Robert Hill Jr. Receives the ITA 2009 Titanium Achievement Award
Hermitage, Pa. - Solar Atmospheres of Western PA president Robert Hill Jr. has won the prestigious 2009 Titanium Achievement Award from the International Titanium Association. Hill's development of vacuum thermal processing solutions for the aerospace industry, including the utilization of the world's largest car bottom, high vacuum furnaces, has earned him the international recognition. "I am completely thrilled, feel blessed and supremely honored to win this award," Hill said. "Considering my years of work in the titanium market, this award represents the pinnacle of my achievements."
The ITA's Achievement Award distinguishes those whose contributions have made significant advances in technology and applications for the titanium industry. Hill is one of only twelve men to receive this honor, which will be awarded at the ITA's annual conference, TITANIUM 2009, on Sept. 16 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii.
"We reviewed a number of highly qualified nominees and the individual that clearly rose to the top was Robert Hill," said Dan Buwalda, plant manager, Alcoa Power and Propulsion, Whitehall, MI, and chairman of the Achievement Award selection committee. "He is recognized as a pioneer in developing titanium vacuum-thermal processing solutions for the aerospace industry."
Since Solar Atmospheres of Western PA began operations nine years ago, Robert has invested in advancing titanium processing capabilities as a major focus of the business. In conjunction with heat treating applications for large structural parts for the Boeing 787, the Hermitage site has obtained the approvals to meet Boeing's Beta Anneal Slow-Cooled Aged (BASCA) 160 specifications, which involves the vacuum heat treating of forged parts using VSMPO's Ti 5553 alloy. Solar Atmospheres of Western PA is the only facility in North America that has received this approval.
"Solar Atmospheres' has built its business on titanium here in western Pennsylvania," he said. "Titanium is a big part of what I've done throughout my professional life."
William R. Jones, Solar Atmospheres' chief executive officer, relates that, "Bob's enthusiasm, drive and grit have been primary in the success of the Hermitage plant. Most important, Bob has developed a valuable asset for the titanium industry, without which this industry would not have advanced as quickly or as easily over the past five years."
For more information, contact Solar's Director of Marketing, Kim Horrocks, at 800.347.3236, extension 213, or via email at kim@solaratm.com.
