PBN Manufacturing Awards 2024
MEET THE MAKERS: S&P Heat Treating Inc.
EACH YEAR THOUSANDS of metal parts of all shapes and sizes arrive at S&P Heat Treating Inc., where they undergo processes crucial for them to work correctly.
Seifert Systems Invests in Energy Efficiency to Strengthen Operations
For manufacturers, energy is more than just another operating expense. It plays a critical role…
Learn More
“If you just form a knife out of a piece of regular steel, it won’t hold the sharpness,” said Mike Rapoza, vice president of S&P Heat Treating. “If you have a hammer that’s as soft as the nail, it’s not going to be a good hammer.”
Heat treating seems simple – heat a metal part in a furnace and then cool it off to bring out the best level of hardness. But the process is far from basic.
Heat treating enhances metal’s performance, such as enabling a knife to retain its sharpness or a hammer to be effective. Despite its seemingly simple premise – heating and cooling metal – the process is intricate, requiring precise combinations of temperature and time for each part. This precision ensures that parts retain their intended shape and hardness, often determined through trial and error and collaboration with customers.
“Once we find the magic, it’s locked and loaded,” Rapoza said.
Founded in 1986 by Arvind Patel, a former chief metallurgist for Stanley Tools, S&P Heat Treating has grown to serve diverse industries, from automotive to healthcare. Patel launched the company in Warwick, later relocating to its current facility on Dewey Avenue in the city.
Rapoza joined S&P Heat Treating 28 years ago, starting with little knowledge of heat treating but eager to learn from Patel’s entrepreneurial approach. The company now operates with 12 employees, most of whom had no prior experience in the niche field of heat treating but have since become integral to the team.
S&P Heat Treating offers various treatments, including annealing and selective hardening. Each order is tailored to meet specific hardness requirements, with the team developing customized processes. Accuracy is paramount, as the hardness of parts directly impacts safety and longevity. Testing each order’s hardness is critical; this process occurs in the company’s on-site lab, introduced in 2015 when the facility doubled in size, improving turnaround time from weeks to days.
To maintain the reliability of the company’s furnaces, S&P Heat Treating emphasizes preventative maintenance. Furnaces run continuously, as frequent shutdowns could damage their structure and lead to significant delays. Maintenance is scheduled every six months, complemented by assessments from outside vendors. The company’s dedication to efficiency and quality control allows it to meet tight deadlines and maintain strong customer relationships.
