Heat treatment operatives operate the equipment used to prepare materials such as metals and glass for use in products in the aircraft, car, defence, offshore and mining industries.
Heat treatment involves heating or chilling, normally to extreme temperatures, to achieve hardening or softening of the materials.
They are sometimes called furnace operators.
The Work
You could be:
loading and unloading the untreated metals into the furnace to clean, toughen or harden them
operating forges to bend materials
using computer controlled equipment to operate a gas or vacuum furnace, setting times and temperatures
making regular checks during the heat treatment
unloading the furnace and dealing safely with any waste
cleaning the products using steam sprays or washing them in chemicals
air drying the products or cooling them in water or chemical baths
testing samples for quality and recording the information, usually on computer
making sure the furnace and other equipment are in good repair.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of the company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
Starting salary for a trainee heat treatment operative is around £18,000. With experience they can earn between £24,000 and £30,000 a year. Bonuses and extra pay for shift work are common.
Conditions
You could work in a factory or in the workshop of a specialist heat treatment company.
Working conditions can be hot, noisy and dirty with fumes.
You may have to work shifts at nights and weekends as some plants operate 24/7.
The work includes some heavy lifting and carrying.
You have to wear protective clothing because of the heat and chemicals.
You must work to strict health and safety regulations.
2022
