Contact:
John R. (Chip) Keough, P.E., President/CEO
Applied Process, Inc.
12238 Newburgh Rd.;Livonia, MI 48150-1046
(734) 464-2030; Fax: (734) 464-6314

Some might consider it a form of magic, but the Austempering process involves no prestidigitation—just specialized equipment and a thorough understanding of time and temperature and their affect on ferrous metals during the heat-treating process. Austempering, a specialized heat-treating process performed by Applied Process, produces steel and iron parts that are stronger, tougher, lighter, quieter, more wear resistant and have greater dimensional repeatability than conventionally heat-treated parts.

History
In 1962 W. R. Keough, with several partners, established what would grow to be Atmosphere Group Inc. (AG). AG based its growth on the austempering process, a specialized heat-treating method. The company grew to include Atmosphere Furnace Company (AFC) and several commercial heat treaters that specialized in the Austempering of small stampings and formed parts.

AG grew as the merits of the austempering process became evident to producers. The need existed for a facility that could Austemper larger parts efficiently. AFC spawned an experimental heat treat unit in 1978 to develop the processes and equipment necessary for that effort. The result was a unique integral-quench batch furnace with enhanced quenching capabilities for processing different (and larger) parts and applying new techniques. That experiment became Applied Process Inc., a different kind of heat treat.

Applied Process Inc., Livonia, Michigan
Applied Process Inc. was incorporated in 1984. AP quickly outgrew its Wixom, Michigan facility and moved to a 30,000-sq. ft. facility in Livonia, Michigan in 1985. AP has led the industry in the application of the austempering process to heavier stampings, forgings and castings, especially ductile iron castings. From 1984 to 1996 AP grew at a remarkable rate of over 14% annually. In 1993, as the result of a friendly spin off, Applied Process Inc. became a stand-alone company with John R. (Chip) Keough as President and majority stockholder. Additionally, Mr. Keough continually and enthusiastically promotes the benefits and applications of Austempering.

AP Westshore, Inc., Oshkosh, Wisconsin
In 1994, as demand started to outpace capacity at the Livonia facility a new company, AP Westshore Inc. was commissioned in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This 32,000-sq. ft., green-field plant utilizes state-of-the-art austempering equipment with 100% recycling of quenchants, water and alloy. In fact, the AP Westshore facility is the only heat treat plant in Wisconsin that does not require a wastewater permit; a first that AP is proud of. In 1998 both Applied Process and AP Westshore became QS9000 and ISO9002 certified.

Licensees
In 1995 AP added a licensee in Dandenong, Victoria, Australia, ADI Engineering, Process and Heat Treatment Pty. Ltd. ADI Engineering serves markets in Australia and Southeast Asia. In 1996 AP added a second licensee, ADI Treatments in Birmingham, England, UK. In 1996 ADI Treatments invested the equivalent of $3 million in a new, dedicated austempering facility.

Elizabethtown, Kentucky—The most advanced
As Austempering sales continued to grow, the need for additional capacity became apparent and construction was begun on a new, 36,000-sq. ft. facility in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. That facility, AP Southridge Inc., opened for business in December of 1998. The AP Southridge facility integrates the best designs and practices from both Livonia and Oshkosh facilities and adds to that complete automation for the most advanced austempering facility in the world.

AP’s customers include several General Motors Divisions, John Deere, Caterpillar, Dana, Meritor, Purolator, Eaton, Citation Corporation, Thyssen/Budd, Freightliner, Ford, Vermeer, Masco, Intermet, Oshkosh Truck, Navistar and hundreds of other OEM’s, and first- and second-tier suppliers in 38 states and five Canadian provinces. Austempered ductile iron alone accounts for nearly 20,000 tons per year of production.