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News from Abroad: Recycling & Decarbonization

In today’s News from Abroad installment, we highlight a $46.9 million USD investment for an aluminum recycling expansion, a transition from a gas-fired billet treater plant to electric, and a new $46.9 million USD electric furnace to meet decarbonization efforts.

Heat Treat Today partners with two international publications to deliver the latest news, tech tips, and cutting-edge articles that will serve our audience — manufacturers with in-house heat treat. Furnaces International, a Quartz Business Media publication, primarily serves the English-speaking globe, and heat processing, a Vulkan-Verlag GmbH publication, serves mostly the European and Asian heat treat markets.


€40M for New Aluminum Recycling Capacity

A new recycling facility now covers a third of the Rheinwork site in Germany

“Speira has invested €40M in additional can recycling capacity at its Rheinwerk site, with the aim of reaching CO₂ savings of up to 1.5mt per year. As part of the investment a new melting furnace was installed specifically for scrap at the German site, with production scheduled for early 2026.

“Volker Backs, managing director of Speira, said: ‘Speira has moved away from energy-intensive primary production. This decision was inevitable in light of Germany’s energy policy outlook and our responsibility for the future viability of our entire company. And our transformation into a pure recycling group — a path we began over 20 years ago – has been accelerated once again.'”

READ MORE:Speira to invest €40M into additional recycling capacity” at furnaces-international.com

Decarbonization Aluminum Upgrade in Strangpresswek

Herren Schatko, Technical Manager of the Neuman Aluminium pressworks and Stefan Krieger, Otto Junker Service Department
Source: Furnaces International

“Otto Junker has completed a decarbonisation project at Neuman Aluminium’s Strangpresswerk facility. The companies converted a gas-fired billet heater plant to electric heating — a major step towards climate-neutral production. Originally commissioned as a gas-fired convective billet heater in 2016, the plant has now been modified to the EcoJet type. Neuman Aluminium can now heat its 8-inch aluminium rods with clean, CO₂ free energy. Depending on production throughput, the aluminium rods are heated from ambient temperature to a target temperature of up to 480°C.” 

READ MORE:Otto Junker completes Neuman Aluminium upgrade” at furnaces-international.com 

€40 Million Electric Furnace for Decarbonization Efforts

From left to right: District Administrator Roland Grillmeier hands over the permit for the new electric melting tank to Schott CEO Dr Torsten Derr.
Source: Schott / Dominik Garban

“Schott has broken ground on its first electrified melting tank in Mitterteich, Germany. The €40 million investment is partially funded by the German government. Schott said the new tank would be a major step in decarbonising pharmaceutical glass production. Using 100% green electricity, the tank will produce Schott’s FIOLAX Pro Optimised Carbon Footprint (OCF) tubing. This could see up to 50% fewer CO2 emissions per vial.

“Schott CEO Dr Torsten Derr said: ‘The transformation of our industry toward decarbonisation and significantly lower-carbon processes begins with concrete projects. This pilot tank is an example that sends a strong signal. We are investing specifically in technology that avoids emissions while also strengthening the competitiveness of our site.’”

READ MORE: “Schott breaks ground on €40 million electric furnace” at furnaces-international.com


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22 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 22 news items.


Equipment

  1. ROGESA Roheisengesellschaft Saar GmbH has commissioned SMS group to carry out a comprehensive modernization of blast furnace 4 (BF4), which will extend the service life of the blast furnace and ensure effective monitoring of the hearth lining. The contract includes the planning and delivery of the Paul Wurth hearth lining and multi thermocouple sensor probes (MTPs), as well as technical support during the installation phase at the in Dillingen, Germany, location. Additionally, Future Forgeworks, a steel manufacturer based in Brisbane, Australia, has commissioned SMS group to supply the nation’s first continuous mill technology (CMT® 350) mill. Future Forgeworks’ landmark project, the Swanbank Green Steel Mill Project, will produce rebar steel in an endless process for the Australian company, guaranteeing low carbon emissions and highly efficient production. 
  2. Piper Industrial Manufacturing Company, a Piper Aircraft, Inc., subsidiary, has acquired a Flexform™ fluid cell press from Quintus Technologies, expanding its equipment inventory to target the growing demand for low volume, high-complexity sheet metal forming. The company provides turnkey world-class manufacturing solutions.
  3. Steel producer Colakoğlu Metalurji AS, has placed an order with SMS group for the modernization of the laminar cooling section and the downcoiler in its 1,850-millimeter hot strip mill. With the completion of the laminar cooling system upgrade, the Turkish company plans to enter the market for wear-resistant steel grades. Additionally, Fujian Kebao Metal Products Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Fujian Sanbao Group, has contracted with SMS for two tinplate continuous annealing lines (TIN CALs).
  4. A heat and energy management company that produces approximately 2 million complex parts per year has expanded with a custom-made VAB furnace for vacuum aluminum brazing. SECO/WARWICK has delivered the furnace to the company, located in the Czech Republic.
  5. Aluminum and renewable energy company Hydro has decided to invest in a new sow casting line at Husnes to increase its primary aluminum casthouse flexibility. The company’s primary plant produces low-carbon extrusion ingot for the European construction and automotive industries. The sow caster, which will have a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year, will give flexibility to produce sow ingots in periods of lower demand for the plant’s main products.
  6. Secat, Inc., recently announced the addition of the Alubin extrusion press to its Nicholasville Pilot Lab. The press was donated by Wagstaff, Inc., which manufactures direct chill aluminum casting systems. This equipment will elevate the company’s testing, development, and small-scale production capabilities.
  7. Tenova will supply a new hot dip galvanizing line for PT Tata Metal Indonesia. The flexibility of the new line for zinc aluminum magnesium alloys will enable production of three types of coated coils.

Company & Personnel

  1. Can-Eng Furnaces International, Ltd. has announced the promotion of two long-standing employees to new leadership roles in 2025. Jason Clay has been promoted to manufacturing operations manager, overseeing the future direction of the company’s manufacturing strategies. Adam DeCiccio has been promoted to purchasing and logistics manager and will focus on implementing innovative strategies and improvements within purchasing, supply chain, and inventory planning to support company growth.
  2. thyssenkrupp Aerospace, a logistics service provider for the commercial aerospace industry, and aluminum manufacturer Novelis have renewed their strategic partnership through a multi-year agreement.
  3. Kolene Corporation recently announced the promotions of Timothy D. Shoemaker and Peter L. Shoemaker, both to co-chief operating officers for the corporation. Tim Shoemaker is responsible for sales and has oversight of the company’s engineering, field service, and project management departments. Peter Shoemaker continues to lead the company’s chemical supply chain and order fulfillment departments, as well as its critical replacement parts revenue segment.
  4. Gasbarre‘s new 150,000-square-foot facility in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, recently became fully operational, with expanded floor space, upgraded infrastructure, and state-of-the-art equipment.
  5. JSW Steel Dolvi Works has selected SMS group for a major expansion of its steelmaking facility, increasing the annual capacity of the existing steel mill by 3.7 million tons per year.
  6. Watlow, a provider of industrial technology and thermal systems, recently expanded its executive leadership team by appointing two regional presidents to oversee operations in Asia and Europe. Shiyi Zhou will serve as regional president of Asia, and Klaus Aarestrupp as regional president over Europe.
  7. Ipsen announced the 2025 schedule for its comprehensive training course on vacuum furnace equipment. Ipsen U will take place on April 1-3, June 10-12, August 12-14, and October 7-9 in Cherry Valley, Illinois.
  8. CAN-ENG Furnaces International Ltd has formed a strategic partnership with Piotr Pelian, founder of Industrial Process Technology to expand its European presence.
  9. Hydro and Northvolt have signed an agreement where Hydro will acquire the remaining shares in the battery recycler Hydrovolt for NOK 78 million, increasing its ownership in Hydrovolt from 72 to 100 percent through this transaction. Hydrovolt is a raw materials company established in 2020 as a 50/50 joint venture between Hydro and Northvolt.

Kudos

  1. Solar Atmospheres, Inc. has been recognized as the industry leader in the Surface Treatment Services category of the 2024 Leadership in Medtech Awards.
  2. Phoenix Heat Treating has announced that their furnaces have received approvals from Pratt & Whitney and Bell Helicopter, increasing the company’s capacity to process orders that require specifically approved furnaces, ensuring compliance with stringent aerospace and defense standards.
  3. Steelhead Technologies recently announced the launch of the Tides of Steel Sweepstakes, in partnership with Calvary Industries. The contest offers an opportunity for job shops to win prizes that will accelerate 2025 growth and reward hard-working teams.
  4. The Otto Junker Foundation announced the winners of the Otto Junker Prize 2024, honoring outstanding academic achievements at the RWTH (Technical University of Aachen). The recipients are: Daniel Baggen, Moritz Diewald, Gerrit Ipers, and Jan Krusenbaum.
  5. Mark Thomason and John Blauser, both of Gasbarre, have received the 2025 Distinguished Service to Powder Metallurgy Award from the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF). The award recognizes individuals who have dedicated at least 25 years to the powder metallurgy (PM) industry and made outstanding, long-term contributions that have earned the admiration of their peers.
  6. The inaugural class of field service engineers recently graduated from the Ipsen FSE Academy, a next-generation training program building on the foundation of the former Ipsen Corporate Academy. This revamped initiative reflects Ipsen’s ongoing commitment to developing top-tier talent. These engineers successfully completed an intensive 20-week training program focused on mastering the complexities of heat treatment furnace repair and service

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22 News Chatter To Keep You Current Read More »

All 11 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 11 news items.


Company

  1. By rolling the first hot strip, SMS group put the new high-capacity hot strip mill (HSM) at Jindal Steel Odisha Ltd. (JSOL) successfully into operation. The commissioning and erection of the furnace took place in record time, despite temporary restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. Eisengießerei Th. Schultz have placed an order with OTTO JUNKER GmbH for the delivery and commissioning of a medium-frequency coreless induction furnace plant. The 1.7-ton induction furnace will be equipped with a 12-pulse IGBT frequency converter and have a power of 1,200 kW. Apart from a glycol-free air/water re-cooler with integrated heat recovery, the new furnace plant will be fitted with the OCP+ temperature monitoring system for permanent coil monitoring.
  3. Angang Guangzhou Automotive Steel Co., Ltd. and Ansteel Engineering Technology Corporation Limited have signed a contract with SMS group for the supply of a new hot dip galvanizing line (No. 2). The first ready-for-sale coil is scheduled for production in November 2025.

Company & Personnel 

  1. Control Concepts, Inc. is excited to announce that seasoned employee Tony Busch has been promoted to the position of North American sales manager. Busch has been with the company for 15 years, having most recently served clients as Sales Applications engineer for the past 10 years.
  2. The American branch of SECO/WARWICK has decided to expand its presence on the continent. Mexico is an important market for SECO/WARWICK USA; hence, the decision was made to open a sales and service office in Monterrey as the new SECO/WARWICK, MEXICO division. It will occupy about 2,000 square feet of office space in a high-rise business park, including garage parking and controlled-access reception.
  3. CAN-ENG FURNACES INTERNATIONAL LTD. is pleased to announce that Tim Donofrio, VP of Sales, has reached his 25-year milestone with the company. Tim joined CAN-ENG in 1999 in an outside sales capacity, eventually leading the Company’s Aluminum Products Group, which captured a significant portion of the ICE and Aluminum Structural casting component heat treatment equipment market. With the launch of EVERGREEEN KILN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC in 2024, Tim has the added sales and marketing responsibilities for kilns used in the processing of anode and cathode materials for the emerging BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) market.
  4. SECO/WARWICK has opened a new production hall in India. This is one of the steps in implementing their global expansion strategy, which aims to deliver the highest quality equipment for metal heat treatment to all continents.
  5. Steelhead Technologies launched “The Hatchery Roadshow” in April 2024, bringing an interactive and immersive demo experience of its digitization job shop solutions to manufacturers across the U.S.
  6. Ipsen bolstered its aftermarket team with the addition of two new Regional Sales engineers. Tyler Free will support customers in the Midwest, while Charlie Preston will serve the Southeast region. They join a seasoned team, including Steve Mondorf (West), Tom Sutherland (South), and Chad Mehmel (Northeast).
  7. Allied Mineral Products, LLC has purchased Gemcast, Inc. The acquisition will allow them to have a manufacturing presence in Canada and adopt new lines of business through Gemcast’s industry-leading vacuum-formed products, fiber gaskets, and precast shapes.

Kudos 

  1. Solar Atmospheres’ Greenville, SC, facility announced that it has been awarded Lockheed Martin Space Systems approval. With this approval, now all five of Solar Atmospheres’ facilities can meet Lockheed Martin requirements for thermal processing services.

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