About Donovan Heat Treating

Donovan Heat Treating Co. Inc. in Philadelphia, Pa., was founded in 1942 by Tom Donovan and primarily performed small tool and die work. Today, the company offers large car-bottom heat treating and abrasive sandblasting services to steel warehouses and metal distributors, metal fabricators and manufacturers, foundry and forge shops, steel mills and most major commercial industries.

The Company has one double-hearth furnace measuring 18 ft long x 70 in. wide x 5 ft high used for high-temperature runs up to 2300°F. One 18 ft temper furnace with the same dimensions is capable of operations from 300 to 1400°F. Two smaller furnaces, measuring 32 in. x 26 in. x 60 in. can handle smaller jobs from 300 to 1400°F. The large car-bottom furnace (125 in. wide x 9.5 ft high x 41 ft long) is capable of operation from 800 to 2300°F and a total load capacity of approximately 250,000 lb (125-ton) in one load. The abrasive blast room is 12 ft wide x 15 ft high x 35 ft long with a capacity of 40,000 lbs. (20-tons).

According to Jeff Uhlenburg, the current president of the company, one thing the company has learned in its 63 years of business is the need to be flexible in the wake of change. For example, in October 1988, the company suffered a devastating six-alarm fire that began in an 8,000 gallon open oil-quench tank and spread to the wooden roof of the building. Everything was lost. Despite the odds, Don, Uhlenburg, president at the time, set about to rebuilding. The company reopened in February 1990 in a 34,000 ft shop containing two 18 ft and one 41 ft. car bottom furnaces, quench tanks, sand blast and paint facilities.

Donovan Heat Treating Co. Inc. has been a member of MTI for 31 years and is totally committed to being a commercial heat treater of the highest quality and providing excellence in service. The company values honesty, integrity and loyalty as key elements in building and maintaining relationships with its customers and employees.