Custom tooling. Better racks. In-house Packaging for your toughest PIA production jobs.

Kowalski Heat Treating (KHT) has expanded its salt-to-salt processing, custom tooling, and value-added packaging operations to support growing demand from knife makers, FFL firearm manufacturers, and specialty tool producers. The expansion significantly increases rack capacity and material flow thru, strengthening KHT’s ability to handle both high-volume production and complex, high-tolerance work.

“For our customers, this investment means faster turns, better consistency, and real cost efficiency—even on their most demanding PIA (Pain in the @%$) Jobs,” said Steve Kowalski, President of KHT. “From precise thermal control to final protective packaging, we’re helping manufacturers keep parts moving through the production cycle - finished right, packed right, and ready for assembly in our packaging department or drop shipping back to their facilities”.

KHT’s enhanced K-Salt Division now accommodates larger, heavier, and more complex rack loads for blades, barrels, slides, and other high-precision components. Manufacturers benefit from superior microstructure with minimal distortion, clean, scale-free, oxidation-free surfaces and highly repeatable results that reduce scrap, rework, and secondary finishing. The expanded infrastructure allows KHT to run more parts per load reducing costs to customers, while maintaining tight metallurgical control.

Every part is handled with close-tolerance precision by KHT’s experienced technicians. Enhanced finishing and surface-prep controls deliver oxidation-free results that streamline downstream operations, including polishing, coating, and final assembly. The result is less handling, fewer defects, and improved part flow through the customer’s production line.

Custom Packaging, Sorting & Drop-Shipping - KHT’s expanded value-added packaging operation allows customers to receive parts exactly as they need them—sorted, labeled, protected, and ready for the next stage of production. The dedicated packaging team provides customized protective packaging solutions and direct drop-shipping to a customer’s secondary operation or end user. This integrated service eliminates double handling, reduces the risk of transit damage, shortens lead times, and simplifies inventory management across complex manufacturing workflows.

The Advantage of Salt-to-Salt Processing - Salt-to-salt heat treating offers distinct performance and production advantages over traditional air or atmosphere processes. Because parts are transferred directly from heating salt to quenching salt, thermal shock is tightly controlled, resulting in faster, more uniform heat transfer and significantly reduced distortion. The salt environment also protects surfaces from oxygen exposure, producing bright, scale-free parts that often eliminate the need for aggressive post-processing. For precision components such as knives, firearm parts, and tooling, this means better dimensional stability, improved fatigue resistance, and more reliable performance in service—all while shortening production time and lowering total manufacturing cost.

Manufacturers seeking additional outside thermal processing capacity or support for difficult heat-treating and packaging challenges are invited to contact Peggy Andrews at 216-631-4411 or pandrews@khtheat.com to discuss part types, volumes, and logistics requirements.

Our 50th Anniversary - Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Kowalski Heat Treating is celebrating its 50th anniversary of thermal processing innovation. The company provides a full range of heat-treating solutions—including vacuum hardening, rack salt-to-salt austempering and marquenching, deep cryogenics, and precision flatwork - to help manufacturers deliver parts that perform. We’ve built our reputation by taking on the jobs others won’t by specializing in the type of complex, time-sensitive “PIA” (pain in the @%$) projects that threaten production schedules and quality benchmarks. Through hands-on problem-solving, proven thermal processes, and responsive customer service, KHT helps manufacturers protect both delivery timelines and product performance in competitive markets, keeping production lines moving while assuring top end performance in final products.

CONTACT:

Mr. Steve Kowalski

President

Kowalski Heat Treating

skowalski@khtheat.com

1-888-KHT-HEAT