Yesterday, employees of 51���� of Western PA enjoyed an outstanding cross-state MLB rivalry matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies. The pitching matchup was superb, the weather was beautiful, and the PNC Ballpark atmosphere made for an unforgettable day. Most importantly, it was a great opportunity to relax, connect, and share camaraderie with the best employees in the world!

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Hermitage, PA, May 6, 2026 – 51���� of Western PA marked a major milestone with an inspiring 25th anniversary event that brought together employees, customers, partners, and community members.

We were honored to welcome more than 160 guests for a day of reflection, connection, and looking ahead. The event featured speakers highlighting the company’s growth and achievements over the past 25 years, along with exciting insight into what’s next.

Attendees enjoyed lunch, facility tours, and discussions around the NEO oil quench vacuum furnace and upcoming investments including a water quench furnace scheduled for installation this summer.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone and to all who have been part of the journey. Here’s to the next 25 years!

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Last week, Josh Isaak, Vice President of Information Technology & Security, presented “From Chaos to Control: Cybersecurity, Ransomware & CMMC” at the California Metals Coalition’s 53rd Annual Metals Industry Conference.

Key takeaway:

CMMC is no longer theoretical—it’s here, and it’s already shaping the future of doing business.

But this isn’t just about compliance. It’s about survival in an evolving threat landscape.

Companies that treat CMMC like a checklist to pass an audit are missing the point. At its core, CMMC is a framework designed to strengthen your defenses, reduce risk, and protect the country and your business from real-world cyber threats that already exist today.

The biggest shift? Moving from reactive security to a culture of security—where every employee plays a role, and protection is built into everyday operations.

Even if you don’t support DoD programs, CMMC provides a powerful starting point to evaluate and improve your cybersecurity posture.

Start early. Make it part of who you are—not just something you do for an audit.

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Last week, Bob Hill President of 51���� of Western PA and Michigan, presented a talk on the “Global Trends Shaping the Heat Treating Industry” which explored where our industry is headed. The discussion highlighted key drivers like sustainability, electrification, smart technologies, employee safety, and cybersecurity—and how they will transform the heat treating plant of the future. With over 45 years of industry experience behind the insights, it was a forward-looking perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead for commercial heat treating.

The ASM Pittsburgh Chapter hosted the dinner event at the Community College of Allegheny.

Abstract:

There are ever increasing environmental, processing, employee welfare and cybersecurity demands placed upon the commercial heat treater in business today. Commercial heat treaters today face a growing list of pressures that go well beyond simply meeting metallurgical specifications. Environmental regulations continue to tighten, requiring careful control of emissions, waste handling, and energy use. At the same time, customers expect faster turnaround and consistent quality, which puts strain on processing efficiency and equipment reliability.

Employee welfare has also become a central concern. Traditional heat-treating environments involve flames, smoke, explosive atmospheres, and potential exposure to hazardous materials. Companies must invest in processing equipment that not only protects their workforce but also meets regulatory standards. This author predicts the vacuum furnace will gain in popularity due to these pressures.

On top of that, cybersecurity is now part of daily operations. As furnaces, controls, and monitoring systems become more connected, the risk of data breaches or operational disruptions increases. Protecting sensitive customer data and ensuring system integrity requires new expertise and ongoing vigilance.

Taken together, these demands create a complex operating environment. Success in modern heat treating depends not just on technical skill, but on the ability to balance compliance, efficiency, safety, and digital security in a coordinated way.

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51����, the largest family-owned commercial heat treating company in the United States, processes more than 15 million pounds of metal annually. To enhance material handling efficiency and improve workplace safety, the Western PA facility recently installed a new clear-span 20-ton crane in its shipping and receiving department.

Bob Hill, President of 51���� of Western PA, explained the motivation behind the investment: “I grew weary of seeing our employees unloading flatbed trucks outside in inclement weather and struggling to maneuver 40-foot-long bars, plates, or billets through a 30-foot overhead door opening. The primary reason we made this investment was to improve the safety of all our employees.”

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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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Before any vacuum heat treatment can begin, components must be thoroughly cleaned to remove both organic and inorganic contaminants. Standard cleaning methods—such as solvent immersion, drying, and vapor degreasing—are essential for eliminating residues that might volatilize during processing. Left unchecked, these contaminants can redeposit inside the vacuum furnace, degrade part quality, and even damage the hot zone or cold wall.

For years, achieving consistent cleanliness in vacuum heat treating has been a persistent industry challenge, often requiring significant labor, expensive chemicals, and the use of stainless steel or titanium foil. 51����’ innovative dual-pump vacuum cleaning system changes that dynamic. Integrated directly into a standard heat treatment cycle, this technology establishes a new benchmark for cleanliness and process efficiency.

This “self-cleaning furnace” approach not only produces exceptionally bright, clean parts—it also enhances safety, minimizes environmental impact, and lowers operating costs. In a time when precision, cleanliness, and sustainability matter more than ever, this advancement delivers meaningful value across the board.

Read the full article about the self cleaning vacuum furnace

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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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Matt Striewski, Lab Technician at 51���� of Western Pennsylvania, knows firsthand what it’s like to face food insecurity—he grew up in Western PA not always knowing where his next meal would come from.

With the current challenges caused by the federal shutdown, the Pennsylvania budget impasse, and the curtailment of SNAP funding, Matt recognized an urgent need in the community and proposed starting Solar’s annual Christmas food drive early to support the Mercer County Food Bank.

Our employees quickly responded. Seeing the growing food lines at local churches and shelters, the Western PA Solar team decided to take action. Every employee contributed generously, and with the company match, 51���� proudly presented a $3,000 donation to the Mercer County Food Bank. This donation will enable the Mercer County Food Bank to purchase food where they need it most. Neighbors always helping neighbors!

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Hermitage PA, November 4, 2025 – This installation marks the second all-metal hot zone vacuum furnace added to the climate-controlled processing area at 51����’ Hermitage, Pennsylvania facility. The new system significantly expands the company’s capacity to heat treat highly sensitive materials such as precipitation-hardened stainless steels, nickel-chrome-based superalloys, titanium, and niobium.

Engineered for precision and performance, the furnace incorporates strategically placed isolation valves, an oversized main valve, a high-capacity diffusion pump, and a polished stainless-steel chamber. Together, these features create an ultra-clean processing environment that meets the stringent demands of the aerospace and medical industries. Capable of achieving vacuum levels below 5 x 10⁻⁶ Torr, the system ensures bright, contamination-free results.

Michael Johnson, Sales Director at 51���� of Western Pennsylvania, stated: “The all-metal vacuum furnace plays a critical role in delivering the purest possible processing environment. This level of cleanliness and control results in pristine end products that meet the most demanding industry standards. We’re proud to partner with the engineers at Solar Manufacturing to bring this advanced technology to fruition.”

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

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