Metex Heat Treating Ltd. has come a long way in a relatively short time.

The company started out with one rotary retort furnace in an 18,000-square-foot facility back in 1983. Today, Metex has four plants and produces over 300,000 pounds of heat-treated material daily. Over a combined 85,000 square feet, the commercial heat treater has seven continuous mesh-belt lines, eight induction machines and four batch ovens.

Based in Brampton, Ontario, Metex performs neutral hardening, carburizing, carbonitriding and induction hardening services for the automotive, military, mining, heavy equipment and construction industries. With 65 employees, the company prides itself on being flexible when it comes to service. 

Metex’s continuous mesh-belt furnaces are some of the biggest in Canada. The MTI member operates two Can-Eng 6,000-pound/hour mesh-belt lines, which gives it the opportunity to turn over large volumes of product at a very economical price. These mesh belts are capable of both neutral hardening and case hardening. 

In addition to the aforementioned lines, Metex operates two 3,500-pound/hour mesh-belt lines, a 1,500-pound/hour mesh-belt line, a 1,000-pound/hour mesh-belt line and an annealing furnace.

Metex’s induction department, however, is critical to the company’s success. One of the largest of its kind in North America, Metex operates eight machines and is able to manufacture its own coils in-house. The company’s induction systems offer selective hardening for intricate pieces like splines and bearing surfaces. Lines are robotically fed and capable of running uninterrupted 24/7. In addition, Metex has developed several complex induction hardening applications for applications including powder transmission parts.

Quality is also an important part of the business. Metex, which has five metallurgists on staff, operates an ISO 17025-accredited on-site laboratory that boasts equipment including: hardness testers, microhardness tester, metallograph, spectrometer, refractometer, tensile tester, gas analyzer, viscometer, carbon analyzer and mounting and polishing equipment.

Metex is doing what it can to improve and grow the business. It has invested over $4.5 million in the last three years. It purchased new equipment with cutting-edge controls systems to ensure that all product that leaves its facility is of the highest standard. In the last year, it took delivery of one of the 6,000-pound/hour mesh-belt lines. It was installed and fully operational in less than two months. 

As for the future, Metex intends to focus on emerging processes to help its customers’ bottom line. While production volume work will continue to be its bread and butter, the company will look at more precision-type applications to take it into the next decade.

Visit www.metexht.com for more on Metex Heat Treating Ltd.