A Brief History of The Contract Heat Treatment Association of Australia

In the post-World War II era, the manufacturing industry in Australia grew at a phenomenal rate. Along with this exponential growth came an increased need for heat treatment of metals.

Heat treatment companies sprung up all over Australia. Some ‘in-house’ facilities aligned with manufacturing companies that were large enough to heat treat their own parts, such as automotive companies. Smaller manufacturing companies, however, subcontracted out their parts to an increasing number of contact heat treatment companies. These companies were generally run by fiercely independent operators who shunned the limelight and preferred to spend their time getting on with the job—many literally worked around the clock, 12 to 15 hours a day, seven days a week. During the 1960s and early 1970s, some of the Melbourne-based owners of these contact heat treatment companies found time to get together for lunch and a beer. They mostly chatted about their passion—heat treatment— and the various issues they had to deal with on a daily basis. It was at one of these lunches that the seed of an idea was born: some sort of ‘association’ to help deal with issues that were of particular interest to heat treatment companies in a more formal manner. So, on 17 September 1975, at 74 Eastern Road in South Melbourne, a group of the largest heat treatment companies in Melbourne met. During this meeting, the association was named and formalised, with its aims and objectives set out. Those present on that historic day included: R. Le Souf, Commercial Heat Treaters F. Robertson, Heat Treaters P/L D. Hill, Hills Heat Treatment P/L J. Oppy, Oppy Heat Treatment P/L J. McConvville, Thermal Heat Treatment P/L I. McRichie, McRichie Heat Treatment P/L E. Hollbrow, Ace Heat Treatment P/L H. Mahoney, Alpha Heat Treatment P/L

Also in attendance were representatives of the Metal Treatment Industry Association (MTIA), including B. Peek, J. Roberts and S. Sorrell. The MTIA was the fore runner to the current Institute of Materials Engineering Australasia Ltd. Its members were invited to the meeting to offer valuable advice and experience, where needed. The proposed name was The Contract Heat Treatment Association of Australia (CHTAA) and the aim was stated as follows: “That the association be dedicated to protecting, promoting and advancing companies engaged in the selling of their services in the open market and/or products appertaining to the heat treatment of metals.” Among its objectives would be co-operation and mutual assistance among members for: 1. Healthy and safe working conditions of all staff 2. Accident insurance 3. Liability insurance relating to damaged work 4. Other objectives which may be discussed and accepted at the meeting.

It was proposed that a Committee prepare a draft Constitution for submission to the inaugural meeting to be held in one month. So, in October 1975, the first constituted meeting of the CHTAA was held. Of course, back in those days, I had no idea of the existence of the CHTAA. I had just started working at Alpha Heat Treatment and my dad, Harry Mahoney, invited me to accompany him to one of the regular CHTAA meetings. I was excited to finally meet the illustrious group of people my dad had told me stories about. He had always emphasised how they were an important cog in wheel of the Australian manufacturing Industry. On the way to the meeting we stopped at Commercial Heat Treatment. Des Hannen hopped into dad’s car and sat next to me. Des was a big man and a ‘larger than life character’ with a reddish complexion. I noticed a leather cord hanging around his neck with a shiny bottle opener attached to it. Des introduced himself and seemed to be in a very jovial mood. We had a good chat on the way and I got the feeling this meeting was going to be more interesting than I first thought. We arrived at the meeting room that had been hired for the event and walked in to be confronted by a gathering of about fifteen men holding a plate of food in one hand and a glass of beer in the other. They were standing around a long wooden trestle, stacked with all kinds of sandwiches, small pies, sausage rolls and small hot dogs. I couldn’t see any salad! After a brief introduction to some of the members, I quickly picked up a plate of food and poured myself a beer, thinking to myself, I better get in before it’s all gone. The meeting started after about 45 minutes of loud talking and laughter. Ian McRichie chaired the meeting. I don’t recall the exact subjects that were discussed that day, but I do remember everyone got on very well and had a good time. Although the members of the original CHTAA were all Victorian-based, over later years, two South Australian companies joined, Tooling & General Heat Treatment and Winfield Heat Treatment. Another member, Heat Treatment Australia, operated across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. In more recent times, the CHTAA has achieved the following: • Developed a ‘Terms of Trade’ document, which formally defines the relationship between ‘Heat Treater’ and ‘Customer’.

Many members displayed this important document on their websites. • Promoted a regular technical evening and dinner. This event, which was attended by members, members guests and special guests from other Industry groups, was a great success and proved a popular event by all attendees. • Developed a Lifetime Achievement Award to recognise those people in the Australian heat treatment industry who had made a very significant contribution to the industry. • Worked hard with RMIT to develop a heat treatment training scheme. Several members were the beneficiary of some of their staff being trained though the various programs over the years. Unfortunately, due to changing times, the CHTAA is no longer seen as relevant, so it’s now time to wrap it up and move on. So, I ask everyone to say cheers and goodbye to the CHTAA, an association representing a group of companies critically important to a strong and robust Australian manufacturing industry. May all its members continue to thrive.