This weekend, our 51���� of Michigan employees and their families enjoyed a beautiful day at Comerica Park, the home of the Detroit Tigers. The food and camaraderie were incredible—and the game was even better! The Tigers beat the Miami Marlins by a score of 6–1.

Bob Hill President reflects, “we are sincerely appreciative of every one of our Michigan employees. They have built this company into what it is today in just four short years. We are deeply humbled by everyone’s hard work and dedication. Our weekend shift will hopefully bring our Tigers another win versus the Kansas City Royals, when they are able to visit Comerica Park on Thursday.”

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51����, the largest American-owned heat treater in the United States, is proud to support NASA’s Artemis II mission. Our expertise spans thermal processing of raw materials, nickel-based tubing, and critical aerospace components—playing a vital role in bringing next-generation space technology to life. At the core of some of these components is the 6Al–4V titanium Launch Abort System (LAS), one of the most complex safety systems ever engineered. The LAS aboard the Orion spacecraft functions as a rocket capable of outrunning another rocket in an emergency. In the event of a catastrophic launch anomaly, its manifold enables the abort motor to ignite and safely propel the crew module away from the rocket. Designed to endure extreme conditions with zero margin for error, the LAS represents the pinnacle of aerospace safety and performance. 51���� is honored to contribute to this mission-critical technology, providing the precision, reliability, and advanced thermal processing that space exploration demands.

The success of Artemis II is set to energize this month’s Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. Visit us at Booth 705 to discover how 51����’ advanced thermal processing solutions are helping shape the future of space exploration.

Space Symposium Information

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Chesterfield, MI, December 15, 2025 – 51���� of Michigan Inc. is proud to announce that it has earned Nadcap 18-Month Merit Status for heat treating and brazing—an honor awarded only to organizations that consistently demonstrate the highest levels of quality, process control, and specification compliance. With this achievement, every 51���� location nationwide now holds Nadcap merit status.

We appreciate PRI’s recognition of our team’s dedication to stringent process discipline, precise processing, and an unwavering commitment to quality in every operation.

51���� President Bob Hill stated: “With the purchase, name change, and relocation of our Michigan business in 2022, the PRI Nadcap standards reverted back to annual audits. The achievement of zero major findings over the past three (3) years of audits has allowed us to once again join all of our other Solar facilities across the country with Merit standing. This accomplishment further strengthens 51����’ promise to deliver reliable, world-class thermal processing solutions to our customers in Michigan and across the nation.”

About 51���� of Michigan Inc.

51���� of Michigan Inc. is part of the 51���� family of companies, offering a wide range of vacuum heat treating and brazing services. With a focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, 51���� serves industries including aerospace, defense, medical, power generation, and more.

For more information about the 51���� Michigan facility contact Chris Molencupp at (586) 264-8100 ext. 1620, or chrism@solaratm.com.

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51���� of Michigan employees once again showed incredible generosity in support of the Shop with a Cop program. Organized by our driver, Larry Smith, and supported by the Chesterfield Township Police, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, and Meijer, this initiative pairs local officers with underprivileged children for a special holiday shopping experience. The program not only brings joy to families in need but also fosters positive, meaningful connections between kids and law enforcement.

This year, we were proud to present Larry with a check for $2,100 to help make the event a success. We’re truly grateful to play a part in bringing holiday smiles to so many children.

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The 7th Annual 51���� Sales & Marketing Summit took place this year near our Souderton, PA facility, bringing together sales managers from all six 51���� commercial heat-treating locations. The team collaborated on sales forecasts, shared updates on new processes and plant developments, and aligned on key strategies for the year ahead. Following the meeting, the group enjoyed a team-building outing at Topgolf.

No matter the region—North, South, East, or West—our mission remains the same: deliver exceptional customer service and provide meaningful value to every customer we serve. With over 200 years of combined experience in thermal processing and metalworking, our sales team is equipped to support your most demanding heat treating needs.

Reach out to any of our sales managers to discuss your next project.

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Hermitage PA, October 6, 2025 – At the Metal Treating Institute (MTI) fall meeting, Bob Hill, President of 51���� of Western PA and Michigan, received the prestigious Heritage Award—the highest honor presented by MTI. This award recognizes an individual’s lifetime commitment and significant contributions to advancing the commercial heat treating industry.

Congratulations, Bob, on this well-deserved achievement!

For additional information about 51����, contact Mike Johnson at 855-934-3284 x2223 or email at mikej@solaratm.com.

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Chris and Ryan enjoyed a fantastic day on the course at the 8th Annual Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan Golf Outing, held at the beautiful Hawk Hollow Championship Golf Course in Bath Township, MI.

A special thank you to Craig Yeomans and David Leal of Tecomet for joining the 51���� team—we appreciated the great company and camaraderie!

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1. What are some of the first steps I should take before sending parts out for vacuum heat treating?

Before vacuum thermal processing, ensuring the parts are free of foreign object debris (FOD) is essential. This includes removing contaminants like manufacturing oils, coolants, and machining residue. It’s also important to communicate whether the coolant used was water-based or oil-based—this helps your heat treater select the most effective cleaning method.

Many vacuum heat treaters use solvent degreasers for oil-based coolants and hot water/soap-based rinses for water-based coolants. Providing this information up front helps determine how to best prepare your parts for heat treatment.

Bottom line: Failing to address FOD can result in spotting, discoloration, or worse—surface contamination.

2. You made sure the parts are clean; now, how about the vacuum furnace?

Much like a home oven, vacuum furnaces require periodic cleaning—referred to in our world as a “bake-out.” This process removes residual FOD or contaminants left from previous runs.

Typical bake-out temperatures:

• Austenitic (300-series) steel grids, fixtures, and baskets: ~2150°F
• Furnace-only bake-out: ~2300–2400°F

Reaching these temperatures ensures even entrapped moisture in graphite components is eliminated—crucial for maintaining a clean process environment.

3. Okay, so the parts are clean and the furnace is clean. Are we ready to run?

Almost! One final but critical step: check the furnace leak rate.

• For most steels, aim for 20 microns/hour or less
• For reactive metals (like titanium), 5 microns/hour or less is ideal

Remember, all vacuum furnaces leak to some degree—perfection doesn’t exist in commercial heat treating. But keeping leak rates low is key to producing bright, shiny, contamination-free parts.

4. Now for the easy part: the thermal cycle. Right?

Well… not quite!

If you’re using partial pressure gas or backfill gas (nitrogen, argon or helium), you must also monitor the dew point and oxygen content of the process gas. When treating alloys that oxidize easily—even small traces of water vapor or oxygen can cause surface issues.

While dew point measures moisture, it does not measure oxygen. Using oxygen sensors alongside dew point monitoring provides a more complete picture of gas purity, ensuring optimal conditions for clean, bright results.

Also, consider the vacuum level:

• For 300/400 series stainless steels or PH alloys, a vacuum in the 10⁻⁴ Torr range (graphite hot zone) is typically sufficient.
• For titanium or reactive alloys, you’ll need a 10⁻⁶ Torr vacuum, which usually requires an all-metal (molybdenum) hot zone.

While graphite furnaces are capable, all-molybdenum systems offer superior part cleanliness for highly reactive materials.

Lastly, ensure proper thermocoupling of the load. Use contact thermocouples directly in a part or in a heat sink that represents the maximum cross-section. Poor thermocoupling can lead to a false sense of temperature stability—you may think the load is cool, but when the door opens, parts could still be hot enough to oxidize instantly (turning blue).

5. I followed all your recommendations, and the parts are still discolored! Why?

Even with every precaution, discoloration can still occur—and it’s understandably frustrating. But it’s important to distinguish between:

• Discoloration, which is superficial and doesn’t impact performance
• Surface contamination, which is detrimental, as it alters the surface microstructure

To confirm the difference, consider sending a representative part to a metallography lab. These labs can characterize the near-surface condition, helping you determine next steps—ranging from simple Scotch-Brite cleaning, to a chemical or mechanical etch that removes a few thousandths of material.

And featured in Today’s Medical Developments Magazine:

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51����, the largest family-owned heat treating company in the U.S., was honored to sponsor Chris Molencupp, our Michigan Sales Manager, and a fellow guardian as Community Guardians on a recent Talon Honor Flight—a life-changing journey that brings our Michigan veterans to Washington, D.C.

As a Community Guardian, Chris had the privilege and responsibility of supporting a veteran throughout the entire trip. When a family member isn’t available, community guardians step in to ensure these heroes don’t miss the opportunity to experience the honor and recognition they deserve.

The Honor Flight Network has been operating for 20 years, proudly honoring 317,128 veterans to date—providing many with the welcome home they never received.

We encourage you to learn more and support this incredible mission:

Talon Southwest Michigan Honor Flight:
https://www.talonsouthonorflight.org/

Find a Hub Near You (Nationwide):

Watch the Welcome Home Experience:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AUQs4xgFr/

Let’s continue to honor those who served.

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Chesterfield, MI, May 28, 2025 – 51���� of Michigan Inc., a leader in vacuum heat treating services, is proud to announce the addition of new, advanced air tempering and cryogenic equipment to its Chesterfield facility. These investments mark a significant step forward in expanding the company’s processing capabilities and enhancing customer support across various industries.

The new equipment includes a 6’6” wide × 4’ high × 14’ long car-bottom air furnace, designed and manufactured by Heat Treat Equipment Inc. With a robust weight capacity of 30,000 pounds and temperature uniformity within ±10°F from 300°F to 1400°F, this unit is ideal for processing large, heavy components that require precise temperature control. Also joining the lineup is a DMP “Cryo/Temper Systems” unit, offering a 42” wide × 60” deep × 36” high hot/cold zone. This system achieves temperature uniformity within ±10°F across a critical range of -300°F to 1200°F, supporting both cryogenic treatment and high-temperature tempering in one integrated solution.

Bob Hill, president of 51���� of Michigan states, “These new systems further reinforce our commitment to providing our customers with more flexibility with their thermal processing solutions. We’re excited to enhance our service capabilities while continuing to meet the evolving needs of the industries we serve.”

These two units mark the beginning of a broader expansion effort. They are the first of several planned new equipment investments to be housed within Solar Michigan’s new 50,000-square-foot facility along with the twelve (12) existing production vacuum furnaces.

About 51���� of Michigan Inc.

51���� of Michigan Inc. is part of the 51���� family of companies, offering a wide range of vacuum heat treating and brazing services. With a focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, 51���� serves industries including aerospace, defense, medical, power generation, and more.

For more information about the 51���� Michigan facility contact Chris Molencupp at (586) 264-8100 ext. 1620, or chrism@solaratm.com.

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