Tube Annealing Furnace for Stainless Steel and Special Alloys Manufacturer
Alleima, a manufacturer of steel components and special alloys, will receive a new tube annealing furnace. The electric atmospheric furnace line is intended for bright annealing of high-alloy tubes and will be used in the production of nuclear applications components.
SECO/WARWICK is providing the furnace as their 5,000th device.
Source: SECO/WARWICK
Vice President of Aluminum and CAB Products Segment
SECO/WARWICK
Production Unit Manager
Alleima
Source: LinkedIn
“Our partnership with SECO/WARWICK has lasted for many years. We are delighted that we could celebrate it in a special way, as our impressively large tube annealing line (over 140 meters long – 460 ft) happens to be the 5,000th SECO/WARWICK device. We feel that together we are creating not only a remarkable history, but also the future as this solution will help us spread our wings,” said Magnus Mellberg, production unit manager at Alleima.
“The furnace was created specifically for this partner’s needs. It will allow them to increase production capacity…This is important as the demand for high-alloy components in this market has increased. It is an unusual construction, verified through analysis and simulations, and implemented in reality. It offers very good technological results after the annealing process,” explained Piotr Skarbiński, vice president of the Aluminum and CAB Business Segments at the SECO/WARWICK Group.
Press release is available in its original form here.
Tube Annealing Furnace for Stainless Steel and Special Alloys Manufacturer Read More »
All-Metal Hot Zone Furnace for Solar Atmospheres
Solar Atmospheres has expanded its operations with an additional all-metal hot zone furnace. The new system significantly expands the company’s capacity to heat treat highly sensitive materials such as precipitation-hardened stainless steels, nickel-chrome-based superalloys, titanium, and niobium. The new unit is installed at their Hermitage, Pennsylvania facility and will meet the stringent demands of the aerospace and medical industries.
Source: Solar Atmospheres
Michael Johnson, Sales Director at Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania, stated: “The all-metal vacuum furnace plays a critical role in delivering the purest possible processing environment. This level of cleanliness and control results in pristine end products that meet the most demanding industry standards. We’re proud to partner with the engineers at Solar Manufacturing to bring this advanced technology to fruition.”
The furnace incorporates strategically placed isolation valves, an oversized main valve, a high-capacity diffusion pump, and a polished stainless-steel chamber. Capable of achieving vacuum levels below 5 x 10⁻⁶ Torr, the system ensures bright, contamination-free results.
Press release is available in its original form here.
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Why They Buy from You
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 October 2025 Ferrous & Nonferrous Heat Treatments/Mill Processing print edition.
Feel free to contact Doug at doug@heattreattoday.com if you have a question or comment.
Karen Gantzer, associate publisher, and I recently visited a manufacturing plant with an extensive, in-house heat treat operation. We don’t often visit captive heat treat operations even though the vast majority of our audience are, in fact, captive heat treaters — manufacturers with their own in-house heat treat capabilities.
The conversation we had with the two heat treat specialists that hosted us was wide-ranging and enlightening. One of the topics was the rationale used for purchasing new thermal processing equipment. They have two mesh belt furnaces and a small number of integral quench furnaces. All the furnaces came from the same supplier.
We asked them straight up, “Why did you buy from this supplier and not from others?” The answer was instructive not only for furnace manufacturers, but for all suppliers in the industry.
What Didn’t Matter
While the three points listed below had some influence, these were not as important to the captive as many furnace manufacturers believe:
- Price. In fact, they outright told us that they did not buy the least expensive equipment. When company purchasing agents get involved, the decision-making process is complicated, but with this mid-sized company, the two key decision makers — the two guys who spent time with us — assured us that price was not the main driver behind their decision.
- Equipment and controls features. Features were not unimportant, but they were not the driving factor. Each company that bid for the job had slightly different solutions making it difficult to compare features. Our hosts told us that several of the designs would have worked. They chose one, but it was not because they preferred that design over the others.
- Quality. What exactly does “quality” mean? If ever there was an overused marketing word, “quality” is it! Quality was not a determining factor in the purchase of the heat treating equipment. All of the equipment was “quality” equipment… whatever that means.
What Mattered
There were two key factors that swayed the decision for this captive heat treater:
1. Responsiveness was the #1 reason why this captive heat treater chose this furnace manufacturer. Responsiveness took several forms. First, during the bidding process, the manufacturer set itself apart by being prompt and creative with design changes. They obviously listened to what the captive heat treater was saying and responded in a timely fashion with alterations/solutions that demonstrated understanding. Second, the ability to reach the “top guy” at the furnace manufacturer day or night brought a level of comfort that heavily tilted the scales in their favor. Both guys indicated that they had the president’s cell number in their phones — not on speed dial, because that’s not necessary — but in their phones just in case. And they’ve used that number multiple times with good results. Finally, the furnace manufacturer continues to be responsive even after the equipment has been installed and commissioned. If there is something new or different the guys want to do, they call the furnace manufacturer, speak to a real person, they are heard, and they get a response in a timely fashion.
2. Location was the second most important reason. Here’s why. First, the buyers were happy to be stimulating the U.S. economy and, more specifically, the regional economy. Second, they felt that a geographically close furnace manufacturer would be more capable of providing speedy service and parts if and when those items became necessary. Third, proximity allowed the buyer to inexpensively visit the furnace builder for manufacturing progress updates. And finally, a domestic manufacturer eliminated tariff concerns.
Obviously, a furnace manufacturer can’t be geographically close to all their clients. However, alleviating concerns about parts and service, accommodating on-site progress visits throughout the furnace manufacturing process, and manufacturing as much as possible in the U.S. would all be steps in the right direction.
All this to say, it is not so much the hard inputs like engineering, manufacturing, and finance that persuade customers to make a purchase. Rather, it is the softer inputs — the human elements — that help furnace buyers become comfortable, giving you a leg up on your competition. Comfort is an emotion… and as we all know and agree, “Everyone always buys emotionally all the time.”
Publisher
Heat Treat Today
For more information: Contact Doug at
doug@heattreattoday.com
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Ryerson and Olympic Steel Announce Merger
Ryerson Holding Corporation, a value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, and Olympic Steel, Inc., a U.S. metals service center, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge. The merger will enhance the combined company’s presence as the second-largest North American metals service center and will bring Olympic Steel’s complementary footprint, tempering capabilities, and heat treated product offerings into Ryerson’s network of value-added service centers.
The deal is expected to generate approximately $120 million in annual synergies by the end of year two via procurement scale, efficiency gains, commercial enhancement, and network optimization. The merger adds Olympic Steel’s thermal processing services and metals to Ryerson’s existing offerings.
As part of the transaction, Michael D. Siegal, executive chairman of Olympic Steel’s Board of Directors, will be appointed chairman of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the combined company and Olympic Steel will also appoint three other directors to the combined 11-member Board. Eddie Lehner, president and chief executive officer (“CEO”) of Ryerson, will serve as CEO of the combined company, with Richard T. Marabito, CEO of Olympic Steel, serving as president and chief operating officer.
Eddie Lehner said, “This merger represents an immensely attractive and unique opportunity for Ryerson and Olympic Steel as it combines our two organizations, which couldn’t be more complementary and synergistic around the products, services, footprint, and customer experience…The combination of our organizations will further scale the digital investments that Ryerson has made to bring Olympic Steel’s capabilities and formidable expertise into a larger network and provide our customers with greater network density, faster lead times, and a wider array of custom solutions from pick-pack-and-ship to finished parts…I look forward to working with Rick and the entire Olympic Steel organization with shared mission, passion, and purpose to unite our teams in reaching our vast potential together.”
“We are very excited about the combination of Ryerson and Olympic Steel and the trajectory of the business going forward,” added Steve Larson, chairman of Ryerson’s Board. “We look forward to welcoming Michael and the additional Olympic directors to the already strong Ryerson board. They bring a wealth of experience and perspective.”
Michael Siegal added, “This is a significant milestone for the business my father and uncle started more than 70 years ago. We went from private to public in 1994, and now we enthusiastically take this next step to accelerate Olympic Steel’s continued growth.”
Press release is available in its original form here.
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Atmosphere Group Now “Aichelin Americas”
The Atmosphere Group contains many familiar subsidiaries to the heat treatment world: AFC-Holcroft, Atmosphere Heat Treating, Inc., Austemper Inc., and Nitrex NTS (Nitrex, G-M Enterprises, and UPC-Marathon). Now, the U.S. operating holding company will carry out business for the Region Americas under a new name: Aichelin Americas.
Marty Poljan will continue to lead the region as president and CEO of Aichelin Americas. The group has announced that Tracy Dougherty has been promoted to president of Sales & Service and that Paul Oleszkiewicz has been promoted to president of Operations. Together, Tracy and Paul bring more than 50 years of leadership experience in the heat treating industry.
President & CEO
Aichelin Americas
Source: Linkedin
President of Sales and Service
Aichelin Americas
Source: AFC Holcroft
President of Operations
Aichelin Americas
Source: Nitrex
“Our clients don’t simply buy equipment — they make a long-term decision about who they can rely on,” says Poljan. “This leadership structure reflects that reality. We are here to be a consistent, service-driven partner — not just at installation, but through every maintenance cycle, modernization and capacity expansion that follows.”
“This industry has shifted,” notes Dougherty. “Responsive service, modernization support, and clear accountability over the lifespan of their equipment. That’s where our focus is, and where it will remain.”
Delivering on that promise operationally is Paul Oleszkiewicz, president of Operations, whose three decades at Nitrex have been dedicated to engineering execution, process reliability, and technical precision.
“Engineering leadership in heat treating comes down to repeatability and trust,” says Oleszkiewicz. “A furnace isn’t just a product — it’s a long-term production system. Our responsibility is to deliver with consistency and to stand behind that equipment with real technical support.”
“A furnace isn’t just a product — it’s a long-term production system”
As Aichelin Americas continues to align its manufacturing capabilities, aftermarket service network, and engineering resources across its combined brands, it is able to offer access to a leadership team that has lived the operational realities of all things thermal processing.
Press release is available in its original form here.
Atmosphere Group Now “Aichelin Americas” Read More »
Refractory Insulation: The Quiet Defender of Furnace Longevity
When it comes to furnace linings, most heat treaters focus on the hot-face materials, the heavy-duty refractories taking the brunt of molten metal, corrosive slags, and extreme heat. And just behind that armor lies a quiet defender: the refractory insulation layer. This layer is often the last line of defense between a functioning furnace and a costly, catastrophic failure. In this Technical Tuesday installment, Roger M. Smith, director of technical services for Plibrico Company, LLC helps readers understand the valuable role of refractory insulation for thermal stability.
This informative piece was first released in Heat Treat Today’s October 2025 Ferrous & Nonferrous Heat Treatments/Mill Processing print edition.
Why Refractory Insulation Matters
Refractory insulation is more than a buffer or a back-up. It provides structural support to the working lining, maintains shell temperatures within safe limits, and cushions the entire structure against the stresses of expansion and contraction. When this layer fails, you don’t just lose insulation, you risk cracks, shell overheating, and lining collapse. In other words, it can turn a maintenance project into a full-blown emergency.
The Strength Factor: Why Compressive Strength Counts
If there’s one property that deserves special attention, it’s compressive strength. The insulation layer is like the foundation of a house: if it cannot support the load above it, the whole structure suffers. Insufficient compressive strength can lead to creeping, crushing, and distortion, all of which compromise the stability of the hot-face refractory.
At green or ambient conditions, most types of insulating refractories, including monolithic, mineral wool, and ceramic fiber boards, exhibit similar compressive resistance, typically in the range of 40−50 psi at 10% deformation, but strength changes significantly once the furnace heats up.
For example, most mineral wool and ceramic fiber boards contain organic binders that burn off at around 475°F, reducing their compressive strength by roughly 50% at furnace operating temperatures (based on the board manufacturer’s technical data sheets, see Table A). Over time, this can increase thermal conductivity through the reduced thickness of the insulating layer.
In contrast, monolithic lightweight insulating castables, like Plibrico’s Plicast Airlite 25 C/G, not only retain their compressive integrity as the temperatures rise, but they actually gain strength, according to ASTM C165 test data as the material fully sets and stabilizes under heat.
This difference matters: compressive strength is not static. It changes as the material heats up and insulating products that hold their strength at service temperatures provide a more stable, safe, and reliable support for the hot-face lining.
The takeaway? Stronger, more stable insulation is not just filler. It’s an active structural layer that helps prevent hot-face sagging, cracking, and premature failure, directly contributing to longer furnace life.
Thermal Stability: More Than Just Heat Resistance
Compressive strength plays a direct role in thermal stability. Denser, stronger castables with lower porosity are far better at resisting gas penetration, chemical attack, and erosion than lightweight, weaker alternatives.
When insulation loses stability, it can create voids, cracks, and hot spots, risks that threaten not only the hot-face layer but the furnace shell itself. This is why density and porosity are critical: denser insulating castables maintain their structure under load, resist infiltration, and provide reliable support for the hot face.
By contrast, mineral wool and board products often weaken as their organic binders burn off at service temperatures, leading to deformation and unpredictable thermal gradients.
Monolithic lightweight insulating castables can offer a more robust alternative. They retain their integrity as temperatures climb and can even gain compressive strength as they fully set and sinter during heat-up. This added stability reinforces the hot-face layer and helps prevent failures during thermal cycling.
There’s another layer to this: long-term thermal cycling. Furnaces rarely stay at one steady temperature; they ramp up, cool down, and undergo countless micro-cycles during operation. Insulation that can absorb these changes without cracking or delaminating is critical for avoiding premature lining failures.
In short, thermal stability is structural stability — the better your insulation performs under heat and cycling, the longer your furnace lining will last.
Designing for Expansion: Building Flexibility Into the System
Here’s where many lining failures start: in the different layers of lining expanding at different rates.
Hot-face refractories, often dense high-alumina castables, have significantly different thermal expansion coefficients compared to the lighter, more porous insulating castables behind them. The hot face may swell aggressively under load, while the insulation expands far less. If those differences are not accounted for, the result is tensile stresses, delamination, and cracking at the interface between layers. Over time, those cracks can grow, creating pathways for heat and corrosive agents to reach deeper into the lining.
This is where thoughtful design makes all the difference:
- Anchor systems must hold both layers securely but flexibly, allowing each to expand without transferring destructive stresses. Using materials like monolithic refractories adds another advantage: their insulating properties help better protect the base of refractory anchors, reducing localized heat buildup and minimizing stress concentrations that can lead to cracking or premature anchor failure.
- Installation sequencing should avoid locking the hot-face layer too tightly to the insulation, preventing “shear failure” during heat-up.
- Layer composition must be selected so the expansion mismatch is minimized, balancing mechanical stability with thermal shock resistance.
When expansion is designed for, rather than ignored, the entire lining behaves like a single, flexible system instead of two incompatible parts competing for space.
Practical Tips for Getting It Right
Prioritize compressive strength. Choose insulation with enough strength to support the hot-face lining under load. Materials like monolithic lightweight insulating castables maintain or even increase compressive integrity at service temperatures, improving overall lining stability.
Pick the right material for the zone. Not every insulating castable is created equal. Match density, chemistry, and expansion to the application.
Control the install. Low-water mixes, vibration placement, and proper curing are non-negotiables if you want consistent density and strength.
Don’t skip the heat-up schedule. Rushing dry-out or startup is one of the fastest ways to ruin a lining before it is even in service.
Revisit your anchor design and how you install around it. Poorly designed anchor layouts can lead to stress points and premature lining failures, so reviewing and optimizing the design is one of the cheapest ways to prevent costly mechanical issues. Plus, consider the installation method: board insulation requires time-consuming cutting and fitting around each anchor, while monolithic insulating refractories like Plicast Airlite 25 C/G can be installed around anchors in less than half the time, reducing labor while improving performance.
Built to Last
Insulation is not just about slowing heat loss, it is also about standing firm when your furnace is under its heaviest load. The right refractory insulation, engineered with compressive strength as a priority, gives your lining the backbone to absorb mechanical stresses, resist cracking, and maintain its shape through the punishing cycles of heat-up and cool-down. It does not just protect the shell; it supports the hot face, prevents hot spots, and preserves the entire system’s structural integrity.
Compression Recovery Data
| Product | Temperature (ºF) | Compressive Resistance at 10% Deformation (psi) |
|---|---|---|
| Monolithic Insulation Lightweight Castable/Gunite (Plibrico Plicast Airlite 25 C/G) | 230 | 40 |
| 650 | 41 | |
| 1000 | 47 | |
| Mineral Wool Board (published) | ambient | 38 |
| Ceramic Fiber Board (published) | ambient | 50 |
| 2000 | 23 |
ASTM C165 Measuring Compressive Properties of Thermal Insulations
Note: Mineral Wool and Ceramic Fiber Boards contain organic binders that burn off by 475ºF. This reduces the strength of the board by 50% along with decreasing other important properties including thermal conductivity.
Table A. Compressive strength at service temperatures: comparison of compressive resistance (10% deformation) between monolithic insulation lightweight castable/gunite materials such as Plibrico’s Plicast Airlite 25 C/G and mineral wool and ceramic fiber boards at increasing temperatures.
Choosing monolithic insulating castables that gain strength at operating temperatures, instead of mineral wool or ceramic fiber boards that lose half their capacity as binders burn away, is an investment in lining longevity. Get this layer right, and you secure longer campaigns, lower maintenance costs, and the confidence that your furnace can keep pace with production demands. Get it wrong, and you risk premature failures, costly outages, and avoidable downtime. In the end, refractory insulation built for compressive strength and stability is not just a detail, it is what keeps your furnace, and your operation, running at its best.
About The Author:
Director, Technical Services
Plibrico
Roger Smith is a seasoned professional in the refractory industry. With Master of Science in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Missouri – Rolla, Roger has over 15 years of experience in the processing, development, and quality assurance of both traditional and advanced ceramics. He has a proven track record in developing innovative ceramic formulations, scaling up processes for commercial production, and optimizing manufacturing operations.
For more information: Visit www.plibrico.com.
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2 CAB Furnaces Commissioned for Auto Manufacturer
Two EV/CAB lines will be installed for a major manufacturer of heat exchangers for trucks, passenger cars, and new energy technologies. The furnaces are designed to meet the stringent requirements of the automotive industry for the production of components for commercial vehicles and to ensure long-lasting and reliable operation in demanding industrial conditions.
SECO/WARWICK, a supplier of controlled atmosphere brazing technology and more with North American locations, will deliver the two EV/CAB lines: one installation will occur in Mexico and the other in China for the Chinese manufacturer’s in-house heat treat operations.
Vice President of Aluminum and CAB Products Segment
SECO/WARWICK
Both lines are modern aluminum brazing solutions dedicated to the production of key cooling system components for electromobility and classic automotive applications. One line has a belt width of 1900 mm, destined for the Chinese location, and was designed for battery cooling plate production, while the Mexican line is 1800 mm wide and will be dedicated to the production of automotive heat exchangers.
“We are proud that one of the leaders in automotive thermal management consistently chooses SECO/WARWICK technology. Our CAB lines…[fulfill] future requirements regarding automation, efficiency and ecology,” commented Piotr Skarbiński, vice president of the Aluminum and CAB Product Segments at SECO/WARWICK.
The two CAB lines ensure temperature distribution uniformity in the brazing process of wide components. The furnace designs involved a convection preheating chamber, radiant brazing furnace, and cooling zones with air jacket and final cooling.
Press release is available in its original form here.
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10 News Chatter to Keep You Current
Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 10 news items, featuring Plibrico Company’s new CEO, Pratt and Whitney‘s 100 years in aerospace, Stack Metallurgical Group‘s new cryotherm technology, and more!
Equipment
1. SMS Group and Jiangsu Pacific Precision Forging commissioned a 31.5-MN closed-die forging press for large-scale production of aluminum suspension components.
2. Stack Metallurgical Group in Portland has commissioned a new TRU-CRYOTHERM made by McLaughlin Furnace Group. The addition has a 4000 pound capacity.
3. Mercer Technologies Inc has shipped a MerVac RVF-242436 vacuum furnace. The furnace has a completely remanufactured vessel, with a rebuilt pumping system, hot zone, heating element power supply, and water circulation system.
Company & Personnel
4. Rodney Strasser has joined Ipsen USA as the regional service manager for the Southeast Region. Operating out of Atlanta, Georgia, Strasser will be responsible for coordinating and leading a team of Ipsen service technicians that serve Ipsen clients in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida.
5. Plibrico Company has announced the appointment of John Paul Surdo as president and CEO following the retirement of the longtime president and CEO, Brad Taylor.
6. Delamin Nitriding Salts (DNS), a subsidiary of Parker Netsushori Kogyo of Japan, announced the acquisition of Avion Manufacturing, a leading producer of high-quality stop-off paints, headquartered in Medina, Ohio. This acquisition enhances DNS’s capabilities in providing high quality surface treatment solutions in the heat treatment industry.
Kudos
7. Skuld, LLC celebrated ten years as a company. Their team spent time to celebrate and reminisce as well as to look to the company’s future.
8. Bob Hill, president of Solar Atmospheres, received the MTI Heritage Award. The MTI Heritage Award recognizes an individual’s lifetime commitment and significant contributions to advancing the commercial heat treating industry.
9. Pratt and Whitney celebrated 100 years in the aerospace industry. With over 90,000 engines in service around the globe, they have pushed the boundaries of aviation and human flight.
10. Alleima has met its sustainability targets, which were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and are now aligned with the latest climate research. These targets mean that Alleima is reducing its Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by more than 54% and Scope 3 emissions by 28% by 2030, using 2019 as the base year.
Find heat treating products and services when you search on Heat Treat Buyers Guide.Com
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Solar Atmospheres Expands with 10-Bar Vacuum Furnace
Solar Atmospheres has commissioned and installed a new 10-bar vacuum furnace at its Greenville, SC facility. The horizontal furnace can process loads up to 12,000 pounds and expands the company’s capacity for high-pressure quenching of large components and workloads.
Source: Solar Atmospheres
President
Solar Atmospheres Southeast
Manufactured by its sister company Solar Manufacturing, the furnace features a working zone measuring 48” wide x 48” high x 96” deep. Its pumping package achieves an ultimate vacuum level of 1×10⁻⁶ Torr, ensuring performance for processing titanium and other high-grade alloys requiring pristine vacuum environments
Steve Prout, president of Solar Atmospheres Southeast, commented: “We’re proud to offer our customers another regional option for high-pressure quenching of large components and workloads, while also providing the opportunity to reduce processing costs through economies of scale.”
Press release is available in its original form here.
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