Heat Treat Boot Camp — Record Attendance

Heat Treat Today publishes twelve print magazines annually and included in each is a letter from the publisher, Doug Glenn. This letter is from the November 2025 Annual Vacuum Heat Treating print edition.

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

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Heat Treat Boot Camp has become a popular gathering place for individuals who are either new to the North American heat treat/thermal processing market or who have been around a good while but would like to learn more. This year, on September 15–17 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the industry gathered over 60 learners at the 4th annual Heat Treat Boot Camp. By all practical measures, it was an extremely successful event.

Attendance

The magic number, 63, was more than any previous year by 50% and double the number that we had last year. Of those 60-some, we had roughly:

• 11 captive heat treaters (18%)
• 7 commercial heat treaters (12%)
• 1 investment company (<1%)
• 44 suppliers (70%)

The number of years that these attendees had been in the industry varied from as little as several weeks or months to over 30 years. The mix was ideal, allowing the newbies to learn from the industry veterans and for industry veterans to be energized by the enthusiasm and energy of the newbies.

It was also good to have multiple companies sending people for the 2nd or 3rd year in a row. Obviously, they like what their employees are learning.

Speakers

As with the previous three events, Thomas Wingens of Wingens Consulting and I were the only two speakers. Between the two of us, we have well over 50 years of industry experience. Thomas covered the technical side of the conversations dealing with both the materials and processes of heat treat, while I covered the markets, products, and players. Thomas also discussed emerging technologies, and I concluded with a short session on resources to help keep current.

Activities

We kicked off the event on Monday evening, September 15, with a reception on the scenic outdoor patio of the Drury Plaza Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. The hotel had purchased and renovated this historic building, the former location of the Pittsburgh Federal Reserve. In fact, all of the training sessions took place in The Main Vault. It was a “safe place.”

Tuesday was a full day in the classroom. It was grueling, but attendees were rewarded with a school bus ride to the historic Duquesne Incline where we were elevated to the top of Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington. From there we could overlook the city from well above the tops of the skyscrapers. It was a beautiful evening. We then walked two blocks to LeMont Restaurant where we continued to overlook the city until the evening hours brought out the city lights. Again, beautiful.

Wednesday was a half day of classes and then an optional tour of Penna Flame Heat Treating in Zelienople, Pennsylvania, less than one hour north of Pittsburgh.

Sponsors

A big “thank you” goes to the industry sponsors — many of whom returned from last year — who helped us underwrite the costs of the boot camp. Idemitsu was our sole Title Sponsor. Can-Eng Furnaces was our sole Social Sponsor helping with the expenses of some of our networking functions and the putt-putt contest. Our two lunch sponsors were Cleveland Electric Labs (who have sent at least two people to all four of the boot camps since 2022) and Newton Heat Treating. Other corporate sponsors included ECM USA Vacuum Furnaces, Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems, Super Systems, Honeywell, Chiz Bros, and I Squared R who had the popular Triple-Dipped Malted Milk Ball sponsorship. All of these companies were super helpful in making Boot Camp a success.

You’re Invited

Next year, we encourage you or someone from your company to attend. To see what past recipients have said and for more information about the 2026 Boot Camp, please visit www.heatttreatbootcamp.com. See you there.