1973   Specialty Heat Treating founded by Ron and Judy Smith in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  First company in West Michigan to provide processing of high speed and other specialty steels.

1978   First single-chamber vacuum furnace purchased, enabling the company to phase out salt baths.  The new technology provided bright, clean finishes and dimensional stability to customer's parts.

1982   Ron Smith opened Specialty Heat Treating of Elkhart, Indiana.  Dean Smith, Ron and Judy's son, named Vice President of the Company, managing the Grand Rapids facility. 

1989   Groundwork laid for third facility in Athens Alabama.  Shortly after the facility opened, Ron Smith passed away unexpectedly at the age of 53.  Dean Smith assumed position of President and CEO. 

1995   Specialty Heat Treat of Holland, Inc. established with construction of a 14,400 sq. ft. facility in Holland, Michigan, to better serve the West Michigan market. 

1997   With business growing rapidly in Michigan and Indiana, the Athens, Alabama plant was sold.  Major expansions were launched at the Michigan plants.  A new 33,500 sq. ft. production facility constructed adjacent to the original Grand Rapids plant.  A 12,000 sq. ft. addition at the Holland plant completed. 

1999   Company-wide registration to the ISO-9002:1994 and QS-9000:1998 standards achieved. 

2000   10,500 sq. ft. expansion of the Elkhart facility is launched, including the addition of a new atmosphere processing line. 

2002   The Elkhart facility is honored with the State of Indiana's "BKD Indiana Quality Improvement Award." 

2003   Specialty Heat Treating, Inc. celebrates 30th Year Anniversary. Achieved company-wide registration to ISO/TS-19649:2002, the "next generation" automotive requirements.  Specialty Heat Treating honored with several awards including: Denso Mfg. Supplier of the Year, West Michigan's 101 Best & Brightest Places to Work Award, and Dean Smith honored with Small Business Person of the Year Award by the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce.

2004  Dean T. Smith, President & CEO, named "Michigan Small Business Person of the Year 2004" by the Small Business Administration. 2-Stage Gas Nitriding and Nitro-Flex (Ferritic Nitrocarburize) process capabilities added at the Elkhart, IN facility. The Holland, MI, plant expanded by 12,000 sq. ft. to make room for new Vacuum Furnaces and a Parts Washing System. Specialty Heat Treating once again recognized as one of West Michigan's "101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" by the Michigan Business and Professional Organization. The Grand Rapids facility added a new Allcase Batch Integral Quench Furnace to meet specialized production and processing requirements. The Heat Treating Network, its Board of Trustees, and the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Certificates of Completion and Journeyman's status to several Specialty Heat Treating Employees, They are Dave Hernandez, Beth Hernandez, Tim Hernandez, Vincent Pierce, and Jim Arnold.

2005   Wyoming/Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce "Manufacturer of the Year". For the third year and since the awards inception Specialty Heat Treating has been awarded the "101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For" by the Michigan Busness and Professional Organization. Two more employees earn Heat Treat Journeyman status, Charlie Sharp and Ed Dayton, team members serving Elkhart Specialty Heat Treating. 

2006   New technology on order. Vacuum Carburize / 20-Bar Gas Quench Furnace order placed with Surface Combustion to better serve the Precision Component industries. For the fourth consecutive year, Specialty Heat Treating was awarded “West Michigan´s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” by the Michigan Business and Professional Organization.

2007  For the 5th consecutive year Specialty Heat Treating, Inc. is the recipient of “West Michigan´s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" by the Michigan Business and Professional Org.