Steve Wyatt

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Catch up on these 21 news items, including IperionX’s expansion of titanium sintering capacity, RevoCast Aluminum Billets’ launch of production at a new aluminum remelting facility in British Columbia, Stack Metallurgical Group’s successful Nadcap audit, and more!

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Equipment

1. Hybar LLC, a U.S. steel producer, is adding a second continuous minimill supplied by SMS group at its Osceola, Arkansas, operation that will integrate electric arc furnace (EAF) melting, ladle refining, continuous casting, induction equalization, and rolling to increase reinforcing bar production by 630,000 short tons annually.

2. U.S. Steel is planning a new hot strip mill at its Mon Valley Works Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, as part of a multi-billion dollar investment aimed at modernizing steelmaking operations, reducing energy consumption, and expanding production capabilities for automotive and other high-value markets.

3. IperionX has begun commissioning an HSPT™ sintering furnace at its Titanium Manufacturing Campus in South Boston, Virginia, expanding downstream thermal processing capacity for near-net-shape titanium components.

4. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), in partnership with A.J. Tuck Company, have developed a hybrid manufacturing process that combines 3D printing and electroforming to produce complex, leak-free HIP cans. The sealed containers are used in powder metallurgy hot isostatic pressing (PM-HIP), where metal powder is consolidated under high heat and pressure to form fully dense components.

5. SECO/WARWICK will supply a tenth single-chamber vacuum furnace to a global energy technology manufacturer. The system will expand production of next-generation gas turbine components that help stabilize energy systems incorporating renewable power.

6. Metallus, a U.S. specialty steel manufacturer, has commissioned a bloom reheat furnace, roller furnace, and supporting equipment at its Gambrinus facility in Canton, Ohio, to expand production capabilities for critical defense materials.

7. Lyntris Inc., a defense technology manufacturer, has added in-house vacuum brazing as part of a vertically integrated production line for passive thermal-management hardware used in military seekers, sensors, and mission electronics.

8. An aluminum profile manufacturer has order a gas nitriding furnace from SECO/WARWICK to treat extrusion dies, improving their wear resistance and extending service life. The investment will support production stability and finished profile quality.

9. IperionX received a second U.S. Army task order to expand domestic titanium component manufacturing, including the development and installation of continuous HSPT and dehydrogenation furnaces and equipment for in-house fastener production. The investment will scale U.S. titanium processing capacity for defense components, with the goal of shortening lead times, reducing reliance on external processing, and potentially lowering production costs.

10. Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd. has been awarded a contract to design and supply a high-temperature austenitizing furnace system for processing large, heavy wear components used in ground-engaging equipment. The walking-beam system is designed to support consistent metallurgical performance and high production throughput while minimizing distortion during heat treatment.

11. SECO/WARWICK will supply a universal CAB batch furnace and supporting equipment to a U.S. cooling systems manufacturer, bringing aluminum brazing capabilities in-house at its Pennsylvania plant. The system will primarily braze large plate-and-bar heat exchangers for the heavy-duty segment and aftermarket.

Company & Personnel

12. DUNGS, a combustion technology supplier with U.S. operations in Blaine, Minnesota, has acquired IBS Industrie-Brenner-Systeme GmbH, a German manufacturer of industrial burner systems headquartered in Hagen, Germany. The addition expands DUNGS’ offering beyond combustion controls, gas trains, and safety components to include complete industrial burner systems for high- and low-temperature process applications.

13. RevoCast Aluminum Billets Ltd., a manufacturer of recycled aluminum billets, has begun production at a new aluminum remelting facility in British Columbia, adding more than 80,000 tons of annual billet capacity to serve the North American extrusion market.

14. Cleveland-Cliffs is investing $1 billion to modernize its Middletown Works steelmaking facility in Ohio, including upgrades and a planned rebuild of the site’s blast furnace as part of a broader project focused on production efficiency and emissions reduction.

15. Plibrico has acquired F.S. Sperry, combining the refractory supplier’s regional service expertise with Plibrico’s manufacturing, engineering, and technical resources. The acquisition expands support for high-temperature operations in the aluminum, steel, and minerals industries, helping clients address refractory challenges, improve equipment reliability, and reduce unplanned downtime.

16. Outokumpu appointed Matthieu Jehl president of its Europe business area, effective August 1, 2026, while Rolf Schencking will leave the company; Jehl will continue reporting to president and CEO Kati ter Horst. The leadership change supports a combined structure for Stainless Europe and Advanced Materials intended to improve efficiency, strengthen client focus, and accelerate growth in high-nickel alloys.

17. Aalberts surface technologies appointed Adam Tabor vice president of operations, effective August 3, 2026, reporting to president Steve Wyatt. Tabor will oversee manufacturing and quality management, focusing on process optimization, product quality, client satisfaction, and growth across the company’s thermal processing operations.

18. Electric arc furnace (EAF) steel production has resumed at Algoma Steel on August 29, 2026, following a temporary suspension caused by an unplanned power generation outage. The restart restores steelmaking operations at a facility that transitioned fully to EAF production earlier this year.

Kudos

19. W.H. Kay Company is celebrating its 90th anniversary in the heat treating industry. Founded in 1936, the company is now led by third-generation president Michael Kay.

20. The Solar Atmospheres family of companies has achieved final CMMC Level 2 status across all facilities, validating compliance with all 110 NIST SP 800-171 security requirements. Josh Isaak, vice president of information technology and security, said the certification strengthens the company’s ability to protect sensitive information and provide compliant thermal processing services to the aerospace and defense industries.

21. The Stack Metallurgical Group Portland team successfully passed their latest Nadcap audit, maintaining both Nadcap Aerospace Quality System and Nadcap Aerospace Heat Treating certifications.