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On Monday, September 14, 2026
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Press Releases
Heat Treat Today is an international publication dedicated to informing manufacturers about heat treatment. Each year, the publication publishes a list of "40 under 40", a group of rising leaders in the North American heat treat industry.
Advanced Heat Treat Corp. is pleased to announced that two of its employees were chosen for this year's list: Heath Lahr (lead electro-mechanical technician) and Cody Hild (senior lab technician).
Get to know these emerging heat treat leaders and why they were selected:
Heath Lahr
When equipment is operating at its best, most people never think about the work happening behind the scenes. Heath Lahr prefers it that way. Since joining Advanced Heat Treat Corp. five years ago, Heath has become one of the company’s go-to experts for maintaining and improving the complex equipment that supports its MidPort nitriding operations. Drawing on his background as an electrical contractor, he embraced the challenge of learning ion and gas nitriding systems, steadily developing expertise in equipment operation, troubleshooting, and repair.
Heath’s colleagues credit him with making numerous improvements not only to the nitriding units themselves but also to the supporting heat treat equipment throughout the facility. Rather than simply fixing problems as they arise, he looks for opportunities to improve reliability, increase efficiency, and strengthen long-term equipment performance.
Safety is another defining part of Heath’s leadership. As the facility’s Safety Champion, he works to ensure employees have the safest possible working environment by continuously evaluating and improving safety systems and controls. He consistently advocates for best-in-class safety practices while helping reinforce a culture where protecting employees remains the highest priority.
Equally important is the way Heath supports those around him. He’s known as someone who willingly lends a hand wherever it is needed, living Advanced Heat Treat Corp.’s “Purple Path” culture by contributing ideas and assistance well beyond his own department. His technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and commitment to continuous improvement have made him an indispensable member of the team.
VIEW HEATH'S ARTICLE ON HTT
Cody Hild
Few careers better illustrate the value of curiosity than Cody Hild’s. Since joining Advanced Heat Treat Corp. in 2010 while attending the University of Northern Iowa, Cody has embraced every opportunity to learn. He began as a laborer, mastering the fundamentals of the business before advancing through roles as an induction operator, technician, lead, and supervisor. Rather than viewing each promotion as an end goal, he saw each as another chance to deepen his understanding of the heat treat process.
That desire to understand the science behind the work ultimately led Cody to the laboratory. In 2022, he transitioned into a lab technician role, where he quickly applied his years of production experience to metallurgical analysis and process evaluation. Just two years later, he was promoted to senior lab technician, reflecting both his technical ability and his commitment to continuous growth.
What makes Cody especially valuable to his company is his unique perspective. Having worked throughout the production process before moving into the lab, he understands heat treat from start to finish. He can connect what happens on the shop floor with what is observed under the microscope, helping bridge production and laboratory operations in ways that strengthen quality and process consistency.
A genuine hunger for knowledge, Cody continues to drive both his professional development and his contributions to Advanced Heat Treat Corp. making him an important part of the company’s future.
VIEW CODY'S ARTICLE ON HTT
Congratulations Heath Lahr & Cody Hild!
- awards
- meet the team
- press release