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FEATURE
A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6
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GUEST DITORIAL
Globally, there is a strong demand for consistent specifica-
tions. For example, a heat treating specification written in
France through collaboration with captive and commercial
heat treaters resulted in the French Standard NF A 02-053.
A new working group is now creating a draft of a new ISO
document based on this French standard to replace CQI-9. In
addition, standards once perceived as strictly for aerospace
specifications, such as AMS 2759 or AMS 2750, are now being
adopted into the realm of automotive heat treatment.
In the U.S., it is sometimes said that the various heat
treating conferences are too theoretical and not practical.
However, a recent paper in Savannah from CHTE described
the practical benefits of extending the life of furnace and
fixture alloys by surface engineering. In Prague, Thomas
Lubbens provided practical examples of distortion mitiga-
tion and control of distortion in heat treated components.
Methods to increase production in carburizing and reduce
intergranular oxidation were also presented. These are all
useful topics that directly impact a heat treater’s bottom
line, whether commercial or OEM.
Without our participation in these events as either
speakers or attendees, and learning from the global commu-
nity of heat treaters, the U.S. heat treating industry will fall
behind.
D. Scott MacKenzie, Ph.D., FASM
Houghton International Inc.
Heat treating is an important
topic wherever you travel
in the world. Like it or not,
today’s heat treating industry is
global. This is reflected in the num-
ber of recent conferences and events
taking place around the globe. Last
April, the ASM/IFHTSE 23rd Heat
Treatment and Surface Engineering
Congress was held in Savannah, Ga. This event attracted
attendees from 22 different countries and virtually every
continent to discuss heat treating. In May, the IFHTSE Euro-
pean Conference on Automotive Heat Treatment and Sur-
face Engineering took place in Prague. In Russia, a large
tradeshow and conference on Innovation Technologies of
Heat Treatment will be held September 13-14. Next, ASMhas
its own event in Queretaro, Mexico, from September 20-23.
Another event in September is the IFHTSE 3rdMediterranean
Conference on Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering in
Portoroz, Slovenia. Following shortly thereafter is the Fur-
naces North America tradeshow in Nashville. Finally, the 5th
Asian Conference on Heat Treatment and Surface Engineer-
ing will take place November 12-14 in Hangzhou, China.
In addition to the sheer number of conferences, the
industry itself is expanding andmuch activity is taking place.
In fact, demand for heat treating equipment and services is
growing at 2-4%while the global economy is growing at 1%.