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Pre-World War II (Pre-1940):
Rex Heat Treat started as a small venture in a two-car garage in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, in 1938.
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World War II (1940-1945):
Due to the high demand for heat treating services for aircraft, guns, and hand tools during World War II, the business experienced rapid growth and became a valuable consultant for other heat treaters throughout the United States.
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Post-World War II (1945):
J. Walter Rex and his partner Elmer Erb parted ways, and the company was renamed the J.W. Rex Company.
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1950s
Rex Heat Treat purchased fifteen acres five blocks from the original site. Construction consolidated various businesses into one large building, including anodizing and painting with the core heat treating business.
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Korean War (1950-1953)
The company experienced a further expansion in manufacturing ordnance components during the Korean War.
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The late 1950s
Rex Heat Treat purchased fifteen acres five blocks from the original site. Construction consolidated various businesses into one large building. Anodizing and painting facilities are built during the heat treating division.
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The late 1950s Continued:
The company designed and built a unique 20-foot vertical gantry furnace system for heat treating Minuteman and Polaris missiles using salt quench technology.
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The early 1960s:
Commercial and ordnance heat treating capabilities were added, and a 10-foot diameter by 30-foot high vertical gantry furnace was built to handle larger missile systems like Titan missile cases.
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The mid-1960s:
The company developed manufacturing capability to shear spin missile cases.
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The late 1960s:
The focus shifted to heat treating Chinook Helicopter spars measuring 30 feet long for Vertol in Philadelphia as missile-type business declined.
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1981
Rex Heat Treat gained recognition as the 1981 "National Small Business Subcontractor of the Year" for its work with Boeing on hydrofoil foils and struts.
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The late 1970s - 1985:
The business expanded with divisions in Conyers, Georgia, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but these divisions were later sold to focus on the expanding business in Lansdale.
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The late 1980s - 1990s
The business continued to adapt and expand its capabilities to meet the changing marketplace demands, becoming the largest commercial heat treat location in the Northeast United States.
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1999
The company changed its name to Rex Heat Treat - Lansdale, and in January 2000, opened a new facility in Bedford, Pennsylvania, equipped with advanced heat treating capabilities.
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2005
Rex Heat Treat expanded into Anniston, Alabama, acquiring an existing heat treating facility and offering specialized salt quenching capabilities.
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2019
Commission of the largest Vertical Vacuum furnace in the world.
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2022
Rex Heat Treat sold the Anniston, Alabama plant.
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2023
Rex Heat Treat celebrates its 85th Anniversary.
