Last week Heat Treat Today hosted its annual conference, Heat Treat Boot Camp, at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The two day event was chock-full of learning, networking, and enjoying the best Pittsburgh has to offer. Learn more about Heat Treat Boot Camp’s largest year ever below!
Monday, September 15
Monday’s events featured an extravagant rooftop reception where those from the heat treatment industry were able to network, get to know the staff and lecturers on a personal basis, and compete in a lighthearted putt-putt game for a free ticket to next year’s Heat Treat Boot Camp.
The Drury Plaza Hotel is a former Federal Reserve building, and its rooftop patio provided a beautiful view of the city. Some individuals gathered around tables laughing about their shared experiences working with Heat Treat Today’s columnist Jim Roberts from U.S. Ignition (who everyone agrees is very funny). Others enjoyed cocktails and gazed out over the city, relaxing from their travels into town. Still others collaborated over roast beef and horseradish sauce on how to invent a zippo-style lighter in the shape of a vacuum furnace with 3D printing.
The reception provided a wonderful opportunity to break the ice and ease into the full days of sessions.
Tuesday, September 16
There were 62 attendees who participated in the sessions, which were located in one of the former bank vaults of the building. The information covered the players, products, processes, markets, materials, and future trends in heat treating. Thomas Wingens of WINGENS CONSULTANTS and Doug Glenn of Heat Treat Today led the sessions.
Tuesday evening included a ride up the Duquesne Incline — one of the few remaining inclines in the country — in a one-hundred year old cable car to Mt. Washington. From there, the group was able to take in Steel City’s amazing views on an observation deck. A short walk from the incline, the group enjoyed a delicious meal at the LeMont, one of Pittsburgh’s iconic restaurants, where its floor to ceiling glass windows dazzled diners with additonal stunning views of downtown Pittsburgh.
Wednesday, September 17
Three additional sessions were held on Wednesday prior to an afternoon of certificates being awarded. The group had one final field trip: an opportunity to visit Penna Flame, a local commercial heat treater in Zelienople, PA. Penna Flame is a third generation family-owned business serving the steel, mining, railroad, and automotive industries among others where they specialize in flame hardening, robotic induction hardening, additive manufacturing, furnaces, and cryogenics. It was a helpful hands on approach, bringing to life some of the processes discussed in the sessions, and enabled those present to see the value of sessions’ information in real time.
At last, the group had to disperse to their hometowns and businesses all over the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Heat Treat Boot Camp was an informative event in which participants enjoyed all aspects of boot camp. Many individuals shared that they would be sending people next year, noting the good balance of learning and networking which took place.
Keep your eyes peeled for information about next year’s Heat Treat Boot Camp 2026!
Heat Treat Today original press release, last updated on 09/22/2025 at 4:43am
