FEATURE ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | MARCH 2026 33 • Increased scrap: Scrap rates jumping from 2-3% to 1015% if processes aren’t adjusted. For a medium-sized operation processing 10,000 of these parts monthly, total additional costs range from $22,000-45,000 per month—that’s $264,000-540,000 annually. That’s enough to make any shop owner reconsider whether that fine grain specification is really necessary. The smart approach is threefold: Challenge unnecessary specifications, ensure additional costs are reflected in pricing, and develop validated processes rather than hoping standard procedures work. For heat treaters working with thin sections of 1050-1095 and 52100 steels, grain size must be considered a primary process variable alongside temperature, time, and quench rate. The message is clear: In heat treatment, size really does matter. Fine-grained steel might have smaller grains, but it creates much bigger headaches—and much bigger bills. Make sure everyone involved understands this before the job is accepted and the furnace is fired up! ~HTPro For more information: Stephen Kowalski, president, Kowalski Heat Treating, 3611 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113, 216.631.4411, skowalski@khtheat.com, www.khtheat.com. Industrial & Laboratory Furnaces, Ovens & Heaters • Batch or Continuous Processing • Durable Construction • Standard or Fully Customizable • Up to 1800ºC, 3272ºF • Single or Multi-Zone • PLC Controls Available • Made in the USA Since 1971
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