important benefit of sending someone to Heat TreatBoot Camp:
“Thank you for taking good care of one of our new employees . . . at the Heat Treat Boot Camp. He said he really enjoyed it and learned a lot. As soon as he returned, he said he’d like to take part in more training. It’s encouraging that his time at Heat Treat Boot Camp inspired him to pursue more knowledge to further his career.”
Hopefully, we’ll see you or someone from your company next year. Dates for Heat TreatBoot Camp 2024 will be announced before the end of this year. Stay tuned.
Find heat treating products and services when you search on Heat Treat Buyers Guide.com
Heat TreatToday will take a break from publishing on Thursday and Friday, November 23 and 24. We will be celebrating the Thanksgiving (U.S.) holiday with our loved ones. Come Monday, November 27, look for the latest edition of Heat TreatDaily in your inboxes.
We are always grateful for you, our readers! We will take this week in particular to thank you for your commitment and passion in the heat treat industry. Thank you for your involvement with us. We work hard to provide you with material that helps support our mission: "We believe people are happier and make better decisions when they are well informed."
God bless each and every one of you, and enjoy the holiday this week.
What are qualities and best practices of a good leader? Joe Theismann, former quarterback for the Washington Redskins and present-day entrepreneur, invites Heat TreatToday'sreaders and 40 Under 40 honorees to contemplate leadership, specifically the successful leadership that is found by giving back.
This article was originally published in Heat TreatToday's September 2023 People of Heat Treat print edition.
Joe Theismann
Entrepreneur, Former Washington Redskins Quarterback, Football Analyst
Source: Heat TreatToday
Congratulations to the 40 Under 40 Class of 2023. What an honor to be recognized as up-and-coming leaders in the heat treat industry. I am excited for you and the opportunities you have to lead and help those around you succeed. Because success is found by giving back. That may be something you don’t hear often, but I truly believe we must measure success by the way we are helping others.
Contact us with your Reader Feedback!
With leadership comes responsibilities. As a former professional quarterback as well as an owner of several businesses, I’ve learned a few key principles that I hope will be helpful as you grow as leaders. When performed effectively, they will set up you and your team well.
To succeed by giving back to others, start with the 3 E’s — environment, expectations, and execution.
Environment
The environment, or culture, encompasses the people with whom you work and lead. Being intentional about the kind of culture you create is vital to fostering innovation and freedom of communication. Enthusiasm is the engine that drives, and your attitude precedes everything.
Relationship building is key. Mentoring others by sharing your experiences and expertise is as important as learning from your mentees. Listen and learn — seek knowledge every day and don’t think you have all the answers. It’s the whole of the team that matters. Asking yourself what you can do to help others succeed is a vital component to building a healthy culture that will enable others to shine.
Expectations
Lead by explaining your “why” — be sure you know it and articulate it well. The details are critically important; ensure your team understands your expectations.
To know your why, identify your direction and practice disciplined leadership. Bill Parcells, former head coach of the New York Giants, talked about the importance of direction and discipline. Be definitive in providing direction and model discipline to stick with the task. Embrace the failures, learn from them, and encourage others to not fear them; it’s a process. Share these insights with your team!
Execution
Finally, if you’ve built a healthy environment and your team understands your expectations, lead with present-minded execution.
So, think about today, not yesterday; ask, “What is prevalent today?” And, with every day, be sure you are available to those who need you.
Be reliable in showing up to do the hard work. And be accountable to those you are leading and those to whom you report. Have their backs. Be proud of who you are and who you represent. Execute with confidence.
When Roadblocks Open Doors to True Success
What happens when you experience an unexpected roadblock in this wild adventure called life? Because you know it’s going to happen!
In 1985, during a Monday night game against the Giants, I suffered a severe fracture to my right leg between the knee and ankle that eventually led to my retirement from football. Sure wasn’t expecting that.
What I had to do was find another path that provided me with the same passion as the one that just closed. Was it difficult at first, yes, but because I spent time learning my trade, I was able to work as a sportscaster and pro football analyst for many years and loved it!
Mental toughness will be necessary when you hit those curves. It may not throw you out of the game, but it might throw you off. Focus on persevering, finding that passion, and remembering that success is found in giving back.
Congratulations! I look forward to seeing your success in the lives of the people you lead.
About the Author:
Joe Theismann is the former two-time Pro Bowl star quarterback for the Washington Redskins where he played for 12 seasons and led them to winning Super Bowl XVII. Most recently, he spent the last two decades working for ESPN and the NFL Network as an NFL analyst. He is also a successful restauranteur.
On October 11, 2023, Heat Treat Today, in cooperation with the Metal Treating Institute (MTI), presented the 2023 Master Craftsman Award (also known as the Commercial Heat Treater of the Year Award) to Thermal Vac Technology CEO, Heather Falcone, and her team.
The award was presented at the formal awards presentation banquet at the MTI national conference in Tucson, AZ. Pictured above from left to right Thermal-Vac Technology representatives Julio Salazar, Christopher Falcone, Heather Falcone, Shane Driscol, Ryan Dourte, and Shannon Driscol with Doug Glenn, publisher of Heat Treat Today.
This award is given to the company that demonstrates making a positive impact on their community and their industry. Recognition is based on quality programs, pollution & hazardous waste control, community involvement, and industry leadership and judged by a panel of previous recipients.
At the award presentation, Doug Glenn highlighted that since “this Golden State company uses Best Practices for hazard prevention and waste management, the local fire company actually uses their facility to train new firefighters and other first responders.” Additionally, their track record for community involvement and leadership included mention of onsite AA meetings and sobriety support, as well as participating in Fair Chance Hiring, offering jobs to those recovering from homelessness, addition, poverty, incarceration, or other unfortunate life situations.
Thermal-Vac Technology received a plaque commemorating this auspicious recognition and a scholarship fund of $1500 from Heat Treat Today that was matched with another $1500 from MTI’s Education Foundation. The heat treater will award this $3000 to a high school or college student who is pursuing an education in heat treat.
Congratulations to Thermal-Vac Technology on this award.
Find heat treating products and services when you search on Heat Treat Buyers Guide.com
The brain drain is real. As new professionals enter the industry, Heat TreatToday is helping to ensure that young and old inquiring minds can connect with and grow from the experiences of high-value industry experts. Get to know Heat TreatToday Consultant:Jon Tirpak.
I am Jon Tirpak, professional metallurgical engineer, fellow and past president of ASM International, chief engineer of Sabattis, LLC, and managing partner of Value Selling Associates. I have decades of metallurgical engineering experience, especially with respect to manufacturing technology research and development in the federal and commercial sectors. I excel at building cross functional teams, establishing lean, sustainable processes, navigating the federal marketplace, and thinking outside of the box. Currently, I am located in Mount Pleasant, SC, but “have ticket, will travel!” I am also available through Zoom and Microsoft Teams, and I would welcome a call.
Jon’s focus is all about creating teams that focus on client-centric processes. He is more than willing to guide clients towards making the necessary, hard choices based on predetermined criteria, all while using a sane selection process. Once, Jon was noted as being the only “adult” in a room of technologists during an investment strategy session. He considers this to be the biggest compliment paid to him.
With over 40 years of experience in metallurgical engineering, Jon has some fantastic stories shrouded in NDAs. But he can share one of his taglines: “You can’t have the alloy without the heat treatment.”
In addition to being a consultant in the heat treat industry, Jon is also an Air Force Veteran. Beginning in 1982, he launched his career at the Air Force Materials Laboratory. His seminal research on fatigue, fatigue crack growth, and fracture toughness testing coupled with other programs promoted the use of aluminum castings in aircraft. Eventually, future research and the continuous improvement of casting alloys and processes coupled with heat treating led to the elimination of the casting factor. His technical reports published in the mid-1980s are still referenced today by researchers around the world.
Air Force's Dynamic Environment Simulator ("Centrifuge")
(Source: USAF)
Jon served as an executive officer within Project Forecast II and focused his expertise on advanced materials and manufacturing in the Plans and Programs Office of the Air Force Materials Laboratory. In addition to his regular duties, Jon served as a test subject in the Air Force’s Dynamic Environment Simulator (DES) or the “Centrifuge.”
With over 40 test and proficiency runs, Jon was a research subject to evaluate new systems battling a phenomenon called G-Induced Loss of Consciousness (G-Loc). This effect occurs when pilots experience the rapid on-set of acceleration (high g-forces) causing a pilot to black out. 8.5 gs was the maximum g-force he experienced in the simulator. Watching Top Gun: Maverick reminded Jon of the graying and blacking out of a pilot subject to these extreme forces. The below photo shows Jon getting suited up for related DES studies and the DES itself which was decommissioned and replaced by the Air Force several years ago.
Lieutenant Tirpak suited up for an aeromedical research study.
(Source: Jon Tirpak)
His second assignment at the Ballistic Missile Office availed Jon to work at the Nevada Test Site conducting underground nuclear tests. All in all, his short tours with the Air Force propelled him into the balance of his civilian, industrial career revolving around different metal forming processes and heat treating. Today, he actively supports a client deploying thermal processing technology to replace carburizing.
The future of heat treat lies in two things: passionate people and cybersecurity. Without passionate professionals who see the whole picture and who are willing to contribute and serve clients, business will languish. And don’t underestimate the importance of cybersecurity! An enterprise needs to “build moats,” train employees, and upgrade software and hardware — and then train again!
