September 2007 News Archives

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News Flash: UAW Strike of GM ENDS!

(September 26 - morning update) - Whew! After less than 48 hours the UAW strike of GM has ended (with a vote this weekend on the terms) and the US heat treat economy can breath a sigh of relief. Under the terms of the new agreement the UAW will take over health benefits for its retired GM members.

Most Photographed People in Heat Treating?

(September 26 - morning update) - While some news sites ponder heat treating's most influencial people, we at HeatTreatNews.com are asking our readers "who are heat treating's most photographed people?" Send us your nominations! 

UAW Strike of GM Begins - 73,000 start picketing

(September 24 - 11:14 AM EDT update) - No agreement between the UAW and GM this morning and we've word now that some 73,000 UAW workers have started their strike - GM's first since 1998.

"Where are they now?" - George Bodeen?

(September 24 - morning update) - We got an unusual inquiry this morning from a reader interested in locating former Lindberg CEO George Bodeen. If anyone has any information please pass it along to admin@heattreatnews.com:

"Does anyone know whatever happened to George Bodeen? He was a shareholder at Lindberg Corporation, the Heat Treating Company. Besides shareholder, he was once President, CEO etc but started at maintenance at Lindberg I think."

UAW Strike of GM Looms

(September 24 - morning update) - Just as GM was looking to be making a huge comeback, the UAW has set an 11 AM today deadline to strike against the struggling automaker. The UAW contract recently expired and the union is none too happy with GM's proposal for additional concessions from the union.

United Process Controls - The Talk of this Year's ASM Show

(September 21 - morning update) - While there were many interesting booths at this year's ASM show (such as Solar's HUGE hot zone on the floor), the top buzz was definitely about the newly formed United Process Controls.

Though some would maintain that this new global coalition was created to respond to the competition of small systems integrators, further evaluation makes it clear that their size and scope puts them head-to-head with big boys like Eurotherm (2404, 2604, etc.), ERO Electronic (AC20, 7EK, etc.) & Honeywell (UDC series, PlantScape, etc.) - the companies that actually manufacture the equipment sold by the smaller integrators like SSI and Conrad Kacsik. 

As a true manufacturer of controls (rather than a reseller with their name on the instrument), we're guessing that United will probably look to make the smaller integrators their customers, not their competitors...at least that's our guess! 

Here's a shot of the United Process Controls booth from earlier this week:

Trojan Heat Treat (Michigan) HR Director Jumps Into Politics!

(September 21 - morning update) - Okay, so maybe he isn't running for president (one of the few), but we just got word today that Jerry Stonebraker, HR director for Trojan Heat Treat in Homer, Michigan, has been picked by the Homer city council as the city manager. 

We doubt he can do much about currency value or nickel prices just yet, but maybe this is just the start!

ASM Exhibition Set-up Shots

(September 18 - morning update) - Today is the start of the ASM Heat Treat expo and we're getting things started with a few shots from yesterday's set-up:

ASM Conference and Exhibition

(September 16 - evening update) - Tomorrow the ASM show gets underway with Monday being all technical presentations. The exhibition starts Tuesday and we're looking forward to learning more about the United Process Controls news item below. Just what will this new consolidated and world-wide controls company mean for the industry? We'll investigate that and have shots from the show ASAP so tune in all week.

Randy Simmons Update

(September 16 - evening update) - We had an update a couple days back from Randy Simmons about heat treating of wooden, woven furniture in Thailand and received some critical comments back over the weekend. We stand corrected...in Randy's own words:

Newly Formed "United Process Controls" to Provide Comprehensive Heat Treating and Combustion Solutions World-Wide

(September 14 - morning update) - Big news appeared this morning on Industrial Heating's site: Furnace Control Corp., Marathon Monitors, Nitrex Metal, Process-Electronic and Waukee Engineering have joined forces to create the largest controls group in the heat treating industry: United Process Controls. 

With offices, subsidiaries and service centers around the world, United Process Controls will provide world-wide, sales, service and field support of the full range of heat treatment and combustion processes.  Here's the link to IH.

Advanced Heat Treating...of Wood!

(September 12 - night update) - Today's bit of fun news comes from one of CHS-Asia's principals in Thailand and one-time manager of MMI's service department back in the USA, Randy Simmons. Randy and his new wife (see our previous story) were touring Thailand and apparently stumbled on a novel heat treating application. In Randy's words:

"Last weekend while touring Chang Mai and Chang Rai I ran across a different type of heat treatment.  

The villagers in a small remote village 50 Kilometers outside Chang Rai hand weave furniture and Baskets. After they are complete they stress relief the wood with a blow torch.  The torch moves rather quickly as not to set the wood on fire."

Here are shots of Randy and his better half and a chair being stress relieved:

No Injuries in SKF Bearings Fire

(September 12 - night update) - A rooftop fire at SKF bearings in Gainsville, GA appears to have been responded to in a first rate manner by SKY staff with a smooth evacuation of all 225 employees and no injuries. All employees were able to return to work within a few hours thanks to a sprinkler system that contained the fire.

Hall firefighters responded to a fire on the roof of SKF at about 2:05 p.m. Tuesday. The fire originated in a "heat-treat" furnace, a furnace that heats up the ball bearings that the company manufactures, according to Cagle.

All 225 employees of SKF USA were evacuated without injury from the plant. They were able to return to work within the next couple of hours.

Cagle said the smooth evacuation of the plant's employees made firefighters' jobs easier.

"They helped us out tremendously and made the problem much much better," Cagle said. "It was able to be handled quicker."

The fire was contained to the furnace and was held at bay with the sprinkler system, Cagle said. The full-replacement cost of the furnace is determined to be at about $1 million, however it has not yet been determined if the furnace will need to be completely replaced.

September 11, 2007 - "Patriot Day"

(September 11 - midday update) - Today is the sixth anniversary of the terror attacks on New York in 2001 and dubbed "Patriot Day" here in the U.S.A.

We have not forgotten the impact those attacks had on our world, country and our lives. Please, take a moment today to remember those who lost their lives on that day, their families and loved ones. 

Also, whatever your politics or nationality, give thanks to the men and women around the world serving in law enforcement and emergency services that are laying their lives on the line every day to protect the rest of us. They are true patriots and this day belongs to them.

SECO/WARWICK Names Boeckenhauer as COO

(September 11 - midday update) - More SECO/WARWICK news today as Jeff Boswell, SECO/WARWICK's president, names Keith Boeckenhauer to the position of Chief Operations Officer. Boeckenhauer has been with SECO/WARWICK since 1984 and will continue to serve as SECO/WARWICK's Global Product Manager. Here's the PR:

Jeffrey Boswell, SECO/WARWICK Group President has appointed Keith Boeckenhauer, Chief Operations Officer (COO) for SECO/WARWICK Corporation (USA).  As COO, Mr. Boeckenhauer is the senior member of the executive team, responsible for the Company's day-to-day operating activities, including revenue and sales growth, expense, cost and margin control, profitability, and monthly, quarterly and annual financial goal management.

He will continue to serve as Aluminum Global Product Manager coordinating SECO/WARWICK’s Aluminum Teams in the USA, Poland, Russia, China and India.
Mr. Boeckenhauer joined SECO/WARWICK in 1984 as a Project Engineer in nonferrous melting and holding furnaces.  He became Product Manager of Molten Metal furnaces in 1989.  He served as Manager of Environmental Systems beginning in 1991, Manager of International and Marketing Services in 1994, and was promoted to Vice President, Aluminum Mill Equipment in 1997.  Mr. Boeckenhauer served as Vice President of Engineering from 2002-2004,  when he was promoted to VP, Aluminum Group.  

He earned a BS degree in Engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla and completed graduate courses in Business Administration at Gannon University.

ANOTHER Coup for Chrysler as They Snag GM's Chief of China Ops 

(September 11 - midday update) - Chrysler continues to take no prisoners in its crusade to hire the best from the competition. China has been a real bright spot for GM these last few years in spite of tough times in the US and Europe. As of a couple day ago, however, they've lost the man who led that success, Phil Murtaugh, as he has jumped ship and will now head Chrysler's Asia operations.

Jack Mahoney Appointed Aluminum Team Leader at SECO / WARWICK

(September 11 - midday update) - SECO/WARWICK has a new Aluminum Team Leader in Jack Mahoney. Mahoney has been with SECO/WARWICK since 1981 and worked in both the aluminum process and non-ferrous melting areas within the company. Here's the PR:

Jeffrey Boswell, SECO/WARWICK Group President
has appointed Jack Mahoney, Aluminum Team Leader.  Mr. Mahoney joined SECO/WARWICK in 1981 and has served as Product Manager for Aluminum Solution Heat Treat Furnaces and Project Engineer in both non-ferrous melting and aluminum process furnace equipment.    

As Team Leader, Mr. Mahoney will be responsible for all of the sales, marketing, engineering and field service activities for aluminum heat treatment (annealing, homogenizing and preheat), solution heat treating and non-ferrous melting product groups in North America, and a technical consultant within the global SECO/WARWICK organization.

Mr. Mahoney graduated from Gannon University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.  Mahoney has published several technical papers on various heat treatment topics in association with ASM International.

HUGE Coup for Chrysler as They Land James Press for Vice Chairman & President

(September 6 - afternoon update) - James Press, who led Toyota's North American operations and sat on Toyota's board of directors, has joined Chrysler where he will share the titles of Vice Chairman and President with Chrysler's former CEO, Tom LaSorda. Press is the second high-profile hire from Toyota's star ranks with Deborah Wahl Meyer having joined the new Chrysler team just last month.

Press originally joined Toyota 37 years ago in 1970.

These moves make it clear that Cerberus is serious about bringing on the very best talent money can buy. We're sure the frequent long flights to Japan (Press was going there 2 weeks per month) won't be missed.

Linamar Completes the Acquisition of Ford's Nuevo Laredo Operations

(September 6 - afternoon update) - Linamar recently announced that they have completed the acquisition of Ford's Power Transfer Unit (PTU) business and Converca I Plant in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Here's their official PR:

Linamar Corporation (TSX:LNR) today confirms the completion of the acquisition for Automotive Components Holdings’ Power Transfer Unit (PTU) business and Converca I Plant in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

The purchase includes the 304,000 square-foot plant, 25 acres of land, as well as a skilled team of engineers. The PTU business currently operates with approximately 500 staff in addition to 20 engineers. Linamar announced a purchase proposal for the Converca I Plant in April 30, and later announced the agreement had been finalized on August 15. Linamar takes over ownership of the facility and
management responsibility of the staff on September 1, 2007. Linamar will then re-name the Converca I Plant: ‘Linamar Driveline Systems Mexico S de R.L. de C.V.’ (LDL).

“Our goal now is to welcome our new employees to the team and introduce them to the Linamar culture,” said Linda Hasenfratz, Linamar’s CEO. “We are proud to add the innovative PTU to our diverse range of products and technologies at Linamar.”

The PTU is a critical driveline system which provides all-wheel-drive control to vehicles.

ASM Technical Paper Preview - NIR Analyzer Provides Accurate In-Process Analysis of Ammonia in Nitriding/Nitrocarburizing Processes

(September 4 - afternoon update) - Here's another preview from the upcoming ASM International Heat Treating Technical Program. This one comes from Process-Electronic/Nitrex (the number one gas-nitriding companies in the world) and covers their new near infrared analyzer technology:

Caterpillar to Build 100,000  Diesel Engines in China

(September 4 - afternoon update) - Most everyone knows that loads of vehicles are being built in China these days and that China leads the world in production of trucks. No surprise then that Caterpillar is pushing hard into this market. Here's a bit from their latest release on the topic:

Caterpillar Inc. (www.cat.com) said it plans to build 100,000 state-of-the-art small and medium diesel engines per year in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, China.

Caterpillar has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the Wuxi National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone outlining a significant multi-year investment to develop and manufacture Perkins and Caterpillar branded engines in Wuxi. The first of the planned engine operations in Wuxi will focus on production of the Perkins 400 Series, three and four-cylinder diesel engines.

“Opening this engine facility in China will further leverage the global reach of the 400 Series engines, which have become very popular with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) around the world,” said Hans Haefeli, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the Industrial Power Systems Division, which includes the Perkins Engines business. “This new facility will make the 400 Series engines more readily available for original equipment manufacturers with operations in China and the Asia Pacific region.”

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