Heat Treat Radio #132: Must-Attend Heat Treat Events of 2026 and Beyond

April 30, 2026 / HEAT TREAT RADIO

In this episode of Heat Treat Radio, host Heather Falcone sits down with Doug Glenn, publisher of Heat Treat Today, to break down the most important heat treat industry events on the horizon. From the massive international state of the THERMPROCESS trade show to the technical knowledge of Furnaces North America, they explore where those in the industry can learn, network, and grow. The conversation also highlights Heat Treat Today’s own events, including Heat Treat Boot Camp and Helium Leak Detection seminars. Together, they offer practical guidance on choosing the right events to stay engaged and informed in today’s heat treating landscape.

Below, you can watch the video, listen to the podcast by clicking on the audio play button, or read an edited transcript.

Heat Treat Today · Heat Treat Radio #132: Must-Attend Heat Treat Events of 2026 and Beyond

The following transcript has been edited for your reading enjoyment.

Introduction (00:05)

Heather Falcone: Hi, I am Heather Falcone and welcome to Heat Treat Radio. Today we are talking about a variety of upcoming events in the industry in 2026 and beyond. Joining me today is Doug Glenn, publisher of Heat Treat Today, and longtime host of Heat Treat Radio. Doug has had a front row seat to this industry for years, from the technical side to the people driving it forward. He’s also someone that I consider a mentor and a friend. I’m looking forward to digging into this conversation with him.

It’s an honor to sit down together with this one, Doug, as it’s kind of a bit of a hand off and a nod to the legacy that you’ve built here.

Doug Glenn: It’s a pleasure, and I couldn’t think of a better person to hand it off to. Heather, you’re doing great, and I appreciate you taking the time to do it and having the courage to do it.

Heather Falcone: Obviously, you have recorded over a hundred episodes, so I have so much to learn for you. Thank you so much for trusting me with this.

Key Events for 2026 and Beyond (1:19)

Heather Falcone: Doug, walk us through 2026 and beyond. We have so much going on for events. What are the key events that people should have on their radar?

Doug Glenn: We often say at Heat Treat Today that we believe people are happier, and they make better decisions when they are well informed. Our whole goal is to make people happy by giving them good information so they can make better decisions, and that that always works well. We do that in a variety of ways. Primarily it’s through our print publication — the technical articles that go out in that print publication. Our most popular product is our print publication. Most of that deals with heat treating, thermal processing, technologies, materials, etc.

But there’s also the element of continuing to sharpen your saw, as Stephen Covey says; keep yourself fresh. To that extent, attending industry shows, events, and educational seminars is helpful.

There’s a there’s a big show coming up in Germany in 2027. It’s called THERMPROCESS, but it’s actually one of four events that are all metals related, so we will talk about that whole quartet of shows. I will also talk about Furnaces North America because it is the leading thermal process/heat treat event of 2026. Then also we also have two Heat Treat Today events that I think might be helpful. Our Heat Treat Boot Camp, and then also our Helium Leak Detection seminars.

Those are the events I’m going to talk about today, but there are more events than that. If you are interested in learning more about important industry events, visit our website, heattreattoday.com, and look under Resource tab. There is the Industry Events calendar. That would be a real good place to start because we try to put all of the events that we think are important to most heat treaters and suppliers of the industry.

It’s important to note, when we talk about heat treat, we have to be very careful. We are not only talking about commercial heat treaters. That’s only about 10 to 15% of the audience that we reach. We are talking about captive heat treaters. That’s who Heat Treat Today is meant to be helpful to.

Heather Falcone: Reaching the broader industry at large is always our goal. Making sure that everyone has access to this. When you have an in-house heat treat operation, sometimes you can be even more isolated. So getting those companies exposed to as much information and data as possible.

THERMPROCESS 2027 (4:26)

Heather Falcone: Speaking of that, if someone can only commit to one or two events this year, I think we should really start with THERMPROCESS, because that one kind of rises to the top. We can unpack that a little bit first.

Doug Glenn: I think that’s a really good idea. The show itself, THERMPROCESS 2027 (thermprocess-online.com), is only one of four [in a trade fair quartet]. That show does not take place until June 21–25 of 2027. It’s over a year away. But the reason we need to talk about it now is because, unlike shows here in the United States, this is a huge show, and if you want to exhibit there, which many of our listeners may be suppliers in the industry, applications need to be in by the end of May of this year, not next year. So I wanted to make sure people are aware of that.

To give you a sense of what’s going on in that event, I want to provide a site map of the campus where THERMPROCESS is taking place. First thing to know is that there are four shows altogether. It’s held only every four years in Dusseldorf, Germany. Looking at the map, they call it “The Bright World of Metals,” you’ll notice the four logos across the top, which are GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS, and NEWCAST.

This is a huge campus. If you were to walk from the upper left corner, the Merkur Spiel Arena, all the way down to the east entrance, that would take you probably 10 to 15 minutes.

GIFA is a foundry show, and is located in halls 11 through 17. The dark blue on the map is all GIFA.

METEC is the gray on the map, halls 1, 4, and 5. This show is basically steel making, metallurgy, etc.

THERMPROCESS is in one hall, hall 10, and it’s the largest hall. It’s larger than any heat treat show here in the United States by far.

NEWCAST is basically a metallurgy show, steel processing, some forging as well. That’s in halls 14 and 15.

This show is open five days, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., all five days. If you were to spend your time walking through this show, it would basically take you all five days to go through this. It’s a huge event.

Let me give you a sense of this size. The total attendance for this entire event for 2023, which was the last one that they had, was 63,000 attendees. Even if you divide that by four, because there’s four different shows, that’s almost 16,000 people per show. To give you a sense of size difference in the United States: our biggest heat treat show, typically Furnaces North America or the ASM Heat Treat Show, attendance is no more than 2,500 people, including exhibitors and everything. You can get a sense that this is the right show.

It’s held in Dusseldorf, Germany. Germany of all countries in the world knows how to do trade shows. There are booths in these halls that are double decker booths, large booth displays. There are even restaurants on the upper level — it is a full event. Companies will spend millions of dollars just on this show.

My suggestion is, if you’ve never been to this show, or if you have a need for a full understanding in the thermal processing/heat treating industry, this is the premier event in the world, as far as I’m concerned. China has some big shows as well. I believe this one is more international. You will see people from all over Europe and the United States as well. 63,000 people total.

For just THERMPROCESS, there are 276 exhibitors, and the show takes up 8,400 square meters, which is about 90,000 square feet. Over on the Foundry side, obviously the biggest show here, taking up almost six halls, there are 854 exhibitors in about 41,315 square meters or 445,000 square feet of booth space. These are big shows.

Heather Falcone: It’s massive.

Doug Glenn: It is massive. There are companies exhibiting there from all over. Not only Western Europe, but Eastern Europe too, Turkey, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, China, India, etc. The United States, to be quite honest, is not always that well represented.

I think this is probably one of the more important things that I wanted to mention about this event. Heat Treat Today is promoting and sponsoring a pavilion there at THERMPROCESS. If you would like to be part of that pavilion, you can call me and we’ll see what we can do.

It’s a big deal, it’s a big show. May 31 of this year is the exhibitor deadline. For those of you who are interested in attending, which I highly recommend, thermprocess-online.com is the website.

If you’ve never been to Dusseldorf, it’s definitely worth going just to see Dusseldorf. There’s this place in Dusseldorf, a section of the town called the Altstadt, which is the old city. It’s a great place, hundreds of restaurants and great to experience the culture. It’s worth it after the show ends.

Also, the public transportation in Germany is very good. There are trams that run, which make it pretty convenient to get to the exhibit hall.

Heather Falcone: What kind of company roles do you think would be best suited to attend THERMPROCESS? Who do you think would most benefit from this event?

Doug Glenn: You would want more of your upper management personnel attending this event, not so much your furnace operators. You could do that — it would not be a problem taking the furnace operators over there. But it’s typically more engineers and up. One big difference between this show and most shows in Germany compared to shows in the United States: there is not a conference associated with it. They do offer some technical presentations, typically five or six a day in the small auditorium on the show floor. So you might get 30 different technical presentations, but this is primarily a trade show. It is a show where people sit down in their meeting rooms in their booths where they can close the door and have a private meeting, and they buy and sell there.

This is a show where if you want to do business, this is the premier event. In my 30 plus year experience, this has been the most impressive show, for thermal processing/heat treating, so I highly recommend attending.

Furnaces North America (14:28)

Heather Falcone: That’s a great point that you brought up, the difference between a trade show and the technical presentations. Compared to Furnaces North America (FNA), it’s a whole different ball game.

Doug Glenn: FNA is October 12–14, 2026 in Indianapolis. The website for that event is furnacesnorthamerica.com.

The difference is marked between THERMPROCESS and FNA. It’s just a whole different category in a variety of ways. The number of exhibitors is going to be somewhere in the range of 150 to 200, maybe right on the upper end. The trade show hours are typically a little bit shorter, maybe 11 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. It’s only a two-day show, not a five-day show. And there are a lot of technical sessions that are held. There’s a much better opportunity for more formal learning, if you will, where you can go to some classroom environments.

Furnaces North America is owned and operated by the Metal Treating Institute (MTI), which Heather and I are both members of, which is great. MTI is the world’s largest association of commercial heat treaters. While MTI is commercial heat treaters, Furnaces North America is really intended for captive heat treaters, as well as commercial heat treaters, to help advance the technology, knowledge of processes, and materials in the North American market.

It is a good event. It starts on a Monday night, the 12th of October, with a nice opening reception. Then Tuesday is a full day of conferences and the trade show. Wednesday, the conferences begin again in the morning, and then the trade show is open until around 2 p.m. So it’s a rather abbreviated show compared to THERMPROCESS.

Heather Falcone: It’s one of the more unique events because often, when you’re at a trade show, you do want to try and get some learning in, but you also want to get out and see the vendors on the floor. So they’ve set it up really well so that you never have to miss a concurrent session. In fact, they don’t even have the trade show floor open during the conferences. So, it ensures the exhibitors do not have to leave the trade show to attend session, and it lets people attend sessions without feeling guilty that they’re not out there hitting the booths at the trade show.

Doug Glenn: Exactly, they can actually go and do some of the learning as well. If I remember correctly, Heather, you’ve been involved with program development of FNA in the past.

Heather Falcone: Yes, I tend to do a session or so. Last time I think I talked about industry involvement, which is similar to the topic today. Getting involved in the industry is one of the best things you could do for yourself and your company.

Doug Glenn: That’s FNA in a nutshell. There are still some booths available. Although I don’t anticipate that will last long. Call or go to furnacesnorthamerica.com to check in on that, or contact me or Heather, and we can steer you in the right direction.

Heather Falcone: I honestly believe anyone would benefit from going to FNA because of the technical sessions. There’s a lot of learning to be had, even down to someone that’s more operational. It’s not just meant for that owner level. It’s pretty approachable.

Doug Glenn: I would agree. The expense of going to FNA is also substantially less than the expense of going to THERMPROCESS over in Germany. So you do see a good number of shop floor personnel at this, but it is also a good place to send your upper management personnel, depending on the size of your company, and your decision makers, as far as capital expenditures go. It is a good place to bring those people. You can gather a lot of information in a very short time walking around this show.

Heather Falcone: You can cover a lot of ground and really get some good relationship and networking going. It’s a great setup.

Heat Treat Today Events (19:20)

Heather Falcone: Let’s discuss the Heat Treat Today events, I think that there’s some truly unique offerings.

Doug Glenn: While Furnaces North America is not a Heat Treat Today-owned and operated event, we are the exclusive media sponsor of the event. But Heat Treat Today also has its own events.

Firstly, we have our most fun event, which is called Heat Treat Boot Camp. It was a brainchild of mine quite a few years ago because I tend to have a mile wide and an inch deep knowledge of the industry. I am no expert in any one area, but I have this experience of being here and absorbing over 30 years worth of information and relationships. So I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to share some of that information with people who are just wanting to get their heads wrapped around the North American heat treat market? What is it, who’s there, what are we doing, what are the materials — all that good stuff.

So we put together this event called Heat Treat Boot Camp. It is not heavily technical — you don’t need to know metallurgy or anything of that sort to attend. And it’s not just focused on any one piece of equipment, any one company’s equipment, or any one process, like brazing. It is cross-cutting. If you’re coming into the industry, or if you’ve been in the industry for a long time but have only focused on point X because that’s what you’re paid for, you can attend Heat Treat Boot Camp to get a broader view of this whole market. The added benefit of that is that you might find out there are other areas that your company could add that could potentially be profitable.

This is our fifth year coming up. It’s going to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, from Monday, September 14 to Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Our first four events were held in Pittsburgh, which is a great city. But we’re going to Cleveland this year, which should be very good.

Here are the five things that we cover: heat treat markets, materials, processes, products, and players. By players, we mean, Who are the companies that manufacture the equipment… Equipment, components, supplies, materials? That’s the players.

We start the event on Monday night with a very nice opening reception. It’s usually just a nice time to get together and meet each other. Tuesday is the bootcamp day. It’s grueling, it’s a solid day of intensive learning, talking, slideshows, passing on knowledge. Thomas Wingens from WINGENS Industrial Consultancy is my partner and we teach the lectures. Thomas focuses more on the technical side because he’s a metallurgist. So he tries to explain processes and materials in terms that people who are not metallurgists can understand.

Wednesday morning is another half day of classes, and then it’s officially over at the end of the half day. However, we offer an optional heat treat plant tour afterwards on Wednesday afternoon. It is very cool actually because people who have never been to a heat treat shop can experience one.

When we were in Pittsburgh, we went to two. We alternated between Penna Flame Industries in Zelienople, PA, and Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania in Hermitage. Both are an hour from downtown Pittsburgh. Now that we’re going to Cleveland, we will be visiting Euclid Heat Treating, which is going to be a blast.

That’s bootcamp. It’s really worthwhile. You can visit heattreatbootcamp.com to learn more or you can go to our website, heattreattoday.com and look under events and hit Heat Treat Boot Camp. Feel free to register. If your company is bringing three or more people, get ahold of me and I’ll give you a discount code so you can get a little bit of a deal on registration. It’s a great event. It’s not overly technical. We had a couple company owners who bought furnace manufacturers and so have come to listen and learn. It’s meant for personnel in sales, marketing, and engineering to a certain extent as well. It’s really targeted at suppliers, but we have had quite a few captive heat treaters and commercial heat treaters who have also attended.

Heather Falcone: It’s a very approachable event and anybody should try it. This is a good opportunity for folks that are not necessarily exposed to a lot of the operations. Your HR people even. What’s a great chance to understand what your floor people are going through so that your HR can serve them better? Or accounting or anybody who hasn’t been exposed to the ins and outs of the industry. It’ll give them such a nice strategic understanding across the board without getting too heavy. Really good bang for the buck for such a short amount of time.

Doug Glenn: “Two plus years of industry knowledge in two days.” It’s like drinking out of the proverbial fire hydrant. Very worthwhile.

Helium Leak Detection Seminars (26:00)

Heather Falcone: Let’s finish off by talking about Dave and the seminars.

Doug Glenn: Dave Deiwert is a helium vacuum leak detection expert who has been in the industry many, many years. These are single-day, in-person seminars where attendees will learn hands-on tips. Dave has leak detection equipment from several different suppliers. He will explain the theory behind helium leak detection, and provide solid, practical advice on how to do it. We had our first one this year in March in Charlotte, which was well attended.

The next helium leak detection seminar is in Philadelphia on June 10th, and then we’ll have one in Long Beach, California on August 12. Our final one is scheduled the day after the Furnaces North America event ends in Indianapolis. It’s going to be located right in that neighborhood. The idea was, go to Furnaces North America, stay an extra day, and attend the Helium Leak Detection seminar. It’s scheduled for the October 15 in Indianapolis.

If you’re interested in more information on those seminars, visit heattreattoday.com/leakdetectionseminar, all one word.

Closing Remarks(28:36)

Doug Glenn: It is a lot going on. It is a lot going on, and I want to give a shout out to our in-house events director who’s just taking on the role this year, Karen Gantzer. Karen’s been doing a great job squaring all this stuff away. We give her this wild thing and she’s taken it by the horns and is getting it done.

Heather Falcone: With a smile always!

We covered a lot of ground today. I’m really excited about what we’ve got to be able to offer to the industry. This has been unpacking these, helps them understand exactly what might speak to them individually.

It was a lot of fun spending a little time with you. You’re a mentor, you’re the legacy. You brought us over a hundred episodes of radio, I’m going to say it until I’m blue in the face!

Doug Glenn: Yeah, well it’s nice to not have to ask the questions. It’s nice to actually be able to answer them, so thank you. I appreciate you allowing me to come on.

About the Guest

Doug Glenn is the founder and publisher of Heat Treat Today, a thermal processing industry consultant, and a longtime industry voice and conference speaker with over 30 years of experience. He spent two decades as publisher of Industrial Heating magazine, where he helped expand its global reach, and has played a key role in launching major industry events, including Furnaces North America.

For more information: Contact Doug Glenn at doug@heattreattoday.com.

Heat Treat Radio #132: Must-Attend Heat Treat Events of 2026 and Beyond Read More »

26 News Chatter to Keep You Current

April 17, 2026 / HEAT TREAT NEWS

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 26 news items, including Boeing’s addition of vacuum furnace capacity to expand in-house heat treating for aerospace components, Solar Atmospheres’ role in supporting thermal processing for materials used in NASA’s Artemis II mission, Aalberts surface technologies’ renewal of Nadcap certification for another 24 months, and more!

Equipment

1. HWI, a member of Calderys Group, has opened a new lightweight monolithics production facility in Fulton, Missouri to expand manufacturing capacity for refractory materials used in high-temperature industrial applications. The facility increases supply and shortens lead times for furnace-lining materials critical to sectors like petrochemicals, aluminum, and power generation, enabling more reliable operations and supporting larger-scale projects.

2. Retech, a U.S.-based member of the SECO/WARWICK Group, is supplying two vacuum induction melting (VIM) casting systems to support production of turbine components used in power generation. The systems are designed to produce advanced alloys with controlled microstructures for components operating under demanding thermal and mechanical conditions.

3. Solar Atmospheres has installed and commissioned a new 10-bar vacuum furnace at its Fontana, California, further expanding the company’s high-pressure vacuum heat treating capacity in the western United States. The system enables vacuum heat treating and high-pressure quenching of large components essential to high-performance applications across aerospace and other critical industries.

4. Kanthal, an Alleima company, has opened a new service center in Concord, North Carolina, adding U.S.-based production and service capabilities for silicon carbide heating elements used in high-temperature industrial applications across industries such as electronics, glass, and steel manufacturing.

5. A Thai aerospace manufacturer has ordered a vacuum furnace from SECO/WARWICK to support heat treatment and vacuum brazing of high-performance alloys used in aircraft engine blades. The additional system expands production capacity and process control for critical materials like titanium and nickel alloys, strengthening the manufacturer’s ability to meet aerospace demand for high-precision, high-temperature components.

6. Thermcraft, a U.S.-based manufacturer of thermal processing equipment serving global markets, has completed the system for an application requiring materials to be tested under vibration while held at high temperature. The system was engineered to maintain a stable and uniform thermal environment while allowing measurement systems to interact directly with the test sample.

7. Bodycote, a global provider of advanced heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services, is improving heat treat efficiency and reducing process costs by generating hydrogen on-site at its Rancho Dominguez, California, facility. The system, developed in partnership with Hgen, supports controlled-atmosphere heat treatment and brazing operations for aerospace, automotive, energy, and defense applications while reducing reliance on delivered industrial gas.

8. Vacu-Braze, a commercial heat treater specializing in vacuum heat treating and brazing, has added a large-capacity nitriding furnace to support processing of oversized components requiring enhanced surface hardness, wear resistance, and fatigue performance.

9. Bodycote announced plans to open a new heat treatment facility in Apodaca, Mexico, expanding regional capacity for case hardening and nitriding processes used in automotive, industrial, and medical components. The additional capacity is expected to support growing manufacturing activity by improving supply chain responsiveness and access to localized thermal processing services.

10. A manufacturer has ordered a vacuum furnace system from SECO/WARWICK designed to consolidate multiple heat treating processes — including quenching, tempering, and cryogenic treatment — into a single unit for small arms component production. By replacing several standalone systems with one integrated solution, the furnace streamlines thermal processing, reduces labor and equipment needs, and improves efficiency and repeatability for high-precision manufacturing in the firearms sector.

11. Boeing is adding vacuum furnace capacity at its Tube, Duct and Reservoir Center in Algona, Washington, to expand in-house heat treating capability for aerospace tube and duct assemblies. The system, supplied by Vac-Aero International, is intended to address production needs across commercial and defense aerospace programs.

12. SMS group has received an order from Huzhou Hatebur Precision Forging Co., Ltd. to supply an SMS Elotherm induction bar heating machine for its forging operations. The system will be used to heat billets prior to forming, supporting more efficient and consistent production of precision components such as bearings and automotive parts. The investment reflects continued adoption of induction-based thermal processing to improve process control and energy efficiency in the forging industry.

13. Hirschvogel has partnered with SMS group, along with image-processing specialist Sightwise, to implement an AI-based automated inspection system for closed-die forgings at its Denklingen, Germany facility. The system replaces manual visual checks with fully automated, data-driven quality control — using robotics, high-resolution imaging, and synthetic data modeling — to improve inspection speed, reduce errors, and advance digitalization in forging production for automotive and other high-performance applications.

14. A custom vacuum induction melting (VIM) furnace has been delivered to support the controlled processing of advanced alloys, strengthening material quality for high-spec industries such as aerospace and energy. The system was supplied by SECO/WARWICK, which engineered the solution to meet specific production requirements. The technology is expected to support downstream heat treatment processes by improving alloy cleanliness, consistency, and performance.

The new lightweight monolithics production facility in Fulton

Kanthal’s official inauguration of its new service center in North Carolina

ELO-BAR induction heating machines for bar forging

Company & Personnel

15. G.S. Precision has acquired Lush Heat Treatment Ltd. and Headwater Precision, Inc., expanding its capabilities across machining, coatings, and thermal processing while extending its footprint in North America and Europe. The additions integrate heat treating and advanced manufacturing services under one platform, strengthening support for aerospace, defense, and other high-spec industries that rely on tightly controlled production of mission-critical components.

16. NUTEC Inc., a manufacturer of industrial insulation and fire protection products, has acquired ETS Schaefer LLC, a supplier of monolithic ceramic fiber insulation, expanding its capabilities in the high-temperature insulation segment. The acquisition strengthens NUTEC’s ability to support furnace and thermal processing operations with integrated insulation solutions, improving performance and efficiency for industries that rely on high-temperature environments. The company will operate as NUTEC ETS SCHAEFER under the leadership of Brian Bradley, recently named general manager of this wholly owned subsidiary of NUTEC.

17. Assan Alüminyum, through its subsidiary Kibar Americas, has acquired an aluminum foil production facility in Fairmont, West Virginia, marking its entry as a local producer in the U.S. market. The investment strengthens the company’s global footprint and improves its ability to serve North American clients with foil products for automotive, HVAC, packaging, and industrial applications, supporting more localized and resilient supply chains.

18. J.F. Lehman & Company has acquired Forged Solutions Group, a manufacturer of high-specification forgings used in aerospace, defense, and space applications. The company produces components including aeroengine discs, shafts, and structural parts from advanced alloys such as titanium, nickel-based superalloys, steel and aluminum before moving through machining and materials testing as part of the production process.

19. Linamar Corporation, a North American manufacturer with in-house heat treating capabilities, has acquired select assets of Winning BLW, strengthening its capabilities in warm forging and precision gear manufacturing for automotive and industrial applications. The acquisition supports production of bevel and helical gears, components that typically require controlled heat treating to achieve the hardness, wear resistance, and fatigue strength needed for drivetrain systems.

20. GE Aerospace has announced a $1 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing sites and supplier base in 2026, marking its second consecutive year at that level of spending and including plans to hire 5,000 workers. The investment is aimed at accelerating jet engine production, strengthening defense manufacturing, and improving supply chain capacity, helping the aerospace sector meet rising demand for commercial and military aircraft while reinforcing U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities.

21. Solar Atmospheres has provided thermal processing services for materials and components used in NASA’s Artemis II mission, contributing to the production of critical aerospace systems. Its heat treating capabilities support high-performance materials required for extreme space environments, reinforcing reliability and precision in components essential to next-generation space exploration and the broader aerospace supply chain.

22. General Motors announced plans to invest more than $150 million in its Saginaw Metal Casting Operations facility in Michigan to support production of V8 engine blocks and cylinder heads used in full-size trucks and SUVs. The project includes new and upgraded equipment for casting and machining operations, enabling the facility to increase production capacity and maintain output for current engine programs. The Saginaw site has supplied engine components for multiple generations of GM vehicles.

23. Hyundai Steel has signed a contract with Fives Group to supply key technologies for a new U.S.-based automotive steel production facility, advancing plans for a large-scale, electric arc furnace (EAF) mill. The project strengthens localized, low-carbon steel production for the automotive sector, improving supply chain resilience and enabling more efficient delivery of high-quality steel to U.S. vehicle manufacturing operations.

Brian Bradley, general manager of NUTEC ETS SCHAEFER

Kudos

24. Gamma Aerospace successfully passed their Heat Treat Nadcap audit, retaining Merit status that reflects the company’s commitment to delivering high quality products and services to their clients.

25. Aalberts surface technologies has expanded Boeing-approved heat treatment processes at its TEY facility in País Vasco, increasing its range of certified aerospace specifications and strengthening its position as a qualified supplier.

26. Aalberts surface technologies announced the renewal of their Nadcap certification for another 24 months at their Besançon facility, reflecting continuous commitment to quality, strict control of special processes, and full compliance with industry requirements.

Gamma Aerospace announcement about passing Heat Treat Nadcap audit

26 News Chatter to Keep You Current Read More »

Heat Treating Supports Aerospace Components for Artemis II Mission

April 8, 2026 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, TITANIUM PROCESSING NEWS

Solar Atmospheres has provided thermal processing services for materials and components used in the Artemis II mission, supporting aerospace applications that require precise control of material properties and performance under extreme conditions.

The heat treater specializes in thermal processing of a range of materials, including raw stock, nickel-based tubing, and other aerospace components that play a vital role in bringing next-generation space technology to life.

Click on the image above to learn more about high-temperature materials used in space applications.

At the core of some of these components is the 6AI-4V titanium Launch Abort System (LAS), which is a complex safety system. The LAS aboard the Orion spacecraft functions as a rocket capable of outrunning another rocket in an emergency. In the event of a catastrophic launch anomaly, its manifold enables the abort motor to ignite and safely propel the crew module away from the rocket.

Components used in these applications must meet strict requirements for precision and reliability, with little margin for error in performance.

Press release is available in its original form here.

Heat Treating Supports Aerospace Components for Artemis II Mission Read More »

California Facility Adds 10-Bar Vacuum Furnace

March 24, 2026 / MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, QUENCHING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Solar Atmospheres has announced the installation and full commissioning of a new 10-bar vacuum furnace at its Fontana, California, further expanding the company’s high-pressure vacuum heat treating capacity in the western United States. The system enables vacuum heat treating and high-pressure quenching of large components essential to high-performance applications across aerospace and other critical industries.

The furnace, manufactured by sister company Solar Manufacturing, is a horizontal vacuum system with a 48″ wide x 48″ high x 96″ deep hot zone and a maximum load capacity of 12,000 pounds. Equipped with a vacuum pumping package capable of reaching an ultimate vacuum level of 1×10⁻⁶ Torr, the furnace is designed for processing titanium and other high-performance alloys that require tightly controlled, low-contamination environments.

Derek Dennis
President
Solar Atmospheres California

“This investment gives our [clients] another regional solution for high-pressure quenching of large components and heavy workloads,” said Derek Dennis, president of Solar Atmospheres California. It also allows the company to increase capacity and improve efficiency as demand continues to grow, he adds.

The move supports vacuum heat treating needs across aerospace, defense, medical, and power generation markets, with capacity aimed at maintaining consistent turnaround and performance.

Press release is available in its original form here.

California Facility Adds 10-Bar Vacuum Furnace Read More »

Un Giro Bienvenido: Autolimpieza en Hornos revolucionado por Sistema de Bombas Inteligentes

January 20, 2026 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT TECHNICAL CONTENT, VACUUM FURNACES TECHNICAL CONTENT, VACUUM PUMPS GAUGES VALVES TECHNICAL CONTENT

¿Y si su horno de vacío pudiera limpiarse automáticamente? En esta entrega de Technical Tuesday, Bob Hill, FASM, presidente de Solar Atmospheres of Western PA and Michigan, explora una revolucionaria configuración de bomba de vacío doble que elimina la necesidad de disolventes, envoltura con lámina metálica y prelimpieza manual.

Este artículo informativo se publicó por primera vez en Heat Treat Today’s December 2025 Annual Medical & Energy Heat Treat print edition. Traducido por Víctor Zacarías.

To read this article in English, click here.

Introducción

Los hornos de vacío requieren un entorno excepcionalmente limpio para procesar componentes críticos, desde dispositivos médicos hasta componentes aeroespaciales. Sin embargo, la limpieza de componentes, laboriosa y que consume mucho tiempo para garantizar la pulcritud del horno y las piezas, no tiene por qué ser necesariamente realizada por personas. Con las bombas adecuadas, su horno de vacío puede limpiarse automáticamente. Descubra cómo sería un ciclo de limpieza al vacío totalmente integrado mediante una innovadora configuración de doble bomba de vacío primario.

En el ámbito del tratamiento térmico al vacío, donde los componentes críticos suelen tener una forma casi final con una mínima o nula eliminación de material, la estética superficial del producto final es fundamental para el usuario final. En sectores como el aeroespacial, el de dispositivos médicos y el de generación de energía, el procesamiento al vacío se ha vuelto cada vez más valioso, no solo por su precisión, sino también por su capacidad para eliminar operaciones posteriores, lo que en última instancia ahorra tiempo y dinero.

Dadas estas ventajas, los clientes suelen estar dispuestos a pagar un precio premium por un trabajo limpio y brillante. Para lograr estos resultados perfectos, las empresas de tratamiento térmico al vacío exigen que las piezas recibidas estén limpias y libres de aceite. Sin embargo, lo que se considera “limpio” en un entorno de fabricación rara vez cumple con los exigentes estándares requeridos para el procesamiento térmico al vacío. Por ello, muchos tratadores térmicos adoptan medidas de limpieza secundarias para garantizar la limpieza de las piezas y proteger sus hornos de vacío de la contaminación por aceites de maquinado, lubricantes, tintas, oxidación o compuestos de pulido.

Figura 1. Horno de desengrasado al vacio. Fuente: Solar Atmospheres

Limpieza previa al tratamiento térmico: desafíos tradicionales

Antes de cualquier tratamiento térmico al vacío, los componentes deben limpiarse a fondo para eliminar contaminantes orgánicos e inorgánicos. Las prácticas habituales incluyen inmersión en disolvente, secado y desengrasado por vapor. Esta limpieza tiene como objetivo eliminar los residuos que pueden volatilizarse y depositarse dentro del horno de vacío, lo que podría comprometer la calidad de la pieza y dañar la zona caliente y la pared fría del horno.

Sin embargo, los productos de limpieza de uso común suelen ser inflamables, tóxicos, estar sujetos a regulaciones ambientales y su eliminación resulta costosa una vez empleados.

Figura 2. (Izquierda) Desengrasante de vapor y limpieza con solvente y (derecha) estación de envoltura con papel aluminio. Fuente: Solar Atmospheres

Figura 3. Como medida de protección para evitar daños en el horno por posibles contaminantes procedentes de fuentes anteriores, las piezas listas para el tratamiento térmico se envuelven en papel de aluminio. Fuente: Solar Atmospheres

Dado que las plantas de tratamiento térmico comerciales procesan piezas procedentes de miles de operaciones previas, cada una con su propio conjunto de contaminantes, la contaminación cruzada representa un riesgo significativo. El embalaje con lámina de acero inoxidable se utiliza a menudo como medida de protección, aislando las piezas del ambiente del horno. Si bien el empaque suele ser eficaz, puede ser laborioso, costoso e incluso potencialmente peligroso. Aun con el equipo de protección personal adecuado, los bordes de la lámina son extremadamente filosos. El embalaje con lámina sigue siendo una de las principales preocupaciones en materia de salud y seguridad para los empleados.

El horno para MIM: el catalizador para la innovación

Hace cinco años, Solar Atmospheres, con sede en el oeste de Pensilvania, recibió el encargo de sinterizar piezas pre-sinterizadas mediante moldeo por inyección de metal (MIM) a 1200 °C. Los aglutinantes presentes en estas piezas de armas de fuego se volatilizaron durante el proceso y contaminaron gravemente el horno de vacío, lo que ocasionó largos periodos de inactividad y mantenimiento.

Figura 4. Piezas de acero inoxidable 17-4PH brillantes y limpias tras el tratamiento térmico en un horno de desengrasado al vacío. Fuente: Solar Atmospheres

En lugar de construir una trampa fría tradicional para capturar los volátiles, el director ejecutivo, William Jones, desarrolló una solución más innovadora: una trampa caliente diseñada para desviar y capturar los contaminantes antes de que se depositaran dentro del horno. Esta adaptación proactiva ha demostrado mejorar drásticamente la calidad de las piezas, eliminando la laboriosa y frecuente limpieza de las zonas calientes y las paredes frías.

Tras finalizar ese trabajo de MIM, el horno subutilizado impulsó la experimentación. Este horno adaptado demostró un buen rendimiento con aglutinantes no deseados. Así pues, nos propusimos probar cómo adaptar este mismo sistema para eliminar impurezas de piezas de producción diaria. Tras exhaustivas pruebas con componentes no críticos de acero inoxidable grado PH, se perfeccionó un ciclo de limpieza y envejecimiento totalmente integrado, basado en vacío. Este desarrollo ha sustituido desde entonces a los costosos métodos tradicionales de prelavado y al peligroso envoltorio en aluminio, produciendo componentes aeroespaciales 17-4 PH consistentemente limpios y brillantes.

Horno de vacío autolimpiante: Cómo funciona

La innovación clave reside en una configuración de doble bomba de vacío primario.

(Izquierda) Figura 5. Sistema de bombeo de dos etapas.
(Derecha) Figura 6. Salida calefactada del sistema de bombeo n.° 1.
Fuente: Solar Atmospheres

Sistema de bombeo n.° 1: Bombeo inicial y eliminación de contaminantes:

Los componentes se cargan en el horno sin envolver ni limpiar.
Durante el bombeo inicial, solo se activa la bomba de vacío primario n.° 1.
Un aumento gradual de la temperatura permite que los contaminantes se vaporicen y salgan de la zona caliente a través de un puerto calefactado hacia la bomba n.° 1.
Los contaminantes quedan atrapados de forma segura en el aceite de la bomba, la «trampa caliente».

Sistema de bombeo n.° 2: Transición al tratamiento térmico:

Una vez completado el bombeo, se aísla la bomba n.° 1.
El sistema de bombeo n.° 2, que incluye una bomba de vacío primario, una bomba de refuerzo, una bomba de difusión y una bomba de mantenimiento, entra en funcionamiento.
A continuación, la cámara se lleva a 1 x 10⁻⁵ Torr y se inicia el ciclo térmico de vacío estándar.

Esta secuencia de bombeo en dos etapas limpia tanto las piezas como la cámara antes del tratamiento térmico sin necesidad de abrir la puerta del horno.

Resultados y beneficios

Este horno de vacío y proceso recientemente desarrollados producen lo siguiente:

Piezas más limpias: La limpieza por vacío penetra en barrenos ciegos, roscas y chaveteros con mayor eficacia que los métodos tradicionales de desengrase con solventes o vapor.
Reducción de lesiones: El proceso elimina la necesidad de envolver con lámina metálica, lo que mejora significativamente la seguridad de los empleados.
Ventajas ambientales y económicas: El proceso reduce o elimina el uso de solventes químicos, disminuye la mano de obra asociada con la limpieza previa y el embalaje, y reduce los costos de disposición de residuos peligrosos.
Mejoras en el mantenimiento del horno: Las zonas calientes y las paredes frías se mantienen impecables, sin necesidad de desmontajes semanales. El aceite de la bomba n.° 1 se cambia cada dos semanas, lo que elimina los problemas de bloqueo de la bomba de vacío debido a la contaminación del aceite.

Conclusión: Un avance revolucionario en el procesamiento al vacío

Históricamente, la limpieza de las piezas en el tratamiento térmico al vacío ha sido un desafío constante, a menudo abordado con mano de obra costosa, productos químicos y el peligroso uso de lámina de acero inoxidable o titanio para su envoltura. El innovador sistema de limpieza al vacío de doble bomba de Solar Atmospheres, integrado a la perfección con un ciclo estándar de tratamiento térmico al vacío, redefine las mejores prácticas de la industria.

Este concepto de “horno autolimpiante” no solo ofrece acabados superiores en las piezas, sino que también mejora la seguridad, reduce el impacto ambiental y disminuye los costos operativos. En un mundo donde la precisión, la limpieza y la sostenibilidad son más importantes que nunca, este avance podría crear una revolución en el procesamiento al vacío limpio.

Acerca del autor:

RObert (Bob) Hill PresidentSolar Atmospheres Michigan Source: Solar Atmospheres — Robert (Bob) Hill, FASM
Presidente
Solar Atmospheres de Western Pensilvania y Michigan
Fuente: Solar Atmospheres

Bob Hill, FASM, presidente de Solar Atmospheres de Western Pensilvania y Michigan, comenzó su carrera en Solar Atmospheres en 1995 en la planta principal ubicada en Souderton, Pensilvania. En 2000, el Sr. Hill fue designado para la puesta en marcha de la segunda planta de Solar Atmospheres, Solar Atmospheres of Western PA, en Hermitage, Pensilvania, donde se especializó en el desarrollo de tecnología de hornos de gran tamaño y procesamiento de titanio. Además, en 2009 recibió el prestigioso Titanium Achievement Award de la International Titanium Association. En 2022, Bob asumió la presidencia de su segunda planta, Solar Atmospheres de Michigan.

Para más información: Contacte con Solar Atmospheres o visite www.solaratm.com.

Un Giro Bienvenido: Autolimpieza en Hornos revolucionado por Sistema de Bombas Inteligentes Read More »

A Welcome Diversion: Smart Pump System Revolution for Self-Cleaning Furnaces

January 20, 2026 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT TECHNICAL CONTENT, VACUUM FURNACES TECHNICAL CONTENT, VACUUM PUMPS GAUGES VALVES TECHNICAL CONTENT

What if your vacuum furnace could clean itself? In this Technical Tuesday installment, Bob Hill, FASM, president of Solar Atmospheres of Western PA and Michigan, explores a revolutionary dual roughing pump configuration that eliminates the need for solvents, foil wrapping, and manual pre-cleaning.

This informative piece was first released in Heat Treat Today’s December 2025 Annual Medical & Energy Heat Treat print edition.

Para leer el artículo en español, haga clic aquí.

Introduction

Vacuum furnaces require an exceptionally clean environment to process critical components, from medical devices to aerospace. But laborious, time-consuming component cleaning to ensure purity of the furnace and parts does not necessarily need to be done by people. With the right pumps, your vacuum furnace can clean itself. Explore what a fully integrated, vacuum-based cleaning cycle could look like by leveraging an innovative dual roughing pump configuration.

In the vacuum heat treating world, where critical components are often near-net-shape with minimal to zero stock removal, the surface aesthetics of the final product are critical to the end user. Across industries like aerospace, medical devices, and power generation, vacuum processing has become increasingly valued — not only for its precision, but also for its ability to eliminate downstream operations, ultimately saving cost and time.

Given these benefits, clients are frequently willing to pay a premium for bright, clean work. To achieve these pristine results, vacuum heat treaters insist that incoming parts must be clean and oil-free. However, what qualifies as “clean” in a manufacturing environment rarely meets the exacting standards required for vacuum thermal processing. As a result, many commercial heat treaters adopt secondary cleaning measures to ensure part cleanliness and to protect their vacuum furnaces from contamination by machining oils, lubricants, Dykem, oxidation, or polishing compounds.

Figure 1. Vacuum degreasing furnace. Source: Solar Atmospheres

Pre-Heat Treatment Cleaning: Traditional Challenges

Before any vacuum heat treatment, components must be thoroughly cleaned to remove organic and inorganic contaminants. Common practices include solvent immersion, drying, and vapor degreasing. This cleaning step is designed to eliminate residues that can volatilize and redeposit within the vacuum furnace, potentially compromising part quality and damaging the vacuum furnace hot zone and cold wall.

However, commonly used cleaning agents are often flammable, toxic, environmentally regulated, and costly to dispose of when spent.

Figure 2. (Left) Vapor degreaser and solvent cleaning and (right) foil wrapping station. Source: Solar Atmospheres

Figure 3. As a defensive measure to prevent furnace damage from potential upstream sourced contaminants, parts ready for heating are wrapped in stainless steel foil. Source: Solar Atmospheres

Given that commercial heat treaters process parts from thousands of upstream operations, each introducing its own set of contaminants, cross-contamination becomes a significant risk. Stainless steel foil wrapping is often used as a defensive measure, isolating parts from the furnace environment. While wrapping is often effective, it can be labor-intensive, expensive, and even potentially hazardous. Even with the proper PPE, the foil edges are razor-sharp. Foil wrapping continues to be a top health and safety concern for employees.

The MIM Furnace: A Catalyst for Innovation

Five years ago, Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania was tasked with sintering pre-sintered metal injection molding (MIM) parts at 2200°F. The binders present in these firearm parts volatilized during processing and heavily contaminated the vacuum furnace, resulting in extensive downtime and maintenance.

Figure 4. Bright, clean 17-4PH stainless steel parts post heat treatment in a vacuum degreasing furnace. Source: Solar Atmospheres

Instead of constructing a traditional “cold trap” to capture volatiles, CEO William Jones developed a more innovative solution: a “hot trap” designed to divert and capture contaminants before they could deposit inside the furnace. This proactive adaptation has proven to drastically improve part quality while eliminating the laborious and frequent cleaning of hot zones and cold walls.

After that MIM job ended, the underutilized furnace prompted experimentation. This adapted furnace proved to perform well on unwanted binders. So, we set out to test how this same system could be adapted to remove impurities from everyday production parts. After extensive trials using noncritical PH-grade stainless steel components, a fully integrated, vacuum-based cleaning and aging cycle was perfected. This development has since replaced traditional expensive pre-cleaning methods and dangerous foil wrapping, producing consistently clean and bright 17-4 PH aerospace components.

The Self-Cleaning Vacuum Furnace: How It Works

The key innovation lies in a dual roughing pump configuration.

(Left) Figure 5. Two-stage pumping system. (Right) Figure 6. Heated exit port on Pumping System #1.
Source: Solar Atmospheres

Pumping System #1 — Initial Pump-Down and Contaminant Removal:

Components are loaded into the furnace unwrapped and uncleaned.
Only Roughing Pump #1 is activated during the initial pump-down.
A slow temperature ramp allows contaminants to vaporize and exit the hot zone through a heated port into Pump #1.
Contaminants are safely trapped in the pump’s oil — the “hot trap.”

Pumping System #2 — Transition to Heat Treatment:

After off gassing is complete, Pump #1 is isolated.
Pump #2 system, which includes a roughing pump, booster, diffusion, and holding pump, takes over.
The chamber is then brought to 1 x 10⁻⁵ Torr and the standard vacuum thermal cycle proceeds.

This two-stage pumping sequence cleans both the parts and the chamber prior to heat treatment without ever opening the furnace door.

Results and Benefits

This newly developed vacuum furnace and process produces the following:

Cleaner parts: Vacuum cleaning penetrates blind holes, threads, and keyways more effectively than traditional solvent or vapor degreasing methods.
Injury reduction: The process eliminates the need for hazardous foil wrapping, significantly improving employee safety.
Environmental and cost advantages: The process reduces or eliminates chemical solvent use, cuts labor associated with pre-cleaning and wrapping, and reduces hazardous waste and disposal costs.
Furnace maintenance improvements: Hot zones and cold walls remain pristine — no weekly teardowns. Pump #1 oil is changed biweekly, eliminating roughing pump seizure concerns due to contaminated oil.

Conclusion: A Breakthrough in Vacuum Processing

Historically, part cleanliness in vacuum heat treating has been a persistent challenge — one often addressed through costly labor, chemicals, and dangerous stainless steel or titanium foil wrapping. Solar Atmospheres’ innovative dual-pump vacuum cleaning system, integrated seamlessly with a standard vacuum heat treatment cycle, redefines industry best practices.

This “self-cleaning furnace” concept not only delivers superior part finishes but also enhances safety, reduces environmental impact, and cuts operating costs. In a world where precision, cleanliness, and sustainability matter more than ever, this advancement may very well create a revolution in clean vacuum processing.

About The Author:

Bob Hill, FASM, president of Solar Atmospheres of Western PA and Michigan, began his career with Solar Atmospheres in 1995 at the headquarters plant located in Souderton, Pennsylvania. In 2000, Mr. Hill was assigned the responsibility of starting Solar Atmospheres’ second plant, Solar Atmospheres of Western PA, in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, where he has specialized in the development of large furnace technology and titanium processing capabilities. Additionally, he was awarded the prestigious Titanium Achievement Award in 2009 by the International Titanium Association. In 2022, Bob became president of his second plant, Solar Atmospheres of Michigan.

For more information: Contact Solar Atmospheres or visit www.solaratm.com.

A Welcome Diversion: Smart Pump System Revolution for Self-Cleaning Furnaces Read More »

The Ultra-Clean Revolution: Why All-Metal Hot Zones Are Becoming the New Standard

December 4, 2025 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

As aerospace, defense, and medical applications demand tighter chemistry and flawless surfaces, heat treaters are accelerating their move toward all-metal hot zones and ultra-high-vacuum systems. The push for cleaner processing is quickly reshaping expectations not only for commercial heat treaters, but also for in-house heat treat operations supporting mission-critical production.

Today’s original content brings together recent Heat Treat Today reporting on all-metal hot zones, next-generation vacuum systems, and supply-chain investments redefining clean processing for aerospace, defense, and medical work.

All-Metal Hot Zones Drive Cleaner, More Predictable Processing

Heat treaters serving medical, aerospace, and turbine production continue to adopt all-metal hot zones to reduce contamination risk, stabilize vacuum performance, and deliver more consistent surface conditions.

Solar Atmospheres has expanded its all-metal vacuum furnace capacity across multiple locations in 2025, most recently at its Western Pennsylvania facility dedicated to critical medical work. The system features an all-molybdenum hot zone, finely polished stainless-steel cold wall, and dual isolation valves to maintain vacuum integrity, accompanied by a major clean-room expansion to support downstream handling.

Earlier this year, the company added a similar all-metal furnace at its Hermitage campus. Designed for precipitation-hardened stainless steels, nickel-and cobalt-based superalloys, titanium, and niobium, the system reflects the rising expectations placed on heat treat environments supporting high-performance material systems.

Michael Johnson, sales director at Solar Atmospheres of Western Pennsylvania, underscored the significance of the shift, noting that the all-metal design delivers “the purest possible processing environment” and produces “pristine end products that meet the most demanding industry standards.”

With vacuum levels reaching below 5 × 10⁻⁶ Torr through a diffusion pump, oversized main valve, and polished stainless chamber, these furnaces support bright, contamination-free results — conditions increasingly relevant to in-house heat treaters tasked with eliminating process variation.

See the full articles here: Solar Atmospheres Expands for Medical Industry and All-Metal Hot Zone Furnace for Solar Atmospheres

High-Performance Vacuum Systems Support Tighter Internal Specifications

Across the industry, new vacuum systems are being introduced that emphasize uniform quenching, reduced gas consumption, and shorter cycle times — benefits that resonate strongly with in-house heat treat teams striving for throughput without sacrificing metallurgical integrity.

A recent example is the addition of a 6-bar Ipsen TurboTreater horizontal vacuum furnace at Stack Metallurgical Group‘s Portland, Oregon facility. It’s designed for 360-degree uniform quenching and engineered to reduce cycle times by up to 20 percent. Its versatility — supporting hardening, tempering, brazing, sintering, annealing, and more — illustrates the broader trend toward equipment that supports multiple metallurgical pathways while maintaining low-contamination processing.

While not an all-metal hot zone, SMG’s investment signals the same market direction: vacuum systems are increasingly becoming the backbone for operators who prioritize clean surfaces, repeatable thermal cycles, and consistent downstream machining performance.

See the full article here: Stack Metallurgical Group Increases Operations with Horizontal Vacuum Furnace

High Purity Feedstock Becomes a Process-Control Advantage

Arconic Corporation has recently invested $57.5 million in an effort to boost high purity aluminum (HPA) capacity for aerospace and defense applications at its Davenport Works plant, a major in-house heat treating operation. The expansion strengthens both its full thermal processing line and the broader aerospace and defense supply chain.

By the same token, this manufacturer is upstream in product development. For aerospace manufacturers of aluminum products with in-house heat treaters, access to cleaner feedstock translates into more predictable microstructures, fewer surprises at the furnace, and reduced process deviations, which is a meaningful advantage as specifications tighten.

Diana Perreiah, Arconic’s EVP of Rolled Products North America, positioned the investment as a deliberate step toward enhancing U.S. industrial capability, emphasizing that the expansion supports the advanced manufacturing base required for next-generation platforms. Her comments highlight a growing recognition that material purity upstream directly influences thermal processing reliability downstream.

The project includes two new furnaces, automation upgrades, and modernized controls, ensuring consistent supply of the high purity aluminum essential for complex structures ranging from aircraft wing skins to high-strength defense components.

See the full article here: Arconic $57.5 Million High Purity Aluminum Production Expansion for Aerospace & Defense

Toward a New Standard for Mission-Critical Work

Across furnaces, feedstock, and facility upgrades, the direction is unmistakable: the industry is moving rapidly toward ultra-clean, tightly controlled thermal environments.

For in-house heat treat departments, the message is clear. These technologies are not simply expanding commercial heat treat capacity — they are redefining expectations for internal operations where scrap reduction, audit readiness, and end-to-end process reliability are central.

All-metal hot zones, advanced vacuum systems, and high purity input materials are quickly becoming a baseline for meeting stringent performance requirements for many in today’s aerospace, defense, and medical applications.

The Ultra-Clean Revolution: Why All-Metal Hot Zones Are Becoming the New Standard Read More »

13 News Chatter to Keep You Current

November 21, 2025 / HEAT TREAT NEWS

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 13 news items, featuring Solar Atmosphere‘s all-metal hot zone furnace expansion, Ipsen USA‘s successful reaccreditation of its calibrations lab, Ryerson Holding Corporation and Olympic Steel Inc.’s merger, and more!

Equipment

1. Three aluminum melting furnaces at a Novelis site in Voerde, Germany, were updated to achieve a more than 40% reduction in carbon footprint and significantly lower gas consumption. This project marks an important step forward in the decarbonization of industrial processes. The upgrade includes Fives’ North American® regenerative technology.

2. Two SECO/WARWICK 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 commercial vehicle components. The installation will occur at two in-house heat treat locations for the Chinese manufacturer: one in Mexico and the other in China.

3. Solar Atmospheres expanded its operational capacity 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.

4. Alleima, a manufacturer of steel components and special alloys, will receive a new tube annealing furnace from SECO/WARWICK. 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. This sale marks the heat treat solutions manufacturer’s 5,000^th furnace sale.

5. Tenova HYL, a Tenova company leader in direct reduction, has successfully started up its ENERGIRON Zero-Reformer DR Micro-Module at Empresa Siderúrgica del Mutún, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, producing the first direct reduced iron (DRI) on October 7. This milestone of the contract signed with Sinosteel Equipment and Engineering (a global Chinese EPC contractor specializing in industrial engineering, equipment supply, and turnkey project delivery across the mining, metals, and infrastructure sectors) is a significant step in the companies’ long-standing cooperation.

Aluminum melting furnaces updated for environmental impact

Company & Personnel

6. The Atmosphere Group 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. Tracy Dougherty has been promoted to president of Sales & Service and Paul Oleszkiewicz has been promoted to president of Operations. Subsidiaries of the group include AFC-Holcroft, Atmosphere Heat Treating, Inc., Austemper Inc., and Nitrex NTS (Nitrex, G-M Enterprises, and UPC-Marathon).

7. 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.

8. Hiperbaric presented on advanced HIP at Formnext.

9. Aalberts surface technologies announced the official opening of a brand-new 12,000 m² surface treatment production hall in Tatabánya. The event was honored by Levente Magyar, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Economic Relations, along with local parliamentarians, partners, and clients.

10. Wirco recognized Chad Haines, projects manager at the company, for 18 years with the company.

Marty Poljan, President & CEO, Aichelin Americas

Hiperbaric’s HIP 38 press for thermal post processing

Kudos

11. Ipsen USA announces the successful ISO/IEC 17025:2017 reaccreditation of its calibrations lab, ensuring continued certification of inspection equipment used by their field service engineers to calibrate heat treating systems across the U.S. and worldwide. The reaccreditation directly supports industries such as aerospace and medical, where calibrated instruments are critical in producing high-precision parts.

12. Global Metal Finishing has successfully passed its Nadcap audit and officially received its Nadcap re-accreditation. In addition, they’ve also obtained their AC7004 Nadcap Aerospace Quality System certification.

13. PhD candidate Noah Kantor and undergraduate research assistant Richard Chen, both from Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Center for Heat Treating Excellence (CHTE), took first place in the annual ASM Strong Bar Competition. Participants were challenged to design a heat treatment for SAE-9254 spring steel aimed at maximizing bend strength.

Ipsen USA’s temperature control calibration lab now accredited

Find heat treating products and services when you search on Heat Treat Buyers Guide.Com

13 News Chatter to Keep You Current Read More »

All-Metal Hot Zone Furnace for Solar Atmospheres

November 7, 2025 / AEROSPACE HEAT TREAT NEWS, ATMOSPHERE AIR FURNACES NEWS, HARDENING NEWS, MEDICAL HEAT TREAT NEWS

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.

Additional all metal hot zone furnace for Solar Atmospheres
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.

All-Metal Hot Zone Furnace for Solar Atmospheres Read More »

10 News Chatter to Keep You Current

October 31, 2025 / HEAT TREAT NEWS

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.

Forging press to be supplied by SMS Group

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.

Rodney Strasser, Regional Service Manger for Southeast Region, Ipsen

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.

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10 News Chatter to Keep You Current Read More »

Solar Atmospheres

Introduction (00:05)

Key Events for 2026 and Beyond (1:19)

THERMPROCESS 2027 (4:26)

Furnaces North America (14:28)

Heat Treat Today Events (19:20)

Helium Leak Detection Seminars (26:00)

Closing Remarks(28:36)

About the Guest

Equipment

Company & Personnel

Kudos

Introducción

Limpieza previa al tratamiento térmico: desafíos tradicionales

El horno para MIM: el catalizador para la innovación

Horno de vacío autolimpiante: Cómo funciona

Resultados y beneficios

Conclusión: Un avance revolucionario en el procesamiento al vacío

Acerca del autor:

Introduction

Pre-Heat Treatment Cleaning: Traditional Challenges

The MIM Furnace: A Catalyst for Innovation

The Self-Cleaning Vacuum Furnace: How It Works

Results and Benefits

Conclusion: A Breakthrough in Vacuum Processing

About The Author:

All-Metal Hot Zones Drive Cleaner, More Predictable Processing

High-Performance Vacuum Systems Support Tighter Internal Specifications

High Purity Feedstock Becomes a Process-Control Advantage

Toward a New Standard for Mission-Critical Work

Equipment

Company & Personnel

Kudos

Find heat treating products and services when you search on Heat Treat Buyers Guide.Com

Equipment

Company & Personnel

Kudos

Find heat treating products and services when you search on Heat Treat Buyers Guide.Com

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