It all began with a single furnace in New Jersey. William R. Braddock started Braddock Metallurgical with that lone salt pot furnace back in 1953 offering heat-treat services for local machine shops.

It’s been almost 100 years since Bennett Heat Treating and Brazing Co. first opened its doors. Based in Newark, N.J., the company was established in 1923 by Wilbur Bennett, a one-armed blacksmith. The commercial heat treater and longtime MTI member really took off – and became a family affair – in 1954 when Anthony Quaglia purchased the business.

Hy-Vac Technologies Inc. was born from Vac-Hyd Processing, which was founded 65 years ago in 1955. In 1982, however, Vac-Hyd sold the business. The name was then changed to Hy-Vac Technologies, and the rest is history.

You could say brothers Frank and Gene Clark followed their father’s lead. 

Wade Clark, who had a long and distinguished career in the heat-treating industry, inspired his sons to enter the field. But instead of working in the heat-treat department of a manufacturer or for a commercial heat treater, the brothers opted to forge their own path.

With our diverse editorial coverage, there are a number of associations in our industry. I personally belong to APMI International (MPIF) for powder metals and additive manufacturing as well as AIST (Association for Iron & Steel Technology). That’s in addition to IHEA and MTI, of course.

2020 has been quite the year for in-person meetings, with almost all being cancelled nationwide since April. Every association has had to adjust, innovate and create an alternative learning and networking experience for their industry.