Scientific Metal Treating Co. - A Leader in Safe, Sustainable Metal Processing

An Overview of Scientific Metal Treating Co. and Their Metal Processing Services

Scientific Metal Treating Co. (SMT) is a specialized heat processing company located in Chicago Heights, Illinois. For over 90 years, they have provided various metal treating and finishing services to industrial manufacturing clients across the Midwest and beyond.

Company History and Experience

SMT was founded in 1924 by German immigrant August Gerlach, who brought innovative steel and metal processing techniques to America. The Gerlach family built the company into one of the most reputable metal treating shops in the Chicago area over three generations of ownership.

In the 1980s and 1990s, SMT significantly expanded both their processing capabilities and nationwide reach under leadership from Robert Gerlach Jr. Today, Keith Gerlach continues the family legacy as CEO and Chairman of SMT's Board of Directors.

With nearly a century of industry experience, SMT delivers exceptional service and quality work to various manufacturing sectors including automotive, aerospace, defense, electronics, and more.

SMT's Metal Processing and Treating Services

SMT operates out of a 56,000 square foot production facility housing advanced processing equipment. They offer the following specialized services:

Heat Treating

Heat treating involves exposing metals to precise temperatures to alter their internal structure and improve physical properties like strength and durability.

SMT utilizes processes like hardening, annealing, stress-relieving, precipitation hardening, and tempering to expertly heat treat steel, aluminum, titanium, nickel alloys, and more.

Metal Testing

Strict quality testing ensures SMT meets industry standards and customers' unique specifications for every job. Their lab conducts both destructive and non-destructive tests, including:

• Hardness Testing
• Microstructure Analysis
• Proof Load Testing
• Chemical Analysis

Other Services

Beyond heat processing and testing, SMT also handles metal stress relieving, nitriding, straightening, coating, and additional treatments depending on customer needs.

How Metal Processing Relates to Environmental Health

While extremely important to industrial manufacturing, metal processing also carries environmental and safety risks if not properly regulated. For example, heat treating methods can generate air pollutants if not controlled.

Thankfully, companies like SMT utilize advanced equipment, testing, and emissions reduction technology to negate hazards while delivering exceptional quality and service.

Industrial Pollutants Generated from Metal Processes

Certain metals like hexavalent chromium, nickel, cadmium, and manganese have been extensively studied for their negative health consequences when their fumes or dusts are inhaled.

Repeated overexposure over months or years can lead to lung diseases, cancer, kidney damage, reproductive issues and birth defects, even death in extreme cases.

How SMT Minimizes Environmental and Safety Risks

As industry leaders for nearly 100 years, SMT prioritizes environmental responsibility and workplace safety with every client project.

They employ advanced filtration systems to capture air pollutants, minimize waste, closely monitor emissions, and properly dispose of spent materials. Stringent protocols protect both their community and employees.

Ongoing Commitment to Quality and Ethics

SMT's excellence in metal processing comes not just from technological capabilities, but from a dedication to integrity, transparency and compliance as well.

They meet quality management standards set by organizations like ISO, A2LA and AMS. Strict internal controls ensure adherence to environmental, health and safety regulations.

Ultimately, SMT's thoroughness gives clients confidence that each job will be handled lawfully, safely and to the highest standards every time.

The Future of Metal Treating Innovation and Safety

As environmental awareness increases globally, companies like SMT will continue pioneering more sustainable technologies while delivering for the manufacturing sector.

Through a combination of equipment upgrades, process refinement, testing and responsible disposal practices, metal processors can considerably reduce their ecological impact in coming years.

With SMT as industry trailblazers for multiple generations and counting, both ethics and quality will remain central to their operations throughout this transition and beyond.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.