Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) announced building expansions at its Monroe, Mich., and Waterloo, Iowa, locations. The extra space will enable AHT to add more equipment and services. The Michigan site is expanding its pit, which will allow for two additional nitriding units. AHT Burton, referred to by the street name because there are two locations in Waterloo, is adding additional square footage onto its building. The expansion will allow for additional equipment and services to be added. The expansions are expected to be complete by mid-summer.

By adding more components while striving to reduce vehicle weight means that not only are there more parts that have to be heat treated, but the size of the parts being heat treated are reduced. This trend has been coined “dematerialization” and is perfect for induction heating.

Generally speaking, induction scanning machines either move the part or move the induction coil. This applies to horizontal as well as vertical scanning operations. There are certainly pros and cons to each method.