Nearly 100 attendees gather at the Conrad Hotel in Indianapolis for a three-day event to discuss industrial decarbonization and sustainable technologies. Targeting users and suppliers of industrial heating processes, the Industrial Decarbonization Summit is organized by the Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA).
IHEA designed the SUMMIT to help everyone using heat technologies understand and overcome these important concerns and challenges.
Emceed by Jeff Rafter, vice president of sales and marketing, Selas Heat Technology Co. LLC, the event began yesterday (Tuesday, October 29th) with a keynote presentation by Dr. Avi Shultz, of the United States Department of Energy, Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office (US DOE IEDO), who spoke on “Understanding the US DOE Industrial Decarbonization Initiatives.” Other speakers and topics covered during the 2-day event include:
Mr. Tim Hill from Nucor and Mr. Jeff Kaman from John Deere talking about the implementation of their companies’ decarbonization plans.
Mr. Perry Stephens from EPRI, Mr. Brian Kelly from Honeywell, and Mr. Erik Anderson from Ambient Fuels discussing alternatives to fossil fuel combustion.
Mr. Sandeep Alavandi of GTI Energy addressing how companies can get to net zero by reducing, converting, and trading.
Mr. Bryan Stern from Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems addressing economic and business concerns related to industrial adoption of decarbonization technologies.
Dr. Avi Shultz Director U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) The Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office (IEDO)Jeff Rafter Vice President of Sales and Marketing Selas Heat Technology Company, LLC Tim Hill General Manager Sustainability Solutions NucorJeff Kaman Manager, Energy Supply and Sustainability John DeerePerry Stephens Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)Brian Kelly Honeywell Thermal SolutionsErik Anderson Vice President, Origination Ambient FuelsSandeep Alavandi Program Manager GTI EnergyBryan Stern Product Development Manager Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems
Summit attendees come from a wide cross section of industries including companies such as Daido Steel, Whirlpool, Detroit Stoker Co, Wenger Mfg, Trane, Nucor Steel, Timken, John Deere, Oak Ridge National Lab, Siemens Energy, Dowa THT America, and many more.
The content of the Summit is targeted at company thought leaders who are attempting to learn how to navigate the decarbonization roadway. Click on the video below to view some of Jeff Rafter’s opening remarks.
Listen as Jeff Rafter, vice president of sales and marketing at Selas Heat Technology and current IHEA president, discusses the upcoming IHEA Decarbonization SUMIMIT with Doug Glenn. Scheduled for October 28-30 in Indianapolis, Indiana, the summit will address the challenges and opportunities of decarbonization for manufacturers. Jeff highlights IHEA’s nearly 100-year history in industry education. The event will feature keynote speakers from the DOE, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and John Deere, with a mix of technical and business content aiming to provide practical strategies for energy management and sustainability. Learn more in this episode of Heat TreatRadio, and learn more about this episode sponsor, IHEA, and their event at summit.ihea.org.
Below, you can watch the video, listen to the podcast by clicking on the audio play button, or read an edited transcript.
The following transcript has been edited for your reading enjoyment.
The IHEA Decarbonization Summit (01:03)
Doug Glenn: Jeff, when and where is the summit? And what was the driving force behind deciding to do this event?
Jeff Rafter: The IHEA Decarbonization SUMMIT will be at the Conrad Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana, beginning on Monday, October 28, and ending Wednesday, October 30.
The drive to create this event arose because the IHEA membership had often commented on, and lamented, the frequent inquiries they get from the client base across all sectors of manufacturing; clients are looking for clarification on the ongoing changes of the U.S. energy infrastructure and, specifically, how to manage the requirement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
There is a lot that is changing quickly in the U.S. energy infrastructure around renewables, electrification, and low carbon fuels. he IHEA board felt that it was essential to assist manufacturing members by trying to clarify these topics in an interesting event that presented the information objectively and provided a diverse array of all the decarbonization pathways available to manufacturers today.
IHEA’s Qualifications (02:36)
Doug Glenn: For those who might not know what IHEA is, what makes it uniquely qualified to present such a summit?
Jeff Rafter: I am proud to say that IHEA is a very unique organization. Many trade organizations do not have the long-standing success in supporting members that this organization has. The composition of IHEA, which is close to 100 years old, was originally made up of heating appliance and heating component manufacturers, who have spent most of our history focused on industry education as a service to all the member companies.
We felt that this was the perfect organization to take up the topic of sustainability and decarbonization because we are education focused. From that background and that bias, we are leveraging thousands of years of experience over a broad array of manufacturing options from traditional fossil fuels through electrification. Our member companies provide a very strong basis to deliver real-world examples of how to deal with reducing CO2 emissions.
Doug Glenn: And if I am remembering correctly, IHEA actually has a standing history of cooperation and working with the DOE on different things in the past, correct?
Jeff Rafter: Very good point, Doug. If you look back in history, before “CO2 reduction” and “decarbonization” became buzzwords, we spent a lot of similar efforts working with government organizations, research laboratories, and third-party organizations around topics of NOx reduction and trying to create a cleaner basis of industrial, manufacturing, and energy. In addition, we have always spent our time helping with business concerns regarding efficiency, not only operating successfully heating processes and appliances, but also making manufacturing more cost effective.
Keynote Speakers (04:44)
Doug Glenn: And speaking of the DOE, I see that there are some pretty high-profile speakers coming. The keynote speaker is Dr. Avi Shultz, from the U.S. DOE, and he is on the Industrial Decarbonization Initiative. Other speakers include Paulomi Nandy from Oak Ridge National Lab, Jeff Kaman from John Deere, and Tim Hill from Nucor. Can you give us a sense of what these folks will be talking about?
Dr. Avi Shultz Director U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) The Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office (IEDO)Paulomi Nandy Technical Account Manager, R&D Assistant Staff Member Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Research Analysis Group (MEERA) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)Jeff Kaman Manager, Energy Supply and Sustainability John DeereTim Hill General Manager Sustainability Solutions NucorSpeakers at the IHEA Decarburization Summit
Jeff Rafter: Doug, we are very excited to have the diverse mix of speakers that will make up the summit presentations. With Dr. Schultz and Miss Nandy, we are very excited to be providing a third-party opinion — government organizations and research laboratories — and they will be presenting on their views of the trends for the future of sustainability and decarbonization.
When we move to some of the other presenters like Tim Hill from Nucor and Mr. Kaman from John Deere, we also wanted members and attendees to take away from the summit real-world experience. These are not imagined or planned changes. We wanted companies that had actual experience with decarbonization — who had even taken actions towards net-zero positions — to share with attendees exactly how they approached the challenges.
Because, of course, some of the issues around sustainability are that it comes at a cost.
And how do you fund that? How do you research that? Where do you look for grants, and how do you make the business case towards decarbonization or any sustainability action for that matter?
Finally, adding to those two bodies of participants, we have a number of presenters speaking about real-world solutions today. IHEA’s view on decarbonization and sustainability is that there is a very broad set of pathways that you can take today with inexpensive, readily available technologies all the way out to longer term solutions like full electrification of processes.
There is more than one way to approach this challenge and do the responsible thing in manufacturing, which is to address our CO2 production globally.
Is Electrification the Only Answer? (07:25)
Doug Glenn: You mentioned electrification. When people hear decarbonization or sustainability, they often think electrification. There may be a lot of people listening saying, “I am primarily combustion. Should I be going?” Are only electrification solutions going to be presented? Or are combustion solutions going to be presented as well to help with the decarbonization?
Jeff Rafter: The answer to that question is, “Yes, you should be going, regardless of whether your focus and your background is in traditional fossil fuel combustion or electrification.”
The summit will contain a very balanced approach of different technologies, presented with no bias. The goal of this summit is providing education to help business leaders make better decisions around their energy management and their environmental concerns.
With that said, when we look at the body of what is available in the agenda, electrification is an important topic. But as a lot of people recognize, some portions of electrification are just relocating to a different fossil fuel further away from the point of use whilst other electrification options linked to renewable energy sources truly can come close to net-zero production of CO2.
IHEA’s view is that there are many sustainability pathways that we can all investigate or pursue.
Some pathways maintain fossil fuel basis. Some industrial processes will be challenged to move to an electric heating source. And then for other processes, electrification is the cat’s meow. So it is that broad sweep of diverse technologies that everyone needs to be educated on to make better decisions when the time comes.
Who Should Attend the Summit? (09:21)
Doug Glenn: How technical will the summit be; do I need to know heavy engineering, metallurgy, and things of that sort? And who should come?
Jeff Rafter: Traditionally, a lot of IHEA’s educational content has been directed at a technical audience; it was technical education about how various energy sources and heating appliances work, how to comply to code, and how to approach the application of that equipment safely. In this particular summit, we have changed course a bit in that we did not want this event to be a technical conference.
The idea of this summit was to make it a business conference because that is where most of the challenges exist when we look at sustainability efforts.
The content that will be presented is a pleasant mix of some technical topics because we have to get a rudimentary understanding of how these different technologies work. However, we are spending just as much time in the presentations addressing business concerns: How do you fund these various actions? Where can you find available grants? What are real-world examples of how other companies have approached sustainability or have begun an initiative internally? How do you get the support and the decision-making decided while moving in the right direction? When you look at the agenda that will be posted on the IHEA website, you will see that the topics range broadly from some technology presentations to real-world business concerns and how to make those business decisions.
Agenda for IHEA Decarburization Summitt, Monday – Wednesday, October 28-30, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana
Doug Glenn: How much fun have you had putting this summit together?
Jeff Rafter: I would happily report it has been a tremendous team effort.
I am very proud to say that a lot of IHEA member companies and third parties have stepped up to help us construct this event. We are really looking forward to it being a valuable event that provides a lot of information and important takeaways for participants.
Doug Glenn: I know you have put a lot of work into it. I have watched you do this over the last year and a half, and you have done a great job coordinating it.
Closing Remarks (12:34)
Jeff Rafter: I would just like to say in closing, for anyone who is thinking about coming to the IHEA Decarbonization Summit, please do. This is a very important topic for manufacturers, and you really need to take the approach of not waiting. It is time to get in front of changes in our energy infrastructure and the need to decarbonize some manufacturing processes. This is a great way to get educated and start your plan.
Doug Glenn: And I did remember one other motivation: If you are looking to stay at the hotel where the summit is held, the cutoff date for the hotel (you can still get into the summit even if you do not hit this cutoff date) is October 7th. So anyhow, appreciate it. Jeff, thanks very much for your time.
About The Guest
Jeff Rafter Vice President of Sales and Marketing Selas Heat Technology Company, LLC Source: Selas Heat Technology
Jeff Rafter is vice president of sales and marketing for Selas Heat Technology in Streetsboro, Ohio, and has a rich history in the combustion industry, including Maxon Corporation. Jeff has 31 years of industrial experience in sales, research and development, and marketing; combustion application expertise in process heating, metals, refining, and power generation; and 13 years of service on NFPA 86 committee. He holds patents for ultra-low NOx burner design. Additionally, his company, Selas, is an IHEA member, and Jeff is the current president of IHEA as well as one of the driving forces/coordinators behind the upcoming Decarbonization Summit at the Conrad Hotel in Indianapolis, October 28-30.
The search for sustainable solutions in the heat treat industry is at the forefront of research for industry experts. In this article, provided by IHEA Sustainability Initiatives, a path to sustainable decarbonization is suggested that cuts through the murky waters of changing terms and shifting protocol and charts instead a navigable course with updated definitions and industry resources, such as IHEA’s upcoming Decarbonization SUMMIT in Indianapolis, IN, this fall.
This Sustainability Insights article was first published inHeat Treat Today’sMay 2024 Sustainabilityprint edition.
There is no hotter topic (no pun intended) than decarbonization. Just about everywhere you go and everything you read or listen to talks about sustainability and decarbonization. As leaders and stewards in the industrial heating industry, the Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA) is committed to being at the forefront of providing valuable information and developments around the topics of sustainability and decarbonization. For the past 18 months, IHEA has been developing and delivering a highly successful Sustainability Webinar Series; continuously updating terms and definitions, frequently asked questions, and resources for the industry on the IHEA website; and, in its biggest step, is now offering a comprehensive Decarbonization SUMMIT from October 28–30, 2024 in Indianapolis, IN.
Current IHEA President and Sustainability Committee Chair Jeff Rafter states, “All IHEA members are continuously being asked about ways to decarbonize their processes. As the industry association dedicated to all things ‘heating,’ we feel it is our duty to present an unbiased view of what’s happening now, how companies can begin the process of lowering their carbon emissions on their current equipment, while beginning to look at all the alternatives that are coming and how those might fit into their operations. There is no question that change is imminent. We want to be the resource that the industry uses for information on all options to begin to decarbonize operations.”
While not much is going to happen overnight, “Legislation is going to be coming,” notes IHEA Board Member Mike Stowe, who is serving on the ISO Decarbonization Committee. “The best thing companies can do is begin preparing now. Take a look at your current operations and start making changes that improve efficiency now. Educate yourself and your staff on technologies that will help you lower carbon emissions. Be ready for what lies ahead.”
IHEA is ready to help the industry take the next step by hosting its first Industrial Heating Decarbonization SUMMIT. This event is designed to start shaping the future of manufacturing heating processes. It will include keynote addresses by industry visionaries; ways to begin your decarbonization process now; a look ahead at various technologies that can also help you decarbonize; case histories and a panel discussion on decarbonization collaboration; networking with industry leaders, and a tabletop exhibition that showcases cutting-edge technology.
Themes Running Throughout the SUMMIT Will Focus On:
Low Carbon Fuels in Industrial Processes
Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies
Global Benchmarking
Economics and Business Concerns
Innovations in Clean Technologies
DOE (Department of Energy) Programs and Tools
Policy Frameworks for Decarbonization
Target Audience for the SUMMIT:
CEOs and Executives from Industrial Companies
Sustainability Officers and Environmental Managers
Government Officials and Policymakers
Researchers and Academics in Clean Technology
Sustainability Engineers and Program Managers
Directors of Sustainable Manufacturing
Utility Representatives
“We are in a unique position,” comments IHEA President Jeff Rafter. “There has never been an issue like this that has faced our industry. Working together and bringing the industry together at a SUMMIT gives everyone a forum to learn, share ideas and best practices, review recent technologies, and begin lowering carbon emissions as an industry. No one is going to do this alone.”
IHEA’s tabletop exhibits that will accompany the SUMMIT programming will allow attendees to get a close look at a wide array of information that will help them in their decarbonization efforts. Those interested in reserving a tabletop should visit summit.ihea.org. Tabletops are expected to sell out quickly.
As IHEA works its way towards the SUMMIT in the fall, the Sustainability Webinar Series is still underway. Nearly 1,000 people have logged on over the past year since the first webinar was launched. Upcoming Webinars include:
May 16
Increasing Available Heat to Lower CO2 Emissions
June 20
Understanding Carbon Credits & Net Zero
July 18
U.S. Codes & Standards
August 15
Renewable Fuels
Additional webinars will be supplemented to this list regularly. IHEA’s webinars are free to attend. You can register by going to IHEA’s website (www.ihea.org) and clicking on the Sustainability logo on the home page. Then scroll down and click on the “Sustainability Webinar Series” to review and register for the upcoming webinars. If you have a sustainability topic you would like us to address, please email the topic to anne@goyermgt.com, and we’ll work to create a webinar.
Welcome to Heat Treat Today’sThis Week in Heat Treat Social Media. We’re looking at hot summer events, hot summertime activities, and hot heat treat industry events coming soon to a social media page near you. Check out these posts, podcasts, and videos for a roundup in Heat Treat Social Media.
As you know, there is so much content available on the web that it’s next to impossible to sift through all of the articles and posts that flood our inboxes and notifications on a daily basis. So, Heat Treat Today is here to bring you the latest in compelling, inspiring, and entertaining heat treat news from the different social media venues that you’ve just got to see and read!If you have content that everyone has to see, please send the link to editor@heattreattoday.com.
1. Heat Treating Skateboards > Hot Moves
This space is usually reserved for something rich and technical, but it’s summertime in the northern hemisphere and heat treating is just as essential for the proper working of items affiliated with leisure and outdoor activities as the products that make the world go round (e.g., automotive, aerospace, etc.). “Skateboarding is not just a sport; it’s an art form, a mode of transport, and a way of life for many. But did you know that the metal trucks on a skateboard—those T-shaped pieces that mount the wheels to the deck—are a product of meticulous heat treatment?” (from Bodycote on LinkedIn, November, 2023)
Check out this recent post from Bodycote laying out how critical it is to safety and experience for skateboard trucks to be heat treated with the same level of skill that it takes to execute an ollie or a shuvit.
2. It’s a Beautiful Day in the Heat Treat Neighborhood
What’s everyone been up to on the social channels?
Summer Engineering Institute reshaping the Future of Heat Treating
Future Leaders: Report to the Dome!
Take Us Out to the Old Ballgame!
It may Be Summer but It’s Never Too Early to Think About the Fall
‘Tis also the season for Registration for 2024’s industry events and social media provides an excellent platform for getting the word out. Here are some of the events taking place just in September — don’t delay! Registration is still open for all of these!
Marking Milestones
3. Learn with Us
Sometimes, it’s the small things on social media that grab your attention or give you the “ah ha!” moment. And sometimes things affecting the industry in other places cause us to go “hmm.” Do any of these short posts make you say “eureka”?
Queueing and Sequencing (and more!)
Quiz Time
4. Open Your Ears: The Podcast Corner
You can’t read everything, we get it. Heat Treat Today is here to recommend two informative podcasts to enjoy on your daily commute!
Tune in to Listen to Heat Treat Radio #110! Isolated Heat, the Future of Vacuum Furnaces
Sharpen your hearing: Heat Treating Knives on the TTT Podcast
5. Junk Food and a Logo Extravaganza
Click through to see what Kowalski Heat Treating thinks about junk food and how that thinking gets them counting logos.
Have a great weekend!
Find Heat Treating Products and Services When You Search on Heat Treat Buyers Guide.com
Heat TreatToday offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 21 news items.
Equipment
Tata Steel Meramandali, based in Odisha, India, placed an order with SMS group for the implementation of Paul Wurth coke oven gas injection technology at their Blast Furnace (BF) #1. This order is the first of its kind in India, setting a precedent for the industry’s move towards sustainable steel production. The project is expected to be commissioned by Q1 2026 and will be completed within 25 months.
Sousa Corp., based in Newington, CT, installed its second Ipsen Turbo²Treater vacuum furnace to its production line, expanding its capacity to meet demand for heat treating services to the aerospace, automotive, medical, and general manufacturing industries.
A Chinese partner has purchased a two-chamber VIM 50 kg induction furnace from SECO/WARWICK for casting gas turbine blades. The furnace will produce gas turbine blade castings in an equiaxed structure and has already obtained an export license.
The modernization of a blast furnace at Salzgitter Flachstahl AG has been completed by SMS group. The new Paul Wurth parallel hopper Bell Less Top® (BLT) installed offers enhanced efficiency with less maintenance.
Edwards AFB in California received delivery of a composition oven from DELTA H®/Phillips Federal. The equipment will be used for advanced materials applications R&D. The heat treat furnace supplier initially designed and engineered the walk-in oven using SolidWorks 3D modeling and developed the project as a “kit oven” for easy field assembly. After preassembly of key subsystems at their Carroll, OH facility, the system was shipped to Edwards AFB. The entire field assembly project required two weeks including commissioning and extensive training of USAF personnel.
Tata Steel Nederland selected Tenova to develop a new state-of-the-art steel production line in IJmuiden, the Netherlands. The overall contract will include engineering, supply, and advisory services for a three million tons electric arc furnace to meet current operational specifications (high-quality steel for the automotive sector).
Cavendish Hydrogen ASA, a subsidiary of Nel ASA,has received a purchase order from Alperia Greenpower SRL for hydrogen fueling equipment to be used for light- and heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles in Bruneck, South Tyrol, Italy. This will be Nel’s first H2Station™ installation in Italy, built for the 2026 Winter Olympics to fuel vehicles for the transfer between the Olympic sports facilities.
Newly installed material hoppers at Salzgitter Flachstahl AGCoke oven gas compressing station previously installed at HKM, GermanyDELTA H®/Phillips Federal providing composite oven for Edwards AFBLeft to right: Paolo Stagnoli (Tenova), Hans van den Berg (CEO Tata Steel Nederland), Jeroen Klumper (Tata Steel Nederland), and Nico Bleijendaal (Danieli)
Company & Personnel
StandardAero has appointed Kim Ernzen to serve as chief operating officer. In this role, Ernzen reports directly to Russell Ford, StandardAero chairman and CEO, and is responsible for global operational performance, efficiency, and excellence, as well as engineering and supply chain management for StandardAero. Additionally, StandardAero’s Engine Services and Component Repair Services division presidents will report directly to Ernzen, who will maintain close oversight of the company’s overall business performance. She replaces Kerry O’Sullivan, who is retiring from StandardAero, and will be located at the company’s Scottsdale, Arizona, headquarters office.
Steelhead Technologies launched Steelhead University, an online learning platform designed to expedite user training and streamline software implementation. The comprehensive curriculum of eight core administrative courses equips users with fundamental knowledge essential for navigating the intricacies of the company’s software.
Solar Atmospheres’ newest acquisition, Solar Atmospheres of San Diego, has announced the addition of Chris Constable as their new vice president of operations. Chris has nearly 25 years of heat treating experience that includes quality, operations, management, plant safety, business development, and sales.
Ipsen USA welcomes Max Stormo as the new Ipsen customer service (ICS) operations manager as the company streamlines its aftermarket services in Souderton, PA. Stormo comes to Ipsen after an extensive career working as a manufacturing operations leader in Texas, and a recent role as vice president of operations at a manufacturer in the Philadelphia region.
Solar Manufacturing, Inc., announced the hiring of Nicholas Max, BSME Drexel University, as its chief mechanical engineer to head up its vacuum furnace mechanical design group. Nick is also pursuing an MBA at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. He will be tasked to lead the further development of energy efficient hot zones, vacuum vessels, high pressure gas quenching systems, and vacuum pumping systems.
Ipsen USA has confirmed its commitment to the growth of the Ipsen Customer Service (ICS) Parts Department by expanding staff and implementing strategic initiatives. Christina Connelly, parts manager for Ipsen in Cherry Valley, joined the team in 2022, and has since hired six additional employees. Connelly and her veteran team members and new hires are focused on reducing turnaround time and increasing customer responsiveness.
Swiss Steel Group announced its participation in a renewable energy consortium, the “Initiative EE-Industrie.” This initiative, consisting of 19 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany, aims to build, operate and utilize wind and photovoltaic plants for self-supply with green electricity.
Kanthal and Danieli have announced a partnership to jointly scale up Kanthal’s demonstrated electric process gas direct-heating solution, Prothal® DH, to full industrial scale. With the installation in Energiron hydrogen-ready DRI plants, fully green DRI production will be achieved. Additionally, the introduction of Prothal® DH technology in blast furnace operation will reduce CO2 emissions in ironmaking.
Kim Ernzen, Chief Operating Officer at StandardAero Screenshot of Steelhead University knowledge check on adjusting powder coat recipesChris Constable, Vice President of Operations, Solar Atmospheres of San DiegoMax Stormo, Customer Service Operations Manager, Ipsen USANicholas Max, Chief Mechanical Engineer, Solar Manufacturing, Inc.Dilip Chandrasekaran, Global Business Development Manager at Kanthal (L) and Marco Lapasin, Vice President Danieli Engineering Centro Metallics
Kudos
Ipsen Global has received the German Innovation Award for the Atlas Green furnace platform, presented by The German Design Council. The award ceremony was held in Frankfurt, Germany, on May 14, celebrating the innovators that emerged from a field of 520 submissions from across 23 countries.
Industrial Steel Treating Co. was named the Manufacturer of the Year by the Jackson Area (MI) Manufacturers Association. Accepting on behalf of IST was Tim Levy, current President of IST. Members of the Levy family in attendance included current VP, Tom Levy, and former IST President, Bernard Levy. Bernard was the 2nd generation Levy family owner and spent his entire 50-year career at IST before retiring and passing the reins to his three sons in 1998.
Bluestreak Compliance™, a division of Bluestreak | Bright AM™, received approval as a Registered Practitioner Organization (RPO) by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Accreditation Body (Cyber-AB). This significant achievement enables Bluestreak Compliance™ to offer expert consulting services to defense contractors and suppliers aiming to comply with CMMC cybersecurity standards and prepare for their Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) audits.
IHEA has announced Dr. Avi Shultz as keynote at the first Industrial Heating Decarbonization SUMMIT. Dr. Shultz, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO), will provide the keynote address at its first summit, to be held October 28-20 at the Conrad Indianapolis.
Swiss Steel Group has launched a new website which focuses on customer needs, including a Product Finder that generates automated product suggestions based on customer requirements and specifications, and detailed information about green initiatives and sustainability as well as special requirements for steel grades for specific applications.
IHEA recently announced its 2024–25 Board of Directors and Executive Officers. Taking over as President is Jeff Rafter of Selas Heat Technology Co. LLC; Vice-President is Gary Berwick of Dry Coolers, Inc.; and Treasurer is Jason Safarz of Karl Dungs, Inc. Brian Kelly of Honeywell Thermal Solutions assumes the Past President position. Finalizing the lineup of IHEA’s Board of Directors for 2024-2025, the following members continue their tenure: Scott Bishop, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI); Bob Fincken, Super Systems, Inc.; Ben Gasbarre, Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems; Doug Glenn, Heat Treat Today; John Podach, Fostoria Infrared; John Stanley, Karl Dungs, Inc.; Michael Stowe, Advanced Energy; Helen Tuttle, WS Thermal Process Technology Inc.; and Jeff Valuck, Surface Combustion, Inc.
Dr. Bora Ozkan-Paul van Doesburg (L) and Lutz Dietzold (R) with their German Innovation AwardTim Levy (L) and Bernard Levy (R)Dr. Avi Schultz, keynote speaker at IHEA’s Industrial Heating Decarbonization SUMMITThe 2024-25 IHEA Board of Directors: Back row, left to right; John Stanley, Bob Fincken, Gary Berwick, Brian Kelly, Scott Bishop, Doug Glenn, and Jeff Rafter. Front row, left to right; Jeff Valuck, Ben Gasbarre, Helen Tuttle, IHEA Executive Vice President Anne Goyer, Jason Safarz, and John Podach. Not pictured: Michael Stowe
Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 13 news items.
Company
IHEA celebrate 95 years with an anniversary dinner at the industry association’s annual meeting.
Furnaces North American 2024 registration is open, with the event scheduled for October 14–16, 2024.
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.
SECO/WARWICK opened SECO/LAB, a production automation and mechatronics laboratory, at the University of Zielona Góra in Poland.
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).
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.
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 partnershipTenova electrolyzerTenova’s SafeForPorts project
Company & Personnel
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.
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-HallDavid Wolfe, Senior Sales Engineer, ECM USA
Kudos
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.
Steelhead Technologies is proud to be a winner of the Top Performer award from SourceForge, the world’s largest software reviews and comparison website.
Ipsen USA celebrated 75 years in operation on February 27, 2024.
Advanced Heat Treat Corp. has renewed its Nadcap accreditation in heat treating and passed its Aerospace Quality System (AC7004) audit.
Find Heat Treating Products And Services When You Search On Heat Treat Buyers Guide.Com
The search for sustainable solutions in the heat treat industry is at the forefront of research for industry experts. Michael Stowe, PE, senior energy engineer at Advanced Energy, one such expert, offers some fuel for thought on the subject of how heat treaters should prioritize the reduction of their carbon emissions by following the principles of reuse, refuel, and redesign.
This Sustainability Insights article was first published in Heat Treat Today’sJanuary/February 2024 Air & Atmosphereprint edition.
Reduce
Michael Stowe PE, Senior Energy Engineer Advanced Energy
We explored why the question above has come to the forefront for industrial organizations in Part 1, released in Heat Treat Today’s December 2023 print edition. Now, let’s look at the four approaches to managing carbon in order of priority.
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The best way to manage your carbon footprint is to manage your energy consumption. Therefore, the first and best step for reducing your carbon footprint is to reduce the amount of energy you are consuming. Energy management tools like energy treasure hunts, energy assessments, implementation of energy improvement projects, the DOE 50001 Ready energy management tool, or gaining third party certification in ISO 50001 can all lead to significant reduction in energy consumption year over year. Lower energy use means a smaller carbon footprint.
Additionally, ensuring proper maintenance of combustion systems will also contribute to improved operational efficiency and energy savings. Tuning burners, changing filters, monitoring stack exhaust, controlling excess oxygen in combustion air, lubricating fans and motors, and other maintenance items can help to ensure that you are operating your combustion-based heat treating processes as efficiently as possible.
Reuse
Much of the heat of the combustion processes for heat treating goes right up the stack and heats up the surrounding neighborhood. Take just a minute and take the temperature of your exhaust stack gases. Chances are this will be around 1200–1500°F. Based on this, is there any effective way to reuse this wasted heat for other processes in your facility? One of the best things to do with waste heat is to preheat the combustion air feeding the heat treating process. Depending on your site processes, there are many possibilities for reusing waste heat, including:
Space heating
Part preheating
Hot water heating
Boiler feed water preheating
Combustion air preheating
Refuel
Once you have squeezed all you can from reducing your process energy consumption and reusing waste heat, you may now want to consider the possibility of switching the fuel source for the heat treating process. If you currently have a combustion process for a heat treat oven or furnace, is it practical or even possible to convert to electricity as the heating energy source? Electricity is NOT carbon free because the local utility must generate the electricity, but it typically does have lower carbon emissions than your existing direct combustion processes on site. Switching heating energy sources is a complex process, and you must ensure that you maintain your process parameters and product quality. Typically, some testing will be required to ensure the new electrical process will maintain the metallurgical properties and the quality standards that your customer’s specific cations demand. Also, you will need a capital investment in new equipment to make this switch. Still, this method does have significant potential for reducing carbon emissions, and you should consider this where applicable and appropriate.
Redesign
Finally, when the time is right, you can consider starting with a blank sheet of paper and completely redesigning your heat treating system to be carbon neutral. This, of course, will mean a significant process change and capital investment. This would be applicable if you are adding a brand-new process line or setting up a new manufacturing plant at a greenfield site.
In summary, heat treating requires significant energy, much of which is fueled with carbon-based fossil fuels and associated-support electrical consumption. Both combustion and electricity consumption contribute to an organization’s carbon footprint. One of the best ways to help manage your carbon footprint is to consider and manage your energy consumption.
For more information: Connect with IHEA Sustainability & Decarbonization Initiatives www.ihea.org/page/Sustainability Article provided by IHEA Sustainability
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Navigate the heat treat events upcoming in the months ahead with Heat Treat Today’s Industry Calendar. This hidden gem is located in the “Events” tab on www.heattreattoday.com, and it is always updating with the latest industry events. As you make your vacation plans, be sure you aren’t missing any key events; in mid-February, three industry events are happening on the same day! Check out a couple of upcoming event descriptions in today’s original content piece below!
If you have an event to add — or want to give us a heads up on an event that you and others are going to attend — feel free to reach out to the editors at editor@heattreattoday.com.
Jump over to the “Events” tab on www.heattreattoday.com, and you’ll find the Industry Calendar located third down. This calendar allows you to search by month or day in list or calendar view format so that you can visualize upcoming heat treat events with ease.
A Couple Tips To Navigate The Calendar:
Select view options from “list,” “month,” or “day” (see image 1).
In the “month” view, if you want to learn more about an item in the calendar, hover over the name of the event to see the image (see Image 2).
Search for events in the industry using the search bar at the top of the page.
Image 1Image 2
A Quick Look at Upcoming Winter Events
The end of January and February are busy months in the heat treat world. Stay informed and be sure not to miss any important dates!
“Looking to stay ahead of the curve? We attract the top minds in the industry to keep you current on everything HVACR. In addition to the latest products and technology, we’ll explore trending topics in all sectors of the industry including AI & controls, decarbonization, plumbing & hydronics, heat pumps, refrigerants, workforce development, business & professional growth, and much more.”
MDSM is the world’s leading conference & expo focused on the latest technical advancements in motor, drive systems, motion control, magnetic applications, technology, and rare earth materials.
“This is a once-a-year opportunity for professionals to hear world-class content in design, efficiency, and application advancements in automation, robotics, manufacturing, utilities, automotive, medical, consumer, aerospace & defense industries.”
“Held this year in Brisbane, Australia, SIM-PAC brings together in one location the four of the key components that will deliver a sustainable future for industrial manufacturing: technology, machinery, environmental design, and process engineering.
‘Not only will it be a window into the future, but it will also have a critical focus on what is ready for deployment today,’ says Geoff Matthews, SIM-PAC Event Director and Partner.”
“Each of IHEA’s Sustainability Webinars covers a different topic. This time, the topic will be carbon capture.
With the popularity and success of this summer’s Sustainability & Decarbonization Webinar Series, the Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA) announces an expansion of the series with eleven new sustainability webinars in 2023 through 2024. ‘With interest very high regarding sustainability and reducing carbon emissions and greenhouse gases,’ notes IHEA Executive Vice President Anne Goyer, ‘the IHEA Board of Directors feels there is a strong need to continue providing valuable information that will assist our industry in navigating sustainability issues.’ The series will continue to be offered on the third Thursday of every month with an occasional exception for holidays.”
This is only the beginning of what the Industry Calendar can do for you! Explore more here.
The monthly Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA) Executive Economic Summary released in December gives forecasts for Q4 results and takes a look into the start of 2023. The 3.9% growth from Q3 is not expected to be matched in Q4, but the spending power of the consumer holds out hope for battling recession.
The 3.9% growth from Q3 is not expected to be matched in Q4 and beyond, but the spending power of the consumer holds out hope for battling recession. The thought is that inflation highs have peaked, and interest rates could lower about halfway into 2023. Heat treaters should note that applicable indices are remaining steady while still dealing with supply chain problems and work force shortages. Of the 10 economic indices in this report, 6 sectors are steady or seeing growth; while 4 are on a downturn.
Holding steady with biggest strength found in automotive. Source: IHEA
The categories included in seeing maintenance and growth are: New Auto & Light Truck Sales, Steel Consumption, Industrial Capacity Utilization, Metal Pricing, Durable Goods, and Factory Orders. Automotive sales are strong; people are wanting and needing to replace vehicles they've maintained for a long time. "People want new and they are confident enough in their job security to buy a new vehicle."
Automobiles are still in heavy demand due to supply chain issues and need to replace older vehicles. Source: IHEA
There are no surprises from the Steel Consumption reports, as the "big three sectors are all performing about as expected – vehicle manufacturing, construction and the oil and gas arena." Metal Pricing is seeing a A Tale of Two Cities because copper is affected by political tensions around the world, but aluminum is seeing strong demand, particularly for the aerospace industry.
Interest rates are prohibitive for single-family home purchases. Source: IHEA
Those indices that are in decline or experiencing drops are: New Home Starts, Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), Capital Expenditures, and Transportation Activity. New home purchases are difficult for those buyers because the interest rates are high. There is a bit of a bright spot for heat treaters since multi-family home sales are still strong; this means metal products are needed - appliances, window frames, and construction components.
Manufacturers are showing caution in purchases. Source: IHEA
The PMI "is always a good indicator of overall industrial activity as the purchasing manager will be doing what they do at the start of any industrial process." In the report it's down to 47.7; not an emergency, but very uncomfortable level.
Anne Goyer, Executive Director of IHEA
The report on these indices takes a middle-of-the-road approach. There are no alarmingly sharp drop-offs in the reports, neither is there any drastic growth into the positive numbers; it all comes down to inflation. Economic markers are such that the interest rates are as high as they will get indicate a drop about halfway through the new year. The report looks for some lowering of the numbers to"between4.25% and 4.50%" while the Fed members think the rate "may top out at 5.1%."
Check out the full report to see specific index growth and analysis which is available to IHEA member companies. For membership information, and a full copy of the 11-page report, contact Anne Goyer, executive director of the Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA). Email Anne by clicking here.
The monthly Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA) Executive Economic Summary released in June provides some bad news and some good news about the U.S. economy status. Referring to the Leading Economic Indicators, the nation is in one of the lowest spots it has been for 23 years. A silver lining: This low point is not as low as other drops (2000-2001, 2007-2009, and 2020).
While this certainly shows the nation in a difficult spot, the report continues with some encouraging news. Even better, the heat treat industry can find positive impacts with the U.S. continuing to increase reshoring efforts as well as labor shortages helping with job security and job availability for industry workers.
The economic indices demonstrate that "[t]he majority of the data . . . shows solid performance and even the declines are relatively minor." There are drops in these sectors: Steel Consumption, Metal Pricing, Purchase Managers Index, Capital Expenditures, and Transportation Activity. Five indices show increase or at least holding steady: New Home Starts, Industrial Capacity Utilization, New Auto & Light Truck Sales, Durable Goods, and Factory Orders.
In New Auto and Light Truck Sales, the numbers are looking good. The report indicates this comes as a surprise, but it's good news for those manufacturing new vehicles.
"Consumers are still in a good mood, unemployment numbers are still low, car loans are still cheap and getting cheaper as interest rates fall." Source: IHEA
The Steel Consumption index shows lots of ups and downs. Certainly there are still some supply chain issues, and the demand for construction of office space has been low during/since the pandemic. Growth stems from the reshoring movement as well as in construction for manufacturing facilities.
"The good news for steel is that manufacturing has been the driving sector for construction due to this investment in new technology that needs upgraded facilities." Source: IHEA
The Purchasing Managers' Index measures industrial purchases for manufacturers. The PMI is going to drop if the purchase managers feel that the economy is slowing. Raw materials and other purchases are slowing down here, as the data shows.
"Right now, there are twenty nations registering under 50 and the US is now back among them at 48.4." Source: IHEA
Conversely, Durable Goods is staying strong. Vehicles, appliances, even electronics are selling. Putting the PMI and this Durable Goods data together shows the two sides of the coin very clearly. Maybe the nation is just in economic slowdown, not entering dangerous recession.
The level of durable goods activity has been remarkably stable given all the turmoil in the overall economy." Source: IHEA
Anne Goyer, Executive Director of IHEA
IHEA's report points out, "the U.S. is a country so large and diverse that it can easily host both recession and growth." With the majority of the indices holding steady or, at worst, seeing minimal drops, the coin toss of economic future doesn't seem too extreme in either positive or negative directions.
Check out the full report to see specific index growth and analysis which is available to IHEA member companies. For membership information, and a full copy of the 11-page report, contact Anne Goyer, executive director of IHEA. Email Anne by clicking here.
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