“Quid Aere Perennius?” asks the motto of Waterbury, Connecticut. “What is more lasting than brass?”
Metalworking has been the lifeblood of Waterbury, known colloquially as “The Brass City.” In the 20th century, Waterbury became the leading center in the United States for the manufacture of brassware castings and finishings, and the home of the Waterbury Clock Company, better known today as Timex.
Since 1956, General Heat Treating and the Maknis family have been at the forefront of the heat-treating business in the city that’s famous for its metalwork. Many of the tools, dies, and cams used in processing Waterbury brass over the years were heat-treated at their facility.
In the 50s and early 60s, founder Walter A. Maknis started General Heat Treating out of a garage, operating salt-bath furnaces to serve tool and die makers throughout the region. Walter’s wife Elizabeth managed the paperwork, handling the billing and invoicing, all out of their home.
As his company grew, Walter moved out of his small shop and built his own building in 1967, expanding the footprint as demand for his services grew. Eventually, General Heat Treating grew into their 10,000 square foot facility on Fulkerson Drive, expanding their processing capabilities and increasing their office space in the 1980s to handle the growing demand for their services.
Succession and Successes
Walter’s son, Larry Maknis, officially joined the company in 1974 after studying metallurgy and tool and die making as an apprentice, putting in his 8000 hours of tool and die work at Walter’s insistence. “At one point, my dad was worried that I’d leave him because I liked the tool and die work so much,” Larry recalled.
In 1977, Larry moved into the position of plant manager, and then in 1983, when Walter retired, Larry took over as president of the company.
Like his father before him, Larry looked to his family to manage the office work. Larry’s wife Tracey Maknis became the company Vice President, modernizing the office systems, billing and computer systems. Tracey was responsible for growing the front office staff to handle the demands of an industry that increasingly seeks out detailed process documentation for each part. Among the office staff that helped meet the company’s growing demands, Tracey brought in her mother, Penny Kali, to join the billing department.
“Today we work with 200 customers, processing 50 to 60 jobs every day, most requiring ISO paperwork,” Larry explained. “Tracey did a fantastic job setting us up for success.”
The Shift to Vacuum Furnaces
A major shift in the methodology of heat treating came in the 1980s as regulators started scrutinizing industries that were using highly toxic chemicals like the ones found in salt-bath furnaces. “We were using nitriding salts, cyanide salts, barium chloride, we were blackening parts and water quenching. We were using these chemicals, yet we were always super careful with them,” Larry explained. “After years of having the DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) out testing our concrete, dirt and water, we were given a clean bill of health, but we also knew that we needed to change our processes to avoid future environmental issues. We had to go to vacuum.”
Larry Maknis bought his first vacuum furnace in 1986. The furnace was already 25 years old, and Larry dedicated his own time to rebuilding the machine so he could understand how the vacuum furnace system works. “Once it was up and running, I was able to buy my second furnace just four years later.”
Over the next 20 years, General Heat Treating invested in four new Ipsen furnaces, had the original two retrofitted, eventually replacing the oldest furnaces with two new Ipsen TITAN H2s in the 2010s.
“The vacuum furnace equipment totally opened us up to a whole new market and helped us get hazardous chemicals out of our facility.”
Larry Maknis, President of General Heat Treating
When talking about the company’s investment in Ipsen furnaces, Larry is quick to point out that he’s been consistently impressed with the quality of the furnaces Ipsen delivers. “I’ve never had an issue with a problematic Ipsen furnace. Maintenance is very important to us, and we do a lot of the maintenance of these furnaces ourselves,” Larry said. “Ipsen furnaces are easy to work with, easy to work on, and I’ve never had any problem with their quality.”
Keeping well-maintained machines, along with a veteran team of operators, is an important part of General Heat Treating’s business strategy. “The three main factors that draw in work for us are maintaining a high quality of work, consistent delivery on time, and excellent customer service.”
The Next Generation
Today, Larry Maknis works hard to maintain the great reputation of the family business that started with his father in 1956. And like his father, Larry has set his family’s company up for longevity and success.
Larry’s wife Tracey and their two children continue to play an important role in leading the company. As the company prepares the next generation for success, Tracey took a step back into the role of Treasurer, while daughter Melissa Maknis has emerged as the company’s Vice President and Quality Control Manager. Son Mitchell Maknis stepped into his role as Secretary.
For Larry, planning for the next generation is essential to the customers that count on his company for the work that they do. “I had a local company come to me that has 100 machines each relying on our company for their tools and dies, asking about our future. I could very confidently tell them that we’re here for the long term. We’re not going anywhere.”
For more information about General Heat Treating, visit their website at www.generalheattreating.com.
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