Special Episode with Bruce Stewart
Podcast Description
Today's special guest, Bruce Stewart, Competency Manager at Tech Heat, shares his remarkable 30-year journey through the specialized field of heat treatment. From humble beginnings answering a newspaper ad in 1991 to helping develop a nationally recognized trade program, Bruce offers a fascinating glimpse into an industry that has transformed dramatically.
When Bruce first entered the field, heat treatment technicians were considered "below the bottom of the scale" in the trade hierarchy. The entire Western Canadian heat treating industry consisted of just 20-30 technicians using primitive methods like tiger torches and temperature crayons that might be "within 100 degrees" of the target. Fast forward to today, where sophisticated electrical resistance and induction heating systems allow for precision control within specific parameters, and the industry has grown to over 300 specialists. For welders and fabricators looking to understand this critical aspect of quality control, this episode provides invaluable insights into the science and craft behind proper heat treatment.
A special thank you to Cooperheat Equipment for sponsoring this episode! Cooperheat has a dedicated team of professionals and prides itself as the go-to experts for solving thermal technology challenges globally since 1957.