The SMS Group

14 News Chatter to Keep You Current

/ HEAT TREAT NEWS

Heat Treat Today offers News Chatter, a feature highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry. Enjoy these 14 news items, including Haynes International Inc.‘s new hydraulic radial forging line to boost production of high-performance nickel- and cobalt-based alloys, the acquisition of JSA/Metalline by Hubbard-Hall Inc. to expand metal finishing service capabilities across the Midwest, Bodycote‘s achievement of independent validation from Bureau Veritas for its carbon footprint calculator tools, and more!

Equipment

1. A major U.S. bearing manufacturer has ordered two advanced SECO/WARWICK USA vacuum heat treat furnaces, reinforcing its commitment to precision manufacturing and capacity growth. The investment supports rising demand across the bearing industry, where consistent metallurgical performance is critical for industrial and aerospace applications.

2. Haynes International Inc. has commissioned SMS Group to supply a new hydraulic radial forging line to increase its production of nickel- and cobalt-based alloys, serving markets such as aerospace and chemical processing in the United States. The integrated plant investment, which includes a forging machine, reheating and annealing systems, and automated material handling, is expected to improve production efficiency, metallurgical quality, and responsiveness to global demand while supporting growth in high-performance alloy manufacturing. 

3. Hertwich Engineering GmbH has delivered a customized rolling ingot foundry — including an Ecomelt PS120 preheat-shaft melting furnace, holding furnace, and vertical casting machine — to  Remi Claeys Aluminium N.V. The new facility, set to begin operations in spring 2026, will enhance process stability and efficiency for processing contaminated aluminium scrap, strengthening competitiveness and sustainability in the aluminium  manufacturing sector.  

4. Marle Group has purchased and will install an additional vacuum heat treating furnace at its Marle Nowak facility in Pancé, France, expanding in-house capacity for heat treating cobalt-alloy orthopedic implants and surgical instruments. Supplied by SECO/WARWICK, the new furnace responds to the Marle Group’s need for rapid cooling of large loads while supporting efforts to improve production control and delivery times for medical device manufacturing. 

5. SMS group is supplying an isothermal forging module to the Institute of Forming Technology and Machines (IFUM) at Leibniz University Hannover to be integrated into their existing press as part of the EU and Lower Saxony-funded “High-performance materials of the future – oWZu” research project. This advanced vacuum forging system will expand research and development of high performance materials for aerospace, medical technology, and industrial applications, accelerating technology transfer and setting new standards in forming reactive superalloys. 

6. Researchers at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) have developed an electrified heat treatment technology for the annealing stage in galvanized steel strip production that cuts greenhouse gas emissions by over 98% compared with traditional combustion furnaces. The breakthrough replaces fossil fuel burners with electric heating elements while maintaining product quality and productivity, and could significantly reduce equipment costs and support decarbonization in the automotive and appliance steel supply chain. This innovation advances industrial heat treating processes toward carbon-free operation, helping manufacturers meet tightening environmental standards and global decarbonization goals.  

7. SECO/WARWICK has been selected by Brazil’s Isoflama to supply a customized horizontal retort furnace for high-temperature tempering and ZeroFlow nitriding at its heat treatment plant. This new furnace will integrate with Isoflama’s production control system and support processing of large, heavy components, enhancing efficiency and precision to continue serving the automotive, aerospace, and machinery industries in South America.

8. Brugola has implemented CODIAC monitoring technology to ensure reliable tracking and analysis of furnace processes on AICHELIN cast link belt furnaces at its facility. This upgrade enhances real-time oversight of thermal processing parameters, supporting consistent quality and operational efficiency. 

Vacuum furnaces for precision heat treating of bearing components 
Visualization of a radial forging line from SMS group, similar to the one at Haynes International’s Kokomo site in Indiana
Multi-chamber melting furnace of the Ecomelt PS120 type 
Vacuum furnace delivering cooling solution 
3D visualization of the isothermal forging module integrated in the press
Korea Institute of Energy Research team
Isoflama’s horizontal retort furnace provided by SECO/WARWICK 

Company & Personnel

9. Hubbard-Hall Inc. has acquired the assets of JSA/Metalline, bringing JSA’s customer-facing team into Hubbard-Hall’s organization to expand sales coverage, technical support, and response times for manufacturers serving the plating and general metal finishing industries across the Upper Midwest/Midwest. The move strengthens regional service capabilities, giving manufacturers more direct access to supplier expertise, streamlined single-source ordering, and stronger technical support for critical surface finishing processes. 

10. AECO Corp. has promoted Maryann Remner to president, effective immediately, where she will lead the company and its three operating subsidiaries — Alloy Engineering, Mach3 Machining, and Thermcraft — which serve high-temperature fabrication, precision machining, and thermal processing equipment markets. 

11. Castings Technology, a UK manufacturer of titanium and steel castings, has announced the creation of twenty new jobs as it expands capacity to meet growing aerospace demand, reinforcing its role in supplying cast components for the sector.

12. WINGENS CONSULTANTS has appointed Mark Hemsath as Executive Consultant – Heat Treat & Advanced Furnace Specialist. Hemsath brings over 30 years of aerospace heat treating experience, with deep knowledge in vacuum systems, nitriding processes, and advanced furnace technologies.

Hubbard-Hall warehouse 
President of AECO Corp., Maryann Remner
Castings Technology operations in Rotherham recruiting from factory floor to leadership
Newly appointed Executive Consultant – Heat Treat & Advanced Furnace Specialist at WINGENS CONSULTANTS, Mark Hemsath 

Kudos

13. Bodycote has achieved independent validation from Bureau Veritas for its proprietary carbon footprint calculator tools covering nine core heat treatment processes, enabling customers to request ISO-assured carbon data for thermal processing methods such as vacuum and low-pressure carburizing. This validation enhances transparency and helps manufacturers measure and compare emissions, supporting the selection of lower-carbon heat treatment options. 

14. Ipsen recognized six service technicians — Todd Jones, Casey Guinn, Craig Monaghan, Eric Gould, Alfredo Mendoza, and Dom Wirthlin — for completing its 14-week Field Service Engineer Academy, an intensive hands-on training program for vacuum furnace specialists combining classroom instruction with mentored field experience.

Bodycote’s validated PCF calculators covering nine key heat treatment processes
Recent graduates of Ipsen’s 14-week Field Service Engineer Academy

14 News Chatter to Keep You Current Read More »

Conticon Boosts Copper Rod Production with Heat Treat Capabilities

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

Conticon, a steel-wire manufacturer, is expanding production capabilities at its North American plant by installing a CONTIROD® CR3700 line to address the growing demand for high-quality copper rod for the automotive and telecommunications industries. The line, which includes a furnace plant, casting machine, rolling plant, and cooling line, is a fully integrated casting and rolling process that turns copper cathodes and clean copper scrap into material for conductors, boosts the capacity of the existing plant.

The company, a joint venture between Grupo Condumex and Xignux, a manufacturer of electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper rod, commissioned SMS group to provide and complete the installation of the CONTIROD® line at its plant in Celaya-Villagrán, Mexico, boosting the current line, which has an annual capacity of approximately 230,000 tons. With an additional 320,000 tons from the new line, the total theoretical capacity is approximately 550,000 tons per year. The line is the only manufacturing process for cast wire rod that utilizes a Hazelett twin-belt casting machine, which physically precludes porosity in the casting bar’s core.

Impression of a comparable CONTIROD® CR3700 line with a capacity of 60 tons per hour

SMS, which has a long-standing relationship Condumex, Inc, dating back to the installation of the first line in 1984, is providing the company with a complete CONTIROD® line, encompassing both process and electrical equipment to enhance production at the Conticon facility. The new line covers every stage of production, including the charging device, furnace plant, casting machine, rolling plant, and cooling line, as well as the coil forming and handling systems. This comprehensive solution not only increases productivity thanks to its ease of maintenance and operation but also enhances process control and operator safety. The new CONTIROD® CR3700 line has a capacity of 48 tons per hour.

The new line offers sustainability benefits, including reductions of 55 percent for electrical energy consumption and 30 percent for natural gas. These efficiencies are achieved through advanced design and process integration and optimized thermal heat utilization, thus minimizing energy waste and enhancing the system’s overall efficiency. The technology package also features process control systems that ensure precise operation, further contributing to energy savings.

Press release is available in its original form here.

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Conticon Boosts Copper Rod Production with Heat Treat Capabilities Read More »

thyssenkrupp Bolsters Electric Mobility Production with Annealing, Isolating Line

/ ANNEALING NEWS, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS

A new annealing and isolating line has been supplied to thyssenkrupp Steel for the production of high-grade NGO (non-grain-oriented electrical steel strip). This strip processing line comprises a precise heat treatment in which the structure of the cold-rolled strip is recrystallized during the annealing process, followed by the application of an insulating layer to ensure optimal electrical properties. This is particularly important for the materials used in motors and generators installed in electric vehicles.

The new processing line, supplied by the project partner, SMS Group, has an annual capacity of 200,000 tons and is designed to process electrical steel strip in widths of up is now in operation. SMS technology enables the production of electrical sheet for energy-efficient applications, for example electromobility. The technological core of the line is the combined heat treatment and coating process.

With this line, the modernization of thyssenkrupp‘s Bochum location is nearly complete, allowing the steel producer to better serve its clients in the automotive, energy, and other manufacturing sectors. The new plant will allow the manufacture of up to 0.2 mm thin electrical sheet with particularly homogeneous mechanical and magnetic properties, specially designed to meet the requirements of highly efficient motors used primarily in electric vehicles. The finishing line is scheduled to go on stream in 2026.

“This facility not only represents a huge step forward in our production capacities,” said Dr. Harald Espenhahn from thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, “it enables us to manufacture high-quality NGO steels that allow our customers to meet the changing demands of the market and to develop products with increased energy efficiency.”

3D model of the new annealing and insulating line for the production of non-grain-oriented (NGO) steel at thyssenkrupp Steel Europe’s Bochum site

Main image: The team from thyssenkrupp Steel Europe and SMS Group preparing to start up the pioneering plant technology for the manufacture of high-grade electrical sheet / L to R: Engin Karakurt, Chairman of the Works Council of thyssenkrupp Steel in Bochum; Dr. Harald Espenhahn, Head of Technology and Environmental Management, thyssenkrupp Steel; Andy Rohe, Head of Downstream Operations, thyssenkrupp Steel; Thomas Eiskirch, Mayor of Bochum; Dr. Marie Jaroni, Chief Transformation Officer at thyssenkrupp Steel; Markus Kovac, Head of the Bochum Plant Area, thyssenkrupp Steel

Press releases are available in their original form here and here.

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

thyssenkrupp Bolsters Electric Mobility Production with Annealing, Isolating Line Read More »

Nucor Contracts Quenching Unit, Caster for Kentucky Plate Mill Facility

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, QUENCHING NEWS

A company that provides construction and mechanical engineering for the steel and nonferrous metals industry was recently selected for the supply of new equipment for a new plate mill facility, including a quenching unit, a single-strand caster, and other key elements of the production chain.

Nucor Corporation selected The SMS Group to design and produce the single-strand caster for ultra-wide and thick slabs for an annual capacity of 1.45 million tons (1.6 million short tons) at Nucor’s new plate mill facility in Brandenburg, Kentucky. The new casting machine is expected to be one of the largest casters worldwide.

Johnny Jacobs, vice president and general manager of Nucor Brandenburg

“SMS group and Nucor make a good team, and the caster will be essential to the success of our new plate mill facility,” said Johnny Jacobs, vice president and general manager of Nucor Brandenburg.

Incorporated in the project are several special technological features, including robotic applications on the casting platform and an HD mold with fiber optics and electromagnetic stirring, as well as a customized roller apron, a quenching unit, and a second cutting line.

 

Main photo caption: (L-R) Keith Watson, SMS Group vice president; Burkhard Dahmen, SMS Group GmbH president and CEO; John Ferriola, Nucor chairman and CEO; Leon Topalian, Nucor president and COO

Nucor Contracts Quenching Unit, Caster for Kentucky Plate Mill Facility Read More »

North American Steel Company Adds New Furnace, Expands Facility

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, FEATURED NEWS

As part of a second expansion to their facility, a North American steel company plans to install a second electric arc furnace with the assistance of a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the steel and nonferrous metals industry.

North American steel producer Big River Steel (BRS) recently commissioned SMS Group with the expansion of its steel plant in Osceola, Arkansas. SMS Group will supply BRS with additional mechanical equipment, electrical and automation systems, and digitalization, which the group reports will increase the plant’s annual output.

David Stickler, CEO of Big River Steel
David Stickler, CEO of Big River Steel

“I have purchased several technologically advanced steel production facilities from SMS over the past twenty years and I am fully confident that SMS group will again deliver a high-quality mill that sets the standard in terms of product capability, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability,” commented David Stickler, CEO of Big River Steel.

Following this second expansion of their facility, the steel plant will house two electric arc furnaces and two twin-ladle furnaces. In addition, Big River Steel commissioned Systems Spray Cooled for the installation of furnace cooling equipment at Big River’s Osceola facility, including furnace sidewall, roof, elbow, and off-gas duct work. SMS reports that installing an additional gas cleaning system will ensure compliance with environmental legislation. A second strand, a second tunnel furnace, and a further downcoiler will also be added to the Big River Steel’s CSP® plant, which reportedly produces coils up to 1,930 millimeters wide.

Big River Steel produces high-quality steels, including tube grade sheet for pipeline construction, silicon steels for a wide variety of energy and electric motor applications, and advanced high-strength steels for the U.S. automotive industry.

The hot coils produced in the CSP® plant are processed into high-grade cold strip in the downstream coupled pickling line/tandem cold mill. The continuous galvanizing line (CGL) will receive an additional coiler. For all the newly installed plants, SMS group is going to supply the mechanical equipment and the X-Pact® electrical and automation systems, including level 3.

Big River Steel
Big River Steel

Also in the second construction stage, the PQA® (Product Quality Analyzer) system developed by SMS group company MET/Con will be a central module of the process automation system. By capturing and evaluating all relevant production data on a continuous basis, PQA® monitors, documents and assures the product quality down to the finished cold strip along the complete production process. The system uses stored rules defined on the basis of expert knowledge to assess the coil quality in a semi-automatic procedure and, based on these assessments, takes “ship” or “block” decisions for the downstream processing of the strip or its dispatch.

This system then sends instructions for action to the operators while production continues in order to make them aware of any onset of irregularities within the production process and suggest countermeasures to be taken. This allows the operators to predictively intervene in the process before an incident becomes a problem, reducing the occurrence of failures along the production process which otherwise might have resulted in poor quality and downtimes. Over time, the system is intended to provide higher yield while increasing product quality.

Burkhard Dahmen, Chairman of the Managing Board of SMS Group
Burkhard Dahmen, Chairman of the Managing Board of SMS Group

“Working closely with the management and staff of Big River Steel, we have succeeded in digitalizing a highly complex steel plant in a way that meets the targets of stable and resource-saving production,” said Burkhard Dahmen, Chairman of the Managing Board of SMS group. “We are very pleased about Big River Steel’s decision to also award us the order for the next expansion stage of the steel plant and to continue on the proven successful way with SMS group as their partner.”

Additional News Source: Big River Steel Expands Production

North American Steel Company Adds New Furnace, Expands Facility Read More »

Annealing Furnace Contracted for Belgium Plant

/ ANNEALING NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

A Belgian stainless steel producer recently contracted with a plant supplier to the metallurgical industry to provide an annealing and pickling line for stainless steel cold strip.

SMS group will deliver the line to Aperam Stainless at its Genk plant in Belgium. Production start is scheduled for 2020. With this investment in state-of-the-art and future-oriented plant technology, Aperam will enlarge its product range by material grades for the most demanding applications and improve lead time and flexibility to meet the market demand.

The line will be equipped with a horizontal Drever annealing furnace and a multi-stage pickling section in addition to a four-high skin-pass mill stand and a side trimmer. The new annealing and pickling line will be the fourth one SMS group is going to install at Aperam’s Genk site.

The line will process both austenitic and ferritic grades.

Annealing Furnace Contracted for Belgium Plant Read More »

Special Steel Plant in Kapfenberg, Austria, to Boast Fully Automated Melting System

/ MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

 

Franz Rotter, head of the High Performance Metals Division

Since the official groundbreaking ceremony in April 2018, preparations for the construction of the world’s most advanced special steel plant in Kapfenberg, Austria, have been progressing rapidly. By awarding the contract for the electric arc furnace, the converter, and the secondary metallurgical systems—which represent the technological core of the plant—voestalpine has taken another important step in realizing the project.

The SMS group, based in Düsseldorf, Germany, will be responsible for the engineering, process technology, and start-up of the fully automated melting system, which will begin production in 2021.

“Awarding the contract for the supply of the main melting units, which represent around one-third of the total investment volume, lays the technological basis for the new special steel plant,” said Franz Rotter, member of the management board of voestalpine AG and head of the High Performance Metals Division. “The SMS group will contribute its comprehensive know-how to this project, both in the metallurgical systems and in the areas of digitalization and automation.”

In addition to the electric arc furnace, in which ultra-pure scrap and alloys are melted into liquid special steels at temperatures of up to 16232°F (9,000°C), the SMS group will also supply various after treatment systems that give the material its special properties. The units are operated with electricity from 100 percent renewable energy.”

The plant technology will set new standards worldwide in terms of digitalization. An ultra-modern sensor and electronic system enables the entire production process to be controlled from a central control station.

Special Steel Plant in Kapfenberg, Austria, to Boast Fully Automated Melting System Read More »

Casthouse Expansion in Czech Republic Includes Heat Treating Processes

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS

An Amsterdam-based producer of aluminum semi-products recently expanded its casthouse capacity with the purchase of a continuous homogenizing plant, including a helical ultrasonic testing station and billet saw for aluminum extrusion billets.

Paul Warton, president of Constellium’s Automotive Structures and Industry business unit

Constellium Extrusions, which customizes aluminum extrusions primarily for automotive and industrial applications, placed the order for the new furnace for its Dĕčín, Czech Republic, facility with Hertwich Engineering, an SMS group company. With this added capacity, the plant will broaden its product portfolio to include sections for Crash Management Systems and for new aluminum applications for hybrid and electric vehicles.  With a capacity of nine tons per hour, the new homogenizing furnace is considerably larger and more powerful than the plant for three tons per hour delivered in 2016. It is scheduled to go into operation in the first half of 2019.

The Dĕčín plant is part of the multinational Constellium network and is one of the leading manufacturers of aluminum extrusion products in Europe. The plant is particularly important as an integrated manufacturer and processor of hard and soft alloys as well as a supplier of extruded, partially drawn tubes, bars, seamless and non-seamless profiles. The increasing demand, especially from the automotive industry, has prompted Constellium to expand the Dĕčín plant in several investment stages.

The new homogenizing capacities are part of the current program, which is aimed at expanding extrusion capacity. For this purpose, a further extrusion plant including a casthouse is planned, for which Hertwich will supply the entire heat treatment in the form of a continuous homogenizing furnace.

 “As the auto industry increasingly turns to lightweight, high-strength aluminum, Constellium’s expansion in Decin will support rising demand for hard and soft alloy profiles and bars from automotive customers across Europe,” said Paul Warton, president of Constellium’s Automotive Structures and Industry business unit. “This new activity is expected to increase Decin’s total extrusion capacity to 96,000 metric tons per year.”

Casthouse Expansion in Czech Republic Includes Heat Treating Processes Read More »

10 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

/ FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

10 Quick Heat Treat News Items to Keep You Current

You don't want to miss out on the latest news from your fellow heat treaters, suppliers, or specialists! That's whereHeat Treat Today's News Chatter feature can come in handy, highlighting representative moves, transactions, and kudos from around the industry.

Personnel and Company Chatter

  • Edwards Vacuum, a leading manufacturer of vacuum and abatement solutions which offers heat treating, recently broke ground on a new 75,000 square foot Technology Innovation Center in Hillsboro, Oregon, to serve as the U.K.-based company's North American semiconductor headquarters.
  • A joint project between global steel producer The SMS Group and Arkansas Northeastern College will result in the opening of the Arkansas Steelmaking Academy (ASA), to be housed in the College's Center for Allied Technology, which is slated to open in August 2018 with ASA offerings to begin in 2019.
  • Mariya Trickett, who serves as senior vice president of Human Resources for Dana Corporation was recently honored as one of the Top 15 Business Women by the Ohio Diversity Council, recognizing outstanding women in leadership who are respected, successful leaders within their organization.

Equipment Chatter

  • A Tier 1 automotive supplier recently purchased batch ovens custom engineered for aging aluminum structural components. Epcon Industrial Systems manufactures indirect gas-fired aluminum aging oven systems for the automotive and aerospace parts manufacturers and supplied the units.
  • Lindberg/MPH announced the recent shipment of an electrically heated rod overbend atmosphere box furnace to the aerospace industry. The box furnace has a maximum temperature rating of 2000°F and work chamber dimensions of 24" wide x 36" deep x 24ʺ high and will perform a heat treatment on parts within the work chamber under a reducing atmosphere generated from a nitrogen methanol panel.
  • A Midwest U.S. titanium manufacturer and fabricator recently received shipment of a large horizontal front loading vacuum furnace designed for processing titanium alloys for the aerospace, medical, and other industries. Fully compliant to aerospace specification AMS2750E, the furnace, supplied by Solar Manufacturing, includes a molybdenum shielded hot zone and heating elements, with a work zone size of 54" (1.37m) wide x 54" (1.37m) high x 144" (3.66m) deep and a weight capacity of 7,500 pounds (3,400 kg), and is capable of precise temperature control up to 2400° F (1316° C).
  • A special universal air flow oven from Grieve Corporation, the No. 1043, a 500°F (260°C), has been delivered to a customer to be used to post-cure hose lengths. Workspace dimensions measure 12” W x 30” D x 12” H.

Kudos Chatter

  • Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc. was named the 2018 Powertrain Supplier of the Year at the FCA US LLC Supplier of the Year awards at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit last month. Hitchiner was one of 16 companies recognized by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles at the annual awards for quality and excellence.
  • AK Steel Research and Innovation employees Yu-Wei Wang, Feng Zhu, Wei Wu, Panagiotis Makrygiannis, and Chao Pu were recognized with the Team Award by the Auto/Steel Partnership for their innovation and collaboration in developing pre-competitive solutions enabling steel execution in future vehicles. The award selections were based on project work completed in 2017 and were unanimously chosen by the Auto/Steel Partnership’s Joint Policy Council. Through the Auto/Steel Partnership, automakers and steel companies collaborate to drive improvements through projects focused on new steels, manufacturing processes and design challenges, including steel lightweighting solutions.
  • Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) announce that all four of its facilities (both Waterloo, Iowa locations, Monroe, MI, and Cullman, AL ) have recently gone through the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) 16949 automotive transition audit and have become IATF 16949 certified. IATF 16949 is the automotive Quality Management System developed by the “Big Three” automotive companies. It was recently updated from ISO/TS 16949 due to a change in the ISO 9001 Standard.

Heat Treat Today is pleased to join in the announcements of growth and achievement throughout the industry by highlighting them here on our News Chatter page. Please send any information you feel may be of interest to manufacturers with in-house heat treat departments especially in the aerospace, automotive, medical, and energy sectors to the editor at editor@heattreattoday.com.

 

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