Metal Treating Institute

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 41 news items, including U.S. Steel’s investment in new quench-and-temper capacity, Steelhead Technologies’ acquisition of Visual Shop and Bluestreak, Bluewater Thermal Solutions’ third consecutive Nadcap Merit Accreditation, and more!

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Equipment

1. Tenaris will modernize the electric arc furnace at its Koppel, Pennsylvania, steel mill with engineering and equipment from Tenova Inc., part of a broader investment to improve productivity, reliability, and safety. The upgrade strengthens a critical steelmaking process, supporting more efficient and competitive North American steel production.

2. U.S. Steel is investing $475 million to add a new quench-and-temper line at its Fairfield Tubular Operations in Alabama, expanding heat treating capacity for seamless tubular products used in the oil and gas industry. The project will increase production capacity, improve traceability, and strengthen the domestic supply of high-performance steel products.

3. Intalus has ordered two electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) systems from Freemelt to expand its metal additive manufacturing capabilities and support application development for titanium and other advanced materials. The investment strengthens U.S. additive manufacturing capacity while advancing production of high-performance components for medical and future industrial applications.

4. Kittyhawk Inc. has placed a purchase order for a new HIP vessel at its facility in Garden Grove, California. The planned investment is intended to expand processing capacity for commercial aerospace, space, defense, and other industries that rely on HIP technology to improve material performance and component integrity.

5. A new direct reduced iron (DRI) facility planned for U.S. Steel’s Arkansas-based steelmaking facility, Big River Steel Works, in Osceola, Arkansas, is expected to strengthen domestic steelmaking capabilities by linking iron ore production, ironmaking, and electric arc furnace (EAF) steel production within a single U.S.-based supply chain. The facility will produce hot direct reduced iron (HDRI) and hot briquetted iron (HBI) for use in downstream steel melting operations, supporting domestic steel production with a U.S.-based source of metallic feedstock.

6. Solar Atmospheres is preparing to expand vacuum heat treating capacity in the Northeastern United States as construction progresses on its newest facility in Berlin, Connecticut. The 28,000-square-foot operation remains on schedule to begin serving clients in the fourth quarter of 2026.

7. Outokumpu Stainless USA will upgrade its secondary metallurgy operations with a new 180-ton twin ladle furnace from Primetals Technologies at its Calvert, Alabama, facility. The project will add electrical heating capacity following argon oxygen decarburization processing, improving operational flexibility and supporting stainless steel production.

8. Bodycote is expanding its hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and thermal processing capabilities to support growing demand from the aerospace and defense sectors. The expansion adds HIP equipment and powder metallurgy capabilities designed to increase processing capacity for critical, high-performance components.

9. Hybar LLC has commissioned SMS group to supply the technology and equipment for a second steel rebar mini mill in Arkansas, a project that will double Hybar’s annual rebar production capacity to approximately 1.3 million tons. The expansion strengthens domestic electric arc furnace steelmaking capacity while increasing the supply of reinforcing steel for U.S. infrastructure and construction markets.

10. A Polish aerospace manufacturer has expanded its heat treatment capacity with a fourth dual-chamber CaseMaster Evolution vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK to support production of critical aircraft landing gear components. The investment strengthens the global aerospace supply chain by increasing capacity, process repeatability, and energy-efficient heat treating for flight-critical hardware.

11. Castings Technology has expanded its titanium casting capabilities with the installation of a new vacuum arc remelting (VAR) consumable casting furnace from Retech, as it relocates to a larger manufacturing facility. The investment increases capacity for aerospace castings while strengthening the supply of high-integrity titanium components for critical aerospace applications.

12. Mexican steel producer Talleres y Aceros S.A. de C.V. (TYASA) has awarded Primetals Technologies a contract to supply a twin vacuum degassing (VD) plant for its steelmaking facility in Ixtaczoquitlán, Mexico. The plant is scheduled to begin operation in October 2027.

13. AGF DEFCOM, a metal additive manufacturing company, has expanded its vacuum heat treating capacity with the addition of a second Mentor Pro furnace from Solar Manufacturing, increasing throughput for thermal processing operations while reducing scheduling constraints. The investment is expected to support growing production requirements and improve turnaround times for clients requiring vacuum heat treatment of additively manufactured components.

14. Kalírna Desire has launched a new commercial vacuum hardening operation using a SECO/WARWICK vacuum furnace, establishing the Czech Republic’s first local vacuum heat treating capability. The investment expands commercial heat treating capacity, giving nearby manufacturers access to shorter lead times and advanced vacuum hardening services.

15. Bodycote is investing several million dollars to expand vacuum heat treatment, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), and powder metallurgy capabilities across its U.S. East Coast facilities, including new equipment and upgraded processing capacity. The expansion strengthens thermal processing support for aerospace and defense manufacturers by increasing capacity for critical, high-performance metal components.

16. CAN-ENG Furnaces International has been awarded a contract to supply a continuous aluminum T6 heat treatment system that combines solution heat treatment, rapid quenching, and artificial aging to replace an aging production line. The new system will increase productivity, improve metallurgical consistency, and enhance energy efficiency for aluminum casting operations.

17. TTT Group is expanding its thermal processing capabilities with the addition of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) technology from Hiperbaric. The investment establishes a new business unit that will provide HIP processing for aerospace, oil and gas, and other industrial applications.

18. Centorr Vacuum Industries has secured multiple orders for high-temperature vacuum furnace systems supporting applications ranging from titanium heat treating and powder metallurgy to advanced ceramics and carbon materials. The demand reflects continued investment in strategic manufacturing sectors, including aerospace, defense, energy, and advanced materials, that rely on specialized thermal processing technologies.

19. Solar Atmospheres is preparing to commission a titanium solution heat treating system that will expand processing capacity for large titanium bars, forgings, and other components used in aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. The system combines a drop bottom furnace with an 11,000-gallon recirculating water quench tank designed to rapidly cool large workloads and achieve consistent metallurgical properties. 

20. Tenova, a global industrial furnace and metals technology supplier with North American operations, will supply the electric arc furnace for the transformation of Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM) in Duisburg, Germany. The furnace, designed with a production capacity of 2.5 million tons per year, will be Germany’s largest electric arc furnace and will become the technological center of the plant’s transition under its new owner, Salzgitter AG.

21. Godrej Aerospace, part of the Godrej Enterprises Group, has ordered a SECO/WARWICK vacuum furnace to bring critical brazing and heat treatment of nickel, titanium, and stainless steel aerospace alloys in-house. The investment strengthens aerospace manufacturing capabilities by reducing supply chain dependence while expanding advanced vacuum heat treating capacity in India.

22. NEMO Industries has selected Tenova HYL to supply direct reduction iron (DRI) technology for a planned U.S. pig iron plant designed to produce low-carbon granulated pig iron. The project advances domestic ironmaking capacity while supporting a more sustainable supply of raw material for electric arc furnace steel production.

23. Ipsen has launched ICON, a new control platform for its vacuum furnaces that combines the company’s CompuVac and VacuProf systems into a single interface. The platform is designed to provide a more streamlined user experience while supporting furnace operation, production monitoring, and maintenance activities from one system.

24. RASA ALÜMİNYUM has ordered a universal controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) batch furnace with vacuum purging from SECO/WARWICK to expand heat exchanger production at its new manufacturing facility in Turkey. The investment will increase production capacity, improve brazing efficiency, and provide a scalable platform for future growth in industrial cooling and heat exchanger manufacturing.

Company & Personnel

25. DSH Technologies has consolidated its debinding and sintering operations with sister company Elnik Systems in North Carolina, bringing thermal processing services and furnace expertise together under one roof. The move is expected to streamline support for metal injection molding and additive manufacturing customers while strengthening technical collaboration between the companies.

26. Continuum Powders has launched its Custom Foundry Runtime (CFR) program, giving manufacturers access to small-batch specialty alloy production using its melting and plasma gas atomization platform. The initiative is designed to accelerate alloy development and qualification for powder metallurgy and advanced manufacturing applications across aerospace, defense, medical, and energy industries.

27. SECO/WARWICK and Retech have completed a strategic investment project at Retech’s Buffalo, New York, facility, expanding plasma gas atomization and advanced materials processing capabilities. The investment strengthens U.S. infrastructure for aerospace, defense, energy, medical, and other industries that rely on high-performance metal powders and advanced metallurgical technologies.

28. The U.S. Department of War has suspended the Phase II rollout of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, delaying mandatory third-party cybersecurity audits while continuing existing self-assessment requirements. The pause gives manufacturers and defense suppliers additional time to prepare for compliance as the Department reviews the program to reduce barriers while maintaining cybersecurity standards.

29. IperionX has been awarded up to $6.6 million in U.S. Department of War funding to expand titanium manufacturing at its Virginia campus, with Phase II funding expected to support manufacturing capacity and capital equipment purchases. The investment strengthens the domestic supply of titanium products for defense, aerospace, and other critical industries.

30. Steelhead Technologies, a software provider serving the heat treating and metal finishing industries, has acquired Visual Shop by CSI and Bluestreak, bringing together three providers of manufacturing execution, quality management, and job shop management software for North American heat treaters and metal finishers. The acquisition expands its software offering while retaining the industry expertise developed by each organization.

31. The Metal Treating Institute (MTI) announced the formation of its ERP Task Force as its Summer Board Meeting on July 21. The member-led group was established following Steelhead Technologies’ acquisitions of Cornerstone Systems, Inc., provider of Visual Shop by CSI, and Throughput Consulting, Inc., provider of Bluestreak and Bright AM. MTI said the acquisitions have prompted heat treaters to evaluate their long-term ERP strategies and better understand their options within the changing software landscape.

32. SECO/WARWICK USA has appointed Donald Marteeny as managing director, while former U.S. leader Piotr Zawistowski transitions to the SECO/WARWICK Group Supervisory Board to support North American strategy and sales. The leadership changes follow the consolidation of the company’s U.S. operations and are intended to strengthen coordination, operational efficiency, and heat treatment and vacuum metallurgy capabilities across its Meadville and Buffalo facilities.

33. AFC-Holcroft has promoted Jason Crook to general manager of Operations for Aichelin Americas, expanding his oversight to engineering across AFC-Holcroft, GM-Entreprises, and Nitrex Montreal. The appointment supports the continued integration of the three companies, strengthening collaboration, technical consistency, and heat treating capabilities across the organization.

34. ThermTech has partnered with Steelhead Technologies to implement an AI-powered heat treating platform integrating MES, QMS, ERP, financial, and customer service functions. ThermTech’s engineering team will also collaborate with Steelhead to develop specialized capabilities aimed at improving quality, responsiveness, and digital integration for commercial heat treating operations.

35. United Process Controls (UPC) has promoted Bill Ulrich to technical sales manager, where he will help lead strategic sales initiatives, customer engagement, and business development across the company’s thermal processing portfolio. The promotion reinforces UPC’s investment in technical leadership to better support manufacturers with process optimization, automation, and customer service.

36. Solar Atmospheres has appointed Ava Conolly as a metallurgical/R&D engineer, joining the company’s research and development team with a background in chemical engineering, materials science, and metallurgy. Conolly will support process optimization, metallurgical analysis, and R&D initiatives aimed at advancing the commercial heat treater’s thermal processing capabilities.

37. Super Systems Inc. (SSi) has appointed Steven Christopher as vice president of Business Development, expanding his responsibilities across North America while he continues to lead West Coast operations. In the new role, Christopher will connect customer needs with SSi’s engineering and R&D teams while identifying market opportunities and guiding the development of thermal processing products and services.

Kudos

38. Metalex Thermal Specialties has earned Nadcap accreditation for heat treating following investments in its equipment, quality systems, process controls, and workforce. The accreditation strengthens the commercial heat treater’s ability to serve aerospace and defense manufacturers requiring rigorous quality and special-process standards.

39. ECM USA has commissioned its 500th heating cell in North America, marking a milestone across furnace installations supporting processes including low-pressure carburizing, nitriding, brazing, sintering, and quenching. The milestone reflects continued investment by commercial and captive heat treaters in vacuum furnace technology, automation, and integrated thermal processing systems.

40. Aalberts surface technologies’ AST-PEM operation has achieved ISO 14001 certification following a successful audit, recognizing its environmental management practices. The certification supports continued improvements in environmental performance and sustainable practices within its reel-to-reel surface treatment operations.

41. Bluewater Thermal Solutions’ South Bend, Indiana, facility has earned Nadcap Merit Accreditation for the third consecutive audit cycle, maintaining its 24-month accreditation status for heat treating and materials testing. The achievement reinforces the commercial heat treater’s ability to provide compliant, repeatable thermal processing for critical aerospace applications.